Someone who calls himself as a 'scholar' ?

[Abu'l-Husayn]

Assalamu 'alaykum,

I feel weird when someone on Twitter, Facebook and other avenues calls himself as an Imam, Shaykh and so forth?

Perhaps it is OK to refer to oneself as a scholar if one is identifying themselves to a gathering in the Masjid before the lecture?

Does anyone feel uneasy as well with regards to this?

Wassalam

[al-Qanun]

wa 'alaykum as-salam

imam means leader and shaykh means old man. they are titles of respect. in reality we all have knowledge and fiqh, just some more than others. this is why people may use these labels to show respect to those whom they believe have more knowledge than them.

it's not necessary that they have to have any formal education and what not, to be called shayukh or 'aimmah. yet i do find it strange when people address themselves with these labels. seems like the fame has gone to their heads. are you talking about Al-Maghrib by any chance?

[Abu'l-Husayn]

The common Muslim holds these titles to be as scholars despite them having some other meanings, so in this context, I feel uneasy as if that they are betraying the reality with the common folk.

I am not referring to al-Maghrib specifically, just the Darul Uloom grads, the 'Imams', 'Shaykh' calling themselves in their description boxes on Twitter and FB etc, as 'Shaykh. Husband. Mufti. etc'

It feels that it comes from some sort of fame yet I cannot judge them because I don't know what is in their hearts. But these are all that seem junior guys compared to senior 'ulama.

[Black Turban]

Scholars in arabic is ahbar. Anyone can call themselves scholar, mufti or whatever. These are not honorary titles. Allah says majority of the scholars eat haram and are astray. But if someone calls themselves or others alim or ulema. That is haram. Since Allah has prohibited attributing purity to oneself. Since only those who fear Allah from amongst Allah's slaves are ulema. So the knowledge of who is alim is only with Allah. And we cannot go around calling people ulema or alim. That is the sharia meaning.

[خالد العسيري]

Scholars in arabic is ahbar. Anyone can call themselves scholar, mufti or whatever. These are not honorary titles. Allah says majority of the scholars eat haram and are astray. But if someone calls themselves or others alim or ulema. That is haram. Since Allah has prohibited attributing purity to oneself. Since only those who fear Allah from amongst Allah's slaves are ulema. So the knowledge of who is alim is only with Allah. And we cannot go around calling people ulema or alim. That is the sharia meaning.

Not forgetting:

Every muslim is a mujtahid. Link

[Umm Sayyid Qutb]

Since only those who fear Allah from amongst Allah's slaves are ulema. So the knowledge of who is alim is only with Allah. And we cannot go around calling people ulema or alim. That is the sharia meaning.

[Black Turban]

Are you a mushrika? That would explain why you dont understand what i said.

[Black Turban]

Not forgetting: Every muslim is a mujtahid. Link

Yes that is what the prophet said. Everyone can do ijtihad. But your shayateen say only certain individuals can be mujtahid.

[خالد العسيري]

Yes that is what the prophet said. Everyone can do ijtihad. But your shayateen say only certain individuals can be mujtahid.

I've found some friends for you. Here.

[Black Turban]

You cannot even prove me wrong. Because what i said is from Islam and not from your shayateen. So there is no need to reply to me with your coward tactics.