Take an example from the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Prophet Harun (Aaron), peace be upon them, who were commanded by Allah to remain steadfast (istiqamah) in their mission of da‘wah (propagation of truth). Their story is mentioned in the words of Allah the Almighty:
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةًۭ وَأَمْوَٰلًۭا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ ٨٨ قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَٱسْتَقِيمَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعَآنِّ سَبِيلَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا
Moses prayed, “Our Lord! You have granted Pharaoh and his chiefs luxuries and riches in this worldly life, ˹which they abused˺ to lead people astray from Your Way! Our Lord, destroy their riches and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.” (88)
Allah responded ˹to Moses and Aaron˺,1 “Your prayer is answered! So be steadfast and do not follow the way of those who do not know.” (89) [Surah Yunus: 88–89]
Allah accepted the supplication of Prophet Musa and Prophet Harun (peace be upon them) on the condition that they remain steadfast, meaning they must continue their mission of da‘wah upon the truth, stay firm upon the straight path of Islam, not retreat, nor be swayed by worldly wealth or position.
In another chapter, Allah cursed the Children of Israel, the followers of Musa and Harun, when they failed to remain steadfast in their duty to forbid evil. Allah says:
لُعِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُۥدَ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ ٧٨ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَتَنَاهَوْنَ عَن مُّنكَرٍۢ فَعَلُوهُ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْعَلُونَ ٧٩ تَرَىٰ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ لَبِئْسَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لَهُمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ أَن سَخِطَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِى ٱلْعَذَابِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ ٨٠ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلنَّبِىِّ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَا ٱتَّخَذُوهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ ٨١
“The disbelievers among the Children of Israel were condemned in the revelations of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was for their disobedience and violations. (78)
“They did not forbid one another from doing evil. Evil indeed was what they did! (79)
“You see many of them taking the disbelievers as allies. Truly wicked are their misdeeds, which have earned them Allah’s wrath. And they will be in everlasting torment. (80)
Had they believed in Allah, the Prophet, and what has been revealed to him, they would have never taken those ˹pagans˺ as allies. But most of them are rebellious. (81) [Surah al-Mā’idah: 78–81]
This passage is further explained by a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ narrated by Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him):
(Reported by Abu Dawud in Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 4336; al-Tirmidhi, no. 3048; and Ibn Majah, no. 4006)
Among the scholars of Bani Israel, those who ceased to enjoin good and forbid evil. At first, they admonished those who did wrong.
But when they saw that the people persisted, they stopped advising and instead socialized with them, attending their feasts and gatherings.
Eventually, they became complicit in the sin, and Allah cursed them in the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and finally in the Qur’an revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Allah also warns:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ ١٥٩ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَأَصْلَحُوا۟ وَبَيَّنُوا۟ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ١٦٠
“Those who hide the clear proofs and guidance that We have revealed after We made it clear for humanity in the Book will be condemned by Allah and ˹all˺ those who condemn.” (159)
“As for those who repent, mend their ways, and let the truth be known, they are the ones to whom I will turn ˹in forgiveness˺, for I am the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.” (160) [Surah al-Baqarah: 159–160]
This is a stern warning to the scholars who conceal the truth of Islam, who betray the trust of sacred knowledge for worldly gain. Whatever they consume for sustenance is nothing but fire in their bellies. Allah says:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًا ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ١٧٤ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ ١٧٥ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ نَزَّلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَفِى شِقَاقٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ ١٧٦
Indeed, those who hide Allah’s revelations, trading them for a fleeting gain consume nothing but fire into their bellies. Allah will neither speak to them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them. And they will suffer a painful punishment. (174)
“They are the ones who trade guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for punishment. How persistent are they in pursuit of the Fire! (175)
“That is because Allah has revealed the Book in truth. And surely those who differ regarding it are totally engrossed in opposition. (176)” [Surah al-Baqarah: 174–176]
That is a stern warning to the scholars who earn their livelihood by concealing the true teachings of Islam, to the point that whatever they fill their stomachs with is, in fact, the fire of Hell.
How bold they are to throw themselves into Hell by selling the religion of Allah in exchange for misguidance!
In another verse, Allah likens them to a dog that constantly remembers food and is always in a state of hunger due to its excessive appetite. Allah the Almighty says:
وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَٱنسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ ١٧٥ وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَـٰهُ بِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث ۚ ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا ۚ فَٱقْصُصِ ٱلْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ١٧٦ سَآءَ مَثَلًا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَأَنفُسَهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَظْلِمُونَ ١٧٧
“And relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of the one to whom We gave Our signs, but he abandoned them, so Satan took hold of him, and he became a deviant. (175)
“If We had willed, We would have elevated him with Our signs, but he clung to this life—following his evil desires. His example is that of a dog: if you chase it away, it pants, and if you leave it, it ˹still˺ pants. This is the example of the people who deny Our signs. So narrate ˹to them˺ stories ˹of the past˺, so perhaps they will reflect. (176)
“What an evil example of those who denied Our signs! They ˹only˺ wronged their own souls.” (177)
[Surah al-A‘rāf: 175–177]
The above verse tells the story of a well-known scholar among the earlier nations named Bal‘am bin Ba‘ura’, who was deceived and tempted by Satan, who drove him from behind even though he appeared to be leading from the front.
