In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Beware of the disease of the despots (a) because pride, avarice and envy were the first (sins) Allaah was disobeyed with. (b) So, raising yourself above your teacher is pride (c), being arrogant towards the one who benefits you from amongst those who are below you is pride, (d) and falling short in acting upon knowledge is a sludge of pride and an indication of being deprived. (d)

Short Comments –

By Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him]

(a) The Prophet said, “Pride is to reject the truth and mock at the people”. (b) This refers to shaytaan’s behaviour when he was commanded to prostrate to Adam, but pride prevented him from doing so. He refused and was haughty. (c) Raising oneself can either be by way of the tongue and it can also be by way of sentiments (feelings, attitude, behaviour etc). He [i.e. the student] maybe walking with his teacher, whilst swaggering and saying, “I did this, and I did this”. (d) Likewise, being arrogant towards the one who is below you in knowledge is pride. This also occurs from some of the students, and if someone below him in knowledge informs him of something, you find him arrogant and does not accept. We ask Allaah for well-being because from the types of pride is to not act upon the knowledge one knows. [An Excerpt from ‘Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 38-40]

There are those who mention the importance of the scholars to the common people, whilst seeking – by way of that – to indirectly raise themselves and patronise those who preceded them in knowledge and Dawah, and are worthy to be their teachers. Indeed, “Raising yourself above your teacher is pride”.

They seek to indirectly patronise the elder students in their private conversations – those well known to Al Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadee, who recognised their efforts and steadfastness, and well known to Al Allaamah Rabee and Al Allaamah Ubaid Bin Abdillaah Al Jaabiri for nearly three decades due to their continuous firmness upon the Sunnah, aiding its scholars and Maraakiz- and indirectly insinuating that their reality would have been unveiled if compared to those who attained such and such certificates at such and such institution. So, when you come across a graduate who speaks in this manner, then remind him of the statements of Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] on this link: https://salaficentre.com/2022/05/09/doctorate-or-degree-in-shareeah-does-not-automatically-give-you-understanding-superior-to-that-of-other-people-recognized-as-students-of-knowledge-by-scholars/

Secondly, some the present day patronizers, even if they have reached the age of forty at present, were still boys in UK secondary schools when the elder UK students started seeking knowledge – some travelled to Yemen to sit with Al-Allaamah Muqbil Bin Haadee [may Allaah have mercy upon him], some travelled to Saudi and benefitted from Al Allamah Hammaad Al Ansaaree and Al Allaamah Umar Fulaata [may Allaah have mercy upon them], and others, for nearly three decades, regularly visited Saudi to benefit from Al Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadee and Al Allaamah Ubaid Bin Abdillaah al-Jaabiri [may Allaah preserve them and all the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah], until they were praised and trusted by these great scholars of our era.

So,  when you come across anyone who inflates his 6 year degree or certificate in Sharee’ah attained at any Islamic Institution, and then indirectly seeks to patronise the elder UK students or claim that their reality would have been unveiled if they sat with those who have obtained such and such degree, then remind him that neither himself nor his ilk can judge those whom Al-Allaamah Rabee, Al-Allaamah Ubaid and Al-Allaamah Hasan al Bannah  have already judged, and advised us to take their advice. Visit links:

https://salaficentre.com/2022/05/11/preserved-historical-record-position-of-elder-uk-students-of-knowledge-can-never-be-obscured/

https://salaficentre.com/2022/04/30/shaikh-an-old-man-a-righteous-man-or-a-man-recognised-by-scholar-as-one-with-islamic-knowledge/

Finally, remind him that the majority of the local Fitan was ignited by those who studied at institutions, raised the scholars, transmitted their books and patronized the elder UK students. We all know the likes of Suhaib Hasan, Bilal Philips, Abu Usaamah, Abu Muslimah, Saeed Muhammad, Muhammad Munir and others [may Allah guide them] – those whose certificates did not prevent them from deviation. Therefore, inform those – at present – who seek to inflate their certificates and patronize the elder UK students that the majority of the fitan in the UK was started by graduates and not by the bona fide elder UK students- the students at Maktabah Salafiyyah and elsewhere – and are trusted and praised by the scholars, and they are still upon the sound Salafi Manhaj. May Allaah protect us and them, grant us Ikhlaas, Thabaat and Husnul Khaatimah Aameen.

And Allaah knows best.