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The Scholar and the Ihya
A Scholar’s Journey to Truth
Reading time: 2 minutes
Knowledge without action is wastefulness, and action without knowledge is foolishness
It is said that a sign of true scholars is their love for Imam Ghazali and his books, while the sign of corrupt scholars is their hatred for these same works.
Imam Ghazali exposed the shortcomings of worldly scholars who prioritized worldly recognition over truth through his writings.
Therefore, encountering someone who dislikes Imam Ghazali should raise caution.
A renowned Moroccan scholar, despite his fame, forbade the reading of Imam Ghazali's "Ihya Ulum-id-Din" (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) and ordered all copies to be burned.
The week before this burning was supposed to occur, the scholar had a dream.
He saw himself in the central mosque, where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was present, along with Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA), and Uthman(RA).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) declared the scholar his adversary.
The scholar pleaded that he would repent if the "Ihya" contained any benefit or aligned with the Prophet's (peace be upon him) Sunnah.
However, if his actions were justified, he sought redress against his opponent (Imam Ghazali, in the dream).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) took the "Ihya" and examined it page by page, declaring it "good."
He then passed it to Abu Bakr, who scrutinized it page by page before agreeing.
Passing it along, Umar and Uthman, in turn, reviewed the book page by page, each adding their affirmation to its merit.
Subsequently, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the scholar to be punished for his transgression.
In the dream, the scholar was flogged five times, leaving visible marks on his back.
Abu Bakr then interceded, suggesting the scholar might have mistakenly believed the book contradicted the Sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted this intercession.
The scholar awoke with the welts from the dream flogging still visible on his back.
He publicly repented, acknowledging his error. He then immersed himself in the "Ihya," reading it cover to cover, and became one of Imam Ghazali's most devoted supporters.
The pain from the whipping, however, persisted for some time.
Realizing the gravity of his situation, the scholar turned to Allah, repeatedly seeking the Prophet's (peace be upon him) intercession.
Finally, he saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) in another dream.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) touched the injured area, and the scholar awoke the following day free from pain.
He continued to recite the "Ihya" and became a great scholar through Allah's grace, possessing both inward and outward knowledge.
Even as his body was being prepared for burial, those who washed him turned him over. To their astonishment, the marks of the dream-whip were still visible.
This powerful story serves as a reminder to approach scholarly works and the people of Allah humbly.
Listening and learning from them with an open mind, seeking understanding rather than resorting to rejection based on personal biases.
Reflection:
How can you cultivate a mindset that values continuous learning and the wisdom of past scholars?
What did you think of today's reflection? |
🕯️ Inspiration:
🤲 Make Du’a for Dina 🤲
﷽
Ya Allah, Most Generous and Merciful, bless Dina and her efforts in organizing this inaugural community Iftar. Fill it with kheir, barakah, and unity. Make it a gathering of love, generosity, and remembrance of You.
Oh Allah, let this Iftar strengthen bonds within the community, bring hearts closer, and be a means of spreading goodness. Accept the efforts of all involved, and grant them immense reward in this life and the Hereafter.
Ameen.🤲🏽
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🍉 WatermelonWatch 🍉
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