Please help Brother Revert2001 pick a Madhab
 

Subscribing to a madhab seems to be a big deal here. So I have decided that maybe I need to choose one.

Strangely, not once at any mosque have I ever been asked what madhab do I follow. And I don't ever remember any of my revert brothers or sisters talking about the issue of madhabs.

My back ground is this.

I was first introduced to Islam by Saudi students studying here in the U.S.

They had rented a small apartment that they used for a mosque. They had told me that they were Wahhabi. I was around them for about 2 years. During which time I said shahada, and learned the basics of Islam. I greatly admired them and their adab. They observed purdah and all of their wives were niqabi muslimahs.

After they graduated all of them moved away.

Not long after I moved to another state and started attending other mosques; basically searching for a mosque to call home. I was very dismayed to find out how much other muslins disliked and said bad things about Saudis and wahhabi's; but that's another story.

Anyway, I am looking for a madhab that is close to Wahhabism and strict purdah is observed; and the muslimah's wear niqab.

So what say you...........

asalaam
the salafies/wahabis follow the hanbali fiqh with some slight differences.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/salam.gif

1. Not all saudi/wahhabi's wear niqaab but most of their scholars say it is waajib
2. The same thing applies for madhabs.
3. Take the madhab that is prevalent in your area, also consider access to scholars of that madhab, plus books

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif

Since you've got connects with Shaikh Webb it might be easier to adhere to Maliki fiqh for your situation. Otherwise Hanafi fiqh/books/scholars are easily accessible.


lol You gots the praisworthy possessiveness. Niqab is a must in all the madhaahib so you won't have to worry bout that.

All four have strong strands of thought like this (for example amongst the Hanafis it is the Deobandis who are what you are looking for), so all are what you are looking for on this basis.

Personally I think Maliki Madhab is best for reverts for a few different reasons (from its relative simplicity and ease in some areas to its attitude towards dogs) and that is why there are more reverts who have become scholars in that madhab compared to the numbers in the other three.

Seconded.

How would I know if a mosque was Deobandis?

For that matter; what is a Deobandis anyway??

I was only around Saudi brothers and niqabi sisters for my first 2 years of being a muslim. Never spoke to any of the muslimahs and wasn't allowed to know their names. Strict purdah was observed at all times.

After I moved to another state.

I went to the local mosque for junnah and a Moroccan brother invited me to his house for supper. When I got there dinner was ready and another muslim couple was also guests for dinner.

Both of their wives were not wearing hijab and we all sit down at one table to eat.

I remember feeling soo uncomfortable and really wanted to leave.

It is recommended to follow a madhhab that you have access to learning properly with a teacher, preferably in your community. If you don't, there are several online classes like seekers guidance, qibla, etc that offer courses in Hanafi, Shafi'i, and some Maliki fiqh basics, some to intermediate.

The whole point is to learn one's basics properly from qualified teachers.

ASWW
As a revert the last madhab you want to choose is hanafi. I am hanafi and before you find out yourself we are the most racist, cultural bound Muslims on the face of the earth. You are looking for a wife and believe you me there is only heartache here for a revert.
You are better off, in my opinion, to go for a shafi madhab and marry InshaAllah a pious Somalian lady.
They have their strengths and weaknesses too but they are more accommodating especially with the war and everything.
BUT.. you need to be strong and health I promise you that! ..lol!!

I plan finding a wife but I don't know what country she will be from.

Maybe I should wait and see what madhab she already follows and join hers.

Seems like that would make our married lives as a muslim couple easier if we both had the same madhab.


List of Countries According To the Amali Madhabs (Schools of Laws)

Muslim Countries of which the majority is Hanafi
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kirgizstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Egypt, Tajikistan, Maldives, Syria, Jordan, Uzbekistan

Muslim Countries of which the majority is Shafi
Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somali, Djibouti, Yemen, Eritrea

Muslim Countries of which the majority is Maliki
Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunis, Mauritania, Kuwait, Bahrain

Muslim Countries of which the majority is Hanbali
Qatar, Saudi Arabia

Muslim Countries of which the population of Shafis and Malikis are equal
Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Burkina, Senegal

Funny you should mention that brother. I have posted this before on another thread.

The only attempt I ever made to marry was to a Somali sister about 4 years ago.

She and I had know each other professionally for quite some time.

I knew her father and brother from the mosque an had prayed salat next to them many times.

So I ask a somali brother to set up a meeting for me with her parents.

They told him absolutely No; and wouldn't meet with me.

Because I wasn't from their tribe, or their country; plus I was white.

So I don't see myself going down that path again..........

Is the issue deciding which madhab you personally want to follow OR which madhab's adherents you want to interact with?

If it is the former, then irrespective of what madhab you choose to follow you can elect to observe strict "purdah" and follow the most religiously precautionary (what some people might call "strict") rulings on matters (which it appears to be what the bulk of Salafi rulings on issues, where they differ with other madhabs, end up being).

So really, you could choose any madhab to follow PERSONALLY and you should be fine. However, regarding the madhab, understanding, and practice of other Muslims, your personal decision regarding what madhab to follow can in no way, positive or negative, impact that. Consider the two examples that you cited earlier. Irrespective of what your madhab would have been, the Saudi brothers would still not have allowed you to know their wives' names or interact with them. Similarly, irrespective of what your personal madhab may have been, the Moroccan brother, his wife, and the other couple would have still invited you to dine with them collectively.

Think about it.

I've heard both of the above claims many times (online and off), however, I haven't really been presented with concrete reasons for why this is the case.

Care to shed light on this?

We the dwellers of Al-Hind must have hurt you!

That must have had a big effect on you. The environment can effect anyone and everyone, yanno. Even though I was born and bred just around the corner from your Masjid, I grew up mostly in an environment of Niqab and separation between men and women. Despite now living in a free for all, gender mixing society, growing up like that has made me feel uncomfortable around women too.

Leave the madhhab issue. You should concern about Asabiyyat.

Asabiyyat means the attitude you've seen in that Somali family members i.e. strict inclination towards tribe, nation, colour etc. This is the worst anti Islamic thing which is found among most of the practising muslim families.

Yes, it had quite a big impact on me.

I thought that Saudi wahhabism was what all muslims were like.

btw I haven't been to our masjid because I am working in another part of the state. Should be back in another month or two.

Why do you say that brother??

Somalis, Memon, Punjabis, Pathans, most Arabs, most Gujus - these people usually marry their girls within their community. Why dont you look into a Bosnian?