Seadet-i Ebediyye - Endless Bliss Third Fascicle

We should learn how to perform namâz, how to perform the
omitted namâz, (called namâz left to qadâ,) [1] and all other Islamic
teachings from books written by the Ahl as-sunnat savants. We
should not believe the falsely adorned articles and sweet words of
the insidious enemies and the ignorant.
Islam had its shaikh-ul-Islâms, that is, chiefs of religious affairs,
and Islamic muftîs. There were also times when there were state
officials called muftîs. We should not mistake Islamic muftîs and
the officials called muftîs for each other. Islamic muftîs were
scholars who taught the commands and prohibitions of Allâhu
ta’âlâ, that is, the Ahkâm-i-islâmiyya. But the officials called
muftîs did not themselves know the Ahkâm-i-islâmiyya. When
something prohibited by Allâhu ta’âlâ was commanded by the
laws they would not say that it was not permissible to do it. If the
laws prohibited something commanded by Allâhu ta’âlâ they
would not say it was necessary to do it. They would either keep
quiet or say something to the contrary. Thus, they themselves
would go out of Islam, misguiding Muslims towards sins and
disbelief. During those times when the hordes of Jenghis spread
over Muslim countries, ruined mosques and massacred Muslims,
during the time of Fâtimîs and Rasûlîs, even during the time of
Abbâsîs, such state officials called muftîs said ‘permissible’ about
harâms. They even said that the Qur’ân was a creature. Whereas
these state officials called muftîs gave such false fatwâs and caused
Islam to be demolished, those who followed books of Fiqh and
ilmihâl remained on the right way, thus saving their faith.
Fatwâ means to inform if something is agreeable with the
Ahkâm-i-islâmiyya. It will not be fatwâ to say only that it is
‘agreeable’ or ‘not permissible.’ It is necessary also to give
reference to the book of Fiqh wherefrom the answer has been
derived, including the concerned part of the book. Fatwâs that are
not agreeable with the books of Fiqh are wrong. It is not
permissible to depend on them. People who read âyats and hadîths
without learning, knowing Islamic teachings and who interpret
them in accordance with their own mental capacities and points of
view are not called Islamic savants. They may be Arabic-knowing
interpreters, like priests in Beirut. No matter how well,
ornamentedly and brightly they speak and write, they are no good.
Allâhu ta’âlâ does not like or accept words and writings which
[1] Please see the twenty-third chapter of the fourth fascicle of Endless
Bliss.
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