Why You Must Follow a School of Fiqh

Summary

This transcript discusses differing views on what is considered Haram (forbidden) in Islam, such as pictures, music, and smoking. It emphasizes the importance of following true scholars' legal rulings even without understanding the evidence, comparing it to trusting a doctor's prescription. The speaker argues that only a few Muslims need to be experts in religious law to guide others and that following the four traditional Sunni schools is essential for maintaining the faith. The transcript cites Hadiths and scholarly consensus to support this view, underscoring the preservation of these four schools over centuries.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Different opinions exist on whether certain actions, like pictures, music, and smoking, are haram (forbidden) or not.
• 🤔 It's important to use one's own intellect and reasoning when interpreting religious teachings.
• 📚 Following the legal rulings of true scholars is considered obligatory without a doubt.
• 🕊️ The Hadith about the man who died due to incorrect advice highlights the importance of seeking knowledgeable guidance.
• 📖 Providing fatwas (legal rulings) without mentioning the Prophet's teachings directly shows trust in scholarly interpretation.
• 🔬 Trusting scholars in religious matters is likened to trusting doctors in medical matters.
• ❗ The prohibition against blind following pertains to matters of belief, not actions.
• 🎓 Not everyone needs to be an expert in religion; a group of knowledgeable individuals can guide others.
• 📊 The majority of Muslims follow the four major Sunni schools of thought.
• 🌍 The preservation of the four schools of thought over centuries is seen as evidence of their correctness.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the provided script?

The main theme of the script is the importance of following the rulings and guidance of established scholars in Islam, even without understanding the evidence behind their decisions.

What does the speaker say about using personal judgment in religious matters?

The speaker argues that while Allah has given individuals brains to use and make decisions, it is still obligatory to follow the rulings of true scholars, even without knowing the evidence, as scholars are more knowledgeable.

What incident is recounted involving a man struck with a stone?

The script recounts an incident where a man, struck with a stone, had a head injury and later had a wet dream. His companions advised him to use water despite his injury, leading to his death. The Prophet Muhammad criticized the companions for not seeking proper knowledge.

What is the significance of the Hadith mentioned in the script?

The Hadith emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and proper guidance when unsure, as acting without knowledge can lead to harmful consequences.

How does the speaker address concerns about 'blind following'?

The speaker compares following scholars to trusting a doctor's prescription. Just as people trust doctors' knowledge without fully understanding medical details, Muslims should trust scholars' religious knowledge.

What distinction does the speaker make between matters of belief and matters of action?

The speaker explains that blind following is prohibited in matters of belief (aqeedah) but is permissible in matters of action (fiqh), where individuals rely on scholars' expertise.

Why does the speaker argue that not everyone needs to be an expert in religion?

The speaker states that while basic knowledge of religion is obligatory for all Muslims, only a group of Muslims needs to be knowledgeable enough to derive conclusions and guide others.

What evidence does the speaker provide to support following the four schools of thought?

The speaker cites Hadiths where the Prophet Muhammad praises the early generations and commands to follow them, noting that the four imams of the schools were part of these generations. The speaker also references historical consensus on the validity of these schools.

What does the speaker say about the preservation of the four schools?

The speaker claims that the fact that only the four schools have survived and thrived over centuries is evidence that Allah has preserved them, indicating their truth.

How does the speaker conclude the message?

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the clarity of the argument for following the four schools and reminds the audience to seek protection in Allah, signaling there is always more to learn.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Questioning Religious Interpretations

The speaker expresses confusion over certain religious rulings, such as the prohibition of pictures and music and the status of smoking as Makruh. They emphasize the use of personal reasoning in practicing religion and criticize the blind following of scholars without understanding the evidence. The speaker narrates a hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) criticized companions for not asking when they were ignorant, stressing the importance of inquiry over blind adherence. The speaker compares following religious scholars to trusting doctors, emphasizing the necessity of following expert guidance even without full understanding of the evidence.

05:01

🕌 Trust in Established Schools of Thought

The speaker argues for the legitimacy of following one of the four established Islamic schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) based on historical and religious evidence. They cite hadiths emphasizing the importance of following the Prophet's companions and the first three generations of Muslims. The speaker mentions a report from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center indicating that 81% of Muslims follow these four schools, which they argue supports the notion of consensus and divine preservation of these schools. They conclude that truth in Islamic jurisprudence is contained within these four schools, emphasizing the long-standing consensus among scholars.

