The recent arrest of Sh. Safar al-Hawalī - and before him Sh. Salmān al-Oada, amongst others scholars - by the new prince in KSA is an age-old tactic taken from the standard Machiavellian practices of despots and tyrants. It was none other than Machiavelli, who is generally considered the philosopher of tyranny and political deceit, who wrote that it is better for a ruler to be feared than loved. And this appears to be the desire of the current boy-prince.
But what these rulers forget, while they imprison scholars, shut down religious institutions, open the door to all types of evil, massacre their fellow Muslims of Yemen, form alliances with Israel and Trump, even as they purchase half a billion dollar yachts and paintings, is that money and power buys neither the love of mankind nor the real kingdom of the Hereafter.
Let them enjoy their merriment in this world; they will face their reckoning in the next.
I am proud to say that both Sh. Safar and Sh. Salman are personal mentors of mine, and, during an earlier phase of my life, helped me grow in my understanding of my faith, and expand my horizons. Whether one agrees or disagrees with their views, the fact that they stood by their principles - even while many others in that country who are associated with knowledge slobber over who can most establish their sycophantic credentials in front of the establishment - is a testimony to the integrity of their character.
"O Allah! Grant patience to Sh. Safar and Sh. Salman, and open for them the joys of worshipping you, and make their time in prison fruitful for their souls and faith, and free them from the tyranny of despots! Ameen."
I ask that you make a sincere du'a for these two scholars, and all scholars who have been unjustly imprisoned around the world.
PS. As those who follow this page know, it is not in my nature to dwell on the ills of rulers and princes/kings. In the end of the day, Allah will ask us about what we did, and not about how much we complained about what others did not do. Complaining about rulers is not a solution to any problem - and the fact of the matter is that if large segments of their own countries didn't approve of these very tactics, they wouldn't be rulers! My anger against them for imprisoning those whom I respect and admire does not blind me to the fact that cursing them, or blaming them for all the woes of the Ummah, is neither Islamic nor rational. Our rulers are only one source of the problem, and we will not be asked on Judgment Day about their misdeeds. -By Yasir Qadhi.