How have you chosen the mathab you follow?

[muslimsistah]

As salaamu aleykum sisters and brothers.

i have been a muslim for some years and i have had the chance to be part of women in da´wa, Alhamdulillaah. My level of knowledge is not so strong when it comes to mathabs etc, so what want to ask, is that how have you chosen the mathab you follow? Is it by cultural basis or just based simply on research of different mathabs?

I have comen to a time in my life that I wanna study more about these things and in that way, maybe make my ibadat more logical (??). I look my information from books and web, as im not married and i dont have muslim relatives and where i live, there are no alims etc.

Jazak Allaah, this is a great page, got it from a sister in deen, Alhamdulillaah

[Muhammad al-Ayyub]

THE SHAR'EE ROLE OF TAQLEED

The essence of guidance is derived from the Holy Qurãn - "Hudan li al-Nas"
("A Guidance for Mankind). But this guidance and its laws are based on
fundamental principles, the details of which have been entrusted to and
consigned by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) in order to
explain them to mankind.

For example, the Holy Qurãn says: "Aqimus-Salaat" ("establish prayer"). It
does not define the method as to how the prayer should be established; how
the various postures should be performed; the mode of recitation of Surah,
etc. The complete method of prayer i.e. "Salaat" is explained by the Holy
Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam).

"Wa 'Atuz-Zakat" ("And give charity"). Now the Zakaat amounts payable on
gold, silver, cattle, land, produce, etc. are only known through the Ahadith
and there is no mention of it in the Holy Qurãn.
"Wa Lillahi `ala an-Nas Hij Al-baiti" ("It is obligatory on people to
perform the Hajj of the House of Allah.) Here again, the method of Tawaf,
the number of circumambulations, the details regarding Arafat, Mina,
Muzdalifah, the stoning at the Jimar, etc. have all been explained by the
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam).
Thus it becomes imperative to understand the Holy Qurãn in the light of the
Ahadith even for major obligatory acts like Salaat, Zakat and Hajj without
which it is impossible to act and understand the commands of the Holy Qurãn.
The believers are commanded to attain guidance from the Holy Qurãn in
accordance with the details explained by the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam). Therefore Allah specifies: "Whosoever obeys the Messenger
has indeed obeyed Allah." This obedience to the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) would in reality be obedience to Allah Himself.

A direction from the Hadith informs us:

"Also perform your prayer just as you see me perform my prayer." (Bukhari
Vol. 1, p. 1076)

It is not said: "Perform your prayer in the manner you may infer from the
Holy Qurãn."

Hadith is divided into different categories:-

The sayings of the Holy prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam),

The acts and doings of the Holy prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam),
The sayings, acts and doings of others, approved by the Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam).
All these categories of Ahadith give guidance to the Umma.

QIYAS

When the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) was asked a question he
answered and also counter-questioned the questioner, on a similar
(analogical) matter, the answer of which was known to him. On the correct
reply being given by the questioner, the Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam) would say: "The question you had asked is in the same category as
this answer of yours."

EXAMPLE: A lady once asked: "Hajj was obligatory on my mother but she passed
away. Can I perform it on her behalf?" The Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam) replied: "Yes, it would be accepted on her behalf. Tell me, if
your mother had a debt would you pay it." She replied in the affirmative.
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said: "Fulfill what is on her
behalf. Certainly, the duty and right of Allah would be more acceptable."
This kind of reasoning is called Qiyas, Ijtihaad, or Istimbat in Shari`a.

These are only used in Shari`a when the Qurãnic or Traditional directives
are not specifically spelt out. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi
Wasallam) sent Hadrat Mu`adh ibn Jabal (Radhiyallaahu Ánhu) as a Governor
and Qaadhi to Yemen. The Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) gave to
Hadrat Mu`adh many instructions and advices even while he held the reins and
led the horse with Hadrat Mu`adh mounted on it. The Holy Prophet
(Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) also asked: "By which law would you dispense
justice." He replied: "By the Law of the Holy Qurãn."

"And if you do not find it (i.e. what you seek) in the Holy Qurãn."

He replied: "By the Prophetic Traditions."

"And if you do not find it in there also, then!"