Keywords

💡Haram

Haram is an Arabic term that means 'forbidden' or 'prohibited' in Islamic law. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of pictures and music, implying that these actions are considered religiously impermissible by some scholars. The term is crucial to the video's theme of understanding and questioning religious teachings.

💡Mak

Mak, short for Makruh, refers to actions that are discouraged or disliked in Islam but not sinful if performed. The script mentions smoking as Mak, suggesting it's not strictly Haram but not recommended. This distinction helps illustrate the nuances in Islamic legal rulings discussed in the video.

💡Scholars

Scholars in the script refer to Islamic scholars who interpret religious texts and provide legal rulings (fatwas). The video discusses whether followers must adhere to scholars' interpretations and rulings, highlighting the trust placed in scholars similar to trusting a doctor's expertise.

💡Hadith

Hadith are recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, which provide guidance for Muslims. The script includes a Hadith about a man who died because his companions did not seek knowledge, emphasizing the importance of inquiry and informed decision-making in Islam.

💡Fatwa

A Fatwa is a legal opinion or ruling given by an Islamic scholar on issues pertaining to Islamic law. The script references fatwas to discuss how scholars provide guidance without always detailing evidence, akin to how medical professionals offer advice without patients fully understanding the science.

💡Blind following

Blind following refers to accepting beliefs or practices without questioning or understanding the reasoning behind them. In the script, this concept is compared to trusting professionals like doctors, highlighting the debate over whether Muslims should independently verify religious teachings or rely on scholars.

💡Four Schools

The Four Schools refer to the major Sunni Islamic schools of jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali. The script emphasizes that following these schools' teachings is crucial and widely accepted, illustrating the consensus among Sunni Muslims over centuries.

💡Consensus

Consensus, or Ijma in Islamic terms, refers to the collective agreement of Islamic scholars on religious matters. The script uses this concept to support the authority of the Four Schools, suggesting that the collective agreement of scholars over time reinforces the validity of their teachings.

💡Sect

In the script, a sect refers to a group within Islam that follows specific beliefs or practices. The video mentions a Hadith about 73 sects, with only one being rightly guided, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the path of the Prophet and his companions, as represented by the Four Schools.

💡Majority

The term majority in the script highlights the widespread adherence to traditional Sunni Islam, represented by the Four Schools. It emphasizes that the majority of Muslims follow these schools, underscoring their importance and legitimacy within the Muslim community.

Highlights

Discussion on the prohibition of pictures, music, and smoking in Islam, and the differing views on these subjects.

The speaker's personal stance on using one's own judgment and intellect in religious matters despite traditional teachings.

The obligatory nature of following legal rulings of true scholars without needing to know the evidence behind them.

Reference to a Hadith where a man died due to using water on an injury after being incorrectly advised by his companions, highlighting the importance of seeking knowledgeable guidance.

Comparison of following religious scholars to trusting a doctor without understanding all the medical details.

Explanation that blind following is prohibited in matters of belief (Aqeedah) but not in practical actions (Fiqh).

Clarification that not all Muslims need to be experts in religion, but a group must be knowledgeable enough to guide others.

Historical context about the four major Sunni schools of thought and their significance.

The Prophet's (S.A.W) advice to follow the Companions and their followers, which includes the founders of the four schools.

The Hadith about the Muslim Ummah splitting into 73 sects, with only one sect being on the right path.

Statistic from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center showing that 81% of Muslims follow the traditional Sunni schools.

Argument that the preservation of the four Sunni schools over centuries is evidence of their correctness.

Consensus reached centuries ago on the validity and truth within the four Sunni schools of thought.

The importance of continuous learning and seeking protection from Allah.

Emphasis on the collective agreement (Ijma) among the Muslim Ummah on following the four schools.

Transcripts

sh a said pictures are Haram she B said

music is Haram she C said smoking is Mak

not Haram these don't make sense to me

so I won't follow them Allah gave me a

brain to use and make decisions with I

and many imbeciles like me practice our

religion in this manner whilst the

evidence that instructs us to do quite

the opposite lays in the same books that

we claim to be researching in do we have

to follow the scholars I honestly don't

know how I or anyone else is or was

living in any other way following the

legal rulings of true Scholars even

without knowing the evidence is

obligatory without a

doubt

[Music]

says that's one the next piece of

evidence pertains to the Hadith

of when he said we were out on a trip

and a man from amongst us was struck

with a stone and it caused a cut in his

head one night this man had a wet dream

and he asked his companions if they

thought he could be excused to do tum as

to avoid using water with his injury

they refused and said you're capable of

using water so he did use water and he

died as a result the Beloved prophet of

Allah s. wasam was informed of this and

he said they killed him may Allah kill

them why did they not ask when they did

not know indeed the cure for ignorance

is inquiry then we have the narration of

Al Imam

he recorded a narration in his in

which told I was

with when he was being asked questions

and he did not mention the

prophet said in that him not mentioning

the prophet Sall Alam means he would

provide the fatwa without providing the

evidence from the Sunnah this was

clarified by the narration of

and when he said they were asking for

legal rulings IE fet was and he was

giving them legal rulings and he did not

mention the prophet s. wasam in what he

was giving them a fatwa in you may say

but doesn't that mean I'm blindly

following it's as much blindly following

here as it is in trusting your doctor

and it's not blind if God forbid you

have pneumonia which is an infection

your doctor might prescribe augmentine

to you and you may ask what's augmentine

and he might reply an antibiotic itic

you don't really know what an antibiotic

is or why it's used to treat infections

but you trust your doctor and you do

what he says anyways it's the same here

you don't know the evidence but you

trust the scholars and you do what they

say oh and by the way the verses in

which blind following is prohibited

pertains to matters of belief also known

as whereas pertains to matters of action

perhaps you've adopted this notion that

we should all be experts of our religion

absolutely not no doubt there is is

knowledge that you are obligated to know

such as knowing who Allah is and how to

pray and how to fast Etc but only a

group of Muslims must be capable of

arriving to those conclusions and

guiding others to

them says

[Music]

you know you may know a lot about

nutrition and muscle growth but you

would never claim to be a doctor or

prescribe medication to yourself or

others based on this knowledge you've

acquired now can you exit the fold of

these four schools although you would

have no other option but to follow some

random individuals I will provide you

with the evidence to show you that

following scholarly guidance is limited

to these four schools the prophet

sallallah alai wasallam said the best

people are those of my generation and

then those who will come after them I.E

the Next Generation and then those who

will come after them I.E the generation

after that the four imams are all from

the people of these three generations

with Imam Ahmed being the last one dying

in the year

241 H it doesn't stop there though the

prophet sallallah alai wasam said I

order you to stick to my companions then

those who come after them and then those

who come after them and so the four

imams are from Those whom the prophet

sallallah alaihi wasallam ordered us to

stick to the prophet sallallahu alaihi

wasallam said my nation will split into

73 sects all of them are in Hell except

one and be careful this means all 72

sects will enter hell but some will be

tortured and removed and some will be

tortured there eternally he sallallah

alai wasallam was asked and which is the

sect that will not enter hell he Sall

alai wasallam answered what my

companions and I are on IE their way the

four imams are the students of the

students of the amongst the companions

such

as I'll do you one better the masses of

the Muslim um have agreed upon them for

over a thousand years and he sallallah

alai wasallam said my nation will not

unite on misguidance and he sallallah Al

wasam also said my nation will be

divided into 73 sects all of them will

enter hell fire except the great

majority I don't think anyone denies

that the great majority of Muslims

are but just in case the Royal Islamic

strategic studies Center which is a

research center based in Amman Jordan

published a report called 500 Muslims in

collaboration with Georgetown University

in it they gave an overview of Muslims

in the world and the percentage of the

groups to which they belong to they

found that approximately 81% were

traditional Sunni Muslims I.E followers

of the four schools of I mean that

sounds like the great majority to me and

you know the fact that the other M don't

exist anymore is in of itself evidence

Allah subhanahu wa taala has preserved

these four he

said more than eight centuries ago

consensus was reached on the fact that

the truth is contained within these four

schools

who was a student of said in his book

called whilst quoting Al's book he said

that the consensus was reached on the of

these four schools and that the truth

does not go outside of them i e it

cannot be found outside of these four

schools ladies and gentlemen my brothers

and sisters can it be any more clear

don't forget there's always more to know

so

say and as usual in the protection of

Allah take care

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]