DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - Need clarification of following statement

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Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal and Imam Tahawi Rahimahumullah narrate 1 that once 'Urwah Radhiyallahu 'anhu objected to a mas'alah (ruling) pertaining to Hajj that was being taught by Ibn 'Abbas Radhiyallahu 'anhu. His objection was that the ruling being taught by Ibn 'Abbas Radhiyallah 'anhu was contradicting the practice of Abu Bakr and 'Umar Radhiyallahu 'unhumaa. Ibn 'Abbas Radhiyallahu 'anhu exclaimed: "You are going astray in this way! I tell you the practice of Rasulullah Sallahu 'alaihi wa sallam and you tell me about Abu Bakr and 'Umar Radhiyallahu 'anhumaa". 'Urwah replied: "Verily Abu Bakr and 'Umar Radhiyallahu 'anhumaa were more knowledgeable about the practice of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam than you."

Shaikh Muhammad 'Awwamah comments: "This is our answer to those people who invite us to abandon the Fiqh of the Imams: Abu Hanifah, Malik, Ash-Safi'i, and Ahmad Rahimuhumullah and instead to follow what they call "Fiqhus Sunnah wal Kitab" (the fiqh of the Sunnah and Qur'an) or "Fiqhus Sunnah" (the Fiqh of the Sunnah), among other similar slogans a. We say to them: "We are not pleased to have you as a substitute to them, as they were "more knowledgeable" about Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam than you. In fact, we do not mean to draw a comparison when we say "more knowledgeable", because there exists absolutely no comparison between you and them in knowledge. And it is out intense desire to cling onto the way of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam that drives us to follow their understanding of the pure Sunnah...

"...and the gist of your statement is that these Imams were not upon the path of guidance of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. It is for reason that you desire to follow Rasulullah Sallallah 'alaihi wa sallam in a way other than they did. Thus, it seems that you understand them to be Rabbis and Monks who declare Halal and Haram for the people, without any evidence from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam; where-as in actual fact they were more adherent to the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam than what their lovers could even fathom. They were merely conveying to the people the command and prohibition of Nabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam, just like the mu'adh-dhin (during the Salah in a large congregation) conveys the "Takbirs" of the Imam to the rows that follow 2."

It is for the same reason that the illustrious Muhaddith and Mujahid of Islam, 'Abdullah Ibnul MUbarak Rahmatullahi 'alaih used to say: "Do not say: (This is) the view of Abu Hanifah, but rather say: It is the explanation of the Hadith 3."

a Shaikh 'Awwamah writes (in Athar Al-Hadith page 121): "This only becomes possible for them after they attribute their own "Fiqh" to the book of Allah and the Sunnah, and the Fiqh of Imam Abu Hanifah to Abu Hanifah himself - not to the Qur'an and Sunnah, and the Fiqh of Imam Shafi'i to Ash-Shafi'i himself and not to the Qur'an and Sunnah. In this way they cut off that great and magnanimous Islamic concept which was in reality a true explanation of the Qur'an and Sunnah - They sever its link from the Qur'an and Sunnah; and bring to the people an ideology, that of which is correct are crumbs from the table-cloth of those (very Fuqahaa), and whatever is incorrect is from themselves. They attribute it altogether to the book of Allah and the Sunnah."

1 Athar Al-Hadith Ash-Sharif 'An Al-musnad/Sharh Ma'aani Al-Aathar

2 Athar Al-Hadith Ash-Sharif

3 Ibid

Excerpt taken from the book, Who are the blind followers? Revised edition of Why is Taqleed necessary? By Mufti Abu Usama Ayub