Blind following of misguidance - Part 6

The predominant reason for people falling into misguidance is their lack of grounding in aqeedah (belief). When a scholar makes a mistake, then because you understand that they are not infallible, you don’t have to necessarily hold them accountable. I use the word “necessarily” only as a qualification that not all mistakes can be overlooked without it being important to correct it.

Great scholars of the past have made mistakes, but when it comes to mistakes of belief then you have to be a little wary. More so when someone repeats those type of mistakes. When mistakes in aqeedah are not questioned, and you carry on as normal, then this is when you can call such a group a cult. A cult: a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object. So, therein lies a danger for those not well grounded in belief.

Every scholar has its limits in knowledge to the extent that grand imams like Imam Malik bin Anas who often would answer “I do not know” to questions even though he had such a high stature. Actually, it is through his knowledge and his accompanied diligence and humility that he gained that rank. Today, everyone has answers for everything, and their knowledge is less than a drop in the ocean of true scholars. The view of the great imams was always that if I say something which is not in conformity with an authentic hadith, then my understanding is null and void and you must take the authentic hadith. Another point that is important is how, from a knowledge (transmission) point of view, we arrived here. This is an important point because, in short, there is a chain (of transmitters, narrators, teachers) that preserved knowledge for us. Any scholar, worth his salt, will know this and not belittle this. Such a person is lacking. Yet, it is cultish behaviour to not be teachable on the truth but hang onto every dear word of your sheikh.

The primary sources of information are Quran and Sunnah. These cannot be disputed except by the ignorant who lack understanding and have issues in belief. The influence of orientalists has caused some to question or belittle hadith. However, this is in itself a core aqeedah issue which can be decisive whether or not you are within the fold of Islam.

 

See previous: https://capemuslimspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/blind-following-of-misguidance-part-5.html

 

See next:    The Cape Muslim Dialogue: Blind following of misguidance - Part 7

    

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