—are abused yet they remain patient. Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was addressed with such words eight years after his emigration—not at the very beginning, but only after Allah had firmly established him, after his veracity had become manifest, and after Allah had shown the signs of his prophethood both on the horizons and within men. Even then someone dared to say, “This division shows no justice and was not intended for the sake of Allah.”

If a man in the Prophet’s own company could say that to him, do not be surprised when people speak about a scholar, declaring, “That scholar has this fault and that fault,” and listing his shortcomings. It is Satan who incites such people to disparage the scholars; for once the scholars are maligned, their statements lose credibility among the people, and no one remains to guide them by the Book of Allah. Who will lead them by the Book of Allah if they no longer trust the scholars and their words? The devils and the party of Satan will lead them instead.

For this reason backbiting scholars is far more serious than backbiting ordinary people. Ordinary backbiting is personal; if it harms anyone, it harms only the backbiter and the one who is backbitten. But backbiting scholars harms the whole of Islam, for the scholars are the bearers of the banner of Islam. When confidence in their words collapses, the banner of Islam itself falls, and the Muslim community suffers.

Thus, if speaking ill of ordinary people is like eating the flesh of the dead, then speaking ill of scholars is like eating poisoned carrion, because of the grave harm it brings. So do not be astonished when you hear someone reviling the scholars. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself was maligned in this way; therefore be patient, seek your reward from Allah, and know that the ultimate outcome belongs to piety. As long as a person remains God-fearing and guided by a light from Allah, the good end will be his.