Among His other testimonies is that He has raised up scholars who are thoroughly acquainted with this testimony. They are the ultimate point of reference for people in confirming every truth and rebutting every falsehood, for Allah has distinguished them with sound knowledge, complete certainty, and firmly rooted understanding.

This is one of the many merits of knowledge and its bearers:

• Allah has appointed them as intermediaries between Him and His servants, conveying to them His monotheism, His religion, and its outward and inward rulings.

• He has commanded people to consult them and to defer to their judgments.

• They are the imams to be followed, while others follow their lead in this world and the hereafter. For that reason they will have the decisive word even in the Afterlife. When the Almighty mentioned the disputes and differences among created beings, He cited the conclusive statement that will come from the people of knowledge: “Those who were given knowledge and faith will say, ‘You remained, according to the Book of Allah, until the Day of Resurrection; so this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not know.’” 56 (Q. 30:56).

This verse proves the consummate fairness of the scholars, for Allah has called them as witnesses against His servants—an explicit declaration of their integrity. The honour and lofty rank implied by this are plain for all to see.