Why do we believe?Why do we believe?Other Beliefs Other Beliefs

Types of DisbeliefsTypes of DisbeliefsWhy different mazhabs?Why different mazhabs?

NeedleNeedle

If someone finds a needle in a street, he will If someone finds a needle in a street, he will think that this needle must have its think that this needle must have its

manufacturer and craftsmanmanufacturer and craftsman

a lettera lettera table a table a paintinga painting

a writera writer

a carpenter a carpenter

an artist an artist

Require existence of their makerRequire existence of their maker

Every company must have its boss.Every company must have its boss.

Every village must have its headman (leader).Every village must have its headman (leader).

Every city small or big has its mayor.Every city small or big has its mayor.

Every country must have its Every country must have its president / king.president / king.

How, then, can it be that so extremely How, then, can it be that so extremely well-ordered a kingdom should have no well-ordered a kingdom should have no

Ruler?Ruler?

HUMAN and JINNSHUMAN and JINNS

MU’MINMU’MINBELIEVERBELIEVER

KAFIRKAFIRDISBELIVERDISBELIVER

MUNAFIQMUNAFIQHYPOCRITEHYPOCRITE

EHLI FETRETEHLI FETRETPeople of interregnum People of interregnum

Explanation of Imam Gazali about EHLI FETRET:Explanation of Imam Gazali about EHLI FETRET:

Those who do not know that prophets were sent are people of salvation.Those who do not know that prophets were sent are people of salvation.

Those who know it but deny it are people of hell. Those who know it but deny it are people of hell.

And we hope that those who hear it but do not search it and mishear it will be people And we hope that those who hear it but do not search it and mishear it will be people of salvation. of salvation.

KufrKufrin Arabic means covering and concealing in Arabic means covering and concealing

something.something.

DisbeliefDisbelief

Not believing in Allah and His Messengers.Not believing in Allah and His Messengers.

KafirKafir

Disbeliever.Disbeliever.

Types of Kufr (Disbelief)Types of Kufr (Disbelief)

Disbelief based on Disbelief based on ignoranceignorance

Denying after Denying after KnowledgeKnowledge

IGNORANT to BELIEFIGNORANT to BELIEF Levels of IGNORANCE Levels of IGNORANCE

1.1. Person who does not know and he or she is aware of his Person who does not know and he or she is aware of his or her ignorance.or her ignorance.They may accept the truth easily.They may accept the truth easily.

2.2. Person who does not know and is not aware of his/her Person who does not know and is not aware of his/her ignorance.ignorance.They may not accept the truth easily.They may not accept the truth easily.

3.3. Person who does not know and is not aware of his/her Person who does not know and is not aware of his/her ignorance and he/she thinks he/she knows.ignorance and he/she thinks he/she knows.If this ignorance combines with egoism and stubbornness, If this ignorance combines with egoism and stubbornness, Acceptance may become impossible.Acceptance may become impossible.

Denying after KnowledgeDenying after Knowledge

1. Knows the principles of belief, but does not accept it.Caused by incomplete knowledge of science, arrogance, social status, fame, benefit of social positions etc. If a person is fair and righteous, easier for them to accept.

2. Accepts in his or her mind, but does not believe.Mind and Heart opposes each other. Additional grace and help needed.

3. Accepts the principles of belief, but he or she stands against the belief.

Caused by social status, fame, benefit of social positions etc. Additional grace and help needed.

Person who

In another perspective KUFR (DISBELIEF)

Can be grouped as

NIHILISMNIHILISM ABSOLUTE ABSOLUTE DISBELIEFDISBELIEF

AGNOSTICISMAGNOSTICISM RELATIVE DISBELIEFRELATIVE DISBELIEF

NIHILISMNIHILISM

(SOFESTAI)(SOFESTAI)

  An extreme form of skepticism that denies An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.all existence.

  A doctrine holding that all values are A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.or communicated.

ABSOLUTE DISBELIEFABSOLUTE DISBELIEF

(KABUL-U ADEM)(KABUL-U ADEM)  

Disbelief in or denial of some or Disbelief in or denial of some or all belief principles.all belief principles.

ATHEISM and MATERIALISMATHEISM and MATERIALISM

ABSOLUTE DISBELIEFABSOLUTE DISBELIEF

ATHEISM:ATHEISM:   Disbelief in or denial of the existence Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God. of God.

MATERIALISM:MATERIALISM: The theory that physical matter is The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena. in terms of matter and physical phenomena.

AGNOSTICISMAGNOSTICISM

Uncertainty, or skepticism about Uncertainty, or skepticism about principles of belief.principles of belief.

  The belief that there can be no proof The belief that there can be no proof either that God exists or that God does not either that God exists or that God does not exist.exist.

(a type ADEM-I KABUL)(a type ADEM-I KABUL)

RELATIVE DISBELIEFRELATIVE DISBELIEF

 The disbelief some of the belief principles.

