If for instance a fellow muslim says that, they are only willing to abide by the quran and sunnah and `NOT`, the rulings provided by the ullema-e-deen on religious matters or the teachings from their school of thought.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Assalamoalaikum
Burhan bhai.
If for instance a fellow muslim says that, they are only willing to abide by
the quran and sunnah and `NOT`, the rulings provided by the ullema-e-deen on
religious matters or the teachings from their school of thought.
Would they be right in saying that? If not, how does someone go about trying to
convince them to change their thought process??
Jazakallah Khair
Best Regards
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Answer:
Follow only Quran and Sunnah
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
In light of the clear guidance
of the Quran and the Sunnah, there are six things which form the articles of
faith or ‘emaan’ in Islam; if one does not believe in even one or a part of one
amongst these six articles of faith, he would leave the fold of Islam:
If one does not believe in one,
or even a part of one amongst the above listed six articles of faith, he would
leave the fold of Islam and be considered a disbeliever in the Sight of Allah
Subhanah.
To profess belief in the rulings
of any of the eminent scholars or jurists, or to profess belief in a particular
school of thought of any chosen ‘imam’ after the death of the Messenger of
Allah (saws), is neither an article of
faith in Islam, nor compulsory for one to be regarded as a believer in the
Sight of Allah Subhanah.
The Truth is brother, the eminent and respected jurists or
the imams of the major schools of thought did not invent or bring something new
to the deen of Islam revealed on Prophet Mohamed (saws), but simply gave their
rulings and opinions upon issues of Islamic Jurisprudence and Fiqh in light of
the guidance of the Glorious Quran and the authentic traditions of the
Messenger of Allah (saws). None of the
‘madhabs’ have any difference of opinion in any of the foundational and
fundamental matters in the deen. They
are all absolutely unanimous in the subjects like Tawheed, Message,
Hereafter, Imaan, etc. The
difference of opinion arose between the companions and between the scholars on
very small matters of Jurisprudence, and each amongst them gave rulings and
opinions on that matter in light of the evidence and guidance from the Quran
and the Sunnah.
Thus, regardless if one rejects all the rulings of the
eminent scholars or jurists, or one accepts and follow the opinion of any one,
or the best ruling of one regarding a particular matter amongst these eminent
‘imams’, provided his intention is to follow the guidance of the Quran and the
Sunnah, there is absolutely no harm.
The difference between following the rulings of any of the respected and
accepted scholars, would be the difference between following something which is
very good to something which is excellent!
It was never a situation that one imam was right and the other was
wrong, for each and every one of these
respected ‘imams’ based their opinion on nothing but the Quran and the Sunnah.
Thus if one amongst the believers wishes to leave aside
all the rulings of all the respected and accepted scholars and jurists in
Islam, and wishes to follow and abide only by what is declared in the Glorious
Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), there is
absolutely no harm; for we reiterate again that none of the good jurists or
scholars that have served the deen so selflessly over the years invented
anything new in the deen, but they themselves based each and every one of their
opinion in light of the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. If one amongst our believing brothers is so
convinced regarding the scope of his knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah that he
desires no help from any jurist or scholar, there is absolutely no harm. As long as the brother is sincere in his
effort to follow and abide by the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, his
devotion, his striving, and his submission will be acceptable to Allah Subhanah
Insha Allah.
Your
Question: If not, how does someone go about trying to convince them to change
their thought process??
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 79-80:
We have sent you (O Mohamed) as a Messenger to
mankind, and Allah’s witness suffices
for this. Whoever obeys the Messenger,
in fact obeys Allah, and whoever turns
away from him, he will be accountable for his deeds. Anyhow,
we have not sent you (O Mohamed) to be a guardian over them.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale
Imran verse 31-32:
O Prophet,
tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me.
Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His
Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love
those, who refuse to obey Him and His
Messenger.
As long as the brother sincerely intends to follow the
dictates of Allah and His Messenger (saws) there is absolutely no need to
convince him otherwise; for the unconditional obedience of Allah and His Last
Messenger (saws) is more than sufficient for one to receive the Mercy of
Allah.
What the brother could be politely told is that although
he is well within his rights to disregard all the opinions of the eminent
jurists and scholars of Islam if he wishes to do so, it would be only prudent
that when he is unsure of any dictate or commandment on any subject of Fiqh or
Jurisprudence in Islam, to at least refer to the opinions of the respected and
eminent scholars in Islam on that particular matter….and maybe accept the
ruling which he finds has the strongest evidence in the Quran and the Sunnah.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
