Madhabs?
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Salahudeen
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Madhabs are not sects, they contain rulings based upon Qur'an and sunnah. You were advised to follow a madhab because as a lay person you don't have to ability to derive these rulings yourself and why would you need to when the Imams of the 4 madhabs derived the rulings for you. Sometimes the 4 Imams differed on their understanding of the texts that's why there is different opinions amongst them.
This is a good book to read about madhabs and how they came about/evolved. http://www.scribd.com/doc/16756619/Bilal-Phillips-Evolution-of-Fiqh
This is a good book to read about madhabs and how they came about/evolved. http://www.scribd.com/doc/16756619/Bilal-Phillips-Evolution-of-Fiqh
Little_Lion
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Salaam, Ami!
I think as you can see, the decision to follow a madhab can be an . . . interesting one! Many people advise following a madhab - a line of interpretation by one group of scholars, I believe may be the simplest explanation - so that following the will of Allah can be made easier by following the advice of learned scholars. There are many, and researching each may be in your interest; however, if there is a mosque in your neighborhood, it is often advised that you follow the madhab of your local place of worship.
My own teachers state that it is best to follow the Qur'an and the Hadith; however, it should be noted that this is NOT the only, better, or most followed way, and most people do follow a madhab.
This is one interpretation, and only Allah in His infinite wisdom knows the Truth, as Allah knows best! As I was educated by the scholars I learned from, the purpose of Islamic scholars is to remind people of the Truth through their studies and memorization of the Qur'an and Hadith, as those of us who are learning or cannot dedicate our entire lives to study most definitely have fallible memories. The Qur'an as the holy words of Allah, and the words and actions of His Prophet (saw) is perfect and simple, and it is not for Man, who cannot know best, to change His words or put words into his mouth past what is directly stated. Therefore, following rulings of scholars, which may or may not state what was intended by Allah, is questionable to some people. Again I will repeat, Allah knows best, and only Allah knows what is in your heart! Madhab or not, follow Allah and follow the Truth!
I think as you can see, the decision to follow a madhab can be an . . . interesting one! Many people advise following a madhab - a line of interpretation by one group of scholars, I believe may be the simplest explanation - so that following the will of Allah can be made easier by following the advice of learned scholars. There are many, and researching each may be in your interest; however, if there is a mosque in your neighborhood, it is often advised that you follow the madhab of your local place of worship.
My own teachers state that it is best to follow the Qur'an and the Hadith; however, it should be noted that this is NOT the only, better, or most followed way, and most people do follow a madhab.
This is one interpretation, and only Allah in His infinite wisdom knows the Truth, as Allah knows best! As I was educated by the scholars I learned from, the purpose of Islamic scholars is to remind people of the Truth through their studies and memorization of the Qur'an and Hadith, as those of us who are learning or cannot dedicate our entire lives to study most definitely have fallible memories. The Qur'an as the holy words of Allah, and the words and actions of His Prophet (saw) is perfect and simple, and it is not for Man, who cannot know best, to change His words or put words into his mouth past what is directly stated. Therefore, following rulings of scholars, which may or may not state what was intended by Allah, is questionable to some people. Again I will repeat, Allah knows best, and only Allah knows what is in your heart! Madhab or not, follow Allah and follow the Truth!
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Innocent Soul
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Please read these articles. Here is the same question which you asked.
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/128658/
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/21420/
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/128658/
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/21420/
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Little_Lion
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I definitely do not believe madhab to the "sects".
The approach I was taught was this, especially for those new to Islam:
1.) If you cannot find the answer yourself, ask.
2.) Listen carefully to all opinions, both of the scholar and the layman. Allah can grant great wisdom to any that He chooses.
3.) Check what is given as answers. Cross-reference, research, and learn for yourself. Do more research and ask more questions as necessary. We are always learning.
4.) Be careful for those who put words in the mouth of Allah and His Prophet (saw). It is a shaytan who would cause Man to think that because they know much, or some, they know all.
5.) Trust in Allah. Only He, not Man, can lead you to the True Path and He will make all things known to you when He deems fit. If a question does not receive a true answer when you ask it, have patience and it will be revealed in time.
