Islamic Studies

The Scholars are like the Stars

Bismillah

The scholars are like the stars, Allah created them for three things:

1. The stars are a guide for people when they travel. Allah ta’ala says,

وَعَلَامَاتٍ وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ

“And marks and sign-posts; and by the stars (men) guide themselves.” (16: 16)  The scholars, in turn, guide the masses in this life.

2. The stars are shields that are used to stone the shayateen who attempt to hear what the angels are saying. Allah ta’ala says,

وَحِفْظًا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَّارِدٍ لَّا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِن كُلِّ جَانِبٍ دُحُورًا

“and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits, (So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side, Repulsed.” (37:7-9)

The scholars, in turn, refute all the doubts that will be raised by the devil and his followers.

3- The stars beautify the sky. Allah ta’ala says,

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ

“We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars.” (37:6)

The lives of the scholars are beautiful. It is like you’re looking at something beautiful and hearing and knowing about them is beautiful. Living with them for even a moment makes your life even better. Imam Ahmad used to praise the knowledge and scholars: people need knowledge more than food and drink.

– Taken from Torch Bearers: Scholars of Islam with Shaykh Waleed Basyouni.

About the author

Amatullah

Amatullah

Amatullah is a student of the Qur’an and its language. She completed the 2007 Ta’leem program at Al-Huda Institute in Canada and studied Qur’an, Tajweed (science of recitation) and Arabic in Cairo. Through her writings, she hopes to share the practical guidance taught to us by Allah and His Messenger and how to make spirituality an active part of our lives. She has completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work and will be completing a Masters program in 2014. Her experiences include working with immigrant seniors, refugee settlement, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Add Comment

  • Salaamun 'Alaykum,
    May Allaah reward our sister and continue to protect and preserve our Shaykh Waleed Basyouni. While the paralells are interesting, they aren't based on anything that can be used as proof. There's no Ayah or Hadeeth quoted to support the analogy, so this is from the reasoning of men, which can be faulty. Allaah knows best.

  • I have been interested in this analogy. There is a hadith from the Musnad of Imam Ahmad that makes this analogy, but it has been declared weak by Shaykh Nasirudeen. If any knows another narration, or an alternate takhreej for this narration, please post it.

  • There is a beautiful and heart touching story about our shaykh ibn Baz, when a pilgrim during hajj came across him at Mina.

    The pilgrim approached him and said “Are you Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz?”
    Our Shaykh replied “Yes, I am Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz…”

  • here is a beautiful and heart touching story about our shaykh ibn Baz, when a pilgrim during hajj came across him at Mina.
    The pilgrim approached him and said “Are you Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz?”
    Our Shaykh replied “Yes, I am Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz…”

Leave a Reply to Abu Zayd X