The Levels of The Disseminators of Knowledge

Shaikh Ahmad Baazmool (may Allaah preserve him) said:

Not everyone who arises amongst the people and speaks amongst them is worthy of being a scholar; because the disseminators of (knowledge) are of different levels:

[1] Among them are those at the level of the scholars of Ijtihaad- those who perform Ijtihaad in every branch of (the religion). These are the people of fatwah in general and they are the reference points in the affairs of universal public safety and security.

[2] And amongst them are those at the level of the scholars of Ijtihaad-those who perform Ijtihaad in (some aspects of the religion and not in all).

[3] And amongst them are those at the level of the students of knowledge who have not reached the level of the scholars.

And amongst levels 2 and 3, there are those who have learnt a little of knowledge, then they give sermons and Dawah. Knowledge is not taken from this group, except in the affairs of admonitions and general guidance.

Therefore, it is obligatory to know these levels and to make a distinction between them. And it is obligatory to know that not everyone who arises amongst the people is fit to give them fatwah.

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[Siyaanatus Salafi Min Was-wasati Wa-Talbeesaat Ali Al-Halabi: page: 20|Abu Mu-aawiyyah (Abdullaah Al-Gambi)]