Q: I would like to know that when the word Aalim or Ulama’ are used in the Quraan or Hadith, does it refer to any person who did the Aalim course or somebody else?
A: When the word Ulama’ is mentioned in the Qur’an, it refers to those who posses such fear of Allah Ta’ala within them that causes them to refrain from sin, uphold the laws of Shari’ah and adhere to the Mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in every facet of their lives whether they be from among the lay man or the formal Ulama’. It does not refer to the one who pursued a Deeni course in some university or formally qualified as an Aalim or Mufti in any Madrasah.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ ﴿فاطر: ٢٨﴾
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)