High Status of Ulema in Islam
1 Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) said: Allah The Sublime has termed casting a look at
the houses of Ulema as "Ibadah". (Uddatud Da'ee)
2. Whenever you go to an Aalim (learned man) and there are people along side him.
Say salam to all but specially to the aalim with respect. (Kafi)
3. Hazrat Imam Jafer sadiq (AS) said that an aalim (learned man) is supreme than one
thousand worshippers and devotees. And an aalim from whose knowledge people get
advantage is supreme than the worship of 70, 000 worshippers. (kalma e Tayyabah)
4. Hazrat Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) said Allah would weigh the ink of the pen of ulema
(learned man) with the blood of martyrs on the Day of Judgment. The ink of the pen
of ulema will overcome the blood of martyrs. (kalma e Tayyabah)
5. Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP) said that supremacy of an aalim (learned man) over an
aabid (worshipper) is like that of sun over stars. And supremacy of a worshipper over
others is like that of moon over stars. (kalma e Tayyabah)
6. Aaimmah (AS) said that ziarat of ulema is favourite in the sight of Allah than 70
circumambulation of Holy Ka'aba and is better than 70 accepted hajj and umrah.
Allah elevates 70 grades for him and showers his mercy upon him and angles give
evidence that paradise is obligatory upon him. (Iddatud Da'ee)
7. Hazrat Imam Moosa Kazim (AS) said if it is not possible to visit our graves then
visit virtuous momneen (ulma e Haqqa) - (it means he will have the same reward as if
he visits Masumeen (AS)'s Holy graves).
8. Aimmah (AS) said a momin who sits close to an aalim for a moment, Allah says
'By my honour, dignity and glory I will surely seat him (momin) with aalim (learned
man) in paradise'. (Amaali)
9. Hazrat Ameeral Momeneen (AS) said sitting with ulma (learned men) for a
moment is dearer to Allah than the worship of 1,000 years. (Iddatud Da'ee)
10. The author of Kalma e Tayyabah says example of an aalim is that of a scent seller.
At the time of meeting scent seller, a man's mind is scented with the fragrance of
scent even if he does not buy it. Likewise meeting with an aalim gives benefit.
Therefore a hadith says that to cast a look at an aalim's face is ibadat. (Kalma e
Tayyabah)
11. Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said one rakat of an aalim faqih is supreme than
70,000 rakaat of a worshipper. (Kalma e Tayyabah)
12. Aimmah (AS) said the sleep of an aalim (learned man) is worship. (Jamalus
Salehin)
13. Aimmah (AS) said angels love ulama, and pray for them, and all creatures (as
well) even the fish in rivers and animals in deserts ask forgiveness for aalim (learned
man). (Jamalus Salehin)
14. Holy prophet (PBUH&HP) said the supremacy of an aalim (learned man) over an
abid (worshipper) is like mine over lowest man from among you. Allah, angels,
residents of heavens and earth even ants in their holes and fish in rivers invoke
blessings upon the man who teaches people aml e khair (good deed). (Kalma e
Tayyabah)
15. Hazrat Ali (AS) said he who sits in the company of ulama (learned men), he will
be honoured. (Darus Salam)
'ULAMA- THE PREFERRED PEOPLE
It is related that:
[There was a great Shia'h Scholar in the days of our 10th Imam (as). Once a Nasibi (a
person who curses the Ahlul-Bayt) had a debate with this scholar and the scholar
defeated him through Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions. One day this scholar
came into a gathering, which consisted mostly of Alavids and people of Banu
Hashim; and Imam Al-Hadi (as) was also present. In the centre of that gathering,
Imam (as) was seated and there was a huge pillow placed at that spot. As soon as the
Imam (as) saw this scholar, he (as) rose from his place and asked the scholar to come
forward until the Imam (as) made him sit next to him and offered him the pillow to
relax. One old man from Banu Hashim did not like this, so he complained saying, "O
Son of the Prophet! How can you give preference to an ordinary person over a Sayyid
who belongs to the progeny of Abu Talib and Abbas?" When our Imam (as) heard
this, he (as) was extremely furious with the old man and started quoting verses from
the Holy Quran to prove the supremacy of a scholar over everyone else.
Imam (as) asked the people present there: "Do you believe the commands of Allah
in the Quran?"
They all said, "Yes!"
Then the Imam (as) said, "Hasn't Allah (SWT) said: "Allah will raise those who
have faith and those who have been given knowledge in rank..." (58:11). Then
know that just as Allah loves a Mumin over a non-Mumin, similarly, He loves a
Mumin with knowledge over a Mumin without knowledge. (Now tell me) Hasn't
Allah (SWT) also said, "Say (O Muhammad): Can those who know and those
who do not know be equal? Verily only the men of understanding take the heed".
(39:9) Then why are you people trying to stop me from giving preference to one
who has been preferred by Allah (SWT)?? This Scholar has utilized his
knowledge, which Allah (SWT) has blessed him and defeated our enemy with it.
This act is better than any family ties and relation in my eyes". ] (Al-Ihtijaaj)
The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, "The superiority of a Scholar over others is
like the superiority of a Prophet over his nation". (Kanzul-'Ummaal)
He (saww) has also said, "The –Religious- Scholars are the trustees of Allah upon
His – entire- creation". (Kanzul-'Ummaal)
OUR DUTIES TOWARDS 'ULAMA
Our duties towards our 'Ulama are: We must accord them with maximum respect;
Follow their guidance as required; Not to challenge them with our ignorance; Love
them and never show hostility towards them
The Holy Prophet (saww) has said, "Beware! Never belie a Scholar, and do not
come in confrontation against him, do not be hostile towards him and love him.
For verily their love is the sign of sincerity and hostility to them is the sign of
hypocrisy. Beware! Do not insult a Scholar. Whoever insults him insults me and
whoever insults me insults Allah and whoever insults Allah then his path is to
Hellfire. Whoever honours a Scholar, honours me. And whoever honours me,
honours Allah. And whoever honours Allah then
IMAM AS-SADIQ (AS) HONOURING THE 'ULAMA
Imam Ja'ffar as-Sadiq (as) was the most knowledgeable person of his time. Despite
this, the people who studied under him and became virtuous Scholars, Imam (as)
accorded them with maxim respect and supported them in different ways.
Abu Hamza Thumali was a companion as well as a devotee of our Imam (as). Infact
he had the honour of being with 4 Imams (as) during his lifetime. This companion
was also regarded as a Scholar of a very high calibre. Imam Ja'ffar as-Sadiq (as) used
to say: "I feel mental tranquillity on seeing him". Imam ar-Ridha (as) said of him,
"He was the Salman al-Farsi of his age". (Status of Imam as-Sadiq)
Himraan bin Aayoon. Once a most learned Syrian scholar came to our Imam (as) and
a controversy occurred in a matter. Imam (as) ordered Himraan to argue with the
Syrian. He managed to do so with such skills that the Syrian was dumbfounded. It is
also related that once our Imam (as) was in Hajj when Bukeer, the brother of Himraan
came to our Imam (as) and conveyed his brother's salaams to him. Imam (as) said ,
"Himraan belongs to the people of Paradise and his faith is unshakeable".
(Status of Imam as-Sadiq)