Someone who has studied a Madhab [Sheikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee]

[ZeeshanParvez]

Someone Who Has Excelled in Studying a Madhhab Such that He Has Memorised It and Bases His Answers on it Alone is Not Called a Scholar but a Muqallid–So What of Someone Who Has Studied Nothing At All?

Questioner: A questioner is asking saying, ‘A Muslim who has memorised one of the four schools of thought and has accepted what it permits and [also what it] does not sanction, is it allowed for him to give a religious verdict based upon that to those who ask him questions?’


Al-Albaani: It is not allowed for him to give a fatwa based upon what he has learned from his madhhab except by clarifying that it is the madhhab of so and so and not upon the basis that it is some knowledge which he has arrived at through his own personal study–because the blind-follower is not a scholar, the blind-follower is narrating what he has heard.


So based upon this he should say, ‘The answer to what you asked about according to the madhhab which I have studied is such and such,’ and he should not say, ‘The answer is such and such,’ because the difference between these two answers is that the second one, i.e., being resolute that the answer is such and such, this is the state of the scholar who is versed in the Book and the Sunnah.


As for the blind follower, even if he is from the major, from those who are assumed to be from the major scholars, as long as he is a blind-follower then he is not a scholar.


In the opinion of the scholars, a scholar is the one who is as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said:


“Knowledge is, “Allaah said … His Messenger said …
The Companions said …” and it is not hidden.”


This is the scholar.


As for a person who has spent his life studying the sayings of a particularmadhhab without knowing whether its proofs are from the Book or theSunnah or ijmaa’ or qiyaas–then he is a blind-follower, and according to the agreement of the scholars, the blind-follower is called ignorant and is not called a scholar.


For this reason in the book of judgments found in the books of fiqh it is stated that, ‘… it is not allowed for a jaahil [an ignorant person] to be given the position of a judge,’ the scholar explaining this said, ‘Namely, the blind follower,’–however much he knows about his madhhab he is still a blind follower and is not a scholar for whom it is permissible to give a religious verdict [fatwa].


And from the fruits of this distinction between the real/true scholar and between what some of the blind-followers have aptly named a, ‘figurative/metaphorical scholar’, i.e., a blind-follower, the difference between these two is that the real/true scholar gives a religious verdict based upon proof, he either says, ‘Allaah said,’ or ‘Allaah’s Messenger said,’ or ‘The consensus [ijmaa’] in this is …’ or he says, ‘There is no text [concerning the issue at hand] but I’m just giving my opinion, and this is my ijtihaad, and whoever has something better than it, let him bring it to us.’


As for the metaphorical/figurative scholar, i.e., the blind-follower, he is the one who gives an answer based upon his madhhab–and since the common folk do not differentiate between true/real knowledge and metaphorical knowledge, then this metaphorical scholar has to say, ‘My madhhab is such and such,’ and he should not say, ‘The answer is such and such,’–because he is not acquainted [with true knowledge] and he does not know.


Al-Hudaa wan-Noor, 319.

Source

[thomp]

It is amazing that the blind followers of al-Albani never actually seem to think what is being said.

Do you people even realize the magnitude of this? Let me explain, he is saying that anyone no matter how much he studied, as long as he is a muqallid, he is not a proper scholar. Obviously a scholar doesn't go outside of his madhhab unless he is a mujtahid like Imam Ahmad, Abu Hanifa etc. Otherwise he doesn't and he doesn't pretend to be a mujtahid like them, especially today.

Just contemplate this for a while and then ask yourself, how many of the scholars of the past followed a madhhab? He is basically saying, no one of them was actually a real scholar! Rather he thinks he himself was something, a scholar who knew better. That's why he wrote a book of how to perform Salah just like the Prophet(saws), because no one else knew until this day how to do it, according to him. The whole Ummah was in darkness until he appeared after 1400 years, mashaa'Allaah, this is definitely something to ponder over.

According to al-Albani, ibn Jawzi al-Hanbali is not a scholar, the luminary of the Hanbali madhhab. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali is not a scholar. Imam an-Nawawi is not a scholar. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani is not a scholar. Surely he himself is, even though books are written about his numerous errors in ahadeeth!

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali has refuted this misguided mentality of not following an authentic school of Fiqh. Those who wish to read in English can find it translated by Musa Furber here: gumroad.com/l/ibnrajab

In spite of this, people still appear, claiming to have reached the level of ijtihād, speak about knowledge without restraint, or following one of those Imāms. This is tolerated from some of them because of the apparent veracity of their claims. For others, their statement is rejected and they are declared liars concerning their claim. As for everyone else who has not reached this level: they are only capable of following one of these Imāms and following what the rest of the community did.

An insolent imbecile might object, asking:

How can people be restricted to the opinions of designated scholars, and be barred from ijtihād or imitating one of the other scholars of the religion?10

Our reply is that it is just like the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) gathered the people in all the lands on one of the modes of recitation of the Qurân and prevented them from reciting any other mode when they saw that the general interest would be incomplete without it, and that if the people were left reading various modes of recitation they would fall into the greatest of ruins.

According to the text, those who refuse to follow the 4 madhhabs are insolent imbeciles. The claim that these "Salafis" had reached the level of Imam Ahmad and the likes is another fairy tale. According to Imam Ahmad (rh) himself, you have to memorize around 200-300k ahadith by heart with their chains to be even considered anything close! These self-styled mujtahideen are nothing but mere claimants who wish to distort the Deen with modernist fataawaa, pleasing the kuffaar.

If it's that easy to become a mujtahid (as the Salafis claim) then heck, why don't I just start my own fatwa factory as well?

[ZeeshanParvez]

It is amazing that the blind followers of al-Albani never actually seem to think what is being said.

