THE ROLE OF THE ULEMA — Guidance and Reformation

THE ROLE OF THE ULEMA Guidance & Reformation T O elaborate on the role of the ulema in contemporary times, one first needs to be clear about what role Islam sets for the ulema. This will provide us the proper criteria for examining the course of action adopted by the ulema in our times. The following Quranic verse gives us appropriate guidance with regard to the role of the ulema: It is not right that all the believers should go out [in times of war] all together. Why then does not a party from every group come to [the Prophet] to acquire a deeper knowledge of religion and to warn their people, so that they can guard themselves against evil. THE QURAN 9: 122 Division of Arenas of Activity This verse was revealed at times when the conditions of conflict and political jihad were prevalent. Madinah had become an established political state under the Prophet of Islam. The fear of attack or conflict from others was ever present and defensive methods had to be adopted to pre-empt them. Islam differentiates between the arena of activity of scholars and political leaders. Their respective arenas have been kept separate and distinct. Under these conditions, with this verse, the Muslim ummah has been provided with a guiding principle of lasting significance, which separates, in practical terms, the arena of campaigns from that of acquiring knowledge. Accordingly, one section of the ummah was given the responsibility under such conditions, of being active in the field of consolidation of the state, while another section was charged with the responsibility of looking after the department of knowledge, to which they were to devote themselves entirely. For a section of the believers to remain behind to focus on matters of knowledge was not in any way a restriction on them. In fact, this