fiqh & usul al-fiqh
-
Reading Qur’an for the Deceased
Question: Is it permitted to donate the reward of one’s recitation of the Qur’an to a deceased person, and will they benefit by such recitation? Or is this an innovation (bid‘ah) that opposes orthodox Islam, as claimed by certain people? Answer: Unfortunately, this issue has become a cause of great controversy and fiery disputes between Muslims in Continue reading
-
The Four Imams: Did They Forbid the Layman from Taqlid?
Let me clarify two issues before I explain the point of this post. The first issue that needs clarifying is: what is taqlid? The second one is: who are the Four Imams? [1] As an Arabic word, taqlid stems from qallada, meaning: ‘To place a collar (qiladah) around the neck.’1 It is called this because the person who does taqlid, the muqallid, entrusts his affair Continue reading
-
Legitimate Islamic Learning: Being People of Isnad
One cannot worship God with loving submission, save with sound sacred knowledge or ‘ilm. The Golden Rule in this regard was stated by Imam al-Bukhari in these terms: al-‘ilmu qabla’l-qawli wa’l-‘aml – ‘Knowledge comes before speech and action.’1 If we don’t possess sound knowledge, we could make something a part of the religion which can never be Continue reading
-
Golden Rule for Muslim Activists
This is a companion-piece to the post, Basic Rules for Religious Activism which may be read here. In Islam, change isn’t sought for itself, but rather to improve an existing situation. If change does not lead to a greater good, or if it brings about a greater harm, then to bring about such change would Continue reading
-
The Seven Rules to Seeking Sacred Knowledge
The duties instated by faith are a necessary measure in order to regulate human affairs, guide man, prevent him from straying, as well as dissuade him from self-harm or harming others. By recognising that the Sacred Law (sharī‘ah) exists to guide and protect us, we can attain to a reasonable equilibrium in this world and Continue reading