WHENEVER there's a discussion on Islam or questions being asked about it, we all jump to speak and answer them. Zealous to share the ‘ocean of knowledge' we all have, even if much of what we think we know, is nothing less than hearsay. Here's some excellent advice the late scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saleh Al-Uthaymeen, gave to students who were devoted in seeking Islamic knowledge. “I sincerely advise, myself first, and my Muslim brothers, especially the students of knowledge not to make haste and be quick when a new issue befalls a person until he verifies the situation, gains knowledge and then speaks, so that he does not speak about Allah without knowledge. The person who gives judgment is an emissary between the people and Allah; he conveys the Sharia of Allah as has been reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi and others) The Prophet (peace be upon him) has also said: “The judges are three; one of the judges is in Paradise and two are in the Fire. With regards to the one in Paradise then he is the man who knew the truth and judged according to it. The man who knew the truth and was unjust in his ruling is in the Fire, and the man who judged between the people out of ignorance is in the Fire.” (Abu Dawood) [From Naseehah Lit-Tullaab Al-Ilm, translated by Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh] We must realize that this is the religion of Allah and must be extremely careful in what we convey. If we convey something wrong, may Allah protect us all, we could become the cause of leading someone astray. What do we do in situations when we are asked or there is an urgent need of clarifications on Islamic issues? Refer back to the scholars, the students of knowledge for answers. We must have phone numbers of Da'wah centers, trustworthy scholars and students of knowledge all the time with us. And Saudi Arabia is a country that is certainly not in short of people of knowledge, all praise be to Allah. __
