To the People of Knowledge and Understanding Number (10) Year (1) Dhu al-Hijjah 1375 AH Jumada al-Akhirah 1956 AD ---A Counsel to the Scholars of the Nation Authored by: Sheikh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti May Allah have mercy on him In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the noblest of prophets and messengers, and upon his family and all his companions.

To proceed: Indeed, Allah Almighty sent Muhammad, peace be upon him, with guidance and the religion of truth. He revealed to him His glorious Book, and this upright religion of ours did not come with mere assumptions, nor with selfish agendas, nor with the whims of the soul. Rather, it came with clear proofs and guidance, and it came so that Allah might be worshipped with sincere devotion to Him.

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, carried out his Lord's command, clarified to the people what was revealed to him, and exerted his utmost effort in conveying his Lord's message. He left the people on a clear path, as clear as its night and day, and only the doomed would stray from it.

Then his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, rose to the task of clarification and spreading knowledge, and they conveyed the religion of Allah. Then came the Successors, then the Successors of the Successors, and then those after them until this day.

And we have been granted knowledge that was not granted to those before us, and praise be to Allah. Indeed, the Islamic nation has been granted sciences that were not granted to nations before it, and Allah has granted us success in knowledge and understanding.

Despite this, counsel is obligatory, and counsel is for the sake of counsel, and counsel for all Muslims, and counsel for the scholars, and counsel for the youth, and counsel for the workers, and counsel for the young ones. All of these need counsel.

So I say to the people of knowledge and understanding: The knowledge that you have inherited from your Prophet, peace be upon him, is great knowledge, a trust upon your necks that you must fulfill.

And I have seen some matters in our land, so I wanted to advise my brothers from the people of knowledge, and these are: 1. **Sincerity of Intention to Allah Almighty:** For Allah Almighty has commanded nothing but worship, and He commanded us to worship Him with sincere devotion to Him, as upright believers. This is what brings benefit, and the desired benefit. For whoever makes his deeds sincere for Allah, Allah will bless them. Whoever seeks the face of Allah and the Hereafter with his knowledge, Allah will benefit him through it, otherwise not.

2. **Returning to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him:** For the Book and the Sunnah are the origin, and whatever is besides them is secondary. And whatever is authentic in the Book and the Sunnah, no one should contradict it. And whatever is not authentic in them is a field for ijtihad (independent reasoning). For Allah Almighty said: **{And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day.}** [An-Nisa: 59].

3. **Humility and Abandoning Arrogance:** For arrogance is one of the attributes of Iblis, and it is one of the greatest impediments to knowledge. A humble scholar is a beneficial scholar, and one whose status is elevated with his Lord and with His servants. And Allah Almighty said: **{And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth apart, nor will you reach the mountains in height.}** [Al-Isra: 37]. And Allah Almighty said: **{And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk on the earth in humility.}** [Al-Furqan: 63].

4. **Acting upon what you know:** For knowledge without action is like a body without a soul. And Allah Almighty will hold His servants accountable for their knowledge. So whoever knows something, it is obligatory for him to act upon it. And Allah Almighty said: **{O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.}** [As-Saff: 2-3].

5. **Gentleness and Kindness in Calling to Allah:** For Allah Almighty commanded Moses and Aaron, peace be upon them, to go to Pharaoh and to be gentle with him, even though he was one of the greatest tyrants. So Allah Almighty said: **{And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].}** [Taha: 44]. If this is the case with Pharaoh, then how about with Muslims? So the call to Allah is not with harshness or violence, but with gentleness, kindness, wisdom, and good counsel.

6. **Warning against Innovations and Superstitions:** For innovations and superstitions are from the religion of Satan, and they are what weaken Muslims and destroy them. For innovations are the introduction of matters into the religion that Allah has not permitted, and they are from the adornment of Satan. And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire." So it is incumbent upon scholars to warn against innovations and to explain their reality to the people.

7. **Deliberation in Matters and Not Rushing:** For knowledge requires deliberation, contemplation, and reflection. And a scholar should not rush in judgment or in issuing a fatwa. Rather, he must be patient, firm, and research. For Allah Almighty says: **{O you who have believed, when you go forth to strive in the cause of Allah, investigate.}** [An-Nisa: 94].

8. **Cooperation in Goodness and Piety:** For the Islamic nation is strong as long as it cooperates. And scholars must cooperate among themselves in spreading knowledge and defending the religion. And Allah Almighty said: **{And cooperate in righteousness and piety.}** [Al-Ma'idah: 2].

9. **Adorning Oneself with Good Morals:** For knowledge does not elevate its possessor unless he is adorned with good morals. So a scholar must be a good example for the people. And he must be characterized by truthfulness, trustworthiness, sincerity, humility, gentleness, and kindness.

I conclude my words by saying: To my brothers from the people of knowledge, may Allah grant you success, steadfastness upon the truth, and guide your steps. You are the carriers of the message of Islam, and the people of Allah on His earth. So be worthy of the responsibility, be excellent role models, and be a light and guidance for the nation. And our last prayer is that all praise is for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. ---Publisher: The Islamic Charitable Society for Preaching and Guidance Al-Manhajiya Presses – Riyadh