Question

Is this quote of Imam Ghazali correct? What is the Arabic and reference?

It is the duty of the masses to believe and accept, and to keep themselves busy with their worship and livelihoods; and to leave knowledge to the ‘Ulama. It is better for an ignorant person to commit adultery and steal than to voice his opinion in academic matters. The person who voices his opinions about Allah and His Din without expertise in knowledge will fall into unbelief without realising it, like a person riding the deep seas without knowing how to swim.

 

Answer

Yes, this passage appears in Imam Ghazali’s (rahimahullah) Ihya ‘Ulumid Din. He writes:

“The duty of the common people is to have Iman, submit, and occupy themselves with their worship and livelihoods, while leaving the matters of knowledge to the scholars. For a layman, sins such as adultery or theft [despite being serious sins, they] would be less harmful than for him to discuss matters of knowledge. Whoever speaks about Allah and His religion without sound knowledge inevitably falls into disbelief without realising it, like one who ventures into the depths of the sea without knowing how to swim.”

(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 5, pg. 129)

Kindly find the Arabic text below.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

__________

التخريج من المصادر العربية

إحياء علوم الدين: (٥/ ١٢٩)
قالت عائشة رضي الله عنها: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن الشيطان يأتي أحدكم فيقول: من خلقك؟ فيقول: الله تبارك وتعالى، فيقول: فمن خلق الله؟ فإذا وجد أحدكم ذلك فليقل آمنت بالله ورسوله فإن ذلك يذهب عنه».
فالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يأمر بالبحث في علاج هذا الوسواس فإن هذا وسواس يجده عوام الناس دون العلماء، وإنما حق العوام أن يؤمنوا ويسلموا ويشتغلوا بعبادتهم ومعايشهم ويتركوا العلم للعلماء، فالعامي لو يزني ويسرق كان خيرا له من أن يتكلم في العلم فإنه من تكلم في الله وفي دينه من غير إتقان العلم وقع في الكفر من حيث لا يدري كمن يركب لجة البحر وهو لا يعرف السباحة.