al_etidaal_gn

mujtahid.” (Jami). The “ignorant mujtahid” is that person who has no knowledge and
then out of his own reasoning passes opinions on matters of deen.
There is a grave warning in many reports of a Hadeeth wherein Rasulullah (Sallallahu
Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Whosoever utters any opinion of himself about the Quran
(tafseer) should now already take his place in hell.”
Why differences In deen?
People who are conversant with deen often have a problem which they find difficult
to solve or answer. The problem is this: In the physical sciences, natural sciences,
mathematics, arithmetic etc. you do not see any differences of opinion. But how is it
that in the religious sciences and theology there always seem to be differences of
opinions, different viewpoints, different theories and explanations? From time
immemorial till today there never has been any era when there were no differences in
religion. The irreligious ones have taken this problem so seriously that they reached
the stage where they point-blankly rejected religion itself as a reality, disbelieving in
it completely. Others again have accepted religion itself, but denied theology
(deeniyat) and adherence to deen. These people should have known, that according to
their own admission (that there has always been dissent), this dissent is a natural
phenomenon which is in itself quite necessary. Otherwise, how would it have been
possible for it to exist continuously over thousands of years from era to era. We do
not even know how many sages and philosophers, men of exceptional wisdom, have
passed through its ways.
Now for the answer to this query. Actually, this objection against deen results
primarily from not being well-conversant with deen. Basically there are two causes
for dissent in deen. One pertains to differences in the basic fundamentals (usool) and
the other concerns differences in the lesser, subdivisionals (furoo-i), of non-principle
stature.
When religions differ in basic, fundamental, principle matters it is because of a
specific reason. Deen is the name given to that institution of acting upon the
commands and instructions of the Creator of the World. And for the Lord of the
World it is true that He should set forth such orders and proclamations which are
suitable and in the welfare of His creatures at any specific time. None can object to
Him changing His orders from time to time. And neither can any stupid, fault-finding
soul object that yesterday such-and-such a master commanded his servant to do this
or that. And now the commands are altered. And why does He now give him other
commands? Any ruler has the right to pass any law in the welfare and interests of his
subjects, and later when circumstances alter, he has the right to bring about certain
necessary changes.
In this same manner the Lord and Controller of the World also, for the various
Ummahs in different eras have brought about certain amendments in his
commandments which were suitable for the specific conditions that prevailed. But
this was done while retaining the same fundamentals right through. Now in view of
Al- Eti’daal Fi Maraatibur- Rijaal 172