‎بسم الله والحمد لله و الصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد:

From the most important means which lead to the loss/ruin of students of knowledge are:

Firstly:

Intense eagerness/desire for wealth, as the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“For every nation there is a fitnah (trial), and the fitnah for my ummah is wealth”

Secondly:

Strong desire for cheap glory, whether it be in some materialistic or dignified position, as the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“Two hungry wolves sent in the midst of a flock of sheep are no more destructive to them than a man’s greed for wealth and fame is to his deen”

Thirdly:

Being far away from knowledge with the claim of having jealousy for aiding the religion [but] without any insight nor understanding of the consequences [which come with it]. This is because legislative knowledge is a path to being safeguarded from trials and for preserving guidance. So whoever distances himself from knowledge is subject to loss/ruin.

Fourthly:

Being far away from the Scholars of the Sunnah, as no one can dispense without the scholars [he is in need of them]. So one who is distant from them will then need a substitute and thus will take the most ignorant of people as his Scholars. Then from here is where misguidance and misguiding others enters as is in the Hadith which is agreed upon.

Fifthly:

the lack of distinguishment (التميز) by sitting in gatherings with the people of desires. So thus they (the people of desires) use numerous methods/schemes with them (the students of knowledge) in order to cause their loss/ruin. From the most important of them:

Puffing them up with pride for their exploitation, then distancing them from their Scholars by creating a distaste against them and belittling their (the scholars) efforts; then bestowing material (wealth) to them (the students) along with conferring upon them magnificent titles in order to attract others by it.

Sixthly:

Some of them entering with the politicians into the affairs of politics where there is oppositions (to the Religion), and the intent is to acquire the dunya and positions (of power).

Written by

‎يحيى بن على الحجوري

Yahya bin Ali al-Hajuri

الأحد 23 من شهر صفر 1439 هجرية

Translated by: Ikram Siddiqui; Abu Saif
Edited by: Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan; Abu Sulaymaan