Newly Practicing Muslim - Need Advice and Clarification

[Mu'min1]

Salaam,

I am a newly practicing Muslim and just have a few points that need clarifying to me so I would appreciate it if someone with knowledge on these issues could give me an unbiased answer.

Leaving aside the groups of Muslims who are clearly misguided according to the majority of the ummah I am confused with regards to what to follow between:
1. The four Madhab's
2. Salafi's
3. Wahabi's
4. Sunni's
5. Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaat
6. What are Ash`ari, Maturidi, and Athari
7. Any other mainstream view which isn't clearly in misguidance

Can someone please give me a brief and unbiased description of what they are, how they differ and so on. I have searched this forum and haven't been able to find that much other than these guys arguing with one another. Google has just thrown tons of 1 hour long articles which I don't have the time to read and hence I hope one of you can provide me a good explanation. Please don't copy and paste a huge article from somewhere for me to read, I am just looking for a brief explanation on each one and how they differ. Also, please don't use too many Arabic words without defining them as I am not that versed in Arabic.

After that I would appreciate it if someone could answer these following questions:

1. What is the definition of taqleed ? What are the opinions of the aforementioned groups on it ?

2. If some one went to the Islamic University of Madinah, which of the above groups would he be classed as ?

3. Do I have to follow a group, can't I just read the Quran and the Authentic Sunnah and come to my own conclusions on how to worship Allah and what is bid'a ? What is halal and haram ?

4. Among the famous people of today I listen mainly to Anwar al Awlaki, Abu mussab Wajdi akkari (on youtube), Mufti Menk, Nu'man Ali Khan, Salem Al Amry. What group do these people belong to if any ?

May Allah have mercy and forgive and guide the one who spends his time in replying to this question and I pray the Allah may bring me closer to the truth through one of you.

JazakAllah

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Salaam,

I am a newly practicing Muslim and just have a few points that need clarifying to me so I would appreciate it if someone with knowledge on these issues could give me an unbiased answer.

Leaving aside the groups of Muslims who are clearly misguided according to the majority of the ummah I am confused with regards to what to follow between:
1. The four Madhab's
2. Salafi's
3. Wahabi's
4. Sunni's
5. Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaat
6. What are Ash`ari, Maturidi, and Athari
7. Any other mainstream view which isn't clearly in misguidance

Can someone please give me a brief and unbiased description of what they are, how they differ and so on. I have searched this forum and haven't been able to find that much other than these guys arguing with one another. Google has just thrown tons of 1 hour long articles which I don't have the time to read and hence I hope one of you can provide me a good explanation. Please don't copy and paste a huge article from somewhere for me to read, I am just looking for a brief explanation on each one and how they differ. Also, please don't use too many Arabic words without defining them as I am not that versed in Arabic.

After that I would appreciate it if someone could answer these following questions:

1. What is the definition of taqleed ? What are the opinions of the aforementioned groups on it ?

2. If some one went to the Islamic University of Madinah, which of the above groups would he be classed as ?

3. Do I have to follow a group, can't I just read the Quran and the Authentic Sunnah and come to my own conclusions on how to worship Allah and what is bid'a ? What is halal and haram ?

4. Among the famous people of today I listen mainly to Anwar al Awlaki, Abu mussab Wajdi akkari (on youtube), Mufti Menk, Nu'man Ali Khan, Salem Al Amry. What group do these people belong to if any ?

May Allah have mercy and forgive and guide the one who spends his time in replying to this question and I pray the Allah may bring me closer to the truth through one of you.

JazakAllah

The issue is not as complex as people have made it out to be on the Internet with debates, refutations and counter-refutations.

There are two types of people:

1. Experts
2. Non-Experts who MUST by the very nature of things refer to experts.

There are unfortunately divisions amongst Muslims along Aqeedah (creedal lines) i.e. Ashari/Maturidi & Athari.

They are unfortunately divisions amongst Muslims along Fiqh lines i.e:

1. Should Madhab be followed?
2. Should a person exclusively refer to Scholars adhering to a Single Madhab or simply refer to Scholars and let them advise according to what they see as sound and Authentic.
3. Should a person abandon Madhabs and choose opinions from Qur'aan & Sunnah directly to the best of their ability?

Opinion 3 is the EXTREMEMISTS and a few and has never been the mainstream practise of Islam & Muslims and there are many like Abu mussab Wajdi akkari who propagate this.

Opinion 1 & 2 are the accepted by overwhelming majority of Muslims and has been the practise of Muslim Ummah the only real difference is a further division stated in opinion 2.

You should make up your mind by following the commandment of Allah (SWT) which is to refer to Scholars, build a relationship with Scholars of your choice and follow their advice (be it whichever group from opinion 2) and you will be absolved from your responsibility.

If you have command over Arabic, Qur’aan and Ahadeeth then you can perhaps think about following Qur’aan & Authentic Sunnah OTHERWISE its ridiculous and pure rhetoric with no reality.

Please feel free to pick up and ask counter-questions as necessary.

[Mu'min1]

The issue is not as complex as people have made it out to be on the Internet with debates, refutations and counter-refutations.

There are two types of people:

1. Experts
2. Non-Experts who MUST by the very nature of things refer to experts.

There are unfortunately divisions amongst Muslims along Aqeedah (creedal lines) i.e. Ashari/Maturidi & Athari.

They are unfortunately divisions amongst Muslims along Fiqh lines i.e:

1. Should Madhab be followed?
2. Should a person exclusively refer to Scholars adhering to a Single Madhab or simply refer to Scholars and let them advise according to what they see as sound and Authentic.
3. Should a person abandon Madhabs and choose opinions from Qur'aan & Sunnah directly to the best of their ability?

