Author: Shaykh Muhammad ‘Ali Farkoos
Source: الجزائر في: ١٥ جمادى الثانية ١٤٣٠ﻫ الموافق ﻟ: ٠٨ جوان ٢٠٠٩م
Translators: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
The Noble Scholar Shaykh Muhammad bin 'Alī Ferkūs حفظه الله stated:
Labeling someone with the title Shaykh while he is not entitled to it falls under the category of {putting things in other than their proper places}. Also it is (a means of) opening up the doors for the Shaytān to enter upon the educated student. These labels bring about in him different types of ailments of the heart which are not hidden, from: self-amazement, being deceived, being sufficed with oneself, arrogance in one's studies and the likes of that from the calamities of knowledge. And it's possible that it may have a negative impact upon his physcological and educational behavior. As a result of that, it leads him to the defamation of the elder (Scholars), belittling them and seeking to undermine their status (by speaking ill of them).