He replied: "Then I would make Ijtihad." The Holy Prophet, (Sallallaahu
Álayhi Wasallam) expressed his happiness with his reply and fully endorsed
and supported his stand and thanked Allah for it. (Abu Daawud Vol 2. p. 149)

When after such an Ijtihad all the scholars agree to its conclusion, it is
termed "Ijma", for it must be understood that Qiyas or Ijtihad does not
prove an order or command; it only makes it evident and known. It was hidden
in the Holy Qurãn or the Ahadith; the Mujtahid, by Dalalatan, 'Isharatan or
Iqtdha'an, brought it in the open for the generality of people.

The person who does not have the power of Ijtihad is bound and compelled to
follow a Mujtahid and this act of following a Mujtahid is termed Taqlid. The
Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) sent Hadrat Mu`adh ibn Jabal as
Qadi so that people could act upon his instructions and guidance derived
from the Holy Qurãn, the Ahadith and his Ijtihad. To accept all three would
in reality be obedience to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) as
mentioned in Mishkãt Sharif (p. 310). Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallaahu
Ánhu) reported that the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said,
"Who has obeyed me, has obeyed Allah and who was disobedient to me has been
disobedient to Allah and who obeyed the Amir was obedient to me and who was
disobedient to the Amir has been disobedient to me."

PRECEPTS, PROPOSITIONS AND THEIR KINDS

Masa'il or precepts are of four kinds:-

Clear instructions from the Holy Qurãn and Ahadith. No Qiyas is allowed nor
Taqlid permissible. The order is to practice on the clear injunction.
In such propositions where there are two injunctions, one earlier, and one
later, and through historical evidence both renown, then the earlier
proposition is abrogated (Mansukh), whilst the latter command is ordered.
Here too Qiyas and Taqlid ~ not permitted.
Those propositions that have two clear injunctions but it is not known which
is earlier and which later, i.e. no historical evidence.
Those propositions of which there exist no clear injunctions. Propositions 1
(and 2) are clear. the last two (Propositions 3 and 4) need explanations.
Since 3 and 4 are not clear, what must a person do? If he does not practice
upon them, he is yet not allowed to go free. The Qurãnic verses state: "Is
man under the notion that he will be left free?"'
"Do you think that you have been created in vain?" It is not so, you have to
obey Allah's command every second. Now how are we going to obey when it is
not known, which is abrogated and which is not. In the fourth kind of
proposition when one has no knowledge what is he going to practice on? Allah
says: "Do not practice on anything without knowledge:"

Thus the need of Qiyas and Ijtihad. In the third kind of proposition the
need is to verify the clear injunction and in the fourth kind it is to find
a clear order and command. This is a known fact that everybody does not have
the ability or power to make Ijtihad and this verse also makes it clear.

Everybody makes claims of giving opinions but only that ruling is accepted
which is in accordance with Shar`iah and of a Mujtahid. The verdict of a
Muqallid will not be accepted. The Mujtahid makes Ijtihad while the Muqallid
makes Taqlid. Even if the Mujtahid makes a mistake he is rewarded as
mentioned in Bukhari, Vol. 1 p. I1092.

Here exists a doubt that there were many Mujtahids among the Sahaaba
(Radhiyallaahu Ánhum), the Tabi`in and Tabi` Tibi`n; But only the 'I'ima
'Arba` i.e. Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imam Maalik, Imam Shaafi`i and Imam Ahmad
(Rahmatullaahi Álayhim) are followed and Taqlid made of them. What Is wrong
in following the Sahaaba (Radhiyallaahu Ánhum) whose virtues have been
abundantly mentioned in the Holy Qurãn and the Ahadith?

