I have not diverted off the topic, and I think it is a sham you did not see the other points I have raised. So let’s not take criticism of Muslim clerics a way of criticizing Islam. My point never had been about Islam, but questioning the clerics who issue fatwas.

I give you an example from my daily life. Very often a post.doc. or my supervisor comes to me and tells me the latest informations on my project, which I’ll use them. Even though these people are well respected,”wise , stable, established and very old, I’ll never take their words if they not come up with evidences–meaning–sources. At same time, it’s my own responsibility to check after the sources, and learning to check after sources takes years of training–to understand the contents and the critical points, and some times we are not dealing with one field but many scientific fields.

Now, I’d never ever try to compare my job with Islam, but I hope you can see the seriousness. Clerics are human beings and not free from error like Engels. Even Umar (RA) has errored and was not embarrassed to be corrected in front of people.

The example of the study programme I gave you, shows you, it was meant to raise an independent person at the end. And to be an independent is also means to be critical. Although there might be some situations where you are dependent on a cleric for teaching, ex, Muslim converts or children, but should not be a permanent situation.

If you think, Islam is all about making search on Fatwa numbers, or Ahadith numbers (well, we live after all in Google age), then you are missing.. everything.

Who knew in Baghdad year ca. 670, a Bishop with his men will sit and having an interfaith dialogue with a Muslim shoemaker in his shop. I can guarantee you, no Muslim cleric today has 1/12 of the shoemaker’s knowledge on Islam. That is a guarantee!

Then why are you surprised to hear people who claim to have seen the “light”, and who have followers? Do you think that person would have any chances to find any followers in Baghdad 670?

Islam is free from error BUT not humans!

You pick up on four words and ignore the context. His point is that Muslims should trust those who have been on the Straight Path for years, not some Johnny-come-lately like Hassan Butt who suddenly claims to have seen the light after years of promoting fitna. I don’t believe he was talking about old age anyway; he is talking about tradition and stability.

Trust the wise and stable. Trust the established ones – old really is gold.

But that was what the disorientated young women and men in Pakistan were doing. Why going from one “Sheikh” to another “Sheikh ” when the Truth is front of you?

Read : In the name of thy Lord

[Qur'an 96:1]

When will we raise our children to become independent individuals and who take responsibility of their own lives, and let them know that no Sheikh — no matter how trustful he is— will not substitute for you on the Day of Judgement?

Let me show you a typical study programmes for a child in the Golden Age of Timbuktu and Andalusia:

“It was truly fortunate for me that God should choose that, in my childhood, youth and young manhood, my father should give me teachers to instruct me in the Quran, so that by the age of nine I knew it perfectly. He then set three teachers over me: one to perfect my knowledge of the Quran; another to teach me the Arabic language; and the third to do the same in mathematics. So it was that I reached the age of sixteen familiar with ten different ways of reading the Quran, in all aspects of assimilation, articulation, attenuation, final vocalisation, pausing, reduction, finalisation, softening and velarisation.

I also learned the different facets of language, and I read works of poetry by both ancient and modern Arabs. I heard explanations of the divisions of inheritance and hadith. I was given lessons on algebra, in addition to the Book of Euclid and other works of geometry. I learned the three astronomical tables, and how to use the astrolable. My three tutors allowed me to rest from the early afternoon until the following day; yet I never granted myself any rest, and continued to read or take notes. All this in the prime of my youth.”

“In the prime of my youth”!

Do you think that child when she/he grows up will be easily exposed to deception when it comes to Islam? Very unlikely.

And old is not gold, because Allah (swt) Gives Knowledge to whomever He Wishes–regardless age and sex.
In the early time of the Prophet (saw) he sent a 19 years old man alone to Yemen to teach the people Islam, because this young man was most knowledgeable in his community.

To put trust someone on your religion is not Islamic.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s948864.htm
http://talk.islamicnetwork.com.....php?t=5329