Islam's Reformers .pdf

wrong and the straight from the crooked, pass themselves forauthorities on religion after learning some Arabic in Egypt, theHijâz, Iraq or in Damascus and write books on religion. Whatwould you say about them and their books?”Answer 6: In the subject on ‘Zabâyih’ in the marginalia ofad-Durr al-mukhtâr, ’Allâma Sayyid Ahmad at-Tahtâwî, one ofthe ’ulamâ of the Hanafî madhhab, writes: “One who departsfrom the path of the ’ulamâ’ of fiqh, from as-siwâd al-a’zam, willhave directed himself to Hell. O Muslims! Therefore, hold fast tothe path of Ahl as-Sunnat wa ’l-Jamâ’a which is called ‘alfirqatan-nâjiyya’ (group of salvation), the unique groupreported by our Prophet (’alaihi ’s-salâm) to be saved from Hell!For, Allâhu ta’âlâ will help, protect and guide to happiness onlythose who are on this path. Allâhu ta’âlâ’s Ghadab (Wrath) andadhâb (torture) are for those who dissent from this path. Today,this firqat nâjiyya (group of salvation) have gathered in the fourmadhhabs, namely, Hanafî, Shâfi’î, Mâlikî and Hanbalî. Onewho does not belong to any of these four madhhabs is a man ofbid’a or a man for Hell [heretic or unbeliever].” Great ImâmSufyân ath-Thawrî (radiy Allâhu ’anh) said, “If one who is not an’âlim in fiqh tries to adapt himself to hadîths, he leads himself toheresy.” Great Imâm Ibn al-Hajj al-Makki said the same in hiswork al-Mad’hal. My fatwâs about and articles on the lâmadhhabîare available in my book Al-bârîkat ash-shârika ’alâmârikat al-mushârika.Question 7: “Some people say, ‘The lâ-madhhâbî belong toAhl As-Sunna and are even licensed authorities on religion.They differ from Ahl as-Sunna only in insignificant teachings,and this difference is beneficial like that between the Hanafî,Shâfi’î and Mâlikî madhhabs; thereby they help the religion ofIslam. Should not the lâ-madhhabî, therefore be considered likethose in the Hanafî and Shâfi’î madhhabs and should not weknow them as Muslim brothers and love them heartfully andrespect them? Isn’t it the way of people intoxicated with love forAllâhu ta’âlâ to do one’s affairs according to hadîths though oneis not a mujtahid? Didn’t Abû Dharr al-Ghaffarî (radiy-Allâhu’anh), a Sahâbî, act upon the hadîth, “Do not stock yourproperty to make it kanz, a treasure”?’ What would you sayabout those who say these about the lâ-madhhâbî?”Answer 7: These words are not correct at all. The personwho says so becomes one among them, even one worse than- 271 -