Question: What is the role of the student of knowledge in spreading noble manners in society, and establishing love between its people – and how does one enact the saying of Allah (the Mighty and Majestic):
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ٤
“And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character.” (al-Qalam: 4)?
Answer: It is upon the student of knowledge to act upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) – and that he becomes a good role-model for others. He should not command the people and forget about himself. Allah (the Most High) stated:
۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ٤٤
“Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?” (al-Baqarah: 44)
And He, the Most High, said:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ٢
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ ٣
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.” (as-Saff: 2-3)
So, it is necessary for the student of knowledge that he becomes a good example [for the people], before he invites them [to Islam], so he himself should act [on what he knows]. The one who acts becomes a caller to Allah, even if he does not speak. When people look at him and his deeds, he becomes a caller (dāʿiyyah) to Allah by his deeds before he speaks.
(See Shukr an-Niʿam of Shaikh Sālih al-Fawzān, Dār Ibn Jawzi, p. 20)