There is no doubt that the Sahaaba (Radhiyallaahu Ánhum) have a far greater
status and position than the I'ima Arba`a does not make Taqlid of any one of
the I'ima Arba` ever thinking them to be greater than the Sahaaba but its
simple reason is that for Taqlid it is necessary to know those injunctions
in which Taqlid has to be made. The detailed knowledge which can be found in
every section and chapter from Kitaab- at-Taharat to Kitab al-Fara'idh,
whether it concerns acts of worship, or social and cultural aspects, in
every department of knowledge, these were the first and only 'I'ima that
gathered them all in every detail. They were schools of knowledge in their
own right that codified knowledge in every field. We do not find such
codification either of the Sahaaba or other Tabi`in. The only choice we have
is to follow them. It must also be borne in mind that Allah had bestowed on
them the perfection of knowledge of the Holy Qurãn and the Ahadith. It is
said by Shah Waliullah (Rahmatullaahu Álayhi) in the commentary of Muwatta'
Imaam Malik, p.6 that these four Imaams together have encompassed the entire
knowledge of the Holy Qurãn and Ahaadith to such a degree that not a single
Hadith which was reported by the Sahaaba was omitted by them.

Clarification is further required regarding another doubt in most minds:
What is the necessity of making Taqlid of only one Imaam? One should be
allowed to follow any of the four Imaams in the different Masa'il as was the
method in the time of the Sahaaba and Tabi`in. Mazhab was not confined to a
single Imam. Why must such concessions not be allowed in our times?

In the time of the Sahaaba, which was the best of times, there was no
ulterior motives regarding religious questions. A question was asked to know
the correct method and to practice on it. It was not asked for one's
convenience as in later times. For example, A person with Wudhu touched his
wife which according to the Shafi Mazhab nullifies Wudhu: Now when he is
told to make Wudhu, he replies: "I make Taqlid of Imaam Abu Hanifah and it
is not a breaker of Wudhu according to his Mazhab, therefore my Salaat will
be valid."

Now this person vomits, which according to Hanafi Mazhab, breaks Wudhu. He
is now told to make Wudhu. He replies: 'I make Taqlid of Imam Shafi`i; it is
not a nullifier of Wudhu, therefore my Salaat is valid'. If this person (who
has on the one hand, touched his spouse, and on the other hand, vomited) has
to perform his Salaat with such a Wudhu, it would neither be correct by
Imaam Abu Hanifah nor by Imam Shafi`i. In terminology this is known as
Talfiq which is agreed upon unanimously to be void and not permitted. This
is not Taqlid but following one's passions and desires for one's personal
convenience which lead one astray. The necessity of following a Mazhab, Imam
or Mujtahid is that one would not fall into the temptations of following
one's own desires. The Holy Qurãn states:

'And do not follow desires. You would be led astray from the path of Allah."
Thus the need of following only one Imam.


askimam.com

good books to be of recomendation in following a madhab,are as follows:
Diffrence of imams by shaykhul hadeeth muhammad zakariya khandlawi
Fiqh-ul-imam by Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf

Try visit sunnipath,Abdul Hakim Murad has articles related to following madhabs and spiritual relisations.

was'salam

[Mossy]

I chose primarily on the basis of usul. Fortunately, there are also some nice fiqh resources for contemporary living in the Maliki madhab, the best example of which I've seen is the guiding helper foundation (www.guidinghelper.com). The absence of local alims, it may be worth a browse. It even rhymes.

[muslimsistah]

Wa aleykum salaam!

Thank you for the reply, Alhamdulillaah, the article was good, not very light though...lol. I have a good feeling that im gonna be in this site for a long time! I loooove these discussions and the lack of local da´wa, its lovely to read things about it!

[Muslimsister]

Assalamu alaikum

I don't know about other converts, but i do really have a problem sometimes with all these difficult terms in arabic... Since we don't learn urdu or any other language having arabic words, we do find this a bit of a problem and thus end up not quite understanding these great long articles...

Could someone give a nice simple explanation, starting from the very basics? I do try my best to follow the maliki madhab, but am still finding it difficult to explain to others why they should... Most of muslims i know are converts, so (excluding the salafi-minded, who do seem to use arabic terms quite a lot) we have a problem with these difficult texts...

And another thing, where does one find info about the madhahib and their foundations, reasoning etc...This really could help one choose... For us living amidst salafis, this would indeed be VERY important, as they do influence our minds a great deal, and this can result in us starting to follow them...Not knowing anything about the madhahib doesn't help... Masud. co. uk has plenty of long articles, mashaAllah, but they are not so easy to understand for ppl like me. And the articles usually are general, not going into details about different madhaahib. To choose one to stick to, one should know some details, not?

