With reference to the discourse between AB Sulaiman and Fathima Idris.

It has wondered me for a large part my adult life, why do we need to rationalise the ulama's role in the life of Muslims. It has wondered me to great length too, why, when discussing the problems of Muslims, the ulama are ridiculed and their views sidelined when they are supposed to be the respected and learned ones.

The majority of our ulama went through many years of higher learning at recognised universities, taught by experts in various fields and have had access to religious literature that we are incapable of understanding without proper tutelage. They have been put through examinations and have passed them. They were then allowed to go out and give advice for the betterment of individuals and society.

And here we are, those who learned Pelajaran Agama Islam until SPM, have in our house a collection of religious books, have a circle of friends with a tertiary qualifications in something other than Islam and they say that our ulama are ill-informed and not suited to advise us on the matters affecting our belief.

Try to tell your friends that the UK-qualified heart surgeon who works in a medical centre and specialises in coronary disease is no good at knowing what is causing your chest pain. Instead, tell them you can treat them yourself by reading the many books on heart ailment you have at home.

I am not saying that in the matters of religion we do not have room to interpret or even to question, but that these interpretations and practices must always be guided with what we learn from people who are recognised experts in the field of religion.

If we are not satisfied with their views then go ahead, take up a course in syariah at the International Islamic University, for example, get a degree and then tell the sheikh from al-Azhar that he is wrong. Don't go and take a degree in agriculture and tell that the sheikh he knows nothing about Islamic inheritance law or whatever.

In the end, only opinions from the learned, be they doctors, architects, engineers or ulama are valid. In fact, in some instances you are required by law to consult and get advice only from the relevant experts. You can be arrested and thrown into prison if you don't. So where would freedom of opinion and independence of thought be then?