He was seduced by the pleasures of worldly life until he became enslaved by his desires—like a dog that constantly licks its tongue, waiting for the scraps of food thrown to it.
How despicable, like a filthy animal.
Steadfastness (istiqāmah) is also made obligatory upon Rasulullah ﷺ and his followers. Allah the Almighty says:
فَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ ١١٢ وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ ١١٣
“So be steadfast as you are commanded ˹O Prophet˺, along with those who turn ˹in submission to Allah˺ with you. And do not transgress. Surely He is All-Seeing of what you ˹believers˺ do.” (112)
“And do not be inclined to the wrongdoers or you will be touched by the Fire. For then you would have no protectors other than Allah, nor would you be helped.” (113) [Surah Hud: 112–113]
Scholars are therefore central to the integrity of the Muslim community — like salt in food: if the salt is pure, the dish is good; if it spoils, the dish is ruined.
Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) divided scholars into two types in Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din:
- The Scholars of the Hereafter, who seek eternal happiness in the afterlife.
- The Scholars of the World, who pursue worldly ease and recognition.
Allah says:
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـٰسِكَكُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًۭا ۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍۢ ٢٠٠ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٢٠١ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ ٢٠٢
“When you have fulfilled your sacred rites, praise Allah as you used to praise your forefathers ˹before Islam˺, or even more passionately. There are some who say, “Our Lord! Grant us ˹Your bounties˺ in this world,” but they will have no share in the Hereafter. (200)
“Yet there are others who say, “Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” (201)
“It is they who will receive a ˹heavenly˺ reward for the good they have done. And Allah is swift in reckoning..” (202) [Surah al-Baqarah: 200–202]
After the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, Allah reminded the believers:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِي۟ن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ ٱنقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَـٰبِكُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ ٱللَّهَ شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسَيَجْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ١٤٤ وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ كِتَـٰبًۭا مُّؤَجَّلًۭا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِۦ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِى ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ١٤٥
“Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him. If he were to die or to be killed, would you regress into disbelief? Those who do so will not harm Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward those who are grateful.” (144)
“No soul can ever die without Allah’s Will at the destined time. Those who desire worldly gain, We will let them have it, and those who desire heavenly reward, We will grant it to them. And We will reward those who are grateful.” (145) [Surah Āli ‘Imrān: 144–145]
Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
فَإِنَّ الأَمْرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيَ عَن الْمُنْكَرِ لَا يُقَرِّبَانِ مِنْ أَجَلٍ، وَلَا يُنْقِصَانِ مِنْ رِزْقٍ
“Indeed, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong neither hastens death nor diminishes one’s sustenance.”
How weak, then, is the faith of a scholar who fears men more than he fears Allah in performing this duty of amr ma‘ruf and nahi munkar (commanding good and forbidding evil). Allah warns:
قُلْ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلٌ ٱقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَـٰرَةٌۭ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍۢ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If your parents and children and siblings and spouses and extended family and the wealth you have acquired and the trade you fear will decline and the homes you cherish—˹if all these˺ are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and struggling in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His Will. Allah does not guide the rebellious people.”” [Surah al-Tawbah: 24]
All four great Imams of Islamic jurisprudence, Abu Hanifah, Malik, al-Shafi‘i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy upon them all), are honoured for their steadfastness in facing tyrannical rulers of their times.
- Imam Abu Hanifah died in prison.
- Imam Malik was beaten until his arm was paralyzed.
- Imam al-Shafi‘i was shackled and chained.
- Imam Ahmad was flogged until his body bled.
When Imam Ahmad’s students urged him to conceal his true stance (taqiyyah) to save himself, he replied firmly:
إِذَا سَكَتَ الْعَالِمُ تَقِيَّةً، وَالْجَاهِلُ يَجْهَلُ، فَمَتَى يَتَبَيَّنُ الْحَقّ؟
“If the scholar keeps silent out of fear, and the ignorant remain ignorant, when then will the truth ever be made manifest?”
Thus, scholars who remain silent before tyranny and corruption are likened to mute devils, for their silence misleads the people into believing falsehood to be truth.
Indeed, Islam is the highest and most honourable path for the believer, above personal safety and worldly interests.
ABDUL HADI AWANG
President of the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS)
About the Author