Any help would be welcome...

:jazak:

[muslimsistah]

Alhamdulillaah, i agree with you! Its sometimes really hard to remember all the terms, expecially because different "groups" have different names for same things, like Ive learned from the sister in the da´wa sertain words, such as tasawwuuf, then someone else calls it different... and oh, im lost...

[muhammadnur]

As Salaam Alaikum,

For information about why follow a madhab these articles are a must.

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/madhhab.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/bida.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/madhhabstlk.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/sufitlk.htm


As for how I choose which madhab to follow, mine was initially based on the people I associated with at the time. When I first converted I spent quite a bit of time with W. Africans and the dominant madhab in W. Africa is the Maliki Madhab so I started studying it. And plus I really liked the identifying principle of the Maliki madhab of following the Amal of Madina.

Muhammad-Nur

[muhammadnur]

As Salaam Alaikum,

Here's two links that explain some of the foundational reasoning of the Maliki Madhab.

http://www.muhajabah.com/docstorage/dutton.htm
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ABewley/usul.html


and as fas as terms go you maybe able to start here:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/glossary.html

Muhammad-Nur

[Mossy]

I quite liked this explanation by Shaykh Abu Zahra of the Maliki madhab, it uses arabic transliterations for technicaly terms, but handily also uses brackets with their meanings:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ABewley/usul.html. It is lengthy though.. I'd also recommend the Four Imams by said author, one book covering each of the four. Good stuff.

Fiqh al imam and the differences of the imams available from http://www.whitethreadpress.com/ may be good for a generalised overview of fiqh/usul respectively, although being from a Hanafite perspective so not always spot on.. Bidayat al Mujtahid springs to mind also for comparative fiqh, written by Ibn Rushd (Maliki) and available in a two volume translation.

But yeah, we should probably write some simpler articles on the matter.. Come on students of knowledge, chop chop :)

edit: ahh, Abu Zahra's explanation was linked before I posted :) Yasin Dutton's one is nice too and his book on the Origins of Islamic Law is quite excellent if you want to go into a bit more depth (it expands on that overview)

[Ansari]

But yeah, we should probably write some simpler articles on the matter.. Come on students of knowledge, chop chop :)


There is a need for some more convincing articles about the legalty of following madhabs. I think an article about the statements of the traditional scholars of fiqh and hadith would be great. If someone can get to the sources were statements like 'in the madhab of imam abu hanifa/ in the shaafi'i madhab, maliki's dont do this or that' are posted this would be great...i.e. statements regarding the difference of madhabs...like mentioned in the fatwa of mufti taqi usmani


Imam Ibn Tamiyyah, the famous muhaddith and jurist, says in his 'Fatawa':

"Some people follow at one time an imam who holds the marriage invalid, and at another time they follow a jurist who holds it valid. They do so only to serve their individual purpose and satisfy their desires. Such a practice is impermissible according to the consensus of all the imams."

He further elaborates the point by several examples when he says:
"For example if a person wants to pre-empt a sale he adopts the view of those who give the right of pre-emotion to a contingent neighbor, but if they are the vendee of a property, they refuse to accept the right of' pre-emotion for the neighbor of the vendor (on the basis of Shafi'i view) .... and if the relevant person claims that he did not know before (that Imam Shafi'i does not give the right of pre-emotion to the neighbor) and has come to know it right then, and he wants to follow that view as from today, he will not be allowed to do so, because such a practice opens the door for playing with the rules of Shari‘ah, and paves the path for deciding the halal and haram in accordance with one's desires." (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah Syrian ed. 2: 285, 286).
http://www.darululoomkhi.edu.pk/fiqh/Contemporary%20Fatawa/Miscellaneous/followingimameveyjuristicissue.htm

[Muslimsister]

Assalamu alaikum

Jazakumullahu khairan, very good things were posted here. Very useful, mashaAllah.

I myself also stumbled over this place, mashaAllah: http://www.iprofess.com/shariah.htm These again are just from a general perspective, but can be useful to read as well, inshaAllah.

The site http://www.iprofess.com/ is specially dedicated for converts, mashaAllah.

