By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Sunday, September 13, 2026
In the Name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful
All praise be to Allah, the Absolute Truth, the Manifest, who guides from misguidance, teaches from ignorance, and leads the Muslim believers from darkness into light. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace abundantly.
Dear brothers and sisters! Is there a trial in this world greater and more dangerous than the deception of the False Messiah, the Antichrist, the Dajjal? One day, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
“Is there anything I fear for my Ummah more than the Dajjal (The Antichrist)?” Abu Zar al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what do you fear for your Ummah more than the Dajjal (The Antichrist)?” He replied, “Misleading Islamic scholars.” [This Hadith was reported by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad]
Respected brothers and sisters! The misleading Islamic scholars, the heads of misguidance, have gone astray and led others astray, bearing the ornamentation of speech, and they adorn falsehood, making it prevalent among the gullible people, among the common people. A misleader might be an ignorant leader whom people have taken as a guide, thus he becomes a leader of misguidance for the ignorant, as the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) told us:
“Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but takes it away by taking the Islamic scholars away. When no Islamic scholar remains, people will take as their leaders ignorant heads, who, when consulted, will give verdicts without knowledge, thus they will go astray and lead others astray.” [This Hadith was reported by both Bukhari and Muslim]
Fellow servants of Allah! A misleader might also be someone whom Allah has given knowledge, yet he sold his religion for a trivial gain from this world and followed his desires, like Bal’am son of Ba’urah, whom Allah has set as an example in the Qur’an. Allah the Almighty says:
“Recite to them the story of the one to whom We gave Our signs, but he detached himself from them; so Satan followed him, and he became of the misguided. And if We had willed, We could have elevated him thereby, but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires. His example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he still pants. Such is the example of the people who deny Our signs. So relate the stories that perhaps they will reflect.” [Surah Al-A’raf: 175-176]
Yes, he was given knowledge, but yet he detached from it and did not act upon it; instead, he clung to the worldly life and its desires, thus he went astray and led others astray from the Straight Path.
Dear servants of Allah! Allah took a covenant from the Islamic scholars of the Children of Israel to act according to the knowledge Allah gave them, to convey it to the people, and not to hide it. However, they broke these covenants and oaths. Allah the Most High says:
“And recall when Allah took the covenant of those who were given the Scripture, saying, ‘You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it.’ But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. What a wretched purchase they made!” [Surah Ali Imran:187]
And He the Most High said:
“So for their breaking of the covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their proper usages and forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah:13]
Why did they hide and alter the words of Allah? They did so for the sake of worldly gains, selling their hereafter for a trivial price, seeking the approval of the influential and powerful people, and they were deluded by their desires. Allah the Almighty says:
“Then there has succeeded them a posterity who inherited the Scripture while taking the commodities of this lower life and saying, ‘It will be forgiven for us.’ And if an offer like it comes again, they will again take it. Was not the covenant of the Scripture taken from them that they would not say about Allah except the truth, and they studied what was in it? And the home of the hereafter is better for those who fear Allah; do you not understand?” [Qur’an, 7:169]
Al-Bara’ Ibn Azib, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates an incident involving the Jews in the city of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), saying:
“A Jew was brought before the Prophet (Peace be upon him), his face blackened with coal, as a form of punishment for adultery, and whipped. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) called them and asked: ‘Is this the punishment for the adulterer found in your Book?’ They replied, ‘Yes.’ Then he called one of their scholars and said, swearing him by Allah who revealed the Torah to Musa: ‘Is this the punishment for the adulterer in your Book?’ The scholar said, ‘No, and had you not adjured me by this, I would not have told you. We find the punishment to be stoning, but when it was someone of status among us, we let him go, and if it was someone weak, we applied the punishment. We said, let us agree on something we can apply equally to the noble and the lowly, so we adopted blackening the face and whipping instead of stoning.’ Then the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: ‘O Allah, I am the first to revive Your command when they have let it die,’ and he ordered that the man be stoned.” [This Hadith was reported by Muslim]
Dear brothers and sisters! Allah has narrated to us the conditions of the Children of Israel for us to take heed, for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has informed us that many Muslims will follow their ways. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“You will follow the ways of those before you, inch by inch and arm by arm, so much so that if they entered the hole of a lizard, you would follow them.” We asked, “O Messenger of Allah! The Jews and Christians?” He replied: “Who else?” [This Hadith was reported by both Bukhari and Muslim]
