Tag Archives: muslim scholars

Keen Scholarly Insight of Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (may Allah preserve him) About the Causes of Differing During Crises and Emergencies

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

QUESTION: We are here together, and to Allah is all praise, gathered and talking to one another [cordially], without any differing between us. Yet, I see that when some of us return to their lands, they begin differing, even warning against each other. This happens even though they are all Salafees, their reference points are the same, and they all honor the same scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah in this land. So what is your advice to them, may Allah reward you with goodness?

ANSWER: I always advise my brothers and my children among the students of knowledge to stay away from whatever causes differing. This means that sticking to the texts [of revelation] is an absolutely necessary matter; it is a must. Yet, there are ijtihaadaat (attempts to assess and derive rulings on issues) which lead to division. Some ijtihaadaat are beneficial; Allah provides benefit through them to Islam and the Muslims. For this reason, the door of ijtihaad remains open, open to provide benefit to the Ummah, to guide them, to derive rulings from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace. The one who tries to shut the door of ijtihaad is mistaken, and he has no evidence.

However, firstly, no one is to perform ijtihaad other than one suitable for it, one who has equipped himself with the sciences of the Book, the Sunnah, the [Arabic] Language, and other things. This is the one who performs ijtihaad and investigates relative matters when nawaazil (crucial matters in need of important rulings) take place.

As for students of knowledge, one of them tries to understand as much as he can from the textual evidence. However, in current events and crises, no one is to speak other than the elite Continue reading →

What Blessings Could Come From the Closing of Masjids?!

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

I was recently involved in consultations over the most difficult decision I have ever been part of in my life. I attempted to keep to the command of Allah, to return matters back to the most knowledgeable and capable scholars, who know best about the application of Islamic rulings to specific situations:

وإذا جاءهم أمر من الأمن أو الخوف أذاعوا به ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم ولولا فضل الله عليكم ورحمته لاتبعتم الشيطان إلا قليلا

“When a matter of [public] safety or fear reaches them, they openly spread it. Yet, had they only returned it back to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who extract and apply rulings would have known about it. And had it not been for the Bounty of Allah upon you and His Mercy, you would have all followed the Shaytaan, save a few.” (Quran 4:83)

I feared that the wrong decision from myself, independently, could lead to severe harm and lives lost. I did not want to be among those whom our Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) referred to, after they issued a ruling that a man with wounds had to take a bath, and no concession applied to his case, which led to his death:

قتلوه قتلهم الله
“They killed him, may Allah destroy them!”
(Abu Dawud, authentic by way of its numerous routes)

I had to place my trust in Allah fully, and in His Words:

إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء
“Those who truly fear Allah among His worshipers are the scholars.” (Quran 35:28)

I placed my trust in Allah, and then I looked to those whom He commanded me to trust and return to, and I made the same decision that they made, to close masjids. I can only have good thoughts about those whom Allah has raised and entrusted with such a highly impacting verdict, those known for lifetimes of facilitating knowledge and worship, those who have more love and care for the Muslims and their safety than me, with lives of 50, 60, 70 years of work proving that. I firmly trust that they would not support the closing of masjids unless it were an absolute emergency, to avoid serious losses and protect the Muslims and the world from serious harm. I hold that to be the case, and I do not believe that I love this Ummah more than my scholars, great men of knowledge and piety. I thank Allah that He has not made me in a position to make decisions on the level they are responsible for. I know my place, and I prayed istikhaarah to close our local masjid for a time, and to support communities in the temporary closing of their masjids. I would never, ever support such an idea, except that I believe that this is better with my Lord, and better for His worshipers. I beg Allah to forgive me and my brothers and sisters, and to guide us to acts of piety and sincerity, and to allow us to regain His Favor that we have lost!

I further believe that, Continue reading →