The emphasized signs of (real) scholars are:
1. The scholar will not seek any worldly gains, meaning he will be honest and sincere in his teachings.
2. He does whatever he preaches. His words will not contradict his teachings.
3. He will first do something good and then ask people to do it. He advises people to stay away from a sin after making sure that he is not committing that sin.
4. He will be very interested in seeking the knowledge that leads him to the obedience of Allah. He will never learn how to deviate from the true path.
5. His interest is in studying the knowledge that benefits him directly. He will not learn the skills that make him successful in unnecessary arguments and debates.
6. Simplicity is his trademark. He never wishes for luxurious food, accommodation, or dresses.
7. He will not influence kings and ministers to get personal benefits. Instead, he influences them and leads them in the right direction. He can go to the king’s palace to give advice, defend others’ rights, and speak on behalf of weak and sick people.
8. He won’t issue fatwa in a hurry. His fatwa is based on concrete proof. If he does not know he will say ‘ask the learned people’.
9. Knowledge is – according to him – the source of final happiness. He seeks it for being succeeded in the hereafter. So his concentration is towards Tasawwuf (moral or spiritual knowledge). He will also learn how to control his mind. He expects that true knowledge will be revealed upon him in accordance with his accomplishments in Mujaahada.
10. His knowledge is based on Sharia . He imitates it with his in-depth knowledge and insight.
It is recommended to practice what one enjoins. The Prophet r‘s life itself was a role model and it is open to read. He was never seen saying anything that goes against his actions.
There is a saying:
فِعْلُ رَجلٍ لِأَلْفِ رَجُلٍ أَبْلَغُ مِنْ قَوْلِ أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ لِرَجُلٍ
“An action of one man in front of a thousand men is more effective than the saying of a thousand men to one man.”
A prophetic saying was reported:
مُرُوا بِالمعْرُوفِ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلوُه وَانْهَوْا عَنِ المُنْكَرِ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَجْتَنِبُوهُ كُلَّهُ
Enjoin what is good even if you haven’t done it; forbid evil even if you haven’t avoided it all.
Avoiding all sins is not a pre-condition to enjoin the good. If it were a pre-condition, there would be not a single man who deserves to do it, because ‘to err is human’.