“O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do?” (Holy Qur’an 61:2)
This short entry is to address people among the so called ‘traditionalist’ who say, “If you read a book by yourself Satan is your teacher”
They are simply dishonest. They want you to hand over your sovereignty to them, their sheikh, their imam, their ayatollah and in the end their faction.
Here is the proof:
Point 1) Go to any so called ‘traditonalist’ book store online. You will see scholars and sheikhs and imams who have translated hundreds of classical books into English. Not once…….not once have I read in the preface this book should be read in the company of a sheikh or you will be lead astray. Why is that?
So these scholars, sheikhs and imams know full well that any Tom, Dick or Harry will pick up a copy of their book for 20 or 50 bucks, than read it alone and get “lead astray” Why do they care so little for us?
So here is my sincere advise to them. Clean up your act! If you want to believe that Satan is the teacher of those who earnestly seek knowledge and understanding instead of wasting a way in a pub than henceforth you should put at the preface of all your books: Warning do not read unless in the accompany of an accomplished master of this particular field of science.
Also, stop giving free copies of the Holy Qur’an to people unless they have guides and sheikhs.
Point 2) You mean to say we cannot read the Holy Qur’an alone because Satan will be our teacher? I can’t pick up Allah’s words and read it and gain guidance and insight without a teacher or Satan will misguide me?
Even though Allah (swt) clearly refutes such people here:
“The Most Merciful, teaches the Qur’an” (Holy Qur’an 55:1-2)
Allah (swt) instructs us thus:
“So when you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled. (Holy Qur’an 16:98)
In fact this verse is one of the proofs (if your a believer in the unseen) that Satan is not behind the Holy Qur’an! Why would Satan tell you to seek refuge with Allah (swt) from him? Think about it.
It would be very odd for the Creator of the Universe to ask us to seek refuge with him before reciting his Holy Words, if He (swt) was not going to answer our request. How far is Allah (swt) removed from what they suggest!
Who is the best sheikh among the Muslims? Who is the best guide among the Muslims? Who is the best caller to Allah (swt) among the Muslims? Who is the most learned concerning the Holy Qur’an among the Muslims? It is none other than the Blessed Messenger (saw), and yet look what Allah (swt) says:
“Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.” (Holy Qur’an 28:56)
This is what we call truly a ‘fateh’ or an opening. These are how discoveries are made. Allah (swt) grants people insights. Someone maybe closely looking at a blade of grass in the morning and looking closely at the dew drop. By looking through the dew drop they notice that the blade of grass is magnified, or it looks enlarged.
This is not to say that studying with sheikhs, imams, ayatollahs, ustaz and teachers is the wrong course. Absolutely not, we should try and sit with the learned and benefit from them when we can.
This entry was to dispel two myths.
1) That knowledge and information can only come by sitting in a gathering of people who have a ‘so called unbroken chain’ going back to the Blessed Messenger (saw). Which is another myth that needs to be dissected in another entry, Allah-willing.
2) That if you pick up the Holy Qur’an or any book sincerely trying to derive benefit from it and knowledge, and to do so without the presence of a sheikh, ayatollah, imam or cleric peeking over your shoulder that some how Satan becomes your guide is just absolute and utter nonsense.
Know this oh ‘ulemah of the Sunni, Shi’a factions of Islam. If you call the masses to yourself rather than Allah (swt) you will continue to be refuted. May Allah (swt) guide you and may Allah (swt) guide us.
“Say, “My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed – and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.” (Holy Qur’an 7:33)
Great post…..Allah tells us (reportedly in the very first revelation) in Surah Iqra that He taught mankind by the use of the PEN.
So it is tragic if people are dissuaded from reading what is written by the pen.
And Allah swears by the PEN in the opening of Surah Qalam.
Therefore Allah emphasizes the use of the pen.
Let’s use it both by writing and reading! It is good and often necessary to also sit with the learned scholars as Allah tells us in His book to sit with the Truthful people (Saadiqeen) and we should respect them and we should, in general, trust them.
But as you say should not relinquish our soveriegnty to anyone other than Allah…and the best way to keep our sovereignty is to read books on our own.
Thank you so very much for your comment. Indeed let us make du’a that Allah (swt) will open the eyes and more importantly the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Amin