Why To Address The Learned First?

It sounds very sincere that we need to address the common man. It is sincere. It is important. Undoubtedly. However, it is equally or even more important to address the educated for a number of reasons. Each one of us is living in a community in various professions. We all are in touch with a big number of people on a daily basis. I, therefore, assume that if we arrive at certain conclusions it will percolate to the all other levels.

Addressing the learned also means focusing on the major issues. The benefit in focusing on the bigger issues is that the smaller issues do not take up much of our time and resources and do not take the center stage. Munshi Sirajuddin once asked Sir Syed Ahmad Khan about keeping pictures in houses. He replied: “Bringing up these issues in the present situations is a hindrance in the progress of Muslims and is akin to driving them away. These are petty issues which obstruct the path of education and cultural advancement. We should not discuss these matters (i.e. their permissibility or otherwise). We should first focus on the most important matters and should popularize the principles.” (Hayaat-e Jaaved, pp. 774-775). We have debated petty issues for a very long time and haven’t moved much farther. Who will help us focus on the wildly important? The learned. The educated. As they are the trend-setters. They are the givers of ideas and opinion makers. They have their area of influence. They are role models. They are the ones whom the masses look forward to. If our priorities are set. Theirs will automatically be.

Let us, therefore, work towards reaching to the higher collective goals and its deep instilling in the minds of one and all.