6.) Only the words of Allah and those of His Prophet (saw) are perfect. Any words of Man are fallible, and to blindly follow one considered wise is an affront to Allah. Allah knows best.
So I do not in any way reject scholars. I in no way feel that following a madhab is wrong, nor do I think that it is un-Islamic. I just follow the path of being cautious amongst Man, I believe would be the best way to put it . . . there is wisdom in ALL madhabs, and in all the Ummah, but there is also the capability for error. Thus, rather than following one, I guess the best way to put it is I listen to all, and follow Allah to the best of my ability, may he forgive any of my transgressions as I am most fallible myself as created!
The approach I was taught was this, especially for those new to Islam:
1.) If you cannot find the answer yourself, ask.
2.) Listen carefully to all opinions, both of the scholar and the layman. Allah can grant great wisdom to any that He chooses.
3.) Check what is given as answers. Cross-reference, research, and learn for yourself. Do more research and ask more questions as necessary. We are always learning.
4.) Be careful for those who put words in the mouth of Allah and His Prophet (saw). It is a shaytan who would cause Man to think that because they know much, or some, they know all.
5.) Trust in Allah. Only He, not Man, can lead you to the True Path and He will make all things known to you when He deems fit. If a question does not receive a true answer when you ask it, have patience and it will be revealed in time.
6.) Only the words of Allah and those of His Prophet (saw) are perfect. Any words of Man are fallible, and to blindly follow one considered wise is an affront to Allah. Allah knows best.
So I do not in any way reject scholars. I in no way feel that following a madhab is wrong, nor do I think that it is un-Islamic. I just follow the path of being cautious amongst Man, I believe would be the best way to put it . . . there is wisdom in ALL madhabs, and in all the Ummah, but there is also the capability for error. Thus, rather than following one, I guess the best way to put it is I listen to all, and follow Allah to the best of my ability, may he forgive any of my transgressions as I am most fallible myself as created!
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Ramadhan
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This is a great approach and I am in agreement, but my question is:
How is following madhab violating any of your approach above?
I'd like to know, because in fiqh, I am mostly following madhab syafii, but I am also basing my knowledge on the approach very similar to yours.
From this sentence, I get the feeling that you accuse those who follow a madhab as having belief that the scholars that they follow are infallible.
I hope I am wrong, but it feels that way.
Ramadhan
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For those who do not follow a madhab, I would like to know how you base your decision what to do in a very simple situation?
For example, if you've just taken wudoo, and then you accidentally brush skin with a non-mahram, do you think that your wudoo is invalidated, or do you feel that it means nothing and you can go pray?
Since you don't follow a madhab, how do you derive your own ruling?
Does this mean you are going to search and study whole qur'an and hundreds of thousands of ahadeeth to find out what is the most correct response in such situation?
Or do you feel that those are little things that do not matter?
There are thousands of very little things like that that are happening in our life daily that require us to base it on qur'an and ahadeeth.
For example, if you've just taken wudoo, and then you accidentally brush skin with a non-mahram, do you think that your wudoo is invalidated, or do you feel that it means nothing and you can go pray?
Since you don't follow a madhab, how do you derive your own ruling?
Does this mean you are going to search and study whole qur'an and hundreds of thousands of ahadeeth to find out what is the most correct response in such situation?
Or do you feel that those are little things that do not matter?
There are thousands of very little things like that that are happening in our life daily that require us to base it on qur'an and ahadeeth.
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Little_Lion
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Brother, you are mistaken, I am most happy to say. I do not believe that following a madhab violates the approach I was taught, and I firmly believe that for many people it is an EXCELLENT approach to Islam and following the will of Allah. A madhab, however, can be a very difficult approach for some of us, particularly those of us who have no sheykhs or mosques in our area. We cannot meet these people in person, we cannot discuss with them face to face (or in my case as a female, face to not face! 
) their reasonings, research, and methods. We have no community madhab, therefore, to choose just one for us is for some, unreasonable, since each has just as much opportunity to be correct or incorrect.
