Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Certainly the example of the ‘Ulama in the world is like the example of the stars through which guidance is obtained in the darkness of the land and sea. When the stars disappear, the rightly guided can likely be misled from the right path.”
(Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3, pg. 157)
Hafiz Ibn Rajab Hambaliy (rahimahullah) explains three reasons for the comparison between the stars and the ‘Ulama, based on verses in the Quran.
1)
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ النُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا بِهَا فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ
“And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea.”
(Surah Al-An’am, verse: 97)
2)
إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ ﴿٦﴾
“The stars are a means of adornment and beauty for the skies.”
(Surah As Saffat, Verse: 6)
3)
وَحِفْظًا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَّارِدٍ ﴿٧﴾
“(The stars) are a means of protection against every rebellious devil.”
(Surah As Saffat, Verse: 7)
Each of these functions of the stars that were mentioned in the Quran are found in the ‘Ulama.
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