The adab part was very helpful…something I need to take heed of.

wa `alaykum assalam,

Feel free to email editorinchief@virtualmosque.com and your question will be forwarded to the proper channels.

How am I able to submit a question to Imam Suhaib or one of the members of the writing team?

I think maybe the question will be of benefit if published.

Please, drop me an email.

Jazaakumullaahu khayran.

Assalamu ‘Alaikum,

Ustadh may Allah bless you for this thought provoking comments. If a person wants to understand this dynamics but he doesn’t have the opportunity to take them from scholars face to face, is there any way he can learn this by reading books? Or can you suggest such a person a set of reading so that he can have some grasp on this matter?

I don’t know whether you will agree but such an understanding should transcends the upcoming muftis and should be had by any educated muslim.

Asalamu alaykum,

Recently I discussed this with one of the muftis here in Egypt. I complained to him that some return to our homelands articulating some of these hard to swallow opinions to the masses. He mentioned that many fail to understand the difference between studying a madhab for literacy and the craft of ifta (fatwa). The former is studied for training, understanding and feel, while the latter is based on a much wider set of parameters than simply looking into a matn (classical text) drawing out an answer and requires a deeper insight into the spirit of the law and its texts, objectives and Arabic.

A glance at the life of the Prophet shows that rulings changed in order to address new realities and events that flowed through the society.

“Initially, I forbade you from visiting graves. Visit them (now),”

“Oh ‘Aiesha! If your people had not recently accepted Islam, I would order the Kaba to be brought down and rebuilt on the foundations of Ibrahim.”

This dynamic continued from that time, through the age of the Companions the Four Imam’s and is still found today. Imam Ahmed is reported to have had 18 opinions regarding one issue, and Abu Hanafi’s school changed their position regarding a woman attending the prayers, Juma and ‘Eid a number of times through history. All of this was based on a change in custom and social realities.

Al-Qarafi noted “There is no ruling save custom plays a role.” Now this of course comes with conditions and parameters that protect the community from using custom as a means to wash away their religion and, as Ibn Sunna al-Hanafi noted, “Custom is not a legal proof in itself,” but “A tint” which influences the ruling.

The point is that, as the sheikh noted, by studying the classical texts at a base level, one will not be able to understand that he/she is looking at a set of postulates that changed, outside of ritual acts of worship, due to circumstance, custom and other factors. In other words one is looking at “Issue” + “Realities” = opinion. Trying to inject opinions founded on customs that no longer exists would be like trying on the wrong sized shoe, and blindly attacking the opinions of early scholars with out knowing what realities they faced would be criminal. What is needed is a respect for the past with a firm belief in the dynamics and potential of revelation. The sageous statement of al-Qarafi rings loud clear: “Reliance upon opinions found in texts or one’s custom only, is manifest error.”

There is much more on this. And time will not allow me to add, but it would be wise to realize that there is a difference between studying a madhab within a set of limited variables and the dynamics of fatwa.

Allah knows best
Suhaib

An EXCELLENT print-worthy & framing-worthy piece. I’ve learnt the tactics behind studying, that quality is better than quantity, that scholars are not prophets – but human beans and open to mistakes (but the greater always forgives insh’Allaah); I shall be making a note of the Arabic terms for linguistics, al’hamdulillah for dua *off to learn* and SABR : to become a …”sabara”? (Surah Luqman). Patient with YOURSELF, being patient with OTHERS (teachers) and patient with your ibadah (developing worship). It can’t happen “just like that”.

Shameless plug – I’m taking part in Al Maghrib courses and have put some of these lessons into use. Here’s to practising more.

With respect,
Zaufishan & England.

‘Some of the opinions of the classical scholars, especially in regards to non-Muslims, the treatment of women, rules of slavery, and so forth have really affected my iman in a negative way’

Shaykh, to be fair maybe the advice could stress more on the fact that many of these issues are agreed upon between the four mathaahib- the concept of jizya, etc, and it’s just the influence of the jahili environment we live it that makes it so ‘unpalatable’ to us