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Q&A With Shaykh Ahmad Bazmool
Author: Shaykh Ahmad ibn ‘Umar Baazmool (hafidhahullaah Ta’aala)
Questions posed by Anwar Wright & Abu Yusuf Khaleefah, Translated by Anwar Wright
http://www.salafyink.com/studentsofknowledge/QAShBazmool1.pdf

Sixth Question:

Some people say regarding those who follow the scholars such as Shaykh Rabee’ in his positions in manhaj also the one who cooperates with the students who also take these positions, they say regarding this person that he is of “weak intellect” and that “he cannot think for his own self,” so what is your statement in regards to this.

Answer:

[What is described in] this question, may Allaah bless you, contains bad etiquette from many many aspects. The first aspect is that this is in opposition to the manhaj of the Salaf -radi Allahu anhum- for indeed Umar and Ibn Mas’ood -radi Allahu anhum- both mentioned that the people will not cease to be in a state of goodness so long as they take from the elder (scholars). So how can returning to the scholars be something of weak intellect?

Would ‘Umar, -radi Allahu anhu – and this is something authentically reported upon him and authentically reported upon Ibn Mas’ood -radi Allahu anhum ajma’een- [how can a person say] that ‘Umar commanded the people to do something which has in it foolishness? This is in-comprehensible!

The second matter is that the Prophet – salla Allaahu alayhi wa sallam – mentioned that from the signs of the Hour is seeking knowledge from the Asaaghir, and the meaning here of Asaaghir is the people of desires just as Asaaghir can also means the young and inexperienced – those who have not become rightly qualified in knowledge, however they set out (to speak) in those major issues (of the religion). They are included in this hadeeth and they are Asaaghir. So it is said that the Messenger of Allaah – salla Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - commands us to return to the major scholars, and forbids us from returning to the youth, [yet you say that he] commands us to fall into an affair which is foolish in respects to us? I seek Allaah’s refuge from being forsaken.

Also from that which we say is that Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:

“Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.” (An-Nahl: 16:43).

So Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, commanded us to return to Ahlul-Dhikr and they are the scholars. Ahlul-Dhikr are those people who have knowledge of the Qur`aan and act in accordance to it. So Allaah commands us to return to the scholars, and you say that returning to the scholars shows weak intellect? Fear Allaah concerning your religion. Look – may Allaah bless you – how vain desires and innovation lands its people into destructive affairs. We ask Allaah for safety and well being.

Also, you all look that when you relied upon your own intellects, you all fell into a state of lowliness and weakness of intellect. This is foolishness, because the one with an intellect, even that which relates to other than the religion, even the worldly affairs, a person of intellect says: I am returning back to the elders because they are more knowledge and have more insight and experience. And the fool and the one with weak intellect is the one who returns to the younger ones and the children (others) of weak intellect. So you [those who make this statement] in reality are the ones with weak intellects whereas you return back to your own intellects.

As for the fifth affair, that we say – may Allaah bless you – and this is a serious point; and it is that you know, may Allaah bless you, that which some people say “I have an intellect of my own, return to your own intellect, think.” Brother by you (saying) this, you will be left to rely upon your own self and left to rely upon your shaytaan (with you), then you will become ruined and destroyed, may Allaah not decree this, and you will fall into destructive things. And you are more knowledgeable about your own self, you do not have knowledge and you do not have experience. If you are a scholar, then return back to your own self, but you are either a Jaahil (ignorant) or a student of knowledge, and still need the scholars Also, we say to this person, this is not from the aspect of blind following or from the aspect of partisanship. Rather, this is Sunnah and the methodology of the companions just as has already preceded with us.

And there is a difference between returning to the scholars in issues of ijtihaad and major issues and those issues which only the major scholars are qualified for. Rather, this is from the aspect of ittibaa’ (i.e. following the scholar along with his proofs) and the aspect of returning to the truth, and from the aspect of (clinging to) the Jamaa’ah (main body of the Muslims). It is a difference between this and following a scholar in his falsehood.

You [the ones who make this statement] are in reality the blind followers when you blind follow the likes of (Adnaan) Ar’oor and Ibraheem ar-Ruhailee and Alee Hasan (and) al Ma`ribee. You blind follow Alee Hasan Halabee, and you blind follow Jam’iyyah Ihyaaut Turaath, and Jam’iyyah Daarul Birr, and you blind follow some of those organizations that are present in your land in their falsehood in that which they command you with from falsehood – and you follow them. This is (in reality) the blameworthy blind following!!

Do you not have any shyness? You find fault in ittibaa’ (following the scholar with his proofs), and you describe this to be the blameworthy form of blind following? However, you [those who make this statement] fall into the (true) blameworthy blind following and falsehood and you call this “liberation” and “intellect” and “following the truth?” By Allaah, shaytaan is playing with you! So we ask Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, to preserve us and you from that, and we ask Allaah to guide us and you from this misguidance so beware, may Allaah bless you, from opposing the manhaj of the salaf.