Actually what is amazing is your lack of adab and accusations. What is even more ironic is the fact that while your methodology of taqliid would make you a blind follower who spends every minute justifying his 'imaams' your opposition has pointed out mistakes of al-albaani and his like when the need arise just nullifying your claim that they follow blindly. And all of this shows your inability to understand which is not surprising.

Do you people even realize the magnitude of this?

More so than a muqallid like you would.

Let me explain, he is saying that anyone no matter how much he studied, as long as he is a muqallid, he is not a proper scholar.

As I said, this is what happens when a layman like you tries to explain. That is not what is he saying. He is saying that if you are a scholar of Madhab then you are a scholar of that Madhab and not of Islam in the general terms like a Mujtahid Imaam would be.

Obviously a scholar doesn't go outside of his madhhab unless he is a mujtahid like Imam Ahmad, Abu Hanifa etc.

That is why he is a muqallid of his madhab and no one from the other schools would take a Fatwaa from him but would look at the muqallid of his own madhab for help.

Otherwise he doesn't and he doesn't pretend to be a mujtahid like them, especially today.

No, layman even from the Salafi school do not pretend to be mujtahdis as you would like to blanket paint the picture.

Just contemplate this for a while and then ask yourself, how many of the scholars of the past followed a madhhab?

That is why they were "muqallids" of their madhabs unable to issue fatwaas of the magnitude of a Mujtahid Imaam.

He is basically saying, no one of them was actually a real scholar!

He is right. Unless you become a Mujtahid Imaam you are not a real scholar. Your lack of understanding of the Usools laid down in classical texts has forced you to find this so shocking.

Rather he thinks he himself was something, a scholar who knew better.

Now you have slandered him. Not uncommon coming from a Madhabi. Guess you will have to answer for that in front of Allaah. I have nothing to lose.

That's why he wrote a book of how to perform Salah just like the Prophet(saws), because no one else knew until this day how to do it, according to him.

Now you know his intentions for doing things as well. Bravo. Perhaps you can answer for that too on the Day of Judgement.

The whole Ummah was in darkness until he appeared after 1400 years, mashaa'Allaah, this is definitely something to ponder over.

Nice rhetoric. But misplaced. The whole Ummah reaches a point of darkness after every 100 years and that is why a Mujaddid comes as mentioned in the hadiith of Abu Dawud. He clears the Religion of innovations. Innovations aren't introduced by layman as they would never take off. They are introduced by those looked upon by the people as "scholars."

Hence, you have a Mujaddid every 100 years who clears up those innovations. Guess that just slipped your mind.

According to al-Albani, ibn Jawzi al-Hanbali is not a scholar, the luminary of the Hanbali madhhab.

Nopes. He is a muqaalid of his own school. Hence, it would not be permissible even by Madhabi standards for a Hanafi, Shaafi, or Maaliki to follow him.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali is not a scholar.

Nopes. He is a muqallid of his madhab. A Shaafi, Hanafi, and Maaliki could not take a fatwaa from him as outlined by the Madhabis themselves.

Imam an-Nawawi is not a scholar.

Nopes. He was the muqallid of the shaafi school. One canot take a fatwaa from him if one is a Hanabli, Hanafi, or Maaliki schools.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani is not a scholar.

Nopes. He is muqallid of the shaafi school. Hanafi, Maaliki, and Hanblis cannot mix and match their madhabs by taking Fatwaas from him.

Surely he himself is, even though books are written about his numerous errors in ahadeeth!

Cheap shot. al-Nawawi has claimed Ijmaa in places which were wrong and as pointed out by his own school members. He made mistakes.
al-Suyooti made errors in grading hadiith authentic. He made mistakes.

If you are going to use that as a permise then all the muqallids of the schools have made far more mistakes.

But your working from a biased prespective and do not want to acknolwedge these facts.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali has refuted this misguided mentality of not following an authentic school of Fiqh.

He is a well known for his ta'assub for madhabs. It was so bad that he claimed one cannot even follow the Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) because they did not "codify" the rules of their Fatwaas like the later Imaams did.

Those who wish to read in English can find it translated by Musa Furber here: gumroad.com/l/ibnrajab

Perphas you should spend some time learning Arabic and reading the books of these "scholars" yourself as opposed to relying upon translated material and then presenting your views, which I may say our based on your emotions.

According to the text, those who refuse to follow the 4 madhhabs are insolent imbeciles.

Nice language. Perhpas the person writing that should have spent more time on Tazkiyah of Nafs and less time on Islamic Jurisprudence.

The claim that these "Salafis" had reached the level of Imam Ahmad and the likes is another fairy tale.

They don't claim to have. That is another slander from your side. Keep basking in it.

According to Imam Ahmad (rh) himself, you have to memorize around 200-300k ahadith by heart with their chains to be even considered anything close!

Someone asked Imaam Ahamd if it was ok to write books of fiqh and he said no. The person said but Ibn al-Mubaarak says it is ok. He said Ibn al-Mubaarak has not come down from the sky. We take our Religion from the sky.

What Imaam Ahmad says is not a Hujjah. Hujjah stops at the Companions, as outlined by classcial scholars, when certain conditions are fullfilled. No one after the Companions is a hujjah.

These self-styled mujtahideen are nothing but mere claimants who wish to distort the Deen with modernist fataawaa, pleasing the kuffaar.

Once again you have slandered them. You are going to have lots of answering to do on the Day of Judgement. Accusing others of what you have no knowledge of is sad. But you wouldn't be worried about that would you now!

If it's that easy to become a mujtahid (as the Salafis claim) then heck, why don't I just start my own fatwa factory as well?

No one would listen to you. Give it a shot.