And I do not believe that people who follow a madhab are blind sheep, by any means. Allah gifted us with the Qur'an, intelligence, and choice for good reason, and I do not mean to say that those who follow a madhab do not use all three to the best ability that Allah granted them with! However, I cannot say that I do not have concerns about some of the rulings that I have seen come down from various scholars and the arguments amongst the Ummah and various madhabs they have caused, and I have seen, in the past, some (may I stress, some )of the Ummah that do put their scholars before Allah. This is why I, personally, choose not to follow one. But it is my choice, and I do not consider any who do choose to follow one madhab or another unthinking or incapable of acting on their own wisdom in Allah's grace, and Allah knows best.
Edit: to add to your later question, naidamar, do people who follow a madhab, when they have a question, freeze all action until they can check a ruling on something, or do they make the best judgement to their ability in Allah's grace and find out later?
In the example you stated, I would definitely not put off prayer just to find out what was said, I would take the cautious road and perform wudu again, and then follow the steps I stated above after prayer if I did not know the answer. But you give an excellent example, as I know different madhabs have different rulings on what you gave . . . some say it is necessary, some say it is not.
) their reasonings, research, and methods. We have no community madhab, therefore, to choose just one for us is for some, unreasonable, since each has just as much opportunity to be correct or incorrect.And I do not believe that people who follow a madhab are blind sheep, by any means. Allah gifted us with the Qur'an, intelligence, and choice for good reason, and I do not mean to say that those who follow a madhab do not use all three to the best ability that Allah granted them with! However, I cannot say that I do not have concerns about some of the rulings that I have seen come down from various scholars and the arguments amongst the Ummah and various madhabs they have caused, and I have seen, in the past, some (may I stress, some )of the Ummah that do put their scholars before Allah. This is why I, personally, choose not to follow one. But it is my choice, and I do not consider any who do choose to follow one madhab or another unthinking or incapable of acting on their own wisdom in Allah's grace, and Allah knows best.
Edit: to add to your later question, naidamar, do people who follow a madhab, when they have a question, freeze all action until they can check a ruling on something, or do they make the best judgement to their ability in Allah's grace and find out later?
In the example you stated, I would definitely not put off prayer just to find out what was said, I would take the cautious road and perform wudu again, and then follow the steps I stated above after prayer if I did not know the answer. But you give an excellent example, as I know different madhabs have different rulings on what you gave . . . some say it is necessary, some say it is not.
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I'll just link some videos of qualified and knowledgable sheikhs (YESHH! 50 POSTS!), since I'm in no position to say this is "haram" "bidah" etc etc
However all I will say is following a Madhab is like using a Satnav/TomTom (very cheesy I know) meaning it's your guide and that you won't be lost as everything will be more clearer to you because all the answers are there.
1)
Here's a summary of the four Imams of fiqh:
2)
(I recommend you bookmark this user, mash'Allah very useful videos)
The Madhabs are all different interpretations and opinions but all follow the teachings of the Prophet(saw). One more thing when talking about Ahadiths always remember you must take into consideration, who was the Prophet talking to, whether it was general or specific in other words understanding the context of it. Some people put there own opinions of certain hadiths and change the entire meaning of it.. that's why it's important to sit down with someone who is qualified and has studied this area to understand the true meanings.
And Allah knows best; I'm no scholar but don't shoot me.
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However all I will say is following a Madhab is like using a Satnav/TomTom (very cheesy I know) meaning it's your guide and that you won't be lost as everything will be more clearer to you because all the answers are there.
1)
Here's a summary of the four Imams of fiqh:
2)
(I recommend you bookmark this user, mash'Allah very useful videos)
The Madhabs are all different interpretations and opinions but all follow the teachings of the Prophet(saw). One more thing when talking about Ahadiths always remember you must take into consideration, who was the Prophet talking to, whether it was general or specific in other words understanding the context of it. Some people put there own opinions of certain hadiths and change the entire meaning of it.. that's why it's important to sit down with someone who is qualified and has studied this area to understand the true meanings.
And Allah knows best; I'm no scholar but don't shoot me.
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Salahudeen
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You are implying that those who follow madhabs do not follow the Qur'an and hadith which is quite frankly not true at all and very misleading, forgive my harsh tone, but the madhabs are based upon Qur'an and hadith!! Imam Ahmad, Abu hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi all based their rulings upon Qur'an and hadith so by following a madhab you're still following the Qur'an and hadith!!
