10/07/2026
*Honouring the Scholars*
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Dear brothers and sisters, one of the great blessings Allah gives a community is righteous scholars who teach us our religion, explain the Qur’an and Sunnah, and guide us to the straight path. Honouring them is part of honouring the knowledge they carry.
Allah says:
﴿يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ﴾
[سورة المجادلة: 11]
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge by many degrees.”
(Surah al-Mujaadilah 58:11)
Allah also says:
﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ﴾
[سورة فاطر: 28]
“Only those of His servants who possess knowledge truly fear Allah.”
(Surah Fatir 35:28)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يُجِلَّ كَبِيرَنَا، وَيَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا، وَيَعْرِفْ لِعَالِمِنَا حَقَّهُ»
(رواه أحمد وصححه الألباني)
“He is not one of us who does not honour our elders, show mercy to our young, and recognise the rights of our scholars.”
(Musnad Ahmad; authenticated by al-Albani)
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«إِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ»
(رواه أبو داود والترمذي وصححه الألباني)
“Indeed, the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets.”
(Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi; authenticated by al-Albaani)
Imam Ahmad رحمه الله said:
«النَّاسُ إِلَى الْعِلْمِ أَحْوَجُ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ»
“People are more in need of knowledge than they are in need of food and drink.”
And Imam al-Tahaawi رحمه الله said:
«وَعُلَمَاءُ السَّلَفِ مِنَ السَّابِقِينَ وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ، أَهْلُ الْخَيْرِ وَالْأَثَرِ، لَا يُذْكَرُونَ إِلَّا بِالْجَمِيلِ»
“The scholars of the early generations and those who followed them from among the righteous and people of knowledge are not mentioned except with goodness.”
(Sharh al-Tahaawiyyah)
:::::This Friday, let us make duʿā’ for our scholars, benefit from their knowledge, excuse their mistakes, and mention them with respect. We may differ on issues, but we should guard our tongues and remember that preserving the honour of the scholars is part of preserving the religion.
🤲May Allah preserve our scholars, forgive those who have passed away, and make us among those who seek knowledge with sincerity.
Jumu‘ah Mubarakah.
Baarakallah feekum
✍️Imam
Nigerian Muslim community
Wolverhampton, UK
