A godly scholar is not one who is unmatched in Arabic morphology, syntax and logic. In fact, a godly scholar is one who constantly remains in fear of Allah the Exalted and whose tongue does not engage in vain speech. However, today we are passing through an era when even those whose profession it is to wash corpses before burial call themselves scholars and have taken this title for themselves.
Therefore, this word has lost its value immensely and has now taken on a meaning that is against the will and desire of God Almighty. On the contrary, the Holy Quran describes true scholars in the following words:
اِنَّمَا يَخۡشَي اللّٰهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ الۡعُلَمٰٓؤُا
Meaning, the scholars from among the servants of Allah Almighty are those who fear Him. Now, it is crucial to take note that those people who do not possess this quality of fear of God, and being in awe of Him, and who are not righteous, can never, in any way whatsoever, be worthy of this title.
The fact of the matter is that ‘scholars’ are referred to as ulama in the Arabic language. And this is the plural form of alim, and in Arabic, ilm or ‘knowledge’ refers to a thing which is certain and categorical; and true knowledge is derived from the Holy Quran. True knowledge can neither be derived from Greek philosophy, nor from the philosophy currently prevalent in England, rather it is attained from the true philosophy of faith. The apex and pinnacle of a believer is that they reach the rank of the ulama or scholars, and attain to a station of true certainty, which is the highest level of ilm or knowledge.
An individual who is bereft of true and certain knowledge, and who is oblivious to the paths of divine understanding and insight may refer to themselves as scholars all they like, but they are devoid of the merits and qualities of knowledge, and they do not possess the radiance and light that is received from true knowledge. In fact, such people are in a state of utter loss and deprivation; they fill their afterlife with smoke and darkness. It is about these very people that Allah the Exalted states:
وَمَنۡ كَانَ فِيۡ هٰذِهٖۤ اَعۡمٰي فَهُوَ فِي الۡاٰخِرَةِ اَعۡمٰي
In other words, he who is blind in this life shall be raised blind in the hereafter. What knowledge can an individual receive in the next world when he is deprived of knowledge, insight and divine understanding in this world? A person must take with them the eye that perceives Allah the Exalted from this very world. An individual who does not develop such an eye in this world should not expect to behold Allah Almighty in the life to come.
As for those, however, who are bestowed with true divine knowledge and insight, and who receive that knowledge, which is the result of fear of Allah, they are the ones who have been likened to the Israelite Prophets in this Hadith.
(Malfuzat [English], Vol. 2, pp. 63-64)