What are you going to do? make a new madhab yourself? containing all the rulings for a particular situation? what would be the point in that when it's all ready been done by the 4 Imams.
I'm guessing you establish salah, well the way you establish salah is most likely according to a madhab so you're following a madhab without even realising, I'm guessing you do wudhu too, well the way you do wudu is detailed in a madhab so again you're following a madhab, you also do ghusl don't you? well the way you do ghusl is explained in a madhab all ready. So how are you not following a madhab??
tell me how you pray, do wudhu and ghusl and I will tell you which madhab you're doing those acts according to.
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Well firstly I want to say thank you all for replying to my question I didn't expect so many answers. It's great to see varying answers too.
I do not live in majority muslim country and the mosque is very far away from where I live so that is why I was advised to follow a madhab.
Little lion I really liked your approach it makes sense. I think I won't follow a mathab now. My plan is that I will use quran and hadeeth and if I have a problem I will look to advice from all the mathabs maybe this is best way. And I also think it is right to investigate the advice from the mathab. However I will also use this forum if I have a problem and ask advice from now on because it seems very active with all the responses I got.
Thanks again for all the responses and the videos were helpful too!
I do not live in majority muslim country and the mosque is very far away from where I live so that is why I was advised to follow a madhab.
Little lion I really liked your approach it makes sense. I think I won't follow a mathab now. My plan is that I will use quran and hadeeth and if I have a problem I will look to advice from all the mathabs maybe this is best way. And I also think it is right to investigate the advice from the mathab. However I will also use this forum if I have a problem and ask advice from now on because it seems very active with all the responses I got.
Thanks again for all the responses and the videos were helpful too!
Salahudeen
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Sister the madhabs are based upon Qur'an and hadith, so even if you followed a madhab you would still be following Qur'an and hadith. Madhabs are the works of scholars who have gone through all the Qur'an and all the hadith and then deduced rulings from them. Are you capable of doing this as a lay person? going through every single hadith and verse of Qur'an to find the ruling regarding a particular situation/act of worship?
Ghazalah
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Exactly. Those who don't follow a madhab yet don't have knowledge on how to derive a ruling what exactly do they do? See the four madhabs as a blessing, for those who aren't knowledgeable are able to follow the fiqh rulings form those who have dedicated their life to the Quran and Hadith and Islam.
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Hamza Asadullah
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Asalaamu Alaikum, My dear sister surely you should get true knolwedge and understanding of Islam from "those who know" and "those who know" are the scholars of Islam.
The following is a brilliant explanation of why it is necessery to follow a madhab by one of the greatest scholars of Islam today Sheikh Mufti Taqi Uthmani:
The truth about Taqleed
http://www.islamicboard.com/methodology/134304455-truth-about-taqleed.html
Taqlid & the falsification of Islamic History
http://www.islamicboard.com/methodology/134304426-taqlid-falsification-islamic-history.html
Should we follow a madhab?
http://www.muftisays.com/blog/Seifeddine-M/644_13-12-2010/should-we-follow-a-madhab-or-hadith?.html
I can give you vast resources on why we should follow a madhab so all you have to do is ask. Please feel free to ask whatever questions you like inshallah. Jazakallahu khayran
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Salahudeen
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Tyrion
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Okay, listen for a second... Please please please go find a mosque, and have this discussion with an Imam... There's nothing wrong with asking a question here, but seeing as you are a new Muslim, it's best if you avoid some of the advice given out on a forum, since many of the people here are not at all qualified to be answering your questions... Quite frankly, its not safe for someone who needs to learn the basics of Islam to come looking for them on an internet forum, and I hope you can see that... Yet you seem to be taking the advice of others who admit they are still learning the basics... Try to learn from those that are qualified...
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Tyrion - The nearest mosque to me is about 2 hours away by bus. Also at the moment not many people know I am Muslim not even my parents. Hopefully in time I will have courage to tell people but that is the way it is now and I do not feel comfortable going to a mosque alone. I do have Muslim friend who offered to help me and go to mosque with me but I am just not ready for that yet.
