Taking knowledge from someone who isn’t known to have studied with the people of knowledge

Question:

Is it a must that those that are teaching their brothers need a Tazkiyyah (recommendation), even if nobody from the people of knowledge knows them, but he is well known in his country and his path is a praiseworthy one.

Is knowledge taken from the likes of these people?

Answer:

This is the basis in regards to those that knowledge is taken from.

That they are known to have sought knowledge, and have been given an appraisal by the people of knowledge, and a single appraisal suffices from those qualified in this affair, those whose words are taken into consideration.

As mentioned by Imām Ibn Sīrīn, may Allah have mercy upon him, in what has been authentically been narrated from him as found in the introduction of Sahih Muslim:

“Verily this knowledge is religion, so look at he who you take your religion from.”

As for those that haven’t taken the knowledge from its people, and have intentionally turned away from this and instead taking from books and audios, -the majority of the time- these people are not to be felt happy with what they have with them, this is if they obtained some knowledge.

You would find them being deceived with themselves, thinking they are upon something when in reality they are not upon something.

As for those whose trustworthiness and uprightness has become known, and his following of the truth, and it was the case that he has taken knowledge from the books of the people of the Sunnah and their audios.

Not out of intentionally avoiding sitting with the people of knowledge or wishes to put himself forward in Da’wah.

But due to incapability in achieving this, and you find him benefiting his brothers with what he has learned and he doesn’t exceed into that which he doesn’t know.

As Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, forbade speaking upon ignorance:

(وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًا)

“And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge (e.g. one’s saying: “I have seen,” while in fact he has not seen, or “I have heard,” while he has not heard). Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah).”
[Israa:36]

Making speaking about Him without knowledge greater than making partners with Him, Exalted is He, due to it containing a combination of all evil, Allaah, The Most High, said:

(قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَٰنًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ)

“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.”
[A’raaf:33]

So it’s upon him to be trustworthy, to know his own level, and to relay to those benefiting from him the speech of the people of knowledge, and if something was to confuse him or his brothers, he is to return to the people of knowledge.

This person would be upon good, while sitting with the people of knowledge would be better for him, without a doubt, especially in this time when trials, and the presence of pretenders to understanding and knowledge, are numerous.

And the fruits of sitting with the scholar is not merely taking knowledge from him, rather:
➖taking knowledge.
➖conduct.
➖praiseworthy mannerisms.
➖also, you will benefit from the scholars,

– an affair of utmost importance-:

How to conduct in times of fitnah, with those that are correct and those that are in opposition, you will learn how to speak, when to speak and with what to speak with.

And success is granted by Allah.

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allaah preserve him.

Source:
https://t.me/youssefalgazairi/686

Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani.