بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

There is a tendency in some people to hold those people in high esteem, who are supposedly knowledgeable in religious doctrine, and follow them in religious matters. Sectarian labeled Muslims have divided themselves into groups based on which Imam’s teachings they follow.  The people who are followed are usually awarded lofty titles e.g mufti, imam, ayatullah, ulamas, bishop, cardinals, rabbis, etc

These knowledgeable people/Ulamas often write books of religious practice (sharia) and practically for a common man, the religion becomes following this sharia/practice. Little that people know that when they are following sharia, they are in effect not following the sharia of the Book of Allah but the sharia of the religious leaders of their particular sect. While Allah categorically declares the makers of all these sharias as the partners who are strictly forbidden in Allah’s religion (42:21).

A majority of Ulamas lead people astray from true Din/Judgment of Allah (9:34). There is a book of guidance given to everyone (Al-Kitab), however, instead of following this guidance, people like to follow big names in religion who give the impression that a common man is unable to pursue the right path on his own and must follow someone knowledgeable in religious matters.

The true believers are basically wali/protectors of each other as they advise/correct each other with Allah’s ayahs. Its is not always one way traffic for the believers that a more knowledgeable person can correct/advise people and not vice versa.

7:3    اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

“Follow,  the revelation given to you from your Lord, and follow not, as Aulia /(spritual) protectors, other than Him. Little among you pay heed to admonition.”

Majority of Ulama’s take people’s money and devour it with falsehood. They terrorize people’s hearts for extorting money. Also, they propagate their own, mostly sectarian version of religion instead of conveying Allah’s path.

9:34   يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

“O’ you who believe surely the majority from Ahbar / the scholars and Rohban / the terrorists definitely eat the wealth of the people with falsehood and they oppose about the way of Allah and, those people who hoard gold and silver (money) and they do not spend it in the way of Allah, then give them the tidings of the grievous punishment.”

A portion of  Ulamas i.e the supposedly knowledgeable religious people give the impression that what they are saying is from the Book of Allah, which actually is not from the Book, it only looks or sounds similar to the Book.

3:78   وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

“There is among them a section who distort their tongues with the Book so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book; and they say, “That is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah. It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and they know it!”

6:114   أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ

“Say,  shall I seek a judge  other than Allah? – when He is Who has sent unto you the Book, explained in detail.” Those know fully well, to whom We have given the Book, that it has been sent down from your Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt.

The above ayat answers the question and give reason to the question, why a judge other than Allah,  shouldn’t be sought, the reason is because Allah has sent down a detailed book.

2:166- 167   إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

“Then would those who are followed clear themselves of those who follow (them) . They would see the penalty, and all relations between them would be cut off. And those who followed would say. “If only We had one more chance, We would clear ourselves of them, as they have cleared themselves of us.” Thus will Allah show them (The fruits of) their deeds as (nothing but) regrets. Nor will there be a way for them out of the Fire.”

As above ayas state that those who were following supposedly knowledgeable people,  will realize their mistake on the day of judgment.

Then there are religious grand Mufti’s who issue Fatwa for various issues and write Books of Sharia. They give the impression that by following the Fatwa or their Sharia book,  the responsibility will be on the Mufti absolving the followers of the responsibility of making that decision. The below ayat covers that issue:

29: 12-13  وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّبِعُوا سَبِيلَنَا وَلْنَحْمِلْ خَطَايَاكُمْ وَمَا هُم بِحَامِلِينَ مِنْ خَطَايَاهُم مِّن شَيْءٍ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ وَلَيَحْمِلُنَّ أَثْقَالَهُمْ وَأَثْقَالًا مَّعَ أَثْقَالِهِمْ ۖ وَلَيُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ

“And the people who did Kufr/covered said to the people who believed. “Follow our path, and we will certainly bear the burden of your faults.” and they shall not be bearing the burden of their faults. Certainly they are liars! They will bear their own burdens, and (other) burdens along with their own, and on the Day of Judgments they will be called to account for their falsehoods.”

Then on the day of judgment, the followers and followed ones, both will be present and the followers will ask, that we but followed you as you asked us to do. So, is there a way you can help, but alas there will be no help for them.

14:21   وَبَرَزُوا لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا لَوْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَاكُمْ ۖ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْنَا أَجَزِعْنَا أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ

“They will all be presented before Allah together. then will the weak ones say to those who were arrogant, “For us, we but followed you; can ye then avail us to all against the wrath of Allah?” They will reply, “If we had received the Guidance of Allah, we should have given it to you. to us it makes no difference (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience. for ourselves there is no way of escape.”

34:33   وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا بَلْ مَكْرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَا أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَغْلَالَ فِي أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

“Those who had been weak (lesser in knowledge) will say to the arrogant ones. “Nay! it was a plot (of yours) by day and by night. Behold! you (constantly) ordered us to negate Allah and to attribute equals to Him!” They will declare (their) repentance when they see the Penalty. We shall put yokes on the necks of the Unbelievers. It would only be a requital for their (ill) Deeds.”

When on the day of judgment, the followed ones will disassociate them selves with the followers, the followers will complain that you engaged us day and night in your fraud to cover Allah’s Ayats and attribute others to Allah.

42:21   أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ الْفَصْلِ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“What! have they partners, who have established for them some ways in religion (Shariat)  without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong-doers will have a grievous Penalty.”

Those people who make Shariat/Practices, are the Shuraka/Partners as stated by above Ayat.

Quran is Allah’s Book and the saying/Qaul of the Messenger (69:40-46). The Messenger has conveyed Quran to the people not the other Hadith books which are attributed to the Messenger. On the day of Judgment people who followed people with big names, will say wistfully that they should have obeyed Allah and the Messenger, instead of following the their Syeds and Big names;

33:66-67   يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا

وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا

“The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say. “Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the messenger!”  And they would say. “Our Lord! Verily We obeyed our Syeds/chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us as from the (right) Path.”

The true believers are aualia’s/patrons to one another. Its basically a two way traffic. That is one can correct the other with the help of Ayas. Momineen who are patrons of each other for every advise/order will give reference of relevant Ayas of Allah’s Book.

9:71   وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“The Believers, men and women, some are Wali/protectors of some. They enjoin with what is Maroof( recognized ), and forbid what is Munkar (Not recognized/impostor). they establish prayers, give zakat/justification, and obey Allah and His messenger. On them  Allah will soon pour His mercy. for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.”

Other related Ayas are 10:35, 40:47-48, 16:25