Also I don't want you to think I do not know the basics of Islam,I agree I have a lot to learn but I spent a long time researching Islam before I became Muslim so it isn't like I know nothing, I just never came across the issue of madhabs before. Brother Tyrion I listen to all peoples advice, it doesnt mean I follow their advice, I always try see if their advice follows what is in the quran/hadith so don't think I am blind in this way.
Well I just didn't want to confine myself to one madhab as I do not know which one would be best for me and why should I join a mathab that is the one in my area or something like this. I would rather look to the advice of all the madhabs if I come to a problem and then see which one suits me best. This is what I have decided to do and I thank you all for your advice and I will use the the information you all gave. I feel it would be wrong of me to just choose a madhab I don't know much about that's why I am not ready to do that. Surely if I asked the question here which madhab should I follow I would get different answers so isn't it only logical that I should decide myself which one is best for me?
Also I don't want you to think I do not know the basics of Islam,I agree I have a lot to learn but I spent a long time researching Islam before I became Muslim so it isn't like I know nothing, I just never came across the issue of madhabs before. Brother Tyrion I listen to all peoples advice, it doesnt mean I follow their advice, I always try see if their advice follows what is in the quran/hadith so don't think I am blind in this way.
Well I just didn't want to confine myself to one madhab as I do not know which one would be best for me and why should I join a mathab that is the one in my area or something like this. I would rather look to the advice of all the madhabs if I come to a problem and then see which one suits me best. This is what I have decided to do and I thank you all for your advice and I will use the the information you all gave. I feel it would be wrong of me to just choose a madhab I don't know much about that's why I am not ready to do that. Surely if I asked the question here which madhab should I follow I would get different answers so isn't it only logical that I should decide myself which one is best for me?
Hamza Asadullah
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My dear sister what we have to realise is that all four madhabs are ONLY from Qur'an and Sunnah and from the understanding of the four great imaams. They are a true blessing to this ummah for if these 4 madhabs did not exist then there would have been several hundred madhabs and every Muslim would have been following a different path. All four imaams expanded their madhabs from their understanding and approach to the Qur'an and Sunnah.
All four imaams opinions were correct and there is NO such thing is "the madhab nearest to the Qur'an and Sunnah" or "the most correct madhab". All four madhabs have been approved by 1400 years of scholars to be authentic and in conformity to the Qur'an and Sunnah. ll four madhabs give us a path through the Qur'an and Sunnah which is so vast that NO lay person can handle it on their own without the guidance of a madhab.
The madhabs didnt just stop after the 4 imaams died but scholars have continued to work on these madhabs until this very day. It is very easy to say "I will choose the best opinions out of all four madhabs" but how is that so when all four madhabs are correct and the opinions of all four madhabs are ALL backed up by Qur'an and Sunnah?
One needs to be at a certain level of understanding of Islam in order to be at a stage where one can derive rulings from the Qur'an adn Sunnah and i guarantee you each one of us have not got that much knowledge to do that. Therefore we either follow a madhab or follow a scholar who is following or inclined towards a particular madhab.
Read the links and please feel free to ask whatever questions you like inshallah
And Allah knows best in all matters
All four imaams opinions were correct and there is NO such thing is "the madhab nearest to the Qur'an and Sunnah" or "the most correct madhab". All four madhabs have been approved by 1400 years of scholars to be authentic and in conformity to the Qur'an and Sunnah. ll four madhabs give us a path through the Qur'an and Sunnah which is so vast that NO lay person can handle it on their own without the guidance of a madhab.
The madhabs didnt just stop after the 4 imaams died but scholars have continued to work on these madhabs until this very day. It is very easy to say "I will choose the best opinions out of all four madhabs" but how is that so when all four madhabs are correct and the opinions of all four madhabs are ALL backed up by Qur'an and Sunnah?
One needs to be at a certain level of understanding of Islam in order to be at a stage where one can derive rulings from the Qur'an adn Sunnah and i guarantee you each one of us have not got that much knowledge to do that. Therefore we either follow a madhab or follow a scholar who is following or inclined towards a particular madhab.
Read the links and please feel free to ask whatever questions you like inshallah
And Allah knows best in all matters
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