We Do Not Merely Recognize People Because of Certificates!
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
We Don’t Merely Recognize People Because of Certificates, But We Recognize Students of Knowledge Who Are Recognize By Scholars Due to Their Steadfastness and Service to The Sharee’ah
Al-Allaamah Siddeeq Hasan Khan [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
The aim behind the religious sciences is not to earn; rather it is for acquainting oneself with the realities of the (Islamic legislation) and to rectify one’s behaviour. The one who learns for the purpose of trade cannot be a scholar; rather he only resembles the scholars. The scholars unveiled what the drive behind this was and they spoke about it when the building of schools reached them at Baghdaad, so they held gatherings of knowledge and said: “The possessors of lofty ambitions and the pure souls used to pre-occupy themselves with it [i.e. knowledge] –those whose intention behind (seeking) knowledge was due to its nobility and the perfection (reached by way of it), so they came to the scholars to benefit from them and their knowledge. (1)
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: If one says: Through what can sincerity in seeking knowledge be [present or attained]? We say: Sincerity in seeking knowledge can be [present or attained] by making an intention for the following:
[a] The fulfilment of Allaah’s command because Allaah [The Most High] commanded it (i.e. to seek knowledge). Allaah said: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ- So know (O Muhammad) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin’’ (Surah Muhammad Ayah19)]
So Allaah [Glorified and Exalted be He] strongly urged (a person) towards acquiring knowledge. And strongly urging (someone) towards something necessitates having love for it; being pleased with it and commanding [one] to do it.
[b] To preserve Allaah’s Sharee’ah. That is because preserving Allaah’s Sharee’ah can be done by way of learning, memorization and writing.
[c] To protect and defend the Sharee’ah. That is because had it not been for the scholars no one would have protected or defended the Sharee’ah. And due to this we find the likes of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and other than him amongst the people of knowledge repelling ahlul bidah and clarifying the falsity of their innovations. We see that they reached a lot of good.
[d] To follow Muhammad’s [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] Sharee’ah. That is because it is not possible for you to follow his Sharee’ah until you learn about it. (2)
This is why we value the students at Salafipublications because – by the Tawfeeq of Allaah – they are known to the scholars for their steadfastness and consistency over the past 20 plus years. Many people appeared with certificates, but either deviated or fell into hizbiyyah, such as the likes of Suhaib Hasan, Abu Usaamah, Abu Muslimah, Yasir Qadhi, Bilal Philips and others [may Allaah rectify their affairs]. As for the students at Salafipublications and the other elder students who co-operate with them, such as the likes of Shaikh Abdul Ilaah, Shaikh Oways at-Taweel, Shaikh Hasan Somali and others, they stood firm by the Tawfeeq of Allaah. We remind the youth – including those recognized as students of knowledge amongst them – that it was these elder brothers – by the Tawfeeq of Allaah – who stood firm, work tirelessly to manifest the Salafi Dawah in the UK and refuted the likes of Ihyaa Turaath when they gathered their hizbi armies to destroy Salafiyyah in the UK. May Allaah reward them with abundant good, increase them in Thabaat and Ikhlaas Aameen.
[Ref 1: An Excerpt from (أبجد العلوم – Vol 1. pages 77-78. slightly paraphrased)]
[Ref 2: Source: Sharh Hilyah Taalib Al’Ilm’ pages16- 17. Slightly paraphrased]