I'll stay tuned to hear from any students of knowledge more. *hopeful*
We do need some simple writings...although i do understand, that this whole subject is not possilbly covered in 1 page, but as now one has to read a whole book or a pile of articles from here and there, and the basic assumption in these articles seems to be, that the person reading already has a basic understanding, which in many cases is missing. And unfortunately not everyone is ready to buy books...

[ibn_abdullah]

As'salaamu alaykum

I was listening to a talk recently titled "Panel Discussion on Following Madhabs" and it included Shaykh Nuh Keller, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Abdullah al-Kadi. One of the questions from the audience was in regards to the choice of a Madhab and which one to follow. The questions was answered by Shaykh Nuh who said (and i'm summarizing) that you should follow that Madhab that is predominant in your area and is easiest for you to learn. You cant simply be in, for example, a completely Hanafi community and choose to be a Shafi'i and not go to learn Shafi'i fiqh. So the preference is given to the majority community in the locality within which you reside due to the ease in which you can learn that particular school. A person is given the option of following any one he or she wishes and preference is given to the one which is easiest to learn. This is a very general answer but provides some insight into how the decision making process should be done, insha-Allah it may be of some benefit. It seems to make sense because the entire issue is what we can learn and act upon and if there is one school which a person can learn more easily and thus act upon than others then preference should be given to that school. Once again more information and advice should be taken from the local ulema. Just thought i'd mention this point.

Was-salaam

[ahsanirfan]

As'salaamu alaykum

I was listening to a talk recently titled "Panel Discussion on Following Madhabs" and it included Shaykh Nuh Keller, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Abdullah al-Kadi. One of the questions from the audience was in regards to the choice of a Madhab and which one to follow. The questions was answered by Shaykh Nuh who said (and i'm summarizing) that you should follow that Madhab that is predominant in your area and is easiest for you to learn. You cant simply be in, for example, a completely Hanafi community and choose to be a Shafi'i and not go to learn Shafi'i fiqh. So the preference is given to the majority community in the locality within which you reside due to the ease in which you can learn that particular school. A person is given the option of following any one he or she wishes and preference is given to the one which is easiest to learn. This is a very general answer but provides some insight into how the decision making process should be done, insha-Allah it may be of some benefit. It seems to make sense because the entire issue is what we can learn and act upon and if there is one school which a person can learn more easily and thus act upon than others then preference should be given to that school. Once again more information and advice should be taken from the local ulema. Just thought i'd mention this point.

Was-salaam

any chance you could share this blessed lecture with us?

:jazak:

[Hypermodestmuslima]

Shariah the Islamic Law by Abdur Rahman Doi Is an excellent book which mentions about the Mathabs etc.
http://www.icnabookservice.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IBS&Product_Code=5.6&Category_Code=5
Also I'd recommend Shaykh Aboo Yusuf's lecture series regarding the matter.

http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=659&osCsid=cc95b509e72f5c6217f6bf6be7aafdee

Or you can Listen to it online at the Domain of Islam website...http://www.darulislam.info/

[ibn_abdullah]

As salaamu alaykum;

I agree with the sister. I actually have the talk (and was present for it as well, alhamdullilah) labelled 'Juristic Differences.' It is a fairly comprehensive discourse and the Shaykh gives textual evidence as well as various logical anecdotes to emphasize his point. It is a must have, Shaykh Riyadh ul-Haq had so much more to say on the issue but due to lack of time had to stop. He really beats the point into you. I'm surprised i didn't mention it before since the cassette was sitting near my keyboard the entire time. :confused:

Wassalaam

[ibn_abdullah]

As salaamu alaykum;

Forgot to mention: I'll try to upload the Panel Discussion cassette to my computer but currently i dont have the correct wires so when/if I get them i'll post the lecture insha-Allah.

Something that just came to my mind was another one of Shaykh Riyadh ul-Haq's talks titled "Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (RA)." I'm probably going off the topic of this thread as this is probably more advanced than we want to get into but nevertheless it is benefical to the more informed people in regards to madhabs and especially the Hanafi School.

This is an extremely good lecture on the virtues and standing of Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (RA) in Islam in general and especially in the Hanafi School. For those of us following the Hanafi School it is an extremely informative lecture, masha-Allah. I'll also try uploading it as well if I get a chance.

