Which is better: that the scholar go to the people and enlighten them, or that the people be the ones who should turn to the scholars and benefit from them?

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

The Commander of the Faithful (a) used to say of the Messenger of Allah (s): “A physician who goes about with his medicine”, that is, he spread his knowledge among the people wherever he stopped and wherever he traveled. Likewise, the narrations indicate that on the Day of Resurrection the reckoning will be directed to the scholars, and Allah the Exalted will question them about their shortcomings in propagation and teaching before the negligent ignorant person is called to account for his negligence and his ignorance.

This establishes that the scholars bear the responsibility of raising awareness and educating, and that they must spread their knowledge among the people by all kinds of means. This is not limited to the scholar going to each and every individual to make them aware; rather, it suffices that he carry out his tasks so that knowledge reaches the people in multiple forms, such as lessons, lectures, writing, founding educational groups, and publishing in all its forms. That is, the narrations as a whole establish the necessity of conveying knowledge, while the manner depends on the circumstances and capabilities that the times call for. Indeed, there are methods that achieve a wider spread than effort within the geographical bounds of the individual: when he publishes a book, for example, that book represents its author in many countries, so it gives with the effort of a group. For this reason we find that the religion has granted to one who leaves behind books of knowledge after his death the special quality of the continuation of his deeds, as [narrated] from the Prophet (s): “When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: knowledge from which benefit is derived, a charity that continues to flow for him, or a righteous child who prays for him.” Likewise when he lectures from the pulpit or on satellite or online channels, and other avenues of dissemination.

It seems to me that this is one of the aspects of the Prophet's (s) saying to ʿAli (a): “O ʿAli, the sleep of the scholar is better than the worship of the worshipper,” because even if the scholar sleeps, his knowledge is a wakeful light spreading in every direction.

All of this does not negate the role of the people and the necessity of their turning to the scholars and frequenting them to benefit from their knowledge; rather, the basic principle is that the people must turn to the scholars, seek them out, and jostle them with their knees at the tables of knowledge and insight.

The Exalted has said:“Ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know” (Qurʾan 16:43; 21:7), for a person must fill the gaps of ignorance in himself by turning to the scholars.

Hence we see the urging to turn to the scholars and visit them, and the great and immense reward this carries—a merit for which souls yearn. It has come from the Commander of the Faithful (a):

“Sitting for an hour with the scholars is more beloved to Allah than a thousand years of worship; looking at the scholar is more beloved to Allah than a year's retreat in the Sacred House; and visiting the scholars is more beloved to Allah the Exalted than seventy circumambulations around the House, and better than seventy hajj and ʿumra pilgrimages, righteous and accepted; and Allah the Exalted raises him seventy degrees, Allah sends down mercy upon him, and the angels bear witness for him that Paradise has become his due.”

Hence we should be aware of the necessity of attending to the scholars, sitting with them and benefiting from them; and the scholar has only to show his readiness to receive the people and engage with them, and not to withdraw from them and cut himself off from them.

Sayed Mahmoud Al-Mosawi

www.mosawy.com