Assalamualaikum. :)
I would like to take this opportunity to ask a question about why there are different mazhabs for muslims to follow. And also why different muslims like malay muslims and indian muslims as well as muslims in different countries around the world follow different mazhabs.
Why can't there be only one mazhab, one common rule for all muslims to follow?
And why is it that some people say if we follow one mazhab, we cannot follow another mazhab simultaneously?
Regarding this particular question, I received an answer from someone I know, who said that he strongly disagree with the rule that we must strictly follow to one mazhab and not other mazhabs. He justified it by saying that Islam is Allah's religion, and not the religions belonging to Imam Shafi'e, Hanafi or other Imams who created the mazhabs. Therefore it is not right for us to follow strictly to only one mazhab. We may follow more than one mazhabs, for convenience sake and for whichever we think is right. Because mazhabs have different interpretations of the Qur'an, it is up to individuals which interpretations they think is the most sensible and they want to adopt, rather than to just follow one mazhab and all that mazhab's interpretations of the Qur'an. This is the answer I heard from someone I know, but I would also like to seek your opinion.
I am a quite uncomfortable knowing that Islam is sort of divided into a few mazhabs, and because of the differences of the islamic practices due to different mazhabs, it is unavoidable to have disagreements and accusations. For example, the difference in the way muslims in different countries pray and do ibadah may cause muslims to accuse each other of being "wrong" and "sesat" in practising islamic practices.
And I am more uncomfortable knowing that the existence in the different mazhabs in Islam, is similar to the different divisions in other religions as well. For example, christians are divided into catholic, presbyterian etc, while buddhist and hindu religions also have different gods and versions of their religions.Note: This question was broken down into several parts to better address the different issues surfaced.
Looking forward to enlightenment. Thank you.
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From Ustaz Zhulkeflee:
Thank you for the question.
As the subject is about “Madzaahib” I have put up a brief explanation about the “Adab in appreciating the Madzaahib”, so that we may grasp some basic understanding, especially certain pertinent aspects regarding it.
I believe such a complex subject cannot be approached through partial questioning as one has to firstly understand the bigger picture - of what actually is 'Madzhab', shari-ah, source and basis and historical development of Islamic jurisprudence. itself.
This powerpoint is a simplified explanation which has been a good introduction on the subject.
Please click here to view this document.
(The slides have also been sent to your email.)
Alternatively, view them here.
View more presentations from zhulkeflee.
Now, allow me to address and comment specifically some of the questions you raised.
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You asked:
“Why there are different mazhabs for muslims to follow? And also why different muslims like malay muslims and indian muslims as well as muslims in different countries around the world follow different mazhabs?”My response:
There is only one Islam, perfected, established and transmitted from our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Since then it has be disseminated through an unbroken chain of Islamic scholars and teachers (referred to by the Prophet in Ahadith as “the heir (waratha), or his vicegerents (khalifa)”
Every Islamic scholars-jurists (mujtahiidun) adhere to similar basic methodology (manhaj) of the period of the Prophetic generations, but they may differ on secondary matters, which is only natural as Muslims move in time further from the period of generation of the Salafus-soliheen (pious predecessors). Yet, conformity to ‘madzhab’ i.e. following an approved Islamic scholar (or school) is vital to common Muslim. Yet to ensure unity of the Muslim ummah, the ‘madzahib’ is to be regarded like distributaries or branches that grew from the main trunk/root. Madzaahib’ of Islam is not the same as ’Sects’ or ‘Denominations’ as in other religion.
As long as each madzhab adheres to the basic fundamentals, their differences does not make them to be different as to be regarded as being outside of the Islamic ummah.
Although the fundamental sources for this religion and principles are basically in the Qur’an and As-Sunnah, the application upon the practices for the Muslims may have to differ in accordance with different situation, preference, priority, prevalent existing customs of a people, etc. in the various regions where Islam spread. Also, the scholars would only apply what they have learnt (whichever school or Madzhab) that they were from.
So, why the dominant madzhab amongst Indian Muslims is Hanafi whereas the Malay-Muslims being Shafi-ie is because the teachers and scholars that spread Islam amongst them were from those respectful schools (madzaahib).
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"Why can't there be only one mazhab, one common rule for all muslims to follow?"My response:
Consider, can there be only one branch in a tree? It is inevitable that many branches grew. As long as they are connected, these branches are acceptable to whoever is in need of relying upon them to be shade under the Islamic tree.
