In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Ever Merciful…
The great scholar, al-‘Allaamah Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah have Mercy on him), was asked the following question:
Our shaykh, may Allah preserve you, I have learned much from one of the students of knowledge, and I have become precise in that [which I learned]. Now I am between two things: If I hide that [which I learned], I fear that I would be from those who hide knowledge. If I teach it to the people in the masjid, I fear that I would be from those who teach people without having reached the [necessary] level of scholarship. What do you advise me to do? May Allah preserve you.
He replied, as found in his book, Marhaban Yaa Taalib al-‘Ilm (pp.432-444), with the following detailed and highly beneficial reply:
By Allah, we did not attain precision ourselves! How can you say, “I have become precise in that,” whilst you are still young? That would be a serious level [of accomplishment]. Do not say, “I have become proficient,” as I fear it might be self-delusion. No one should claim that he is precise. Instead, say: “I have learned something, and I want to teach it to those who need this knowledge.” Or, “I have learned the Three Principles and understood all of it.” Now go teach it to others, and make your intention sincere for Allah as it relates to this knowledge. You have learned Kitaab at-Towheed or ‘Umdat al-Ahkaam and understood it, so teach what you can, within the limits of your knowledge. Do not go into something beyond your ability. If you do not understand a question posed to you, then say, “Allah knows best.” Do not say anything on behalf of Allah without knowledge, since that is a serious matter!
“Say: The things which my Lord has forbidden are obscenities, committed openly or in private, sins, transgressions without right, that you assign a partner to Allah that He sent down no authority for, and that you speak on behalf of Allah whilst you do not have knowledge.” (7:33)
Speaking on behalf of Allah without knowledge is a most serious and terrible thing!
“And do not say with what your tongues describe with lies, ‘This is permissible; that is impermissible,” inventing lies against Allah. Those who invent lies against Allah are not successful.” (16:116)
“Whoever lies on me intentionally, let him take his seat in the Hellfire.” (al-Bukhari, no.3461)
It is not permissible to speak without knowledge. It is lying on the Messenger of Allah when you say, “The Messenger of Allah said such-and-such…” whilst you are lying. This is as serious as it can be. You could issue a verdict from your own self, one that has no basis in the Book or the Sunnah, and then you attribute it to Allah and to the Messenger thus becoming someone who lies on Allah and on His Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace).
If you actually have anything of good [knowledge] with you, I hope you could go to a teacher and have him test you, grant you an ijaazah, and give you permission to teach. Maalik (may Allah have Mercy on him) did not begin teaching or issuing verdicts until after 70 scholars said he was ready for it. If you have a university degree, this might help you, if Allah so wills. If you have no degree, then my advice to you is to present yourself to one of the righteous scholars whose knowledge, religiosity, and advice are trusted. When he says to you, “Teach such-and-such book,” something that you know about, after he has tested you and found you to be good [in understanding], then he has granted you permission.
One person came to me and said that he had memorized the six major books [of Hadeeth]. I could sense that he wanted me to recommend him [for teaching]. I told him, “I would not recommend you until after I test you.” Somebody might get an ijaazah from some teachers when he is young and poor [in understanding], and then he goes on to write recommendations and ijaazahs for children, saying: “I grant you this ijaazah,” to this [assumed] “great scholar of Hadeeth,” yet he has [accomplished] nothing at all! So I called him over and advised him, and he said, “I withdraw [my request]; I repent to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.”
I am afraid for this person who says, “I have become precise.” By Allah, I myself have not become precise. I have become an old man in the path of knowledge, yet I do not say that I have become precise! So stop making these kinds of claims, may Allah bless you.
Ash-Shaafi’ee (may Allah have Mercy on him) said, “The more knowledge I got, the more I could see myself as ignorant.”
When a scholar says, “I am a scholar,” then [you know] he is actually an ignorant person.
You must take the path of the salaf in humility, in how you look at yourself, that you are weak and ignorant. Do not say: “I am a scholar, and I have become proficient.” May Allah bless you!
Translation by: Moosaa Richardson
As found in the publication: When Allah Wants Good for Someone, pp.74-81.