What Is the True Role of a Scholar? A Qur’anic Perspective for Our Time

If the alim no longer connects us to Allah, the Qur’an, and the Ahlul Bayt (as), then we must ask: what are we following — and where is it leading us?

⚠️ The Core Question We Must Ask Ourselves

If what some scholars are now claiming is true — that their only real duty is to lead the ummah into political obedience — then who is left to connect us to Allah, the Qur’an, and the Ahlul Bayt (as)?

Is this truly what the Qur’an teaches?

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🧭 What We’re Hearing vs What We’re Seeking

In recent speeches, we’ve noticed a dangerous shift:
Scholars are being framed as primarily political agents, with little mention of their responsibility for spiritual development, Qur’anic guidance, or purification of the soul.

Education, reflection, and the inner path are treated as secondary, unless they serve a political function. And worse still — these arguments are presented without Qur’anic reference, without hadith, and without support from the teachings of our Imams (as).

That’s when we need to pause — and ask: Is this Qur’anically correct?

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📖 Here’s What the Qur’an Actually Says

🔹 Scholars are defined by taqwa, not power or position:

“Indeed, those who truly fear Allah from among His servants are the `ulama.”
(Surah Fatir 35:28)

🔹 The Prophet’s (saw) mission — and therefore the duty of those who inherit his knowledge — is to:

“Recite His verses, purify them, and teach them the Book and wisdom…”
(Surah Al-Jumu‘ah 62:2)

🔹 Those who misuse or ignore divine knowledge are warned:

“Indeed the worst of creatures in the sight of Allah are those who are deaf and dumb and do not use reason.”
(Surah Al-Anfal 8:22)

🔹 True leaders are those who call to Allah, not to institutions:

“And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah and does righteousness and says, ‘Indeed, I am of the Muslims.’”
(Surah Fussilat 41:33)

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🕯️ What Did the Ahlul Bayt (as) Teach Us?

The Imams (as), particularly Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (as), were scholars of the heart before they were leaders of politics.

They taught us that real `ulama:

✅ Are guides to Qur’an and character (akhlaq)
✅ Preserve the legacy of the Prophet (saw)
✅ Help us build a direct relationship with Allah — not by standing between us and Him, but by pointing the way forward

Their role was to teach, not to rule. To purify, not to politicize.

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💭 If You’re Feeling Spiritually Distant — You’re Not Alone

Many of us are feeling it — something doesn’t sit right anymore.
The focus has shifted from the heart to the headlines.
From the Qur’an to political slogans.
From awakening to obedience.

But we’re not here to follow out of pressure. We’re here to follow what is right — because our fitrah knows what is true.

If you’re questioning — that’s not weakness. It’s spiritual intelligence.

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✅ What We Can Do — Together

Here’s how we begin to repair the disconnect:

✨ Trust your fitrah. If your heart hesitated, listen to it.
✨ Seek scholars who center the Qur’an, not political models.
✨ Stay connected to those who nourish your soul, not just direct your loyalty.
✨ Reflect and share. Others are feeling the same discomfort — give them the courage to speak too.

We’re not rejecting scholars. We’re rejecting the distortion of what scholarship means in Islam.

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🛑 Let’s Remember What a Scholar Was Meant to Be

A scholar is not a soldier.
A scholar is not a spokesperson.
A scholar is not a politician in a turban.

A scholar is a caretaker of the soul of Islam.
A scholar is one who reminds us of Allah, teaches us the Qur’an, refines our character, and helps us stand before God — not just before power.

Let’s return to what was never meant to be forgotten:
🌿 The Qur’an.
🌿 The Ahlul Bayt (as).
🌿 And the purification of the soul that leads to true awakening.

If the Qur’an calls with mercy,
Why do some scholars call with pressure?

🧠 A Final Question to the Scholars: Do You Not Trust the People — or Allah?

Do our scholars believe that if they do not push Wilayat al-Faqih through fear, guilt, and shame, the ummah will somehow refuse to listen?
Do they believe that if the people are not emotionally cornered, they will reject the system?

This is not only an insult to the intelligence of the ummah — it's a betrayal of the very spirit of Wilayah.

Because the truth is:
No one had to tell me to accept Wilayat al-Faqih.
Any thinking, sincere person understands that in socio-political affairs, there must be unity, and unity requires a central figure.

Before the revolution, every household had its own interpretation of Islam — fractured, isolated, weakened.
Imam Khomeini (ra) brought back the soul of Islam — a unifying flame.
And Ayatullah Khamenei (ha), by extension, has protected and grounded that flame, both spiritually and politically.

But here’s the danger:

If our scholars speak about Wilayat without the spirit,
If they demand obedience but do not inspire love,
If they remove Qur’an, reflection, and personal transformation from the discourse…

Then they may unintentionally be doing the opposite of what they claim:
Turning people away from Wilayat al-Faqih,
Not because the system is flawed — but because the spirit is missing from its messengers.

Islam is not built on obedience alone.
It is built on love.
And love is what earns loyalty — not guilt, not shame, not fear.

If scholars are fearful that the ummah will not follow unless coerced,
then perhaps the real question is:
Do they trust the people?
And more importantly…
Do they trust Allah?

Because a people who love Allah and the Ahlul Bayt (as) — they will recognize the hand of divine justice in their time.
They don’t need to be bullied.
They need to be inspired.