correctives & clarifications
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Between the Errors of Scholars & Bigoted Followers
One of the most crucial rules of normative Sunni Islam states: ‘A condition for censuring wrongdoing is that the act being censured must be something whose blameworthiness is not merely known by means of ijtihad. Any matter that involves ijtihad cannot be a cause for censure.’1 It is usually expressed in this maxim: la inkar fi… Continue reading
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Striving in Allah’s Path Through Our 9 to 5 Jobs
Q. I’m not the academic type, but I keep getting told how important gaining knowledge is in Islam. Some of my friends go to many of these religious weekend courses in their quest for knowledge, but that’s just not me. I have a husband and children who I’m devoted to, hold down a good job,… Continue reading
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Reward of Muslim & Non-Muslim Doers of Good in the Afterlife
A man once came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and asked: ‘What of a man who fights in a battle seeking the spoils of war and renown?’ The Prophet replied: ‘There is no [reward] for him [in the Afterlife.’ The man reiterated the question three times, each time he got the same reply:… Continue reading
do non-muslims get rewarded in the Hereafter?, do non-Muslims go to jannah?, do unbelievers go to Paradise?, fate of Abu Talib in the Hereafter, good deeds of disbelievers in the Hereafter, Imam al-Nawawi on the good deeds of the unbeliever, Prophet’s intercession for Abu Talib, sincerity is a condition for a good deed to be accepted by God, why do disbelievers in Islam not go to Paradise? -
Taqlid & Madhhabs: the Good, Bad, and the Ugly [2/2]
The second part of this article explores the prohibited forms of taqlid which, unlike the prescribed type (see Part I), may rightly be called “blind following”. It also corrects some of the misguided notions and far-fetched interpretations in this regard; interpretations that are falsely peddled as being the stance of our past Imams and pious predecessors.… Continue reading
can a muslim pick and choose between madhhabs?, conditions for following a madhhab, Ibn al-Qayyim on taqlid, Ibn taymiyyah on taqlid and madhhabs, madhhabs vs. Qur’an and Sunnah, must a Muslim follow one madhhab?, prescribed and prohibited taqlid, salafi myth about taqlid and madhhabs, taqlid is not blind following, truth about taqlid -
Taqlid & Madhhabs: the Good, Bad, and the Ugly [1/2]
Must each Muslim know the proofs behind a religious action before performing that act? In Islam, what counts as “proof”? Is accepting a fatwa of a qualified Muslim scholar on trust, without knowing his legal reasoning, blind following? Can ordinary Muslims who’ve had no legal training evaluate proof-texts and identify the strongest view. How can Muslim… Continue reading
correctives & clarifications, fiqh & usul al-fiqh, knowledge & learning, salafism reconsidered, theologyal-Dhahabi on what qualifies as ijtihad, al-Shanqiti on the two types of taqlid, can a non-jurist weigh-up proofs?, definition of ijtihad, Ibn Qudamah on the consensus of taqlid, Ibn Taymiyyah on the lawful taqlid, meaning of taqlid, only innovators deny taqlid, the layman and religious learning, three types of forbidden taqlid, what type of taqlid is prescribed in Islam? -
Concerning Functional Fatwas & Dysfunctional Muftis
Do fatwas change with place and time; if so, how? Is Islamic fiqh fossilised? Do we require a new fiqh for the 21st century? Are classically-trained muftis fit for purpose in today’s world? Should the ‘ulema be trained in the core philosophical underpinnings of modernity? Does the new maqasid-based fiqh offer a better way forward… Continue reading
do fatwas changer with time and place, do Muslims require a new fiqh for the 21st century?, higher objectives of Islamic law, Is the concept of an ‘Islamic state‘ legitimate?, is traditional fiqh fossilised?, maqasid al-shari‘ah, Muslims and modernity, should Muslims in the West rely on scholars from outside the West?, what is modernity? -
Jihad & Martyrdom, War & Peace
Is Islam a conquest ideology more than an actual religion, as some now claim? Is Jihad identical to ‘perpetual war’ in Islam’s grand political scheme of things? And is the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mostly about blood and gore and body counts? These are the issues addressed here. Muslim scholars have long identified two types of jihad… Continue reading
death toll in the great civilizations, does islamic civilisation have the greatest body count?, Hostility is reason for jihad not disbelief, Ibn taymiyyah and defensive jihad, inner and outer jihad, is Islam inherently violent?, is jihad fought to convert people?, jihad al-nafs, jihad in Islam, Muslim holy war, Muslim jurists and UN Peace Charter, philosophy of jihad in classical and contemporary Islam, rules of war in Islam, the greater jihad, truth about jihad, truth about Muslim martyrdom, vital in Islam, war in Islam, was the Prophet a war monger?, were the Prophet’s battles defensive or offensive? -
Knowing Qualified Scholars from Cowboy Speakers
How do we distinguish a scholar from a da‘i, motivational speaker or ‘knowledgeable brother’? What are the proper qualifications for true scholarship? How serious a sin is giving fatwas and religious rulings without appropriate knowledge? What dangers are there in the Islamic ‘edu-tainment’ and ‘celebrity’ culture we are now in, especially where poorly qualified (or even unqualified) speakers take to social media to promote themselves and attempt… Continue reading
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Joining Feet to Straighten Prayer-Rows: Is it a Sunnah?
Q. As part of straightening the rows for congregational prayer (salat al-jama‘ah), is it required or recommended that each person join their feet with those standing either side of them? A. Two issues need addressing here. Firstly, the importance of straightening the rows and the care and attention our Prophet ﷺ gave to it. Secondly, the manner… Continue reading