6 pillars of ISLAMIC BELIEF1. Allah2. Angles of Allah3. Books of Allah4. Messengers of Allah5. Al Qada and Qadar6. Akhirah

(a type ADEM-I KABUL)(a type ADEM-I KABUL)

Person who passes himself off as a believer although Person who passes himself off as a believer although he does not truly have faith. In this respect, he does not truly have faith. In this respect,

Hypocrisy is a forgery of faith. Hypocrisy is a forgery of faith.

A Hypocrite is like a chameleon; he changes his A Hypocrite is like a chameleon; he changes his color in accordance with the place he is in. color in accordance with the place he is in.

There are mainly 2 reasons that lead men into hypocrisy: There are mainly 2 reasons that lead men into hypocrisy: 

1- To make use of the benefits of Islam. 1- To make use of the benefits of Islam. 2- To attempt to spread mischief among the Muslims.2- To attempt to spread mischief among the Muslims.

Hypocrite

QUESTION:

Given that the truth is one, how can the rulings of these various legal schools be true?

Why are there different sects (madhhabs)?

ANSWER

During the Era of our Prophet some of the Companions stayed with the Messenger of Allah constantly, memorized the verses of

the Quran and hadiths and tried to understand their meanings properly.

They saw how Hazrat Prophet pbuh applied the judgments of the Quran in person and knew about the reasons for the revelation.

Ijtihad:To make efforts in order to make a judgment about

worshipping and rules out of religious evidence.

Mujtahid:The scholar who makes a judgment out of the religious

evidence.

A mujtahid must have full knowledge in the issues about the Quran, the Sunnah and Islamic law.  

Islamic scholars have made ijtihads and acted accordingly when they have not Islamic scholars have made ijtihads and acted accordingly when they have not been able to find clear evidence about an issue in the Book and the Sunnah. Our been able to find clear evidence about an issue in the Book and the Sunnah. Our

Prophet let his Companions do so.Prophet let his Companions do so.

As a matter of fact, when the Prophet appointed Muadh bin Jabal, a scholar and As a matter of fact, when the Prophet appointed Muadh bin Jabal, a scholar and faqih from the Companions, as a judge to Yemen, he asked Muadh,   faqih from the Companions, as a judge to Yemen, he asked Muadh,   

““How will you judge there? How will you settle the problem when you are asked How will you judge there? How will you settle the problem when you are asked something or when a plaintiff came to you?”something or when a plaintiff came to you?”

Muadh: “By the Book of Allah.”Muadh: “By the Book of Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah: “If you cannot find it in the Book?”The Messenger of Allah: “If you cannot find it in the Book?”

Muadh: “By the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah”Muadh: “By the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah”

The Messenger of Allah: “If you cannot find it there, either?”The Messenger of Allah: “If you cannot find it there, either?”

Muadh: “If I cannot find it there, either, I will judge by my own ijtihad.”Muadh: “If I cannot find it there, either, I will judge by my own ijtihad.”

Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said, “Praise be to Allah, who made the Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah said, “Praise be to Allah, who made the Prophet’s messenger {Muadh} successful in the thing that the prophets consented Prophet’s messenger {Muadh} successful in the thing that the prophets consented to.”, expressing his pleasure about the words of Muadh.to.”, expressing his pleasure about the words of Muadh.

4 Sources of Judgments4 Sources of Judgments

QuranQuran (the Book of Allah C.C) (the Book of Allah C.C)

SunnahSunnah (holy words and deeds of the (holy words and deeds of the Messenger of Allah and the things that he saw Messenger of Allah and the things that he saw but did not object to. )but did not object to. )

QiyasQiyas (Analogy: (Analogy: a judgment about an issue a judgment about an issue through ijtihad based on a similar judgment that through ijtihad based on a similar judgment that is definite.is definite.))

IjmaIjma (Consensus: (Consensus:unanimous agreement of the unanimous agreement of the Islamic mujtahids living in the same age on a Islamic mujtahids living in the same age on a religious judgment about an issue.  religious judgment about an issue.  ))

FIQHFIQHKALAMKALAMSUFISM  SUFISM  TASAVVUFTASAVVUF

Moral Moral (akhlaq)(akhlaq)

HEARTHEART

LawLaw (ahkam) (ahkam)

BODYBODYBelief Belief (aqa’id)(aqa’id)

MINDMIND

Dry Dry &&

formal formal Rational Rational

mindmind

Purification of the Purification of the heart, and a feeding heart, and a feeding

of the soul of the soul

FIQH (LAW)FIQH (LAW)Major SchoolsMajor Schools

HANAFIHANAFI SHAFiSHAFi MALIKIMALIKI HANBALI HANBALI

Imam Imam HanafiHanafi

ImamImamShafiShafi

ImamImamMalikMalik

ImamImamHanbalHanbal

AQAID AQAID Major SchoolsMajor Schools

MATURIDIMATURIDI ESHARIESHARI

ImamImamMaturidiMaturidi

ImamImamEshariEshari

Laws change over time. Laws change over time.

