Do we need scholars?

TPOS —

Something I read from another forum:

Another flaw of Islam. You seem to need a couple of PhDs from an Islamic university in Saudi Arabia and the title of 'scholar' to make any informed decision on anything. Otherwise, continue to follow the crowd and be a sheep and follow everything some sheikh thousands of miles away with no grip on reality says.

It's especially ironic from a religion that claims to be for all mankind. LOL. You mean, it's only for the educated scholars who have the 'authority' to interpret stuff. Everyone else should keep their mouths shut and obey sheikh.

I know people say that we can interpret stuff for ourselves but we still need the education otherwise we might interpret it wrong, so really anyone can't think for themselves and it isn't accessible to everyone? Hence the need of Shaykhs, madhabs, etc?

(Actually, yesterday I was thinking about salafis and how they dont believe in madhabs and that it can kinda dangerous to kinda interpret things yourself etc?)

Ok, so what do you think about this? How would you respond to the quoted bit?

Forum

Ya'qub — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 - 01:00

[quote=You]t and what good is it if *somebody else* knows the answer but you dont?[/quote]
'Shared Knowledge Theory'

You — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 - 01:06

I dont buy into most of those.

some knowledge if others have is useful to you - like manufacturing, engineering, medicine etc where you can be a consumer of another person's expertise (as long as it is accessible).

but when it comes to philosophy and human thoughts and feelings and expressions, everyone are in it for themselves.

Ya'qub — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 - 01:20

[quote=You]t and what good is it if *somebody else* knows the answer but you dont?[/quote]

i don't need to understand about advanced medicine but I'd hope a doctor treating me for meningitis does.

and if they didn't, we'd probably be relying on potions made from the bark of '4 different trees, from 4 different forests' so cure our ailments

laila — Tue, 6 Dec 2011 - 12:05

[quote=You]I dont buy into most of those.

some knowledge if others have is useful to you - like manufacturing, engineering, medicine etc where you can be a consumer of another person's expertise (as long as it is accessible).

but when it comes to philosophy and human thoughts and feelings and expressions, everyone are in it for themselves.[/quote]

Without a guide you might as well go into the forest like the Buddha and meditate and that's if you are decent if not then you may as well go ino the forest and be eaten by wolves. But without a guide it won't be Islam you find it may be something you didn't bargain for

TPOS — Wed, 7 Dec 2011 - 14:53

What's with the Sh.H Yusuf, pic? And how did you get it on the side of the writing?

Young Anonymou… — Thu, 8 Dec 2011 - 21:42

[quote=s.b.f][quote=Noor]My teacher said one cannot be called a scholar until he has studied well over 100,000 books and more.

[/quote]

o.O

Just a question, can one be a non-believer but has studied Islam thoroughly be somewhat called a Scholar?[/quote]

No, the person could be very knowledgeable on the topic, but if the knowledge never actually penetrated their heart, they are not a true 'scholar'. A true scholar is one who learns and acts upon what he learns... There is no amal without belief.

The Lamp — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 - 13:59

Also, another thing to not is that a scholar, for him/her to give a ruling, or advice needs to be knowledgable not only about Islam (Quran and Sunnah) but also the specifics of the culture, situation and society; otherwise their not fit to give such a ruling.