The Twelve Qualities of the True Ulama – Tenth and Eleventh Qualities – Fazaail Sadaqaat – Taleem Series – Part Twenty

Tenth Quality – Always being concerned about Halaal and Haraam

The tenth quality of the true Ulama of the Aakhirah is that they are most concerned about those masaa’il (Islamic injunctions and laws) that pertain to halaal and haraam.

In other words, they are most concerned about those actions that are obligatory in Shari’ah to carry out, and they are most keen to know about those actions which are compulsory to refrain from.

Similarly, they are eager to know about those actions that invalidate their good deeds (e.g. those factors which cause the salaah to break), or those actions which cause the rewards of the good deeds to increase (e.g. making miswaak before performing salaah causes the reward of the salaah to increase).

They do not delve into discussion of such topics which are merely for academic entertainment, so that people may regard them as being great researchers, very learned Ulama or great philosophers.

Eleventh Quality – Having Deep Knowledge about the Different Branches of Ilm

The eleventh quality of the true Ulama of the Aakhirah is that they study, with deep understanding, the different branches of deeni knowledge. They do not just blindly accept and follow the views of people.

In reality, we are commanded to follow the pure guidance and teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It is for this reason that we follow the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) – as they have passed onto us what they had closely observed from the mubaarak life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (and they strictly followed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in all facets of their lives).

Since the purpose in deen is to follow the mubaarak sunnah and way of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), a true Aalim should be very particular about collecting, studying and pondering over the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that contain his mubaarak words and actions (so that he will be able to follow the sunnah correctly).

(Fazaa’il-e-Sadaqaat [English pg. 450, [Urdu] pg. 494)