Answer to an Enemy of Islam

madhhab of the muftî whom he asks. This example is an ijtihâd of
al-Imâm al-a’zam Abû Hanîfa. It shows that a Hanafî has to obey
the ijtihâd of al-Imâm al-a’zam. The religion reformer, by giving
this example, proves that he is not right. Ibn Humâm explains the
phrase “depending on a religious proof” in al-Hidâya as “likening
to one of the things that break a fast.” This explanation and the
report that the muftî’s fatwâ is a documentary evidence also
prove that the reformer is wrong. The reformer falls into the trap
that he sets for Muslims. Each imâm al-madhhab’s statement,
“Leave my word aside, follow the hadîth,” was intended for his
disciples, who were mujtahids, too. A mujtahid had to follow his
own ijtihâd.
No faqîh (scholar of fiqh) has ever said, “He who wants to act
upon the Book and the Sunna will become a zindîq.” These words
are invented by the reformer. The statement “He who wants to act
upon what he understands from the Book and the Sunna will
become a zindîq,” which was said by the ’ulamâ’ of Islam, is the
truth of the matter, for, a person who has not reached the grade of
ijtihâd cannot deduce correct meanings from the Book or the
Sunna. Our Prophet (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) said that he
who would draw wrong meanings would become a kâfir. Because
of this great danger, even the a’immat al-madhâhib learned the
meanings in the Book and the Sunna from as-Sahâbat al-kirâm
and employed ijtihâd in accordance with these correct meanings.
Dislike for these correct meanings and correct ijtihâds means
dislike for Islam, which in turn means being a zindîq. Al-Imâm alazâm’s
saying, “It is not permissible for anyone who does not know
my documentary evidences to issue fatwâ according to my ijtihâd,”
shows that Ibn ’Âbidîn has adopted his statement from al-Imâm
al-a’zam. It proves that Ibn ’Âbidîn’s book is dependable and very
soud. The taqlîd of an imâm al-madhhab does not mean to turn
away from the Book and the Sunna. It means to adapt oneself to
the correct meaning deduced by the imâm al-madhhab and not to
attempt to draw wrong meanings from the Book and the Sunna.
The a’immat al-madhâhib established methods and principles
showing how to deduce meanings from the Book and the Sunna
and each of them taught them to the mujtahids in his own
madhhab. Muqallids, especially the ordinary people among
muqallids, like the reformer, are very far from knowing or
understanding these methods and principles and from performing
ijtihâd. Ibn ’Âbidîn (rahmatullâhi ’alaih) never said that it was
harâm for mujtahids to infer rules from the Book and the Sunna,
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