Islamic Differences of Opinion- Blessing and a Curse

[Brother Man]

Ikhtilaf (differences) among muslims is a fact of life. It has and always will be around since the Four School's Of Islamic Jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'ci, Hanbali) all had Ikhtilaf between them. The Ikhtilaf was always based on jurisprudence and never on matters of belief (all four agreed on matters of belief and any alternative views on matters of belief is to renounce Islam). The great scholars of Islam agree that all four great imams had sound daleel for their rulings and none of their daleel can be discounted. The main difference was in the interpretation of this daleel. All four of them were rightly guided and it is also unanimously agreed upon that following any of the four Madhab's (Schools of Thought) is permissible in Islam. Ibn Taymiyya (Raxiimahullah) said in Mukhtasar Al-fatawa Al-Misriya "The consensus of the Imams [of fiqh] on a question is a definitive proof, and their divergence of opinion is a vast mercy... If one does not follow any of the four Imams [of fiqh]... then he is completely in error, for the truth is not found outside of these four in the whole shari`a."

In this forum, I've seen Muslims with differences in opinion who attack other Muslims and even go so far as to label them just because they don't agree with a particular ruling that they follow. There is a hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that states "Difference of opinion within my Ummah is a blessing". While this Hadith is considered da'eef (weak in authenticity of chain of narration), the same comment was made by Imam Abu Hanifa in Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar. It can be considered a blessing because it allows us some leeway and options which are both correct in their own right. An example of this is how Imam Malik (Raxiimahullah) believed if your nose bleeds, it isn't required to renew your wudu. Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (Raxiimahullah) believed you must redo your wudu if you have a nose bleed. When Imam Ahmad was asked if it is permissible to pray behind an imam that does not renew his wudu after having a nose bleed, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, "How can I refuse to pray behind somebody like Imam Malik? I have daleel (evidence), he has daleel; I have solid daleel, he has solid daleel." We need to learn from this example of tolerance especially with other Muslims and understand that our opinion is what makes the most sense to us based on our own Ijtihad and following that of another authentic scholar of Islam. That doesn't necessarily mean that another individuals own opinion based on their own Ikhtilaf and following that of a different authentic scholar of Islam is wrong. Ikhtilaf can be a curse depending on the manner in which we act. In aggressively condemning the views of another Muslim in matters of Fiqh, one risks achieving hellfire by their conduct while attempting to earn paradise. Shaykh Tariq Suwaidan said in a lecture I listened to that the student of knowledge should have the motto "I believe I am right, and you are wrong. However, you COULD be right, and I COULD be wrong." Let us all debate and discuss as brothers in Islam without all the unnecessary jargon and rhetoric which pollutes the essence of the Islamic debate.

[Atomic]

sxb, unfortunately that's how somali's debate, lots of unsubstantiated insults and no sources even when discussing islam.

[Brother Man]

"And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: "This is lawful and this is forbidden," so as to invent lies against Allaah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allaah will never prosper." (al-Nahl 16:116)

"Whoever was given a fatwaa with no proof, his sin will go back on the one who gave him the fatwaa." (Saheeh; narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 2/321)

[Brother Man]

UP