On Madhabs
I had the privilege of meeting the wife of a prominent Shaikh recently (she herself is quite learned as well) who shocked me by saying that I was not a “Sunni” Muslim because I did not follow a madhab. I had simply never heard this distinction before. I thought to myself, “What am I, Shi’a?” I do not believe Ahl-us-Sunnah were characterized by following a madhab (and by the way, she gave me 2 choices when it came to ‘aqeedah). It might be a mistake not to follow one, but I do not see the basis for expelling someone from the fold of Sunni Islam over it.
Regardless, that coupled with my general quest to re-learn everything in light of what I was learning led me to reconsider the issue of madhabs. Salafis are not necessarily opposed to having madhabs, but do generally oppose the “blind” following mentality which seems to divide the Ummah into strict compartments. At the same time they do not deem it necessary to follow one.
It is clear that the layperson is not bound to follow one, and can follow any person who is a mufti. However, it is often considered better for the sake of cohesion (and some say to control the nafs) to go with one school so there is no doubt about picking and choosing in the Deen. Now the first thing is often it is hard for us to come into contact with scholars, let alone a mufti for consistent guidance. In older times, you could just go to the masjid and learn all the basics you needed. Now with knowledge on the decline it is harder to make sure you are following “followable” opinions etc. Also the question of the net opens up a venue - you could find a mufti you trusted from a distance. So still the question of scholarship is a bit fragmentary in this day I believe. That is another benefit of a madhab.
In light of the 3 levels of knowledge, and knowing that I am a layperson, I felt that I ought to follow one. Not just that I could or that it would be beneficial or just arbitrary, but philosophically, the schools of thought have approaches to deriving Islam. If I as a layperson follow one opinion here or a scholar who follows another one there, although the conclusions may in fact be correct, it is inconsistent from a methodological point of view to do this.
However, the challenge comes up because I have already learned all my basic fiqh (the hard way). Am I to abandon all that, start with a madhab and follow some opinions which I am sure will be less authentic or less in terms of goodness for myself? I am still struggling with this question…
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April 24th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Salam
This is an issue I struggled with aswel. I grew up picking up a variety of things but was never sure of what I was doing. My mum came from a Hanafi background and my dad was Salafi orientated…ie Totally against following a Madhab, a view which I always supported, even though I knew nothing about legal rulings. We were a non-practising family though, so there were no real issues (which is funny, because if we were practising, we might have made it an issue). Anyway then I began to practise during my uni years and became confused about what to do, I would come across things daily that I had no answers to, I didn’t know who to ask and from what fiqhi angle I would get my answer…Eventually, after a lot of reading about Madhaahib’s I came to the conclusion that it was better, safer and easier to follow one school. Back in the day your whole area, community, village or even country would follow one Madhaahib, usually anyway and so as many problems didn’t exist as such. Now though in our multicultural and multi-Mathaahib communities we are faced with the problem of meeting people following different Mathaahib, meaning different opinions, and even different opinions within the Mathaahib…most people are struggling to accept or ‘tolerate’ this and think begin to see others as wrong. No doubt this has existed in the past also – but less. It confuses people and also leads to people arguing…These people are usually lay people by the way - seriously lay! And so the ignorant arguing amongst themselves is only leads to more ignorance..
This can put people off Mathaahibs, leading to people asking to follow just one Fiqh…impossible to do due to various interpretations, various rules of extracting ruling and also due to the diversity that exists amongst human thought. Siblings brought up in one home, with the same parents, attention, food, clothing etc grow up to be individuals with different views, different outlook with differing approaches to life. You right in what you say though. Due to this, blind adherence, rigidity in thought, not understanding scholarly differences, lack of acceptance of variation are all problems we face today
I think following a school consolidates your ‘ilm, especially for the layperson. It means you can learn what you need to and then move forward, it also means you follow a legacy of scholars who have worked on deriving rulings over centuries, each working to solve the problems of their time, all keeping in mind the work and principles of the scholars of the past. This again keeps one within a framework of understanding. It is true that it is very difficult to find someone to sit with regularly to learn and instead one learns in dribs and drabs from different people. But like you mentioned, if one can study in a fixed manner it keeps a consistency in one’s methodology and approach, prevents one from following the ‘easier’ option – Often without realising that they are in fact following their nafs. There is truth and validity to both sides – Salafi and Mathabi. In reality though we all end up following scholars and their interpretations. None of us do our own ijtihaad. The Salafi brothers will learn from their teachers who also follow a legacy of scholarship and take particular scholars interpretations.
Things should be kept simple for the layperson, not everyone is to become an ‘Aalim. This becomes even more difficult today as we constantly hear conflicting veiws from everywhere and everyone we discuss this with. I feel if one is serious, just wants to learn the basics and practise then Mathaahibs offer that. It makes life easier. One can then get on with life and fulfilling their religious duties. I know I haven’t answered your question in clarity and I’m rambling, but I hope it will help a little. We shouldn’t totally restrict ourselves or narrow our thinking capacity by blindly following anything as though it’s the absolute truth but learning from a certain methodology will help. Its also important for our scholars to realise the challenges of the modern world and help provide people like yourselves with a balanced solution. You don’t have to reject what you’ve learned in the past. Much of what you may learn in the future will concur with your knowledge of the past, it’s usually the finer details which are differed upon (although not always). The other advantage is that your knowledge base will become more varied and so you wont be totally oblivious to the practise of others and so you wont be abandoning what you’ve previously learnt. It will actually work as a plus. Your understanding will inshaAllah be more balanced, especially towards others.
Unfortunately we live in an age where we all like to comment on things and think we know or understand. Therefore we hear conflicting views from everywhere. By the way I’m probably doing the same now by writing this ;-)
Of course people will disagree with what I say, but I totally understand where you coming from. Thats why I wanted to share some thoughts…as a layperson. Something I always tell myself is that the fact that the greatest ‘ulema of this Ummah worked within frameworks of their Mathaahibs. This is enough proof for their validity and indeed in following them. There are many other proofs supporting this from a purely ‘fiqhi’ or legal point of view but for the layperson, sticking to what scholars of the past stuck to, provides some re-assurance and a sense of safety. This should not be something which divides us but instead unites us.
Nice Blog.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Walaikum assalaam wa rahmatullaah,
Jazaakallaahu khayran for your post, I was very interested in seeing what you had to say even though I don’t know you just because a lot of people are dealing with this issue so may it help others as well.
I prayed istekhaarah over this and I am definitely leaning towards following one, but I can’t say it has solidified completely in my heart yet. May Allah grant me, you, and the Ummah the best guidance on this and all our affairs.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I’m not sure if this is true, but most Salafi ‘Ulema follow the Hanbali madhab.
July 18th, 2007 at 9:59 am
this issue has been debated a lot quite recently. some scholars advise that it is better for a lay-person to follow one. and i guess, it would make some sense because it provides structure to one’s way of worshipping until one can make ijtihad or choose opinions from different madhahib. there are for & against arguments. allahu alaam - maybe this will shed some light - http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/madhhab.htm