Was-salaam

[ahsanirfan]

:jazak: brother

[jinnzaman]

Assalamu alaikum

I would strongly recommend "The Legal Status of Following a Madhab" by Mufti Taqi Usmani.

It hits the necessity of following a madhab from virtually every single concievable angle. Furthermore, the book tackles arguments utilized by Salafis and Modernists against following a madhab.

The book can be purchased from this website:

http://jbbookstore.com/atcstore/nfoscomm/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_56&osCsid=3151c0d771a2a3ec2da42f808e0054d2

(you have to scroll all the way to the bottom)


Alhumdillah, it is only 5 bucks.

masalama

[Mossy]

You mean this one?
http://www.cometoislam.com/fiqh/legal/main.htm

[Hypermodestmuslima]

Awesome stuff.

I enjoy Shaykh Aboo Yusuf's lecture series on this...I've listened to this other one on Taqleed by him which was very nice...but I'm not sure where exactly I got it from.

Oh and the Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiallaho anhu) lecture is awesome.

[Shaykhs-Pir Sahib]

as salamu alaykum

Shaykh Hamza's translation of Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj's fatwa on the obligation on following one of the four sunni schools is excellent also. the whole MAT paper is excellent as it contains articles around the issue. the fatwa itself can be read here:

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/mhfatwa.htm

[ibn_abdullah]

As salaamu alaykum;

To go along with the actual text of the fatwa is an audio lecture by Shaykh Hamza on the fatwa. It is on the site initially linked to by sister Hyper.

http://www.darulislam.info/downloads-cat-8.html#cat

If you scroll down the screen it is the first link. You can right click and "save target as" to download the file.

Another good book is "The Differences of the Imams" by the great Indian Imam, Shaykh ul-Hadith Muhammad Zakariyah (ra).

http://www.al-rashad.com/product_info.php?products_id=333&osCsid=1bcf0c7710556aaceb1fce200b0ee1ab

Another good text book is "The Four Imams: Their lives, Works and their Schools of Thought" by the late Azhari scholar Shaykh Muhammad Abu Zahra (ra).

http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?products_id=118

Its actually more like a textbook on the Imams and their respective schools.

Its strange to think that there is so much information out there in terms of lectures and texts etc on the issue of taqleed and madhabs but so many are so closed minded towards it. Not that we are perfect, or I for that matter, but to have that open mind is truly a blessing. I think we take it for granted, at least I do. May Allah(swt) open the minds and hearts of all the believers and make us purified beings, especially myself. Ameen.

"And which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?"

Was salaam

[Hypermodestmuslima]

http://alghazzali.org/display/audio
Has a lecture on following a Madhab

[Muslimsister]

Its strange to think that there is so much information out there in terms of lectures and texts etc on the issue of taqleed and madhabs but so many are so closed minded towards it. Not that we are perfect, or I for that matter, but to have that open mind is truly a blessing. I think we take it for granted, at least I do. May Allah(swt) open the minds and hearts of all the believers and make us purified beings, especially myself. Ameen.

"And which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?"

Was salaam

:salam:

Amiin to that du'a...

We should bear in mind the current situation of the ummah, especially here in the west. The lack of knowledge is just so apparent. The salafi (ghair muqallid) way (and we should remember how strongly they advocate their opinions) is in everyones reach and is made to sound simple. And plus, hardly anybody knows who the salafis actually are. They end up following their fiqh for years and years (i among such people) without knowing a thing about the foundings of all that, and sincerely believing it to be the only true form of sunni-Islam! Really, believe me! Now when a person comes up to such an ignorant person and says : 'hey, what you are doing is wrong, you should follow a madhab!' (own experience) it just makes the person feel it's all too difficult and time taking to learn everything from new, thus s/he opposes it with all his/her ability in order to not feel confused. And unfortunately those salafi helpers and their condemning writings are so close at hand.. and to the person telling him/her about taqlid it just seems like he/she is closed minded... We should use wisdom, IMHO.

