they were ‘The
Ahl-e-Sunnah-Wa-Al-Jamma’at’
We as Muslims know that Islam at its
core teaches us everything starting from our beliefs to our practical ways of
dealing with every situation presented in life; whether personal or official,
direct or indirect, and/or specific or general. The Question that arises is
that what are the sources that provide us with these Islamic fundamentals?
Islam has clearly ascertained this for
us by determining in the order of priority that the Qur’an being the first and
foremost source of Islamic Law presenting its clear cut Rationale, Commands and
Injunctions (anything that conflicts with the Commands thereby is to be
considered thus invalidated). Thereafter the second primary source of Islamic
Law is the Prophet (Salalahu
Alayhi Wassalam); his (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) direct and definite Hadith and
Sunnah i.e. the practices and ways of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) himself; subsequently, including those actions which have been approved and endorsed by him (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam);
next in the order of priority are those actions which were performed by the
Sahabah and the Prophet remained silent concerning them which is thus taken as
his (Salalahu Alayhi
Wassalam) approval.
Holy Qur’an;
Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 59: “O you who believe, obey Allāh, and obey the
Messenger
, and those entrusted with authority amongst you. Then if
there arises any dispute about anything, refer the dispute to Allāh and the
Messenger
, if you truly believe in Allāh and the Last Day. That would
be the best way and most suitable for final determination.”
The teachings of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam)
were immaculately adopted and implemented by his (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) Companions (i.e. Sahabah
Radhi Allāh Unho) which include the Aal-e-Rasul (the family of
the Prophet Salalahu Alayhi
Wassalam; his Salalahu
Alayhi Wassalam wives – the Ummahaat Radhi Allāh
Unho, his Salalahu
Alayhi Wassalam children and his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam nephew/son-in-Law Ali
Radhi Allāh Unho and his Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam grand children Hassan Radhi Allāh Unho and Hussain Radhi Allāh
Unho). After the beloved family of the Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam),
the Companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) of Badr outweigh in authority of any other
Companion (Radhi Allāh Unho), thereafter the
Companions (Radhi Allāh Unho) at large
outweigh the authority of any Taba’ee (Companion Rehmat ullah alayh of the Sahabah Radhi Allāh Unho); subsequently, the authority of the Taba’een
(Rehmat ullah alayh)
outweigh that of their companions (i.e. the Taba Taba’een Rehmat ullah alayh).
These were the three blessed generations which have established the
fundamentals of Islam through practical implementation and consequently set the
perfect example for us to follow.
Hadith:- "The
best people are my generation, then the people who come after them, then the
people who come after them" (al-Bukhaari, and
Muslim).
This is
our gauge, our parameter or rather measuring tool. If we find today that anyone
claiming to be a Muslim Authority/Eurodite/Scholar/Imam/Peer/Spiritual-Saint/Wali-Allāh/Sheikh etc, teaching us anything
whatsoever that is contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and verified Sunnah
must be rejected as a whole! The reason being that the method of spreading
corruption, lies or any kind of altered notions or misgivings is by telling
nine truths and one lie. Thus if anyone is teaching you one lie amidst nine
verified truths, acquit yourself of the person and his teachings in its
entirety and look towards a teacher or guide who would enable you as an
individual to be empowered by Islam authentically from within and without a
perpetual dependence on the teacher himself.
The Prophet (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam)
empowered every Muslim to have his own individual, internal and most personal
connection with Allāh. He (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam)
taught us the exact etiquettes, articulate method and accurate attitude of
reading and understanding the Qur’an, he (Salalahu Alayhi Wassalam) clearly explained
through word and action each and every precise detail of Allāh’s Commands.
The Mufti and the Fuqahah have
dedicated their lives to compile the practical aspect of these Commands and how
they are to be implemented in our lives and the sole purpose of these various
Fiqhs is to provide the common Muslim with these simplified rulings and clear
definitions of the implementation of the practical elements of Islam in our
daily lives; as a means of ease and convenience, conversely not to cause
conflicts, disputes and eventual bloodshed. One chooses from amongst a clearly
established Fiqh and for the sake of convenience regarding the implementation
of Islam in ones daily life or for all practical purposes looks towards it for the
injunctions and procedures defined thereby. Just like the Court of Law and the judicial
system including the lawyers are there in every society; who have thereby mastered
the knowledge of the concerning Laws, and as a layman we are henceforth
dependant on them for guidance. Likewise the Fuqaha and the Mufti are masters
of the Islamic Laws; jurisprudence and implementation of the practical elements
of Islam in our daily lives. However, for our beliefs and fundamentals
concerning our rationale the Qur’an and Sunnah are enough.
I believe it is the dire need of our
Ummah to finally reunite. It is time we resolved our differences by recognizing
what is evidently true and letting go of all that is not validated and/or lacks
validity. Recognizing the facts for what they are and letting go of all historical
hearsay, is perhaps the only way forward and the only way to ensure
religious-political harmony. We need to return to the teachings, ways and
mannerisms of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam)
which were followed by His (SalAllāhu alayhi wassalam) Beloved Family and
His (SalAllāhu
alayhi wassalam) Beloved Companions alike. Essentially we need to make
our utmost individual efforts to revive, the mutual love that was shared
amongst them all and renew the beautiful harmony, peace, affection and mutual
concerns they imbibed in the community they evolved and established as an
example for Muslims of all times to come.
We need to ask ourselves who defines
our Rationale for us, individually; society or the television or family or
culture or media or the west or ourselves or some saints or clairvoyants or
teachers etc? We need to redefine our thoughts and our basic Rationale in
accordance to the Qur’an and Sunnah and that seems to be the only way forward!
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