Download PDF: [S] Judge not the Age of a Person

There was a young man named Hasan bin Fadl. One day, when Hasan bin Fadl went to the court of the Khalifah and he noticed a large gathering of learned people in deep discussion and conversation. He then started his own conversation and the Khalifah scolded him for doing this.

 

The Khalifah was shocked that in front of such eminent ‘Ulama, a young boy will think it proper to speak. However, the young boy showed no fear at all and he immediately gave the Khalifah an answer. He declared, “O Ameerul Mo’mineen! I am not smaller than a Hud Hud and you are not bigger than Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him. Do you not remember the words of Hud Hud which it had mentioned to Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – that, ‘I have seen something which you have seen and I have brought certain news of the kingdom of Saba.’ At the same time, O Ameerul Mo’mineen! Did you not read in the Qur’an that one Allah Almighty had informed Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him – the son about an issue which even Nabi Daud – peace be upon him – the father was confused about? If knowledge was determined by age, then certainly Nabi Daud – peace be upon him – would have known more that Nabi Sulayman – peace be upon him.”

 

When the people in the court heard the immediate answers of this young boy, they were speechless and shocked. (Mutarraf)

 

There is no doubt that knowledge is not determine by age. In fact, knowledge is actually an indication of a person’s eminence and status.

 

Shaikh Saadi – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that, “Generosity is based upon the heart and not wealth. Eminence is based upon the intelligence of a person and not the age.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that, “Seek knowledge because no one appeared from the womb of their mothers with knowledge. A learned person and a Jaahil can never be equal. If there is an old person in a certain nation but he has no knowledge, then even in the largest gathering, he is still considered as little.”

 

The example of the little boy, Hasan bin Al Fadl, should indeed be a lesson for the ‘Ulama in the present era. They should never suffer from an inferior complex and remain silent in any function or gathering when they see something which is wrong. If they see something wrong, they should immediately correct it, no matter who is sitting in that function. They should not bother that there is a powerful politician sitting there of a very rich and powerful person. Dr. Iqbal has mentioned that, “I have acquired this lesson from Moulana Rum that thousands of so-called hakeems can be hidden in one’s pocket, but Moosa will always be a drawn sword.”