Salafism

The seventh problem is that some people will reject ijtihaad totally. They will feel that there is no need for making ijtihaad. Instead, if any problematic situation arises, one should refer directly to the Qur’an and Hadith in finding a solution, since Allah Ta’ala commands in the Qur’an: (If you …

The sixth problem is that a person who does not strictly adhere to one mazhab and instead randomly chooses the verdict of those Imaams whom he deems correct, at times opposes all mazhabs. Hence, his ibaadat is rendered null and void according to all the Imaams. Consider the situation where …

The fifth problem is that at times due to not confining oneself to one mazhab, a person will commit the serious crime of contradicting the consensus of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) and the entire Ummah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). The Qur’anic injunctions, as well as the Ahaadith are explicit …

The fourth problem is that if the masses are allowed to follow at random whatever they believe to be correct or whoever they feel is on the correct opinion, it will eventually result in many people following their own whims and desires. Most people when faced with a problematic situation …

The third problem is that some people will come across certain Ahaadith which have been unanimously abrogated (i.e. according to the consensus of the Sahaabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) and the entire ummah), however due to lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the historical background of the law, they will begin practising upon …

The second problem is that some people, after independently viewing the laws of the Qur’an and Hadith (with their limited analogy), will begin to deduce underlying factors (‘ilal) upon which rulings are based. Thereafter, they will abrogate many laws of Deen on the basis that the underlying cause that they …

If one who is not a mujtahid refers to the Qur’an and Hadith directly in order to extract shar’ee laws and find solutions to his problems, he will land himself in clear disaster and encounter many difficulties. It is akin to an ignorant layman trying to find a solution to …

Q: What is the status of Taqleed (following one of the four Imaams of fiqh) in Deen? e.g. Fardh, Waajib, Sunnah or Mustahab? A: Following one of the four Imaams of fiqh viz. (Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imaam Maalik, Imaam Shafi’ee and Imaam Ahmad [Rahimahumullah]) is waajib–li-ghairihi [1] (compulsory) in Deen. …

Q: Can you please present to me the proofs from the Qur’an and Hadith commanding us to follow one of the four Imaams of fiqh? I believe that we are all followers of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Hence Allah Ta’ala obligated us to follow our beloved Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). …

Allamah Shihab Ar-Ramli (Rahmatullahi Alayh) (957 A.H.) states: “The person who has a true understanding of what ijtihaad actually means would feel ashamed before Allah from attributing it to anyone of this day and age. In fact, Ibnus-Salah (643 A.H.) and his followers stated that it had become extinct three …