كنوز العلم

Forwarded from al-Qawl as-Sadeed

Your Level of Knowledge Might Necessitate That You Follow a Madhab – Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān

Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān حفظه الله was asked: “What is the ruling of adhering and ascribing to a madhab such as the Hanbali, Shāfi’i, or Māliki schools, and is there anything blameworthy therein?”

The Shaykh حفظه الله replied:

“The details regarding this are of three types, the first of which is concerning an individual whose level of knowledge meets the conditions that qualify them for ijtihād. It is impermissible for such a person to follow a madhab, but rather they must look to the Qur’an and Sunnah and take what appears to them as correct. This is only for the major Imāms, the erudite scholars like Abu Hanifa, Imām Mālik, Imam ash-Shāfi’e, and Imām Ahmed, and others who have reached the level of ijtihād. It is impermissible for them to blind-follow because they have no need to do so, and because they’ve been commanded to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah. They are capable of that, and this ability is what permits them to perform ijtihād.

The second type is the firmly grounded student of knowledge who has yet to reach the level of ijtihād. For them, there is no problem in adhering to any one of the four schools of jurisprudence, however they must take what is most probable according to the evidence as presented by the scholars in their statements, regardless of whether or not the correct position came from the Imām of their madhab or from someone else.

The third type is the general beginner, who must follow a madhab and ask the people of knowledge. Allah the Exalted says in Surah an-Nahl:

فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. [Surah an-Nahl, Ayah 43]

So, they ask the scholars who are trusted in their knowledge and religiosity, and they take from their rulings. For this one, it’s a must that they follow, for if they don’t follow they’ll be destroyed.

Thus, the people are upon these three levels:

1. The Mujtahid al-Mutlaq (The absolute mujtahid): It is impermissible for them to follow a madhab

2. The Mujtahid of a Madhab: It is permissible for them to follow, however they must follow based upon evidence, giving preference to that over the saying of any Imām.

3. The one with no qualifications for ijitihād within a madhab or outside of a madhab. It is a must for such a person to follow the people of knowledge like the four Imāms, and to question the trustworthy scholars and take from their verdicts.”

Source: al-Ijābāt al-Muhimmah p. 254-255, Maktabah al-Rushd

al-Qawl as-Sadeed

Your Level of Knowledge Might Necessitate That You Follow a Madhab – Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān

Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān حفظه الله was asked: “What is the ruling of adhering and ascribing to a madhab such as the Hanbali, Shāfi’i, or Māliki schools, and is there anything blameworthy …

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1.8K viewsJan 24 at 14:27

Your Level of Knowledge Might Necessitate That You Follow a Madhab – Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān

Shaykh Sālih al-Fawzān حفظه الله was asked: “What is the ruling of adhering and ascribing to a madhab such as the Hanbali, Shāfi’i, or Māliki schools, and is there anything blameworthy therein?”

The Shaykh حفظه الله replied:

“The details regarding this are of three types, the first of which is concerning an individual whose level of knowledge meets the conditions that qualify them for ijtihād. It is impermissible for such a person to follow a madhab, but rather they must look to the Qur’an and Sunnah and take what appears to them as correct. This is only for the major Imāms, the erudite scholars like Abu Hanifa, Imām Mālik, Imam ash-Shāfi’e, and Imām Ahmed, and others who have reached the level of ijtihād. It is impermissible for them to blind-follow because they have no need to do so, and because they’ve been commanded to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah. They are capable of that, and this ability is what permits them to perform ijtihād.

The second type is the firmly grounded student of knowledge who has yet to reach the level of ijtihād. For them, there is no problem in adhering to any one of the four schools of jurisprudence, however they must take what is most probable according to the evidence as presented by the scholars in their statements, regardless of whether or not the correct position came from the Imām of their madhab or from someone else.

The third type is the general beginner, who must follow a madhab and ask the people of knowledge. Allah the Exalted says in Surah an-Nahl:

فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. [Surah an-Nahl, Ayah 43]

So, they ask the scholars who are trusted in their knowledge and religiosity, and they take from their rulings. For this one, it’s a must that they follow, for if they don’t follow they’ll be destroyed.

Thus, the people are upon these three levels:

1. The Mujtahid al-Mutlaq (The absolute mujtahid): It is impermissible for them to follow a madhab

2. The Mujtahid of a Madhab: It is permissible for them to follow, however they must follow based upon evidence, giving preference to that over the saying of any Imām.

3. The one with no qualifications for ijitihād within a madhab or outside of a madhab. It is a must for such a person to follow the people of knowledge like the four Imāms, and to question the trustworthy scholars and take from their verdicts.”

Source: al-Ijābāt al-Muhimmah p. 254-255, Maktabah al-Rushd

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