Importance of Imams and the Ulamaa

Essex Cultural & Youth Society has been founded to provide services and help to the community under the guidance and shade of the Ulamaa, to serve the Ummah as best as possible according to their needs. May Allah تعالى give us the Towfeeq to take advantage of this opportunity, and with the guidance and company of the Ulamaa, the community will inshaa-Allah تعالى find themselves successful and bestowed with many blessings.

Since the start of Islam we can see and appreciate the great value, importance and responsibility that Imams and Ulamaa have had for the protection of the Deen and the Work of Allah تعالى. Hence, we find their elevated status in the Sight of Allah تعالى and their unmatched position in any society. Ulamaa understand that which others will struggle to comprehend, and we should not overstep them or under estimate their sincere judgements and opinions.

Allah تعالى sent to each people a Prophet to guide them, and after the Last Prophet of Allah تعالى, Allah تعالى will only send Ulamaa to preserve the Deen and continue the duty of guiding and teaching the Ummah. Challenging the Ulamaa and causing them harm is only detrimental to oneself, and will incur none less than the Anger of Allah تعالى and ultimate loss. Rather, we should seek to take the company and Duas of the Ulamaa so we attain through their blessings the Kindness and Mercy of Allah تعالى, and He bestow on us His Guidance.

The virtues of the Ulamaa have been emphasised repeatedly in the Qur’aan and the Hadith of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Allah تعالى has described in Surah An-Naml (Verse 40) the superior power which the person with knowledge of the scripture had over even the Jinn, that he could bring before Prophet Solomon (AS) the throne of the Queen of Sheba within the twinkling of an eye. And to mention one of many narrations, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم has said in a Hadith that: “The Angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. And verily, the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depths of the oceans seek forgiveness for the learned scholars of religion. The superiority of the learned person of religion over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars” (Abu Daawood, At-Tirmizi).

There have always been people and groups who will seek to cause the hearts of the believers become seperated from the Ulamaa leaving the people left to stray in darkness and confusion. May Allah تعالى save us from the Shayaateen of men and jinn and keep us in the shade of the Ulamaa, and give us the Hidaayah and Towfeeq to take the company of our Imams and Ulamaa that Allah تعالى has sent to us for our guidance and protection.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم has said: “A man is on the religion of his friend, you should be careful who you make friends with” (Abu Daawood, At-Tirmizi). Those who choose the Ulamaa as their friends and examples will surely reach Allah تعالى on the straight path. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم has said that: “The Ulamaa are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion” (Abu Daawood, At-Tirmizi).

May Allah تعالى give us the Towfeeq to love and become close to the Ulamaa Allah تعالى has sent to us so not only we but our families benefit from them, Aameen.