The Prophet ﷺ described the Companions as "Stars of guidance", stating that whosoever is followed amongst them will ensure guidance for the follower. This legacy of guidance was thereafter inherited and carried by the scholars who stood as beacons of light, guiding stray wayfarers and bringing them back to the Path. Allah wills for good to come about through them, as the Prophet ﷺ described,
“ Whosoever Allah intends to do good with, He grants him understanding of the religion. ”
By serving Muslim communities for centuries through propagation of knowledge, defending the Pristine Shari’a, and honouring the Prophetic Way, the scholars were revered leaders by the masses. As a result, their respective congregations took it upon themselves that the scholars were looked after, providing all types of stability to them.
Today, society crumbles in the face of capitalism where the only dogma is self-adulation. A complete disregard to scholars has left them being amongst the most financially crippled of society, forcing them to resort to seeking other forms of income.
In reality, today’s age of misinformation and ‘fake news’, it is critical that the scholars be available for Muslims to resort to in order to safeguard their faith rather than focussing on sources of income. Because of these individuals, the Muslim tradition of scholarship is alive and continues to flourish. Institutes have been developed, students of knowledge become leaders of communities, and scholars are produced. A debt of gratitude is owed to these esteemed servants of Allah.
