“And fear such a fitnah (divine punishment) which will most assuredly not be restricted to only the (flagrant) transgressors. And, know that verily Allah is severe in punishment.” (Qur’aan)

When the guardians of the Shariah – the Ulama – follow in the footsteps of the priests and monks of the Yahood and Nasaara, by abstaining from Amr Bil Ma’roof, Nahy Anil Munkar and with their silence when the Haqq of Islam is being distorted and trampled on by professed Muslims, then such Ulama slide into the camp of the Ulama-e-Soo’ (the evil scholars). This Qur’aanic aayat, in particular, refers to the Ulama-e-Soo’. Furthermore, within the scope of this divine warning come even the very pious worshippers who consciously follow the Deen, but abstain from Amr Bil Ma’roof Nahy anil Munkar. They become desensitized in their evil environment. They begin to socialize and fraternize with the flagrant violators of the Shariah. They condone the acts of transgression of the wealthy and manufacture decrees (fataawa) of permissibility for their wrong-doings to ensure there is no cessation of donations and gifts. Such pious worshippers will also be caught in the whirlwind of divine chastisement when it overtakes the community. They will find no succour.

Hadhrat Aishah (radhiyallahu anha) narrated that Allah Ta’ala commanded Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) to destroy a city in which there lived 20,000 saintly persons whose A’maal-e-Saalihah (Pious Deeds) were like the deeds of Ambiya. When Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) queried the secret underlying this Divine Command, Allah Ta’ala informed him that these Aabideen (pious worshippers) abstained from Amr Bil Ma’roof Nahy Anil Munkar. They fraternized and associated with the flagrant transgressors. They responded to their haraam wedding invitations and other merry-making functions, and consumed the mal-oon (accursed) food served at these evil functions. This ‘hikmat’ (satanic diplomacy) which is the hallmark of the Ulama-e-Soo’ of our time, led to the ruin and destruction of even these 20,000 Aabideen.

The Ulama should divert their gaze from the pockets of their donors, and focus it on Allah Azza Wa Jal. The projects of the Deen will operate, continue, expand or decrease according to the decree of Allah Ta’ala. The safeguarding of the Deen is Allah’s responsibility. The responsibility of the Muslim is to only ensure that he maintains himself strictly within the limits of the Shariah.

“Say: Nothing befalls us except what Allah has decreed for us. He is our protector. Thus, the Mu’minoon should have trust on Allah.” (Qur’aan)