Indeed, reality is the best witness and the clearest proof. We have seen many who dress in the garb of the learned men and carry titles, falsely and deceitfully appearing as the righteous, selling their hereafter. They remain silent about the truth, speak falsehoods, distort the law of the Merciful, lie about Allah, and bring what contradicts the definitive aspects of Allah’s religion, to please the West, to please the corrupt politicians, to please the secularists, and the wicked.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) accurately described them when he said:
“They are the callers at the gates of Hell, whoever responds to them, they throw him into it.” It was asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Describe them to us?” He said: “They are from our own people and speak our language.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
We see them claim that the disbelievers might be forgiven by Allah and enter Paradise, while they know what Allah the Most High says:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit injustice, Allah is not to forgive them, nor to guide them to a path, except the path of Hell, abiding therein forever, and that is easy for Allah.” [Surah Al-Nisa:168-169]
And they know Allah’s statement:
“And for those who disbelieve, for them is the fire of Hell; death is not decreed for them so they may die, nor shall its punishment be lightened for them. Thus do We recompense every ingrate.” [Surah Fatir:36]
And Allah the Most High says:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding therein. They are the worst of creatures.” [Surah Al-Bayyinah: 6]
They claim that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) will intercede for Muslims and disbelievers on the Day of Judgment, and they know what Allah narrated about the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment that they will say:
“And we used to deny the Day of Recompense until the Certainty (death) came to us; then the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them.” [Surah Al-Mudathir:46-48]
And the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Every Prophet has an answered prayer, and every Prophet has hastened his prayer. I have reserved my prayer as an intercession for my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection, and it shall be attained, by the will of Allah, for those of my Ummah who die without associating anything with Allah.” [Reported by Muslim]
They claim that seeking help from the dead is permissible, reviving grave-worship and idolatry, and opposing the call to Tauhid (monotheism). They know the Qur’an’s judgment on those who invoke others besides Allah, and that it is major shirk. Allah the Almigty says:
“And those you call upon besides Him do not own even a qitmir. If you call upon them, they do not hear your call, and if they heard, they would not respond to you. On the Day of Resurrection, they will deny your associating them, and none can inform you like the One who is All-Aware.” [Surah Fatir: 13-14]
They see what the Jews are doing to the Muslims and to Al-Aqsa Mosque, yet they claim that normalising relations with Zionist Jews is permissible. They know that its reality is in fact siding with disbelievers against Muslims, and they know Allah’s statement:
“O you who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are in fact allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is one of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.” [Surah Al-Ma’idah: 51]
They legalise what is forbidden and fabricate lies against Allah, claiming that riba (usury) in interests and investment deposits is permissible, despite knowing that these are riba transactions, which are forbidden. And they are aware of Allah’s saying:
“But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 275]
And His saying:
“O you who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains due to you of interest, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a war against you from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal – thus you do no wrong nor are wronged.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 278-279]
They claim that relationships between men and women without marriage are permissible. Yet they know Allah’s saying:
“Then marry those that please you of other women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then marry only one or the captives that your right hands possess. That is more suitable that you may not incline to injustice. And give the women upon marriage their bridal gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease.” [Surah Al-Nisa: 3]
And His saying:
“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.” [Surah al-Isra: 32]
And the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him:
“Let no man be alone with a woman unless there is a mahram present, for otherwise, Satan will be the third one present.” [This Hadith was reported by Tirmidhi]
How numerous are their falsehoods and their tampering with the religion of Allah! The common factor among their statements is that the truth stands between them and their desires. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) narrated about the Children of Israel, saying:
“When the term was prolonged for the Children of Israel, their hearts hardened, and they concocted a scripture from themselves, which their hearts desired, and their tongues found lawful, and the truth stood between them and many of their desires, until they discarded the Book of Allah behind their backs, as if they did not know it.” [This Hadith was reported by al-Baihaqi]
They legalise what is forbidden, and lie about Allah, claiming that interest-bearing investments and deposits are lawful, knowing that they are interest transactions which are haram (forbidden).
Dear brothers and sisters! Indeed, Allah has perfected our religion for us, clarified it in the greatest manner, and took a covenant from the people of knowledge to convey it to the people and not to conceal it. He warned against following desires and made it clear, exalted is He, that the wrongdoers will not avail the servant in the slightest, and that Allah is the supporter of His pious servants.
