The Scholar or the Martyr?

Question:

Which one is more virtuous, al-ʿālim (the scholar) or ash-shahīd (the martyr)?

Answer:

The scholar. This is due to the statement of Allāh—ʿAzza wa Jall:

” فَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَیۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّیقِینَ وَٱلشُّهَدَاۤءِ “

“…they are with those whom Allāh has blessed, from the Prophets, the ṣiddīqīn, the shuhadāʾ, and the righteous…” [An-Nisāʾ: 69]

And the scholars are from the rank of the ṣiddīqīn (the upright, righteous, steadfast upon good).

Also due to the statement of Allāh—ʿAzza wa Jall:

” وَٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦۤ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلصِّدِّیقُونَۖ وَٱلشُّهَدَاۤءُ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرُهُمۡ وَنُورُهُمۡۖ “

“As for those who believe in Allāh—ʿAzza wa Jall—and His messengers, it is they who are truly aṣ-ṣiddīqūn. And the martyrs, with their Lord, will have their reward and their light…” [Al-Ḥadīd: 19]

Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allāh have mercy upon him—said:

“The ink of the scholars is more virtuous than the blood of the martyr.”

Allāhu Akbar.

———

Answered by: Shaykh, Ḥāfiẓ, al-Muḥaddith, al-Faqīh, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Jumʿān Ibn Ramaḍān Laḥmar (حفظه الله ورعاه)

Source : https://t.me/jumaanlahmar/2345

Translated by: Abū Muqbil al-Banghālī