Opinion 3 is the EXTREMEMISTS and a few and has never been the mainstream practise of Islam & Muslims and there are many like Abu mussab Wajdi akkari who propagate this.

Opinion 1 & 2 are the accepted by overwhelming majority of Muslims and has been the practise of Muslim Ummah the only real difference is a further division stated in opinion 2.

You should make up your mind by following the commandment of Allah (SWT) which is to refer to Scholars, build a relationship with Scholars of your choice and follow their advice (be it whichever group from opinion 2) and you will be absolved from your responsibility.

If you have command over Arabic, Qur’aan and Ahadeeth then you can perhaps think about following Qur’aan & Authentic Sunnah OTHERWISE its ridiculous and pure rhetoric with no reality.

Please feel free to pick up and ask counter-questions as necessary.

Thnx for your time,

Sorry to be demanding but if you could answer the questions I posted that would benefit me greatly.

By non experts are you referring to anyone who doesn't know Arabic, Quran and hadith ? And what do you mean by your last line ? "if you have command over Arabic, Qur’aan and Ahadeeth then you can perhaps think about following Qur’aan & Authentic Sunnah OTHERWISE its ridiculous and pure rhetoric with no reality." So id a hadith comes a layman does he not have the right to practice it ?? And if I learn Arabic Quran and Sunnah then can I leave aside other schools and just live my life as best I understand the Quran and sunnah ?

If I have authentic hadith on an issue and scholars are opposing the hadith then judging according to you should I follow the scholars because I am a layman ? Also am I right in thinking that scholars have a responsibility to study Quran and sunnah and then to provide evidence for their opinions and then it is left to the people which opinion to follow based on which is the strongest and has the most evidence ?

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Thnx for your time,

Sorry to be demanding but if you could answer the questions I posted that would benefit me greatly.

By non experts are you referring to anyone who doesn't know Arabic, Quran and hadith ? And what do you mean by your last line ? "if you have command over Arabic, Qur’aan and Ahadeeth then you can perhaps think about following Qur’aan & Authentic Sunnah OTHERWISE its ridiculous and pure rhetoric with no reality." So id a hadith comes a layman does he not have the right to practice it ?? And if I learn Arabic Quran and Sunnah then can I leave aside other schools and just live my life as best I understand the Quran and sunnah ?

If I have authentic hadith on an issue and scholars are opposing the hadith then judging according to you should I follow the scholars because I am a layman ? Also am I right in thinking that scholars have a responsibility to study Quran and sunnah and then to provide evidence for their opinions and then it is left to the people which opinion to follow based on which is the strongest and has the most evidence ?

Sorry for the delayed response as I didn’t see this until today.

If a person isn’t well verses in not only Arabic but also strengths and weaknesses of Hadeeth and gradation of narrators then how can he judge if a Scholar is opposing a particular Authentic Hadeeth?

This person has found an Hadeeth in Saheeh Bukhari and then found the opinion of a Scholar which “apparently” opposes the Hadeeth in Saheeh Bukhari so he has presumed that the opinion opposes Saheeh Hadeeth.

If this person researches the evidence of the Scholar and has the ability to judge the relevant strength or weakness of it then he can make a decision on his own UNTIL THEN he isn’t an expert and just making superficial judgement calls and preferring the opinion of one Scholar (over a Hadeeth) over another.

[junfrared]

So id a hadith comes a layman does he not have the right to practice it ?? And if I learn Arabic Quran and Sunnah then can I leave aside other schools and just live my life as best I understand the Quran and sunnah ?

Yes. You will practice the hadith with the help of Scholars. It is called Taqleed or Itiba.

But follow only those Scholars whose aqaaid is according to apparent Quran, apparent Hadith, e.g. All scholar of Haramain sharifain.

1. The four Madhab's (are jurisprudential or Fiqhi approach)
2. Salafi's (who follow the creedal methodology of Prophet saw, and his companions and their students and their students i.e. Early Muslims)
3. Wahabi's (synoyum to Salafi, nowdays anybody who opposes Bidat)
4. Sunni's [COLOR="#800000"](antonym of Shia)[/COLOR]
5. Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaat (who follow the creedal and jurisprudential methodology of Prophet saw, and his companions and their students and their students i.e. Early Muslims)
Prophet sallallâhu ’alayhi wa sallam said:
“Indeed, the people of the Book before you split-up into seventy-two sects. And this nation will split-up into seventy-three sects, seventy two are in the Fire and one is in Paradise.” And in another narration: “All of them are in the Fire except one.” It was asked: Who is that one? He replied: “That which I and my Companions are upon.
6. What are Ash`ari, Maturidi, and Athari [COLOR="#800000"](Maturidi/Asharis issues are not belong to layman and Athari is synoyum of Salafi i.e. follower of Creedal methodology Early Muslims)[/COLOR]

After that I would appreciate it if someone could answer these following questions:

2. If some one went to the Islamic University of Madinah, which of the above groups would he be classed as ?

Islamic University of Madinah belong to Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaat and to Scholar of Haramain sharifain.
3. Do I have to follow a group, can't I just read the Quran and the Authentic Sunnah and come to my own conclusions on how to worship Allah and what is bid'a ? What is halal and haram ?

NO. follow the scholars.

[baytul-herz]

Yes. You will practice the hadith with the help of Scholars. It is called Taqleed or Itiba.

But follow only those Scholars whose aqaaid is according to apparent Quran, apparent Hadith, e.g. All scholar of Haramain sharifain.

Please tell us what is the apparent meaning of يد الله ?

As for the brother,stick with the majority of the ulema.