The responsibility of a normal Muslim

We decided to write this because we see many comments by uneducated people full of wrong information. They have not understood something, half understood something, deliberately misunderstood something, spreading ideas of their group or of their Pir/sheikh. 

The average person is not tasked to correct scholars when they do not understand the basic points of religion, yet are ready to challenge scholars? This is not the way of Sunni Islam rather it is the way of those who are opposed to Sunni Islam, the Wahabi's and Ikhwani's.

عَن أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الخُدرِيِّ رضِي اللهُ عنهُ قال : سَمِعتُ رَسولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليهِ و سلم يَقولُ مَن رَأى مِنكُم مُنكَراً فَليُغَيَّرهُ بِيَدِهِ فإِن لَم يَستَطِع فَبِلِسَانِهِ فإِن لَم يَستَطِع فَبِقَلبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضعَفُ الإِيمَانِ

رَوَاهُ مُسلِمٌ

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudari (may Allah be pleased with him) said he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) say, “Whoever sees a reprehensible action should change it by his hand; if he is unable, then with his tongue; if he unable then with his heart, and that is the weakest faith.”  Muslim.

This hadith cannot be used a proof to slander or attack people. Rather it should be understood as the following:

Abu Hanifah (may Allah show him mercy) gave the following explanation of this prophetic narration: 
1) the ones who should change it with their hands are the leaders or judges/Qadis;

2) The tongue – scholars;

3) The heart – normal people.

It is up to scholars to correct scholars not the layman. (Click here for previous rant) The layman often cannot distinguish between what is lawful or not. How can he distinguish between scholars and who is right? Difference of opinion is only accepted by those with knowledge. This is why may people without knowledge argue with others, based on their misunderstanding.

Facebook is full of people who are spreading incorrect information and disagreements everywhere. Yet, if you were to talk to them to clarify, they would attack you. This is pure wahabism: my opinion is the best and over all the rest.

I will say this again. It is not the job of the average person to debate and argue with other groups. Your job is to refer to others of knowledge and not refuse those with knowledge. Therefore, those 'super' Sunnis attacking everyone on websites and unsocial media are committing sins with each keystroke. Slandering and backbiting are just two and spreading incorrect information is among them.

As for myself, what about you? Seen as you asked I have permission to teach from my teachers. I have been blessed to study since 2002, when most of you where still watching cartoons! So do not think that you have any basis for disagreement!

Nor is it about commanding the good and forbidding evil. Sheikh Muhyiuddin (may Allah show him mercy) said, “Know that the door of commanding good and forbidding evil has been lost in a distant time and it does not remain now, except very little of its trace.”

Commanding the good is about what is Halal and Haram. I.e. commanding the good that agreed to Haram or Halal, without disagreement. The average person is often unable to distinguish as they often fall into Haram, because they are not aware.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Not one of you was born a scholar; as knowledge comes from studying." (Nisa'i)

Yet, we have millions of people giving religious opinions on everything, especially on things they have not studied. Then attack scholars who try to clarify things they are arguing! Heed this lesson before it is too late. As the street slang, states 'check yourself before you wreck yourself.' Learn your basics before its too late and if you want correct scholars then study what they had studied and we will talk to you in a few years!

Missing obligations click here

Knowledge Seeker click here