My advice to all possible people conversing/debating with apparently salafi-styled people, that please, be understanding! Please, try to see the person as a poor thing, that has been taught wrong things... They should be quietly and peacefully taken from their land of 'only one true Islam, and that is what I have been taught' to slowly see that other ways are just as good! That we are just very ignorant beeings and we should understand the scholarly work that has been done for us. And, eventually direct them into the steady harbour of a madhab, inshaAllah. Steps of wisdom are needed, as the direct ' you are wrong, follow a madhab' - style approach can really work against the whole thing...wa Allahu alam...

I know personally many, many muslims, who are fed up with all this salafi stuff, because many of them are fighting each other etc. and plus they do demand a great deal of learning from an average person... Many muslims just want to take one way and follow it, and that's it. But for them (us) to get rid of all that salafi-braindirtying (against madhabs etc) may take a long time. In the beginning it may seem they are not even willing...

I'm sorry to write down this, as surely it is self-evident to all here, but I just needed to feel like i'm doing something to help many so-called salafis that have been put off by scholar bashing and that sort of stuff from good-willing muqallids, that sometimes have in mind a picture of a salafi at his/her worst when talking to/debating with a seemingly salafistic person, that in reality (as a matter of fact i think most of them are) is nothing but a poor person, with very little knowledge. In rare cases of course it is so, that the salafi is indeed willingly so, but that is another thing...

And yes, open-mindedness is surely needed...

:jazak: to all who posterd great links, may Allah reward you for your efforts, amiin.

:salam:

Umm AbdurRahman

[Saleel]

:salam:

http://alghazzali.org/display/audio
Has a lecture on following a Madhab
Generally 95% of that talk is good, but near the end he starts issuing fatwas which are against those of the Hanafi madhhab (and also against the rulings of the Shafi'i madhhab, which I believe Imam Zaid Shakir follows).

Allahu Alam.

:salam:

[Sadiq]

Assaallamu alaikum.

Excellent points, links and recommendations.

This is one "gem" that would help in explanation of this great blessing infront of us;

Taqleed or Following an Imam in the Matters of Shari‘ah (http://www.saleel.com/article.php?story=20041119225755738) (Courtesy of saleel.com theres alot of other interesting material there too..)

Its a simple and clear explanation of taqleed and madhabs. For those who want to dive into this ocean, then the book, posted by brother jinzaman should be useful, by this great scholar of our time. Amazing stuff...

This quote should also be used to explain to people, given by our shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad;

"Another metaphor might be added to this, this time borrowed from astronomy. We might compare the Quranic verses and the hadiths to the stars. With the naked eye, we are unable to see many of them clearly; so we need a telescope. If we are foolish, or proud, we may try to build one ourselves. If we are sensible and modest, however, we will be happy to use one built for us by Imam al-Shafi'i or Ibn Hanbal, and refined, polished and improved by generations of great astronomers. A madhhab is, after all, nothing more than a piece of precision equipment enabling us to see Islam with the maximum clarity possible. If we use our own devices, our amateurish attempts will inevitably distort our vision. " (Courtesy of masud.co.uk)

Isnt it a surprising thing, that there are many who actually hate a blessing?....hmm...

[Hypermodestmuslima]

:salam:

Generally 95% of that talk is good, but near the end he starts issuing fatwas which are against those of the Hanafi madhhab (and also against the rulings of the Shafi'i madhhab, which I believe Imam Zaid Shakir follows).

Allahu Alam.

:salam:
Hmm...interesting.

Good thing u told me or else I'd probably never have figured it out. Jazakallah

[ibn_abdullah]

Are we talking about Imam Zaid Shakir's talk? I dont' remember hearing anything againts the school(s). Perhaps you can refresh my memory...

[Saleel]

:salam:

Are we talking about Imam Zaid Shakir's talk? I dont' remember hearing anything againts the school(s). Perhaps you can refresh my memory...
I remember Zaid Shakir does a short QA session at the end of the talk, and says the strongest opinion is that music is mubbah, and is not forbidden, as long as the lyrics are okay. (If I remember correctly, he also says TV is mubbah.)

Shaykh Amjad Rasheed, of the Shafi'i fiqh says: "It is prohibited in our school to use musical instruments, and also prohibited to listen to them."

Wallahu Alam.

:salam: