Hanafi vs. Ahl Al-Hadith - Alan Border

[Dr. Shabbir]

"Sectarianism is being called "Schools of Thougt!"

2:9 They wish to deceive God and those who have attained belief. But they deceive none save themselves and realize it not!
[Since reason is a faculty that has to be exercised and they have forsaken it, they are little aware of what opportunity of personal development they are missing. They live in a state of preconceived denial]
-SA
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Hanafi vs. Ahl Al-Hadith

http://ourdialogue.com/answers/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=3155

Question
A fatwa was issued without any quotation from the Qur'an or the Hadith that the prayer of any Hanafi person behind an imam who belongs to Ahl Al-Hadith is null and void. Please comment.

Answer

This is a very serious question, because when we say that a prayer behind a certain imam is not valid, we are actually saying that this imam is not a Muslim. If we consider him a Muslim, then praying behind him is valid. When Muslims go into a mosque, they simply join the congregational prayer. They do not ask which school of thought the imam follows, or what particular view he adopts. Such matters are irrelevant.

This means that whoever issued this fatwa considers all people who are called Ahl Al-Hadith to be non-Muslims. It is important, then, to know who Ahl Al-Hadith are and how acceptable their stand is. In plain language, the term Ahl Al-Hadith means "the people of Hadith, or who follow Hadith", and "Hadith" is anything the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, did or approved.

This means that by definition every Muslim belongs to the people of Hadith. When a person makes the essential declaration of Islam, i.e. the kalimah, stating his belief in God's oneness and in Prophet Muhammad's message, he accepts everything the Prophet, peace be upon him, said or did or approved as valid and applicable to him. Needless to say, all schools of thought can be called Ahl Al-Hadith in this wider sense.

Indeed, the imams of all four schools have stated that they abide by the Hadith without hesitation. However, the term is used in certain communities to refer to a particular group of people who refer to the Hadith directly, not through the schools of thought. Their scholars take from all schools of thought, and may even adopt a view that none of these schools approves, preferring to refer to the Hadith directly adopting a ruling on its basis.

The danger in this approach is two fold: 1) it opens the way for people who are not qualified to issue a fatwa or ruling based on a Hadith, without a thorough study to learn how it should be applied; and 2) people may issue a ruling on the basis of a particular Hadith without relating it to other statements by the Prophet, peace be upon him, or indeed to Qur'anic statements. In recent years there has been some hardening of attitude, with people who call themselves Ahl Al-Hadith showing disrespect of schools of thought and their followers. This was countered by denunciation of those who reject the four schools in preference for Hadith. It is such hardening of attitudes and the exchange of insults and derogatory terms that led to this type of division. We can certainly do without any division of this sort. Islam is broad-minded, and accommodates all people within the framework of its teachings, based on ease and serving people's best interests.

What is needed is an accommodating approach. People should always respect the other point of view. What we should remember is that we all seek God's pleasure and hope to earn reward from Him. Our ways may be different, but if we all agree that we follow the guidance provided by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, through eminent scholars, then there is no difference between us. As for this fatwa, it represents the extreme opposite of what I have just said. It takes a very rigid attitude and cannot be supported by any evidence. In fact, it betrays complete ignorance of Hadith, its role and status, as well as ignorance of the schools of thought and what they represent. It must be discounted altogether.

The Four Imams (Schools of Thought)

http://ourdialogue.com/answers/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=1569

In chronological order are:

— Imam Malik ibn Anas lived in Madinah most of his life. His grandfather was a companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

— Imam Abu Hanifah was called Al-Nauman ibn Thabit. He was of Persian origin, but lived in Iraq.

— Imam El-Shaf'ie was born in Gaza and traveled when still a young boy to Madinah where he studied under Imam Malik. He also traveled to Iraq where he met the leading scholars of the Hanafi school of thought such as Imam Abu Yousuf. He then traveled to Egypt where he spent the last five years of his life.

— The Hanbali school of thought was founded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who lived mostly in Baghdad. He was a close friend of Imam El Shaf'ie. Both learned from each other, although Imam Ahmad, the younger scholar, was keen to maintain this close relationship which lasted until El-Shaf'ie left Baghdad for Egypt.

AB

[abshoeb]

Salam


30:31 Turn unto Him alone then, and be mindful of Him, and establish the Divine System and be not of the MUSHRIKEEN who ascribe authorities along with Him. (2:213).

30:32 The MUSHRIKEEN that split up their religion becoming sects - each sect delighting in whatever beliefs they have. (3:104, 6:160, 23:53, 42:13. Sectarianism is invariably based upon taking humans as ‘authorities’).


6:159 (There is only one Straight Path.) O Messenger! Those who break the unity of their DEEN and become sects, you have nothing to do with them whatsoever. Behold, their case will go to Allah and He will tell them what they had been doing.

These Hanafees and Ahlehadis do not understand The correct course of life is that one should leave aside all misleading ways and fully concentrate on the Divine Order, which is the very exigency of Allah’s Law of Creation and according to which He has created man. This Divine Law of Creation is unchangeable. (Likewise, the way of living which has been given to the mankind through Wahi is unalterable.) This unalterable way of living is the pivot for keeping correct balance and order among human beings; but most people have no knowledge about this reality.

What is this system? This is that system in which, throughout your life, every step you take should lead you towards the destination prescribed for you by the Almighty. And you should remain fully conscious of His Laws. To achieve this, establish the Divine System (Aqimussalata)(wherein everyone follows His Laws according to one’s own free will). In this obedience and following, do not include anyone else’s laws or decisions. This will create uniformity of thought and action amongst yourselves and, as such, all humanity will become one Ummah; thereby overcoming all the differences (2:213). This is the very objective of Deen.

Accordingly, after becoming the upholders of the principle of Tauheed, you should remain extremely careful not to indulge in 'shirk'. You should not be amongst those who break the unity of their Deen and who instead of remaining one entity, get split into various sects. After people split into sects, every group thinks it is on the path of truth and is therefore content with its own way. Remember getting split into sects or factions amounts to shirk. Never fall prey to it. This is what they Hanafees and Ahlehadhees ) doing.

Ali Bin Ali Alharbi (Al Madina)