21/11/2025
Friday Message with the Sudanese Scholar As-Shaykh Adam Abdullah al-Ilorī — may Allah grant him vast mercy —
Under the topic: (Specialization in Islam Is Essential Before Assuming Leadership Within It)
Every poor person who possesses what suffices for himself and his family to sustain life is still not considered wealthy if he cannot feed a servant, a companion, or honor a guest.
And every Muslim who can understand the basic necessities of his religion is still not regarded as a jurist if he cannot derive rulings from the sacred texts, nor distinguish between foundational principles and subsidiary matters.
Allah has commanded that the affairs of Islam be entrusted to the jurists, as He says: “When there comes to them some matter regarding security or fear, they spread it around; but if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who draw correct conclusions from it would have known (the truth of) it. And were it not for the grace of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan—except for a few.” [al-Nisāʾ: 83]
And His saying: “And it is not for all the believers to go forth (to battle). For why should not a group from every faction among them go forth so that they may gain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them, so that they may be cautious.” [al-Tawbah: 122]
Every craft in this age rejects the interference of those who are not specialized in it, let alone allowing them to practice it or assume leadership within it—no matter how simple or insignificant that craft may seem, and no matter how distinguished or knowledgeable the intruder might be in another field.
Thus, doctors do not speak on matters of law; farmers do not practice engineering; lawyers do not experiment with medicine; and grammarians and rhetoricians do not issue legal rulings in jurisprudence.
So how, then, can one issue fatwas in Islam when he does not master or even know the essential principles of the religion for himself—let alone teach them to others?
And how can someone speak about the affairs of the state and the matters of governance when he cannot manage his own private affairs at home?
It is common to find a man prominent in one craft or discipline while remaining at the elementary level in another subject or field.
From the book: Islam Today and Tomorrow in Nigeria, pp. 107–108, First Edition (2012), Wahbah Library – Cairo.
