Rulers, Good Scholars and Bad Scholars

Rulers, Good Scholars and Bad Scholars

Prophet Muhammad said, “The worst scholars are those who visit the rulers and the best rulers are those who visit the scholars. The best ruler is the one who is willing to stand at the door of the poor person's house and the most despicable poor person is standing at the door of the ruler.'

As some understand, these words of the Prophet mean that a pious person is not worthy to visit the ruler—in order not to be labeled a bad scholar. But the real meaning is not like that.

The real meaning is bad scholars are those who get help from the rulers. Welfare and financing of life depends on the ruler. People like this from the beginning intended to use their knowledge to approach the rulers. The rulers then gave them honor and gave them various positions. Thanks to the rulers their lives become prosperous.

This person looks pious and civilized, although in fact it is because of his submission to the authorities. He is very obedient to their control and direction. He acts on orders determined by the rulers, whether forced or voluntarily. 

It is different if both the ulema or the ruler visit each other, the ulema is the guest and the ruler is the host or vice versa. If a scholar adorns himself with knowledge for the sake of Allah alone, not to attract the attention of the ruler; if his behavior is in accordance with the right path and it becomes his character, like a fish that cannot live and grow apart from water; a pious person like this really has a mind that can control himself, then people will respect and be ashamed of him. They will automatically benefit from the sheen of his light. 

Ulama like this, even if they visit the ruler, his position remains as the host and the ruler is the guest. Because it is the ruler who gets the benefit and help from the cleric. While the cleric does not need anything from the ruler.

Scholars like this are like the sun that always emits light. He plays his role by giving grace to all. He turns stones into agate and gems; turning mountains into heaps of gold, silver, iron and copper; turn arid land into fertile land to be overgrown with various fruit trees. His job is to give, not take. The Arabic proverb says, "We learn to give, not learn to take."

Thus, under any circumstances, clerics of this kind are the hosts, while the rulers are always guests.