بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
I Can Be Better Than Them—As Long As I Follow the Qur’an and Sunnah, Is That Acceptable?
This is a powerful question, and it deserves a deep and honest answer. As a new Muslim, you might ask:
“If I study Islam, learn Arabic, memorize the Qur’an and Hadith, and follow the Sunnah, can I surpass these great scholars? If my goal is to follow Islam correctly, and I am sincere in learning, do I need to follow their rulings? Why should I rely on scholars from centuries ago when I can study the same sources they did?”
The short answer is yes—you have the potential to become a great scholar and even reach the level of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning). However, the long answer requires us to explore the depth of Islamic knowledge, the reality of scholarship, and what it actually takes to reach that level.
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1. Can Someone Today Be Greater Than Past Scholars?
Theoretically, yes—greatness is not limited by time. If someone masters all the sciences of Islam, has a deep understanding of Arabic, knows the Qur’an and Hadith by heart, and can analyze legal rulings with precision, they could reach the level of ijtihad, just like Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, and Imam al-Shafi’i did.
But there’s a reason why no one today has been recognized as a scholar on their level. The scholars of the past had unique advantages that we cannot easily replicate:
They learned directly from the disciples of the Prophet’s companions—their teachers had uninterrupted chains of knowledge going back to the Prophet ﷺ.
They lived in societies where Islamic scholarship was the center of daily life—Islamic law, language, and traditions were deeply rooted in their environment.
They had photographic memory and mastered vast libraries of Hadith—some of them memorized hundreds of thousands of Hadiths with full chains of narration (isnad), a feat extremely rare today.
So while it is possible in theory to reach their level, it has not happened in over a thousand years, because knowledge today is not preserved in the same way, and the depth of Islamic law requires extraordinary dedication.
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2. Is Following the Qur’an and Sunnah Enough?
Yes, the Qur’an and Sunnah are the ultimate sources of guidance. But the key question is: How do we understand them?
The Reality of Islamic Law
The Qur’an commands us to pray, but it doesn’t describe exactly how.
The Prophet ﷺ prayed differently at different times—how do we know which way is correct for daily practice?
Some Hadiths seem to contradict each other—how do we determine which ruling applies when?
Islamic law is not just about knowing Hadith—it’s about knowing how to apply them correctly. Even at the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the companions sometimes misunderstood certain rulings until the Prophet corrected them. If they, with their deep faith and direct access to revelation, made mistakes in understanding, how much more careful do we need to be?
That’s why scholars spent centuries refining Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Law)—a science that ensures rulings are consistent, logical, and correctly derived. If someone ignores this and just picks Hadiths that seem correct to them, they risk falling into contradictions.
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3. Can I Derive My Own Rulings?
Yes, if you are qualified. In Islam, a person who derives rulings independently is called a mujtahid. But to be a mujtahid, you must:
1. Master the Qur’an – Know all the verses that relate to law, their meanings, historical context, and how they were understood by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
2. Master the Hadith – Not just memorize them, but understand their authenticity, contradictions, abrogations, and practical application.
3. Master Arabic – Classical Arabic is not modern Arabic. You must understand the linguistic depth of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
4. Understand Usul al-Fiqh – The principles that scholars use to derive rulings systematically.
5. Study under a qualified teacher – Self-study is not enough. Even Imam al-Shafi’i studied under the great Imam Malik before forming his own school.
If you reach this level, then yes, you can derive rulings independently. But if you are not yet at this level, then following scholars who have already done this work for us is the safest path.
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4. What If I Make a Mistake in Interpretation?
One of the dangers of skipping scholarly knowledge is that mistakes in understanding can lead to serious errors in practice. Even well-meaning people who try to follow the Qur’an and Hadith directly sometimes:
Misinterpret abrogated rulings (where one verse replaced another in legal application).
Follow weak or fabricated Hadith without realizing it.
Take rulings out of context, causing harm instead of benefit.
That is why the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When a judge makes a ruling, striving to find the truth, and he is correct, he will have two rewards. If he makes a ruling, striving to find the truth, and he is wrong, he will still have one reward.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
This means that even scholars make mistakes—but because they have the knowledge, they are rewarded for their effort. However, if someone without knowledge makes rulings based on guesswork, they are not rewarded but accountable.
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5. How Should a New Muslim Approach This?
If you are a new Muslim, your goal should be to learn deeply before trying to give rulings. Even great scholars spent years learning before they gave legal opinions. Here’s how to approach it wisely:
1. Start with the basics – Learn how to pray, fast, and live as a Muslim according to a reliable source.
2. Follow a trusted school (madhhab) at first – This does not mean blind following; it means learning from the best until you are able to assess rulings yourself.
3. Study Arabic and Usul al-Fiqh – If you want to become a scholar, mastering these is essential.
4. Always stay humble – Knowledge is a lifelong journey. Even the greatest scholars continued learning until their last moments.
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Final Answer: Can You Be Better Than Past Scholars?
If Allah blesses you with knowledge, wisdom, and sincerity, then yes—you could become a great scholar. Islam is not limited to the past. But if you want to reach their level, you must study like they studied and follow the path of knowledge with humility.
Until then, relying on scholars is not a weakness—it is wisdom. It connects you to over 1,400 years of preserved knowledge, ensuring that you follow Islam in the most authentic and correct way.
So the real question is not “Can I be better than them?”
but “Am I ready to dedicate my life to learning as they did?”
If the answer is yes, then your journey has just begun.