I REMEMBER A conversation I had once with a senior medical consultant. We were having dinner with a group of doctors. The consultant— who is a practising Muslim— believed that lay Muslims don’t have the right to ask scholars how they came to a certain ruling. His view was: “A scholar is a scholar. He’s studied the religion for years, and the average Muslim wouldn’t even understand the reasoning. So just ask and accept the ruling.”
I have come across this thinking before. I disagree.
“You’re a consultant,” I told him. “That’s like being a scholar in the medical field. You’ve spent years studying and training. But would you say the same thing to your junior doctors? Would you tell them: ‘I’m the consultant, just do what I say’? Of course not. You’d explain your reasoning and teach them.
And even with your patients—who are like regular Muslims in this example—you wouldn’t speak down to them. You’d still explain things, but in a way they can understand. With your juniors, you’d use medical terms. With patients, simpler language. But either way, you’d explain. When juniors and patients are convinced of the rationale to any diagnosis and treatment, the effect is more beneficial and lasting.”
The same should apply to Islamic scholars. They have a responsibility not just to give rulings but also to teach the ummah, both the students of knowledge and the general Muslim. They are meant to serve the ummah, elevating it and not standing above it.
Sadly, today many scholars stand distant from the people. In a time of secularism, some cannot relate Islam to the problems of the masses sticking only to the five pillars, births, deaths and marriages. Or live in academic bubbles, their writings filling pages of books and journals but not leading to change.
If they took the time to explain the hukm (ruling), people would benefit. When ayat and hadith and the Islamic sciences are connected together, the people would understand their deen better, grow in love for it, and see that Islam truly does deal with every part of life. As Allah says:
وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ تِبْيَـٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
“We have sent down to you the Book as an explanation for everything, a guide, a mercy, and good news for those who submit.” (an-Nahl 89)
Islam is not just a list of rules. The depth and breadth of our fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) can build confidence in our faith—especially today when many Muslims look to other systems to solve their problems.
Scholars need to break away from this closed-off mindset and connect with the people so bridging the gaps between ignorance and knowledge and knowledge and action. They should speak clearly, be open about their reasoning, and help the ummah grow in their love for Islam.
The ummah needs to ask, with the correct etiquette, to learn and benefit from the knowledge of our scholars.
Living For Islam 