al-Ulama Hum al-Duah

al-Ulama Hum al-Duah (The Scholars Are the Callers) is a treatise by the Saudi scholar Nasir al-Aql, addressing the relationship between Islamic scholarship (film) and missionary activism (da'wah).al-Ulama Hum al-Duah The work critiques the modern dichotomy drawn between religious scholars (ulama) and Islamic callers (du'ah), arguing that leadership of Islamic propagation inherently belongs to scholars of the religious law.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1

Background and Composition

The text originated as a public lecture delivered in Jumada al-Thaniyah 1412 AH (December 1991–January 1992 CE) at the al-Quds Mosque in the al-Rawabi neighborhood of Riyadh.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah Al-Aql published the address as a concise monograph to address what he viewed as a growing rift within contemporary Islamic movements between traditional scholars and active preachers, aiming to offer constructive advice rather than polemical exposure.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah

Core Arguments

Al-Aql defines the ulama as those who possess comprehensive understanding of divine law, act upon their knowledge in accordance with the Prophet ﷺ and the early generations (al-salaf), and call others to God with insight.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah Based on this definition, he argues that the scholars are by default the true callers, citing several scriptural and rational points:al-Ulama Hum al-Duah

• Scholars are the inheritors of the prophets, who bequeathed knowledge rather than material wealth.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah
• They serve as Allah's proof upon creation, are the people of authority and decision (ahl al-hall wa-l-aqd), and represent the body of consultation (ahl al-shura) for the Muslim community.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1
• Leadership in religion (imamah fi al-din) necessitates leadership in da'wah, because religion and propagation are inextricably bound.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah

Al-Aql rejects the claim that upright scholarly role models are absent, maintaining that God preserves the religion through an enduring faction of scholars in every era.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah While he clarifies that every individual Muslim should convey what they properly understand of Islam, he emphasizes that the supreme leadership, orientation, and reference point of Islamic propagation must reside with qualified scholars rather than treating them merely as occasional consultants.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah

Critique of Contemporary Trends

The treatise traces the separation of scholarship from preaching historically to sectarian movements—such as the Kharijites, Rafidites, and Mu'tazilites—who elevated unqualified figures and emphasized partisan loyalty over sound religious knowledge.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1 Al-Aql argues that contemporary Islamic groups repeat this pattern by:al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1

• Sidelining scholars or criticizing them as out-of-touch to justify organizational autonomy.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah
• Cultivating loyalty to organizational slogans and partisan leaders rather than to the Sunnah and the scholarly community.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah
• Deterring youth from undertaking systematic study of foundational Islamic texts under qualified teachers, relying instead on modern intellectual or ideological writings.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1

Proposed Solutions

To rectify these trends, the author outlines several remedial measures:

• Dedicating scholarly efforts to addressing these issues through educational literature, treatises, and public media.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah
• Encouraging qualified scholars and senior students of knowledge to travel to Muslim communities and minority areas worldwide to guide local callers and teach religious fundamentals directly.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1
• Requiring contemporary da'wah groups to incorporate traditional religious learning into their core programs and dismantle partisan allegiance (hizbiyyah).al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1
• Adopting a constructive and gentle methodology of mutual counsel (munasah) that avoids defamation, insults, or polarizing rhetoric, adhering to the Prophetic example of general admonition without public naming.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah+1
• Supporting and utilizing reputable charitable organizations and Islamic centers to maximize the reach of scholarly guidance.al-Ulama Hum al-Duah