Prior to Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of Prophets, different Prior to Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of Prophets, different Prophets were sent to different people with different laws in Prophets were sent to different people with different laws in

one age. As the Prophet’s most comprehensive Shari‘a one age. As the Prophet’s most comprehensive Shari‘a suffices for all people in every age, another law-bringing suffices for all people in every age, another law-bringing

Prophet is unnecessary. Prophet is unnecessary.

However, various secondary matters showed that different However, various secondary matters showed that different legal schools were needed. Just as clothes are changed legal schools were needed. Just as clothes are changed

seasonally and cures may differ according to temperaments, seasonally and cures may differ according to temperaments, rules governing secondary matters may differ, as they are rules governing secondary matters may differ, as they are

based on time’s passage and people’s characters and based on time’s passage and people’s characters and capacities.capacities.

This allows them to answer newly arising questions and This allows them to answer newly arising questions and situations.situations.

At the time of the early Prophets, people were At the time of the early Prophets, people were physically and intellectually distant from each other. physically and intellectually distant from each other.

Their characters were somewhat coarse and Their characters were somewhat coarse and violent, and their minds were primitive. Thus the violent, and their minds were primitive. Thus the

laws for that time were different and appropriate to laws for that time were different and appropriate to their conditions.their conditions.

There were even different Prophets and laws in the There were even different Prophets and laws in the same continent during the same age.same continent during the same age.

The Last Prophet came with an all-comprehensive religion to The Last Prophet came with an all-comprehensive religion to lead us forward in all areas of science, education, and lead us forward in all areas of science, education, and

civilization, and to bring us to the point where all of us could civilization, and to bring us to the point where all of us could

receive receive one lessonone lesson, , listen to listen to one teacherone teacher, and , and act in accord with act in accord with one lawone law. .

Therefore there was no longer any need for different laws or Therefore there was no longer any need for different laws or teachers. teachers.

But because all people cannot be on the same But because all people cannot be on the same level or lead the same sort of social life, different level or lead the same sort of social life, different

schools of legal thought are needed.schools of legal thought are needed.

If this were not the case, all the schools could be united.If this were not the case, all the schools could be united.

QUESTION

Given that the truth is one, how can the rulings of these various

legal schools be true?

ANSWER

The same water functions in 5 different ways when given tofive sick people.

It will cure the first person’s illness, and so, according to the science of medicine, it is necessary.

It will be like poison for the second person, making him even sicker,

and therefore is medically forbidden.

It will be slightly harmful for the third person, and therefore should be avoided.

It will be beneficial for the fourth person, and thus medicine advises it.

It will be neither harmful nor beneficial for the fifth person, and because he can drink it with good health it is medically permissible.

Thus all five approaches are valid. Can you argue that water is only a cure, and that it must be consumed regardless of its effect?

Similarly, Divine Wisdom requires that Divine Similarly, Divine Wisdom requires that Divine ordinances (judgments) of secondary ordinances (judgments) of secondary

importance should differ according to those importance should differ according to those who follow them. who follow them.

This results in different schools, all of This results in different schools, all of which are right.which are right.

2 EXAMLES

1. Reading Fatiha in congregation

2. Brief Touch between husband & wife and invalidation of ablution

For example, most members of the Shafi‘I school are closer to village life and less familiar with the social life that makes the

community like a single body.

This is why, in a congregational prayer, each one recites Surat al-Fatiha behind the imam to unburden themselves at the Court of the Dispenser of Needs and relate their private

wishes. This is right and pure wisdom.

However, since over time the majority of Islamic governments have adopted the Hanafi school of law as their official code, those who follow this school have been closer to civilization and city life and

more inclined to social life.

As social, civilized life makes a community like a single individual, one person can speak for the community.

Therefore, since all people affirm and support the leader with their hearts and his word becomes the word of all, Hanafi congregations do not recite Surat al-Fatiha behind the imam. This is also right and

pure wisdom.

As most adherents of the Shafi‘i school are villagers and manual laborers, they are prone to filth and closer

intermingling of the sexes.

However, the Shari‘a aims at physical cleanness, spiritual purity, and moral chastity.

Thus this school states that one’s ablution is invalidated by touching the skin of a woman whom he can legally marry and

by a small amount of filth on his body or clothes.

The Hanafi school, most of whose adherents are more socialized and civilized, says that neither of these invalidate

one’s ablution.

Consider a manual laborer and a gentleman. Pursuing his livelihood, the former comes into contact with dirty things and

mixes with unknown women.

As he might be unable to resist the associated temptations, the Shari‘a warns him with a heavenly tune: “You’ll lose your ritual

purity if you touch the women. Your prayers will be invalid if you become tainted.”

The gentleman, in line with social custom and common morality, does not have to mix with unknown women and

seldom becomes dirty. In the Hanafi school, therefore, the Shari‘a shows its permissive side: “Simply touching her with

your hand does not invalidate your ablution. If you can’t remove the dirt from your body or clothes, any amount less than 3

grams is permitted. So, you don’t have to renew your ablution.”