Benefit From The Scholars Before It's Too Late

Sheikh Ṣāliḥ Āl Ash-Sheikh ḥafidhahullāh says: "How often have we wept over the loss of scholars whom we encountered but from whom we did not learn, or those whom we heard of and wished we could have met! People often disregard scholars because they are among them, because they are still alive. Yet, when these scholars pass away, their hearts are stirred with sorrow. Why do I see your scholars departing, yet your ignorant remain uneducated? Today, we have scholars who are the elites among this Ummah—experts in Fiqh, Tawheed, ḥadith and Islamic sciences. We see them passing away, and yet the people who seek knowledge from them are few. Why is this so? Why are there so many young people, so many who are practicing, yet so many of them remain idle and do not seek out the scholars to learn from? Why? The Ummah today is in dire need of scholars who can teach and nurture. Abu Darda once said: "Why do I see your scholars departing, yet your ignorant remain uneducated?" Without a doubt, during the time of the Companions, there were many scholars. In the era of the Tabi'een, the population grew, but if the number of scholars is small, they will not be able to meet the needs of the people. Today, how many scholars do we have? Ten, twenty, thirty, fifty? But in ten years, what will be the population of this country? How many people will there be? Perhaps thirty or forty million, for example. Who will educate them? Can a single person do this? Can ten or a hundred people manage this? What will be the state of the Ummah, east, west, north, and south? There is no doubt that they are in need of you, in need of those who have acquired knowledge from its rightful people and then teach it. Therefore, I advise myself and all of you to keep this advice close to your hearts: learn and take knowledge from the scholars today. A time will come—ten, twenty, or thirty years from now—when people will search for a scholar and may not find one who is well-versed in knowledge, speech, and action, who is learned in what they say. Look around at other countries: you will see many who speak on matters of knowledge, but their words are not precise, and those whose words align with the Qur'ān and Sunnah are rare. Why is this? Because knowledge has been lost, and the ignorant have not learned. The people are increasing in number, but they are not learning. So heed the advice of Abu Darda, for he was wise, sincere, and compassionate when he said: "Why do I see your scholars departing, yet your ignorant remain uneducated?" Learn, for the scholar and the student share in the reward. There is no doubt that this is a matter that breaks our hearts when we recall the words of the chosen one ﷺ: “Indeed, Allāh does not take away knowledge by removing it from the hearts of the scholars, but by the death of the scholars until, when no scholar remains...people will take ignorant ones as their leaders. They will be asked, and they will give fatwas without knowledge, leading themselves and others astray.” Surely, this is a frightening prospect. Therefore, young people, seek knowledge from the scholars. Those of you who have time, who have the capacity, who are perceptive, and who understand—turn to the scholars, learn from them, and persevere for many years, for the people in your village, in your city, in your neighborhood are in need of students of knowledge more than they need food and drink!!! @madrasatuna