He, exalted is He, said:
“Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter of religion; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know. Indeed, they will not avail you against Allah at all. And indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another; but Allah is the protector of the righteous.” [Surah Al-Jathiya: 18-19]
Therefore, part of what the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) took upon his companions at the time of allegiance, as Ubadah Bin As-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“And to speak the truth wherever we are, not fearing the blame of the blamers.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]
Truly, the Rabbani Islamic scholars, the Godly Islamic scholars, the scholars of Allah, are the rightful heirs of the Prophets, fulfilling the saying of Allah, the Almighty:
“Those who deliver the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.” [Surah Al-Ahzab: 39]
They are the ones from whom Muslim believers must ask and whose statements they must adhere to, known for their correct knowledge, piety, and integrity. Unlike the corrupt Islamic scholars who have sold their hereafter for their worldly life, you see them changing colours every day, dining at every table, supporting the oppressors in their oppression, participating in their corruption, bringing forth odd opinions, attending gatherings of falsehood and vice without condemning them, merciful to the enemies of Allah and harsh towards the people of Islam, such individuals wallahi, cannot be trusted with the religion of Allah.
Respected brothers and sisters! Maintaining the dignity and reputation of Islamic scholars requires both respectful conduct from the Ummah and a commitment to unity, wisdom, and independence from the Islamic scholars themselves.
Islamic tradition holds that Islamic scholars carry forward the mission of teaching religious knowledge and guidance. They act as trusted authorities who clarify the Qur’an and Sunnah for Muslim believers.
Muslim believers should address and interact with Islamic scholars with deep respect, avoiding harsh or demeaning public criticism. Recognising the rank of knowledgeable individuals protects the Ummah from division and arrogance.
Islamic preachers and clerics should focus on fostering harmony and bridging gaps between different groups rather than engaging in public disputes over unnecessary issues.
Islamic scholars protect their reputation and moral authority by avoiding partisan political sponsorships that can divide the public, but they can clarify for the Ummah the stand of any politician!
Finally, dear brothers and sisters! There is no doubt that the Islamic scholars have a great status in Islam. Islam considers the Islamic scholars as the inheritors of the Prophets since they carry the religion to the laypeople. Allah Almighty assigns the Muslim scholars as witnesses to the truth and associates their testimony with that of Allah and that of His Angels.
If criticising and attacking Islamic scholars is intended to slander them and find faults with them, then such criticism is not allowed in Islam, because the Muslim is forbidden to harm his fellow Muslim, let alone Islamic scholars who must be given due respect.
Imam Ibn Asakir says:
“The honour of the Islamic scholars is sacred and it is the norm of Allah to take revenge on those who slander them. Whoever gives full reign to his tongue to insult the Islamic scholars and expose their faults, Allah will cause his heart to die within his body.”
However, if you criticise an Islamic scholar in order to clarify something that he has made a mistake about and you do this in a respectful manner, then this is acceptable in Islam, or even recommended, in some cases. The Muslim believer is required to share whatever he knows about Islam with others. If the Muslim believer hears a Muslim scholar make a mistake, then he should clarify this mistake in a respectful and wise manner and, more importantly, substantiate his clarification with textual evidence from Islamic tradition.
Our righteous predecessors (Salafus Salih) used to write responses (Rudud) to one another; however, they would be committed to ethical standards in their writings. Similarly, part of Hadith criticism (a discipline of Islamic knowledge) is concerned with scrutinising Prophetic statements and verifying the reliability of Hadith narrators.
Ya Allah, rectify for us our religion which is the safeguard of our affairs, and rectify for us our worldly life in which is our livelihood, and rectify for us our hereafter in which is our return.
Ya Allah, do not make our calamity in our religion, and do not make the world our biggest concern or the limit of our knowledge.
Ya Allah, guide us to the Straight Path, and keep us away from the path of those who have incurred Your wrath and those who have gone astray, those who have changed, altered, and distorted the religion.
Ya Allah, prepare for this Ummah a matter of righteousness, in which the people of truth and faith are honoured, and the people of falsehood and disbelief are abased, and in which good is commanded, and the reprehensible is forbidden, O Hearer of supplication!
Ya Allah, support Your servants who strive in Your way, and destroy the murderous criminals, and save with Your mercy Your weak servants.
Ya Allah, grant us security in our lands, rectify our leaders and those in charge of our affairs, and place our governance in the hands of those who fear You, abide by Your will, and follow Your approval, ameen!
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.