, ‘Tahazo … (9:31).

, ‘Tahazo … (9:31). [53] ’ meaning that Christians have deserted Allah -azwj. in the favour of their scholars and peers, and requested the meaning of this verse. Imam -asws. replied, Christians were not asked to worship their scholars and peers, if they were asked to do so by their priests then Christians would have rejected them. Instead, their peers turned their Halal into Haram and converted their Haram into Halal.

They (Christians) followed their priests (did taqleed) and as a result had worshiped them unconsciously.

Appendix I It is narrated from Imam Hassan Askari -asws that Imam Ali bin Hussain -asws said: When you learn about a scholar who looks like a ‘Alam-e-Deen’, from his appearance, who replies to questions after extensive thinking and taking careful measures and greets with affability and observes humbleness-don’t be simply taken over by these qualities as many people would like to corrupt ‘Deen’ for the sake of worldly benefits, they trick sincere worshiper into their devious web, and rob them from their wealth and once they mange to do so, they get pleasure from their accumulated wealth.

However, when you find an ‘Alam’ who refrains from worldly gains and observes religious acts and controls his desires even then do not get trapped in their masquerading manners as there could be many types of ego related desires, hidden underneath! Since an ‘Alam’ keeps away from the unjust wealth but may still be engulfed by other un-Islamic practices. When you confirm that he is not indulged into any of these, even then be careful and take further precautions before trusting him!

Until you yourself, do not verify that his practices are according to his preaches and he has sound knowledge- and these should appreciably be reflected from him. The unwise among them (Alam), however, do more harm to the Deen through their critical mistake than any good even when they intend to act with good intentions.

And when you make sure that his wisdom is credible even then do not be deceived by him and see if his wisdom keeps control of his wild and filthy desires and see whether he likes the worldly positions and the tendency to be praised by people. As there are few who would trade their ‘Deen’ for worldly gains but end up loosing both of them. Few of them, strife for status, popularity and position at the cost of sacrificing all comforts of their lives.

Allah -azwj would stop His mercy unto them due to their sins and leave them astray in the darkness.