The scholar, therefore, testifies to two things: a higher testimony and a lower testimony.
- The higher testimony is that he affirms, “This is the ruling of Allah.”
- The lower testimony is that he affirms he has conveyed that ruling to the people, for the scholar’s task is to convey.
Thus, when he recites a verse or a hadith and explains to the people, “Its meaning is such-and-such; act upon it,” he bears witness against them. He is a witness from two directions—above and below. From above, he declares that this is Allah’s decree, which he has transmitted to His servants; from below, he declares that he has indeed delivered it to the people, so the proof is established against them.
On the Day of Resurrection, a witness will be brought from every nation, and the very first to testify will be the messengers, who will say, “We bear witness that we delivered our Lord’s message to His creation.” From this community, Muhammad ﷺ will then be brought; Allah will ask him to testify, and he will affirm that he conveyed.
The Prophet ﷺ had already called upon his Lord to bear witness in the greatest assembly of Muslims of that era—on the Day of ʿArafah—when he delivered his long, majestic, and eloquent sermon. He said, “Have I conveyed?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “O Allah, bear witness.” Then he repeated, “Have I conveyed?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “O Allah, bear witness.” And again he said