Cleric Warns: Isolated Scholars Who Ignore People’s Needs ‘of No Use’
“A scholar who isolates himself from society, shows no concern for their situation, stays silent in the face of oppression, ignores the faith of the people, and dismisses their worldly needs, is not a true scholar,” he said in a Wednesday message to a ceremony commemorating Islamic scholars in northern Iran.
“We are obliged to solve people’s problems, and if we cannot, at the very least, we must cry out and be their voice. Otherwise, we will be of no use,” added the Shia Marja.
“A society will walk the path of growth, perfection, and prosperity if it values knowledge and those who carry it,” noted Ayatollah Hamedani.
He noted that the Quran refers to knowledge and scholars in more than 80 verses, placing them in a position of honor. Citing the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he added: “The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets… O God, have mercy on my successors.”
He also recalled the saying of Imam Ali (AS): “Scholars among the people are like the shining moon in the sky.”
Read More:
Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani stressed that throughout history, especially after the era of occultation, religious scholars have defended people’s beliefs despite hardship, sacrifice, and even martyrdom. “They have prevented deviations, protected the faith of the people, and considered safeguarding beliefs their primary duty,” he said.
Quoting Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (AS), he described scholars as protectors standing guard against spiritual threats: “Our Shia scholars are like sentries on the frontier where devils stand beyond. They prevent the devils from attacking our followers. One who undertakes this responsibility is a thousand times superior to fighters who battle enemies of Islam, because he defends the faith while the other only defends lives.”
4303183
