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"School of Thoughts"

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Topic: "School of Thoughts"
Posted By: Prof_GoodVibe
Subject: "School of Thoughts"
Date Posted: 19 February 2006 at 7:52am
As-salam-o-alaikum, 

My approach to Allah's deen and my thoughts differs to almost all of you.

Though majority doesnot agree on how I see my deen, but I still can find some, or convince some, or create some from my own family members who will agree to most of what my thoughts are.

Then;
Does Allah and His Rasool give me a right to make my own "School of Thoughts"?

Does this mean that because I think differently from the rest of you i make my identity seperate with a different name alongside the main word of identity "Muslim"?

If it is forbidden for me to have my own "School of Thoughts" so does it is forbidden to every one else to divide in the name of "School of Thoughts", "Madhabs", "Fiqh" and "sects".

None of you can present a theory to support these sects within Muslims from Quran and Hadeeth, but that is the way you see Islam?

How strange!

Therefore;
I cant do anything but to follow the sunnah of Rasool Allah (Apbuh) to make supplications for all of us;

O Allah guide us,
O Allah unite us,
Ameen,
Alhamdulil'lahi Rabil Alameen,
Ameen.

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26/83;
Rabbi hab lee hukmau wal hiqnee bis'salaiheen.
"O my Rabb! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous."
Ameen, Ya Rabil Alameen Ameen.



Replies:
Posted By: rami
Date Posted: 20 February 2006 at 2:08am
Bi ismillahir rahmanir raheem

Once you learn how ignorant you are of true islamic knowledge you will see the reason why there is more than one school of thought in islam. But now you think you see what islam is and are confident enough in your self and knowledge to wonder in amazment why it is so.

Untill you get of your back side and see what it is you are critisising in full detail you will remain in the dark while those who "know" will always remain above you in allah's estimation as he has said himself in the Quran "are those who know equal with those who dont" so make an effort to know then crtitisise all you like but at that time we can say you are talking from a position of knowledge and not ignorance.


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Rasul Allah (sallah llahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord" and whoever knows his Lord has been given His gnosis and nearness.


Posted By: Shams Zaman
Date Posted: 20 February 2006 at 1:01pm

Dear Prof!

You are right there is no concept of sect in Islam but there is always a room for the difference of opinion or freedom of expression.

However, this is to be based on Quran and Sunnah and should not be molded into some kind of sect.

Why there has to be various interpretations?   In my opinion there can be 3 reasons for this:

(1) Most would interpret differently because they think differently. Like no 2 fingers are alike in our hand.

 

(2) Some would have different interpretation because they were unable to access all the available material on the subject.

 

(3) Most will interpret in a different manner because they think the message in front of them should have been according to their thoughts and ideology. To them their whims, logics, old customs/ traditions are more important. They follow their own conjectures and hypothesis no matter whatever you present to them. As said in 2:18. �Deaf, dumb (and) blind, so they will not turn back�. (Here I don�t mean the difference of opinion but an interpretation which is against the basic principles of Islam. Like the interpretation some have offered incase of 2:62 and 5:69) in complete contradiction of Hadith and 3:19).  

 

Why there is difference of opinion amongst the scholars of Fiqa? This in my opinion is due to 2 reasons.

(1) The complete collection of hadith/traditions was not available in a binded form, from one place and the scholars had to travel from one place to another to reach for the material/traditions.

 

(2) The society, the social customs, governmental laws, and foreign influences etc demanded different sort of solutions for the similar old problems.

 

Should the Old Fiqa be valid for now? In my opinion �ABSOLUTELY NOT�. I may agree to a particular set of rules or interpretations of a particular scholar but I should not be identified by his jurisprudence, like we call ourselves as SUNNI, SHIA, BARALAVI, SALFI, WAHABBI, DEOBANDDI, AHL-E-HADITH, SHAAFI, MALAKI, HANAFI, HANBLI, and what and what not you can keep counting. I hold an extreme view on this and some get infuriated on this. In my opinion either we can either call ourselves as Muslims or Shia/Sunni/Hanafi�� etc (belonging to a particular sect). I was born in Baralavi/Sunni family and about 6 years ago I denounced my sect and now only identify myself as a MUSLIM. My argument is based on the following verses and Hadith:

And be not like those (Jews and Christians) who got divided (into sects) and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them, and these it is that shall have a grievous chastisement�. (3:105).

 

Surely they who adopted different ways in their religion and divided (themselves) into sects, you have nothing to do with them; their case is only with Allah, then He will tell them of (their crimes and) what they did�. (6:159).

 

So then keep your face steadfast towards the religion in the right direction -- on the nature made by Allah on which He created mankind; never make alterations in the Allah's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know O Keep yourself committed towards Him, and remain cautious of (your duty to) Him and be regular in your prayer and be not of the polytheists O Of those who divided their religion and became sects every sect is rejoicing on (the beliefs) what they have with them�. (Ch-30: V-30-32).

 

But how can you disbelieve while it is you to whom the communications of Allah are recited, and among you is His Apostle? And whoever holds fast to Allah, he indeed is guided to the right path�. (3:101).

 

And hold fast by the rope (revelations) of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brethren; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it, thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way�. (3:103)

 

Prophet said, �You Muslims will be divided among 72 sects�.� (Abu-Dawood). At another place he said, �You people will get divided into 73 sects and all will go to hell except for one�. Companions asked, �which one will go to heaven?� Prophet answered, �One who will follow me and my companions�. (Thramdhi). So what was Prophet following? Obviously THE QURAN, and what were his companions following? Certainly THE HADITH (sunnah of Prophet).  

 

Why there are so many varying interpretations and sects among Muslims?  (1) Because Muslims have stopped following the Quran and Hadith and have stopped learning Arabic. They now only rely on the translations which mostly don�t convey the actual meanings.

 

(2) Because we have gone to the extremes in our religion against the order which was also given to the previous nations, in 5:77, �Say: O followers of the Book! do not unduly go to the extreme in your religion, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray before and also led many others to go astray and went away from the right path�.

 

Some Muslims claimed divinity for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by excluding him from human race, some claimed it for the 4th Caliph Hazrat Ali(RA), some started degrading and refuting the Prophet by rejecting the Hadith and some deprived him of the respect and honour which he deserve.

 

Why didn�t God created all of us on one Grid?  God created angels who don�t have the mandate to disobey (however they do ask questions as they did once Allah announced that He is placing a viceroy on earth). Allah created Jinns who were given option either to obey or disobey. Among them was the Lucifer (whom we all today know by the name of Satan or devil), he was the most pious among Jinns but became self conceit and proud. So Allah put him to test by ordering to prostrate in front of Adam, and he failed the test.

 

So he asked Allah in sort of a challenge, �He (Lucifer) said: See for thyself: Is this the one whom Thou have honored over me? If Thou grant me respite till the day of resurrection, I will most certainly obliterate (and cast astray) its complete civilization except for a very few o� (17:62), also �He (Lucifer) said: As Thou hast caused me to go astray (by putting me to test), I will certainly lie in wait for them in Thy straight path o Then I will certainly come to them from front and from behind and from their right-hand side and from their left-hand side; and Thou shalt not find most of them thankful o� (7:16-17).

 

So Allah gave him the respite till the doomsday but said in 7:18 �He (Allah) said: Get out of here (heavens), degraded, banished; whosoever of them will follow you, I will certainly fill hell with you all�.

 

But Allah also told that, ��.Go forth from this (state) all; so surely there will come to you a guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve o And (as to) those who disbelieve in and reject My communications, they are the inmates of the fire, in it they shall abide� (2:38-39).

 

So initially there was one religion and that was to worship one God. Later Satan lured humans off the right path and they started worshiping the seen and distant things like moon, sun, star, idols, saints, Prophets etc. Every time humans would go astray, Allah selected His messenger to guide them to the right path and gave them divine revelations. Each time this happened, and time and again Satan would cast them away by motivating them to make alterations in the Holy Scriptures as done by Jews and Christians.

 

This continued on till ages, until Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came in this world. But this time Allah Almighty announced that Muhammad is the last messenger and Quran is the last revelation and from now on no messenger will be sent forth.

However what unusual happened this time was that Allah pronounced that no one will have the power or authority to make any alterations in the last revelation �Quran� till the end of this world. So anyone who is interested to find the truth, he can consult it from the Last Testament (Quran). But the struggle between the good and evil will last till the last day.

 

However the matter would be decided on the day of Judgement and Allah will say, �And on the day when He shall gather them all together: O assembly of jinn! you took away a great part of mankind�� The fire is your abode, to abide in it, except as Allah is pleased; surely your Lord is Wise, Knowing�. (6:128),

and in 14:22 �And the Shaitan shall say after the matter is decided: Surely Allah promised you the promise of truth, and I gave you promises, which was all lies, and I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you obeyed me, therefore do not blame me but blame yourselves: Now neither I can come to your aid nor can you be of any aid to me; surely I disassociate myself from your shirk (associating me with Allah); surely for the unjust/evil-doers is the painful punishment�.

 

So the way is clear for us follow Allah�s revelations rather than our own conjectures. The Quran says, whosoever do good it is for his benefit and whosoever earns evil it is only for his own harm. Islam has got solution to all our problems but these solutions will not necessarily in accordance to our wishes.

I would summarize it this way: THIS LIFE CONSTITUTES MEANS TO ACHIEVE AN END AND IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF.�

Swearing by the age of time O Most certainly the complete mankind is in state of loss (including Jews who claim that no harm can come to them from God, including Christians who claim Prophet Jesus sacrificed himself for their salvation, including Muslims who are sure that Prophet Muhammad will not let them go to heaven, Hindus, Buddhist etc etc)  O Except for those who have faith (in Allah, apostles, angels, revelations, Taqdeer [that God has power over all things, narrowly translated as Destiny], Day of Judgment 2:2-3) and perform good deeds and enjoin each others on truth and show/insist each other on patience O

 

Shams Zaman

Pakistan

 



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[email protected]


Posted By: AhmadJoyia
Date Posted: 20 February 2006 at 2:16pm

Dear bro Shams and Prof. Sahib, I think, the existance of 4 madhibs has nothing to do with all what you have mentioned in your posts.  Bro Rami has very rightly pointed out that we need to learn about our deen more assiduously than hypothetically. The 4 madhibs came into existance based upon 4 distinctively different methodologies of logic and argumentative reasoning, on the same source of material i.e Quran and Sunnah, and some time of the Salaf/Khalaf, to come up with different solutions of the same problem. These 4 schools of thoughts, apply uniquely but logically defined  methologies consistantly in all their matters under analysis. Their solutions (views) differ from each others, simply because of variations in the degree of authentication, they assign to a particular evidence more than the other available. Logically speaking, there is nothing wrong in it.

Ironically, we have lost our precisous tools of critical thinking by making the Islam as stagnant murky water of total "taqleed".

Therefore, its not wise to disassociate with these processes, since hypothetical thinking is worse than even doing "taqleed".

 On the other hand, ummah as a whole, is now merely doing "taqleed" and hence got static in its development. It is hard to find any movement for the renewal of critical thinking that can revive the actual Islam for us; the Islam that can evidently be seen from Quran and Sunnah.

I hope this make sense.  



Posted By: Prof_GoodVibe
Date Posted: 20 February 2006 at 8:00pm

As-salam-o-alaikum,

Yes, you can debate all your life on the issue of sects, but the fact remains that;

None can prove that it is right to divide umma in whatever name you choose;

In contrary here what Quran says;

6/159;

"As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah. He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did."

If you like to ponder this above verse, you will find that the message given to Rasool (Apbuh) by Allah Subhana wa taala that *you have no part in them in the least*, in other words it says; you have no relations with them. If a true Muslim who wants to follow Sunnah, then Sunnah is that; Muslims have no part in them in the least who divide themselves in different sects, whatsoever.

Please dont curse me, prove your opinion from Quran and Sunnah, alone, if you can!

May Allah bless us all,

Ameen,

Alhamdulil'lahi Rabil Alameen,

Ameen.

 

 

 



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26/83;
Rabbi hab lee hukmau wal hiqnee bis'salaiheen.
"O my Rabb! bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous."
Ameen, Ya Rabil Alameen Ameen.


Posted By: AhmadJoyia
Date Posted: 20 February 2006 at 8:13pm

O my dear Prof Sahib, why should I be cursing you? I know you are quite sincere in your approach and I have no differences as what you ask for removing the sects. Move on from here. Let us know where are you heading? May Allah give you wisdom to unite the Muslims. Amin.

BTW, my explanation of 4 Madhahibs was in no way creation of any sects or preference of any over any other, but to provide the actual basis of their existance in Islam, contrary to what usually people think about them.



Posted By: rami
Date Posted: 21 February 2006 at 2:04am
Bi ismillahir rahmanir raheem

Ahmad i agree with your defanition of what the madhhabs are but not on why this ummah is in the state it is in.

Taqleed is necassery for all people including scholars, but i would assume now you only see taqlid as simply following a scholars opinion on a matter, which is not exactly true if you were to learn how actual scholars use taqleed you will get a diferent picture of what it is.

a simple example, a scholar uses the legal principles of his madhhab to rule on a matter that has come he exersises his judgment with the various evidences but makes taqleed of the opinons of various scholars on particular points such as the grading of a hadith. When he uses a hadith for evidence he makes taqleed of say Imam Bukhari's opinion that this particular hadith with its chain of naration is sahih, insha allah you are starting to get the picture, instead of researching every little point himself which would be an enourmous task to do for every ruling he makes taqleed of the opinions of the scholars in diferent sientific fields such as tafseer, language or hadith grading.

I agree to some extent that taqleed is a problem but not from the people you asociate it with. The people who taqleed is a problem for are those who reject taqleed all together even though they practice it every day with out realisation. They say we should not follow madhhabs or scholars but only Quran and sunnah meaning that they only follow what they understand from a 5 min analysis of evidence and have no regard for things like context of ahadith whether it is the context of the wider event in the ahadtih or time of revelation in the 23 year period as well as asbab an nuzul (reason for revelation). Think about this if you will, these people day in and day out literaly adopt what they read and understand from the Quran and sunnah they do not analysie on any deep level and have no understanding of legal, logical, linguistic or ethical principles which must be considered when analysing evidence.

any person familiar with law will understand when following and aplying any form of principles this process will promote analytical skills something which can not be placed with the stagnation you speak of. When you study the methods of the madhhabs you will learn the principles of the madhhabs not the rullings and as a imam that i know once said if you were to go and learn with imam abu hanifah all you would be talking about is principles.

In the madhhab you make taqleed of the principles and methods they used, taqleed of the fiqh comes after you understand the principles themself.

The stagnation you are talking about is not becouse of taqleedas traditionaly used it is becouse muslims do not practice the religion, what does allah himself say in the Quran act on my religion and i my self will teach you knowledge you did not have beffore, which also means he will open up ways for you to apply this relgion to situations that have not arisen beffore also known in islam as mutaghayirat ( new matters, or mattters whose nature changes).

taqleed when taken by itself to be the sole act that a muslim should do to know his religion will always give an extreme picture of this ummah it is only one thing we should do among other things.  How can something practiced from the begining of islam (as the sahabah did taqleed of rasul allah) be the cause of the ummahs downfall. this Ummah produced some of the worlds most brilliant minds all of whom practiced taqleed of the madhhabs. We need to look at and understand it in its correct light and usage.

regarding the problems of this ummah i would recomend you look at http://islamicbookstore.com/a4407.html - The rise and fall of the Ummah [an examination of the social, economic, cultural and political decline of the Muslim ummah], i dont think the matter is as simple as laying the blame at the feet of taqleed something which the majority of people can not do without since most do not wish to be scholars or are even capable of it, taqleed is practical for people.

you may also find the advice of http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display/-/YLBEVQSDAH2M/ref%3Dcm%5Fbg%5Fdp%5Fm%5F1/102-7990587-6292918 - this brother helpfull on the matter of the madhhabs, if i could highlight tow particular works which you may be interested in.

http://www.islamicbookstore.com/b2438.html - Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence and http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8171512348/ref=cm_bg_d/102-7990587-6292918?v=glance - 'Shatibi's Philosophy of Islamic Law'

I am not certain about the works of Bernard G. Weiss so i am not recomending them as such but they are an after thought in the article.



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Rasul Allah (sallah llahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord" and whoever knows his Lord has been given His gnosis and nearness.


Posted By: Shams Zaman
Date Posted: 21 February 2006 at 6:14am

Dear Ahmed and Rami!

By refuting the sects I don't mean to invalidate or criticize the 4 Mazhabs. Indeed these scholars and all others whom we call as Sunnah wal Jamat did a splended job to resolve the THEN existing problems in their socities. Why they differ? of course due to logic and non-availablity of the complete litratue and collection of Hadith.

But there is a unique saying of all these scholars, that if anyone find anything of my explaination and interperation contradicting with Quran and Sunnah he should hit my explaination with the wall or words to this effect.

They never proclaimed that they have devised a set of principles and interperation which must be followed. Infact all of died in either captivity or exile fighting the pressures to either accept the post of a religious ministery or proclaim that this is the interpertation to be followed.

They all refused but said that these are our explainations and all have the right to contradict these on logic and evidence from Quran and Sunnah. So we may consult them or even adopt some of these principles or even all pf these principles but this has to be on our own effort to examine this in the light of Quran and Sunnah.

Finally we should not go for blind TAQLEED or following or to proclaim sect on the basis of these Madhabs or teachings. We still must proclaim ourself as Muslims and not as Hanifi, sunni, shia, shafi etc, with an open mind to critically evaluate the teachings.

Shams Zaman



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[email protected]


Posted By: Nawawi619
Date Posted: 07 November 2006 at 10:41am

In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the Compassionate

Prayers and blessings be upon his noble Messenger Muhammad, and to his Family, to his Companions, and to those who follow their guidance until the Day of Judgement

 

Following this discourse on the  Madhahib we need to first understand the role of the madhhab.  All this info I am about to share with all of you is from the audio lecture on following a madhhab by Imam Zaid Shakir.

Using some analogy, the Quran and the Sunnah is the mountain; we are far away from it looking at with awe and amazement.  We would like to get a better look at this mountain.  The madhahib serves as the binoculars so one can see the intricate details on the mountain.  Now we dont look at the binoculars, we look at the mountain. So the madhahib is merely a tool on how to see the Prophetic guidance with greater clarity and detail then with, using the analogy again, seeing the mountain with a naked eye.

Secondly a madhhab is not the work of one Imam or one scholar.  A madhhab is a school of jurisprudence, where the founding Imam would lay out the jurisprudential principles of his school and bring about the preliminary legal rulings based on those principles.  His students would then reexamine and update the legal conclusions of the school, using the principles that the founding Imam has established.  Take for example the Shafi'i School:

1) Imam Shafi'i laid out the jurisprudential principles of his school and started the preliminary legal conclusions.

2) The his main students like Imam Muzani, Imam Buwaythi, and others reevaluated his legal conclusions based on his methodology and evidence and upgraded when necessary.

3) The next generation consisted who consisted of luminaries like Imam Bayhaqi did the same, reevaluated the legal rulings of the school based on the principles of the school and upgraded.

4) The generation after Imam Bayhaqi had the likes of Imam al Haramayn al Juwayni who reevaluated the legal rulings of the school and upgraded

5) Imam Juwayni's student Hujjatul Islam Imam Abu Hamid al Ghazali was of the next generation who did the same

6) After Ghazali was Imam Rafi'i and his contemporaries who continued to upgrade the school. Imam al Rafi' actually condensed and expounded on Imam Ghazali's work Al Wajiz.

7) After Rafi' Imam Nawawi came  who  reevaluated and upgraded the entire school based the earlier works of fiqh from the school especially from his predecessor Imam Rafi'.  He created a manual called Minhaj at Talibin which became the foremost reference work for the later Shafi'i school. 

*The soundest and most reliable legal rulings of the Shafi' madhhab is from what Imam Rafi' and what Imam Nawawi agree on, followed by Imam Nawawi's position.

8) Imam Ibn Hajar al Haytami and Imam ar Ramli came after Imam Nawawi and expounded on Imam Nawawi's work.

So as we have illustrated from this example, the madhhab is not the ruling or legal conclusions of one Imam or scholar, but rather, it is a work of hundreds if not thousands of scholars from the school in each generation who have reevaluated and upgraded the legal conclusions of the school based on the jurisprudential principles laid out by the Imam himself.  This process of refining and correcting has made all four madhahib sound schools of jurisprudence within the Sunni tradition. 

Finally, following a madhhab, ie Taqlid, is not blindly following as some detractors say now.  But rather, following a madhhab is in fact the following of qualified scholarship.  The scholars that I have mentioned in the Shafi'i school, for example, were giants in the fields of Hadith, Quran, Fiqh, and the other sciences.  We look to specialists in Islamic law because most of us do not have the time nor intellect to learn all the requisite knowledge required to derive legal rulings from the Quran and Sunnah.  In traditional ciriculums, a person who wants to be a Mufti, a specialist in Islamic law who can issue out fatwa (expert legal opinions) would have to go through 20 years of learning.  Fiqh would not  be the only science studied but also Arabic language, Quran, Tafsir, Hadith and its sciences, Usul al Fiqh, Qawa'id al fiqhiyah, logic, rhetoric, and others.

So I hope with this exposition inshallah we realize the need to follow qualified scholarship. In an age where its the Do-it-yourself Islam, we are treading on dangerous waters trying to derive our own rulings based on our one dimensional understanding of the Quran and Hadith.

Wa salla Llahu ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim taslima kathira

Wa Llahu ta'Ala Alim wa Hasbunallahu wa ni'ma al Wakil.

 



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Imam al-Shafi`i said, "Whoever takes knowledge from books loses the regulations." (man akhadha al-`ilma min al-kutubi Dayya`a al-aHkaama). [Reported by Nawawi in the introduction to "al-Majmu`"]



Posted By: raushan
Date Posted: 10 November 2006 at 10:51pm
No right thinking Muslim can ignore the services and contribution of the great Fiq�h scholars. The Qur�an orders us to follow them (Men of authority in their respective fields) in all such matters on which different authorities of a particular field are unanimous. But if the authentic authorities differ on a subject, that issue should be referred to Qur�an and Hadith for guidance. There is no room for choice in this matter. This is a very specific and clear cut order of Almighty Allah.

�O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the persons of authority among you. But if you differ about anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day. That (only) is the best (course) and a just interpretation.� [4:59]

Swearing allegiance to a particular scholar with such ardour that the followers become a sect is against the spirit of Islam. The great Fiq�h scholars never advocated it themselves. The Holy Qur�an denounces the sectarianism in no uncertain words; �Cling one and all to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves..� (3:103)

�Be not like those who became divided and opposed to one another after clear signs have been given them. For them is a stern chastisement.� (3:105)

�Have nothing to do with those who have split up their religion into sects. Allah will call them to account and declare to them what they have done.� (6:159)

How can the Muslims, the believers in One God, His Message the Qur�an and followers of the Prophet whose every word and action is recorded in history, be divided to become sects. The Qur�an says that it is Mushrikeen (those who ascribe partners to Allah who become divided to the extent of becoming sects.

�...And be not of those who associate others with Allah, those who split up their religion and became sects, each exulting in its own belief.� (30:31-32)



Posted By: Andalus
Date Posted: 11 November 2006 at 12:16am

Originally posted by raushan raushan wrote:

No right thinking Muslim can ignore the services and contribution of the great Fiq�h scholars. The Qur�an orders us to follow them (Men of authority in their respective fields) in all such matters on which different authorities of a particular field are unanimous. But if the authentic authorities differ on a subject, that issue should be referred to Qur�an and Hadith for guidance. There is no room for choice in this matter. This is a very specific and clear cut order of Almighty Allah.

Assalam Aleikum raushan.

When there is a difference of opinion between the scholars of the four madhabs, the difference is not because the scholars have decided to ignore the primary sources of Islam. Hence, you will not find the solution to the differences. The scholars reach differeing opinions due to interpretational matters. They still go to the primary sources, but sometimes there is room for interpretation.

 



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A feeling of discouragement when you slip up is a sure sign that you put your faith in deeds. -Ibn 'Ata'llah
http://www.sunnipath.com
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/
http://www.pt-go.com/


Posted By: amlhabibi2000
Date Posted: 11 November 2006 at 7:30pm

 

Salam Alaikoam

It is my opinion that Islam existed since the beginning and there since the beginning we were/are all Muslims as we all have/are submitting to the will of Allah though each of us submits in varying degrees.

So therefore Christianity, Hindu, Jewdaism, Seik, Buddhism are all expressions of the evolution of Islam.

This given in all these religions and even people with none we all give in charity, pray one or more times a day, make pilgrimage to our Holy places and read our spiritual texts.

The keys of being a Muslim are the following in my books

1. Education in a trade or proffession so we can support ourselves and our families with grace and dignity

2. Counseling, getting proffessional advice and guidance whether from professionals or clery and learn such skills as good communications skills, parenting skills, good conflict resolution skills, relationship skills

3. Consultation, whether it is consulting a proffessional over some challenge we have to get good advice in how to resolve the family, personal or community issues with grace and dignity

4. Making a personal pilgramage to our lives, our families, communities, Nations and world to see where we need help or can give it

5. Living prayers, being of service some how to our families, communities, Nation or world such as digging a well where they need water or teaching a course in a low income area or guiding someone to counseling or medical treatment

To me Islam is not stagnant at all but ever evolving and changing.

To me there is great hope in Islam and Humanity as we are the Ummah of Islam.

With the advancement of technology the world is in the growing pains coming to adult hood and we are experiencing the pains of yet a jevanile society still growing and learning.

Some may want Islam to be in a box but it is not it in everwhere, in everything.  Life is Islam and Islam is Life.

Salam

Anne Marie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Judgement day passes in the moment we decide something needs attention & we take positive action. Then there will be a great sorting out of people into groups, Inspired by Surah 99 Ayat 1-8


Posted By: Nawawi619
Date Posted: 11 November 2006 at 8:51pm
Originally posted by raushan raushan wrote:

Swearing allegiance to a particular scholar with such ardour that the followers become a sect is against the spirit of Islam. The great Fiq�h scholars never advocated it themselves. The Holy Qur�an denounces the sectarianism in no uncertain words; �Cling one and all to the Rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves..� (3:103)

As Salamu Alaykum

I think you need to re-read my post.  A Muslim who adheres to one of the four madhahib isn't swearing allegiance to a particular scholar. In fact a person who adheres to a madhhab is following qualified scholarship as undertaken by the entire school not just one scholar.  I illustrated that in the example I used with the Shafi'i Madhhab.  Each successive generation of scholars from that school looked upon the legal rulings and opinions of the school reevaluated in light of the methodology of the school and the primary evidence and upgraded accordingly. 

No denies following the Qur'an and Sunnah. The question is who are you following? The Prophet (salla llahu alayhi wa sallam) is no longer personally alive to teach us. All we have left is what has been transmitted by people.  Do we follow a person who simply reads a book of ahadith he bought from the store? or do we take ahadith who studied the ahadith or work or science of Islam from masters in an unbroken chain back to the source?  I prefer following this unbroken chain of transmission. This insures that what I follow is based on the correct context and understanding that the source intended.

Following a madhhab isn't making allegiance to anyone.  One can change their madhhab if they choose, they aren't stuck with it once they choose. I recommend you get the cd lecture on why we follow madhhabs by Imam Zaid Shakir. Its available at Alhambra Productions.



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Imam al-Shafi`i said, "Whoever takes knowledge from books loses the regulations." (man akhadha al-`ilma min al-kutubi Dayya`a al-aHkaama). [Reported by Nawawi in the introduction to "al-Majmu`"]



Posted By: Andalus
Date Posted: 11 November 2006 at 9:42pm
Originally posted by amlhabibi2000 amlhabibi2000 wrote:

 

Salam Alaikoam

It is my opinion that Islam existed since the beginning and there since the beginning we were/are all Muslims as we all have/are submitting to the will of Allah though each of us submits in varying degrees.

So therefore Christianity, Hindu, Jewdaism, Seik, Buddhism are all expressions of the evolution of Islam.

This given in all these religions and even people with none we all give in charity, pray one or more times a day, make pilgrimage to our Holy places and read our spiritual texts.

The keys of being a Muslim are the following in my books

1. Education in a trade or proffession so we can support ourselves and our families with grace and dignity

2. Counseling, getting proffessional advice and guidance whether from professionals or clery and learn such skills as good communications skills, parenting skills, good conflict resolution skills, relationship skills

3. Consultation, whether it is consulting a proffessional over some challenge we have to get good advice in how to resolve the family, personal or community issues with grace and dignity

4. Making a personal pilgramage to our lives, our families, communities, Nations and world to see where we need help or can give it

5. Living prayers, being of service some how to our families, communities, Nation or world such as digging a well where they need water or teaching a course in a low income area or guiding someone to counseling or medical treatment

To me Islam is not stagnant at all but ever evolving and changing.

To me there is great hope in Islam and Humanity as we are the Ummah of Islam.

With the advancement of technology the world is in the growing pains coming to adult hood and we are experiencing the pains of yet a jevanile society still growing and learning.

Some may want Islam to be in a box but it is not it in everwhere, in everything.  Life is Islam and Islam is Life.

Salam

Anne Marie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If someone follows Islam, according to your list of personal opinions and conjecture, they will be following a path that is heretical and innovated, and will not be within the folds of the definition of "Islam".



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A feeling of discouragement when you slip up is a sure sign that you put your faith in deeds. -Ibn 'Ata'llah
http://www.sunnipath.com
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/
http://www.pt-go.com/



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