Question

I am searching for the reference and Arabic of this quote. Are you able to source it?

“It is the right of a wise person not to underestimate three people: the scholars, the sultans, and the Brotherhood. For whoever underestimates the scholars, his hereafter will be lost, whoever underestimates the Sultan, his worldly life will be lost, and whoever underestimates the Brotherhood, his chivalry will be lost.”

Answer

‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) has cited this as the statement of Imam ‘Abdullah ibnul Mubarak (rahimahullah) [Demise: 181 A.H.]

‘Abdullah ibnul Mubarak (rahimahullah) said: “It is the duty of the intelligent person not to undermine/underestimate three types of people; The scholars, The rulers and his brothers. For he who ridicules and undermines the scholars, will lose his Hereafter. Whoever undermines the rulers, will lose in this world and whoever belittles his brothers will lose his integrity/chivalry.”

(Siyaru A’lamin Nubala, vol. 17, pg. 250-251)

The Arabic text is as follows:

حقٌّ عَلَى العَاقِلِ أَنْ لاَ يَسْتَخفَّ بِثَلاَثَةٍ: العُلَمَاءِ وَالسَّلاَطِيْنِ وَالإِخْوَانِ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالعُلَمَاءِ ذَهَبَتْ آخِرَتُهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالسُّلْطَانِ ذَهَبَتْ دُنيَاهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالإِخْوَانِ ذَهَبَتْ مُرُوءتُهُ

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

سير أعلام النبلاء: (١٧/ ٢٥٠)
السلمي: حدثنا محمد بن العباس الضبي، حدثنا محمد بن أبي علي، حدثنا الفضل بن محمد بن نعيم، سمعت علي بن حجر، سمعت أبا حاتم الفراهيجي، سمعت فضالة النسوي، سمعت ابن المبارك يقول: حق على العاقل أن لا يستخف بثلاثة: العلماء والسلاطين والإخوان، فإنه من استخف بالعلماء ذهبت آخرته، ومن استخف بالسلطان ذهبت دنياه، ومن استخف بالإخوان ذهبت مروءته.