A youth who put himself forward at a gathering, started talking and boasting in front of those who were older than him – A tremendous lesson from Imām Sufyān Ath-Thawrī (d. 161 AH)

A youth who put himself forward at the head of the gathering, and started talking and boasting in front of those who were older than him – A tremendous lesson from Imām Sufyān Ath-Thawrī (d. 161 AH)

Al-Baihaqi recorded in al-Madkhal ilas-Sunanil-Kubrā (no.679):

“Abu ‘Āsim said: A youth from the people of knowledge was present at the gathering of Sufyān Ath-Thawrī (d. 161 H); so the youth put himself forward at the head of the gathering and started talking and boasting with his knowledge in front of those who were older than him.

So Sufyān (rahimahullāh) became angry and said: “The Salaf were not like this! Not one of them would claim leadership for himself and he would not sit in the forefront of the gathering until he had sought knowledge for thirty years! And you display arrogance in front of someone older than you. Get up from me and don’t come near my gathering.”

Sufyan al-Thawrī also said: “If you see a youth speaking in the presence of Mashāyikh, even if he has acquired a portion of knowledge, then lose hope in his goodness, for verily he has no shame.”

Ibn Abee Dunyā in As-Samt wa Ādābul-Lisān (586,588), and Al-Khateeb al-Baghdādī in Al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih (2/275) that Ibraheem Al-Ad’ham said:

“If a youngster (or newcomer) speaks before us in our gathering, we lose hope in him.”

So, beware of those youth (on social media) and newcomers who say: don’t trust the elders from the scholars, students of knowledge and the mashayikh of this blessed daʿwah, because it is these elders in the field of daʿwah who have sat at the feet of the ʿulamā al-kibār (the major scholars) over the last 30 years benefitting from them, been praised by them, defended by them and recommended by them.

It is these elders (may Allāh preserve them) who have remained, by Allah’s permission, steadfast upon the Sunnah and Salafiyyah, and stood in opposition to the people of desires. They have not (walhamdulillāh) changed in their adherence to the manhaj of the kibār al-ʿulamā of this age and of previous times. So, it is as Imām Sufyān Ath-Thawrī said: “If you see a youth speaking in the presence of Mashāyikh, even if he has acquired a portion of knowledge, then lose hope in his goodness, for verily he has no shame.” This is the youth who comes forth to raise himself and belittles the elders claiming he has acquired a portion of knowledge. May Allah keep us and our children sincere, truthful and steadfast on the Straight Path.

Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid.