Sat 14th Dec 2019
Read by our brother Abu Muadh Taqweem
The 4 Madhabs
- When we talk about the 4 “Madhabs” then this is regarding the jurisprudence (rulings) of the 4 famous Imams: Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi’i and Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy upon them all
- These four great Imams had differences between their rulings in particular issues, sometimes some of them would be correct and sometimes they would make a mistake
- When a scholar sincerely strives to make the correct judgement, and he arrives at the correct ruling, then for him is two rewards. If he makes an error he still has one rewards.
- However we as Muslims are not allowed to blindly follow anyone except the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
- If there is a conflict between a particular ruling in a madhab and what is mentioned in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadiths, what do we do?
- It is not about numbers or majority, it is about Evidence!
- What did the four Imams (may Allah have mercy upon them) command us to do if this happens?
- What did Allah say in the Qur’an about this?
Following the Qur’an and Sunnah based on Evidence
- We cannot blindly follow the opinion or ruling of a scholar if it goes against the evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah
- What about people during our times who follow views and rulings which are completely contradictory to Islam?? E.g. those who call on others besides Allah
- It is incumbent on every Muslim to sincerely seek the truth
Being upon the Balanced way
- We do not blindly follow the scholars, rulers, or Imams (e.g. some of the Suffia do this), this is one extreme
- At the same time we do not abandon the Scholars (e.g. as Yasir Qadhi or Al-Maghrib Institute have done), this is another extreme
- Rather the balanced position is to follow the opinions of the scholars as long as it is upon the Qur’an and Sunnah (based on evidence) as it was understood by the Salaf of this Ummah (i.e. the pious predecessors from the early part of this ummah such as the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions). The only one who we follow blindly is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
Obeying others Besides Allah
- What does Allah say in the Qur’an about those who do not wish to follow the Prophet (ﷺ)?
- Some Monks, Rabbi’s and Imams make permissible what Allah has made impermissible and some make impermissible what Allah has made permissible
- What about those people who follow the view of their “Scholar” even when it goes against the word of Allah?
- As Muslims, are we allowed to just pick and Imam and do whatever he says? Are we allowed to say “I am too ignorant to find the evidence myself, therefore I will leave it to the Imam and just follow him”??
- These days, some scholars contradict clear proofs and make haraam things into halal and people follow them as they want lenient rulings
- It is an act of polytheism (Shirk) to obey scholars and rulers in permitting the unlawful or prohibiting the lawful
- What does Allah say about this in the Qur’an?
- ‘Adi Ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated: “I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting (the Quranic verse which means,) ‘They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah…’ (Quran: At-Tawbah: 31) So, I said, ‘0 Messenger of Allah! We did not worship them.’ He (the Prophet) said, ‘Did they not prohibit what Allah made lawful, so you view it as prohibited, and, (similarly), they make lawful what Allah prohibited, so you view it as lawful?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ Thereupon, he said, ‘This is your worship of them.’ “
Loving and Hating for the sake of Allah
- What does this mean?
Q&A:
- What is the difference between Aqeedah and Fiqh
- When hating something or someone for the sake of Allah, then is such a person to be dealt with respect and treated kindly?
- What if your parents command you to do something which is against the religion?
- What about people who claim that we should pick one madhab from the 4 madhabs and just stick to it as a package?