The historical development of Islam is inevitable, even prophesised by Muhammad s.a.w. Also, many and diverse scholarly opinion is to be regarded as Mercy for it removes the rigidity or ossification in the implementation of practices in a rapidly changing times , place and circumstance. Their diversity is to be regarded as legacy or treasury of wisdom of the Ummah.
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"And why is it that some people say if we follow one mazhab, we cannot follow another mazhab simultaneously?"My response:
Just as it would be ill-advised, nay foolish and would inevitably cause confusion for a novice student to start schooling by attending many schools, similarly in regard to need of following only one ‘madzhab’ it contains this similar wisdom.
For those advanced in their knowledge of the Deen (religion), becoming Islamic scholars, they may in some instance consider and even follow other madzahiib’s opinion. But this must be through qualified knowledge and not blindly imitating.
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"Some justified it by saying that Islam is Allah's religion, and not the religions belonging to Imam Shafi'e, Hanafi or other Imams who created the mazhabs. Therefore it is not right for us to follow strictly to only one mazhab."My response:
With due respect to the person who said this, he should firstly understand the historical development of the Shar’ah, the ‘madzaahib’ and Islamic scholars and their jurisprudence. Nobody knowledgeable in this would have alleged that these Aimmah (pl. For Imam) viz. of Ja’fari, Zaidi, Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi-‘ie, Hanbali, etc. of having created a different Islam.
And it is even dangerous to then incite those already adhering to the right ‘manhaj’ (system i.e. following upon whichever madzhab), without proper knowledge nor acceptable basis.
And who determines what is ‘strict or not’?
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"We may follow more than one mazhabs, for convenience sake and for whichever we think is right. Because mazhabs have different interpretations of the Qur'an, it is up to individuals which interpretations they think is the most sensible and they want to adopt, rather than to just follow one mazhab and all that mazhab's interpretations of the Qur'an."My response:
You need to firstly ask:
“How do we follow a Madzhab?”
“Who can interpret and extract rules and juristic opinions from the Qur’an and Sunnah?”
“What qualification does a person need to be able to independently interpret the Qur’an and Sunnah?” etc.
When you suggested “rely upon whichever is convenient for us ... Whichever is right”, it implies as though Muslims can have liberty to choose for ourselves, just like how these Islamic scholars chose? As though it is a matter of convenient - ‘up to us’?, Or that we are as qualified as them to evaluate the jurisdistic opinion in one madzhab let alone to adjudicate the differences of opinion amongst the ‘Madzahib’? Are we a mujtahid? Even a scholar of Imam An-Nawawi’s calibre refused to not be considered as being followers on the Shafi’ie madzhab although he is competent to act independently.
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"I am a quite uncomfortable knowing that Islam is sort of divided into a few mazhabs, and because of the differences of the islamic practices due to different mazhabs, it is unavoidable to have disagreements and accusations. For example, the difference in the way muslims in different countries pray and do ibadah may cause muslims to accuse each other of being "wrong" and "sesat" in practising islamic practices."
My response:
I appreciate and understand your concern. I beg to differ for as I understand it, the issue is not with the legacy of Islam, such as the Madzaahib, and the difference of the practices found within Islamic community.
The problem is with the contemporary Muslims’ ignorance of Islam, the gross lack of Adab, unrestrained ego, certain opportunist groups seeking followership, fame, influence and power. Generally, we have no such problems in the past amongst people of the different madzaahib, until Muslims lost the Adab especially those who clamour for leadership. This compounded the problem of the loss of right knowledge.
Just as prophesised:
"Verily Allah does not remove knowledge from the (hearts of the) people, rather he takes away knowledge by taking away its people (the scholars), until there are no more scholars, the people then take leaders that are ignorant, and when they are asked, and give fatwas (they give) without knowledge, so they misguide and are misguided."
(Hadith reported by Ashaab as-Sunnan from Ibnu ‘Umar r.a.)
“When a trust is neglected, then wait for thetime (of its destruction) .”Somebody ask: ‘How shall this be neglected O Messenger of Allah?’
He the replied: “When a matter (affair) is given over, not to its rightful (legitimate) person, then wait for its time (of destruction).”
(Hadith reported by Bukhary)
Laa-haw-la-wa-laa quw-wata il-la bil-laah.
May Allah give us guidance (Hidaaya) and grant us success (Taufiq) in our Deen.
WaAllaahu a’lam
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