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Jurisprudential Madhhabism: A Middle Path between Two Extremes
Author : Dr. Mufti. Jadallah Bassam
Date Added : 05-01-2025

Jurisprudential Madhhabism: A Middle Path between Two Extremes

An Islamic legal ruling is based on established principles and evidence, serving as the foundation for all reasoning and issues, as it reflects the will of Allah The Almighty. He is the One who commands and prohibits, defining what is lawful (Halal) and unlawful (Haram). These determinations are not subject to human opinions, nor are they left to the whims and desires of people. The role of scholars, jurists, and muftis is to clarify the ruling of Allah. We are instructed to adhere strictly to Allah's commandments without exceeding them. Allah Says in the Quran (What means): "But say not - for any false thing that your tongues may put forth,- "This is lawful, and this is forbidden," so as to ascribe false things to God. For those who ascribe false things to God, will never prosper." [An-Nahl/116].
This foundational understanding of the concept of Islamic legal rulings, and its clear impact on defining the duties of muftis, judges, and scholars, is best demonstrated in its pure and correct form according to the principles of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah. This stands in contrast to those who deviate into extremism, being either excessive or unjust, transgressing and overstepping the boundaries of what Allah The Almighty has revealed to His Messenger (PBUH). The clarification of this includes the following:
Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah have taken a balanced position between two extremes of extremism:
The First Group: This group prohibits examining evidence altogether and forbids Ijtihad (independent reasoning). Among the early sects holding such views were the Hashawiyyah, Batiniyyah, Ta'limiyyah, and extreme factions of the Hashashin, among others. They believe in following a particular teacher without any critical consideration, whether in matters of creed or jurisprudence and its principles. They claim that truth can only be known through the teachings of this teacher, whom they refer to as "the instructor" (Al-Mu'allim), hence their designation as the Ta'limiyyah or People of Instruction. The Second Group: This group mandates examining evidence in all cases and prohibits seeking guidance from scholars. In early sects, they included certain factions of the Qadariyyah. Some within this group denied consensus (Ijma'), claiming that one must rely solely on evidence. Examples include the Khawarij, some Mu'tazilah, and certain Shi'ah. Among contemporary intellectual movements, they include modernists, self-proclaimed "enlightened" and "rationalists," and those who reject adherence to traditional Islamic schools of thought (Madhahib). These groups obligate individuals to derive all rulings from the primary sources of Islamic law, whether related to creed or jurisprudence. They even reject referring to the opinions of esteemed scholars and the major schools of Islamic jurisprudence in the most intricate of issues. All of these factions assert that a person must derive the rulings they need directly from the foundational texts without relying on the expertise of jurists and scholars, though each faction expresses its views and beliefs in its own terms.
As for Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah, their stance is balanced and moderate, adhering to the definitive evidences of Shariah and the consensus (Ijma') of the Ummah. They uphold the obligation of Ijtihad, contemplation, and adherence to both rational and textual evidence in matters of creed and foundational principles. They believe it is a religious obligation upon every accountable individual (Mukallaf) to ascertain these matters through evidence and to recognize the principle of adhering to the established and credible schools of jurisprudence (Madhahib) while refraining from deviating from them. For this reason, consensus was reached on the necessity of following these schools after their establishment and widespread acceptance, as narrated by numerous scholars in works on jurisprudence and its principles.
This balanced stance of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama'ah, emphasizing the obligation of laypeople to follow qualified jurists and experts among the scholars of jurisprudence (Fuqaha), is supported by numerous Shariah evidences. Among them are:
The verse: "if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message."
[An-Nahl/43].
The verse:" When there comes to them some matter touching (Public) safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Apostle, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have Tested it from them (direct). Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of God unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan."
[An-Nisa/83].
The verse: "Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them,- that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)."
[At-Tawbah/122].
This is in addition to other similar evidences from the Shariah.                       The positions of the deviant sects, driven by extremism, have caused significant disruption in the structure of the Islamic society. This has led to the spread of Fitan (trials) such as Takfir (excommunication), Tazlil (misguidance), and Tabdi' (innovation), as well as the proliferation of movements that applied erroneous principles, either in the form of intellectual or military calls. This disruption is not limited to a single aspect of life; rather, it has a broad and pervasive impact, affecting all areas of individual and family life. It extends further to institutions and the sectors overseen by the state.
Hence, the methodology of Ahl Al-Sunnah, and what they have unanimously agreed upon in following the established jurisprudential schools, is a solid scientific foundation in demonstrating servitude to the Lord of the worlds and practicing aspects of worldly life with ease and openness. Their methodology is the most just and the most appropriate in attaining human interests, preventing harms to people, and achieving both worldly and eternal happiness. It is therefore obligatory upon us to follow the path laid down by our scholars and the methods they have derived from sound scientific principles.

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling if a postpartum woman becomes pure before forty days; are acts of worship obligatory upon her, and is she permissible for her husband?

If the postpartum woman becomes definitely pure before forty days, she must perform the ritual bath and perform acts of worship as a pure woman does. What was prohibited for her also becomes permissible, so she becomes permissible for her husband after her bath. The minimum duration for postpartum bleeding is a moment (an instant), and its usual maximum is forty days. Reaching forty days is not a condition; rather, it is sufficient for the blood to stop or to see the white discharge (qassa bayda'). And Allah the Almighty knows best.

How is the beginning of Ramadan determined?

1. Completing 30 days of Sha‘ban, or
2. Sighting the crescent moon after sunset on the 29th day of Sha‘ban.
It is Sunnah to search for the moon, and it is obligatory to follow the official authorities responsible for announcing it.

Is it permissible to pay the Fitr Zakah (obligatory charity) of Ramadan on behalf of a dead person?

The Fitr Zakah of Ramadhaan isn`t due on one who had passed away before the sunset of the last day of Ramadan. And Allah Knows Best.

The Jurisprudential Significance of the Ḥadīth: "Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr Prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking..."
"Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking: 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumītu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr' ten times — ten good deeds will be recorded for him, ten bad deeds will be erased from him, he will be raised ten levels, he will spend that day in protection from everything disliked and guarded from the devil, and no sin will be able to befall him on that day except associating partners with Allah" — does this noble ḥadīth apply to the imam, and what is meant by "extraneous speech"?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite, immediately after the final salām, the specific remembrance reported in the sunnah to be said before turning away from one's place of prayer. The imam then leaves his praying spot, and the act of "turning" is fulfilled when the imam faces the congregation — even without physically leaving his spot — by positioning his right side toward them and his left side toward the qiblah, and this applies even while he is engaged in supplication.
Al-ʿAllāmah Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Tuḥfah (Vol.2/P.105): "It is most virtuous for the imam, once he has given the salām, to rise from his place of prayer immediately afterward." He adds that an exception must be made for the remembrances that are specifically required to be recited before he turns away. He then notes, citing Sharḥ al-ʿUbāb: "Yes, an exception to this rising immediately after the salām applies to the Fajr prayer, due to the authentic report that the Prophet ﷺ, when he prayed Fajr, would remain seated until the sun rose." He further cites, from al-Khādim, the ḥadīth concerning one who recites, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer while still in the position of crossing his leg to rise: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah..." and the rest of the well-known ḥadīth. He comments that this makes explicit that this particular remembrance is to be recited before the worshipper turns his legs to leave, and the same applies to Maghrib and ʿAṣr, as reported in those contexts as well.
What is meant by "speech" in the relevant ḥadīth is extraneous worldly speech that is not called for after the prayer and for which there is no legitimate excuse. The remembrances reported to be recited upon concluding the prayer, however, do not fall under this category of extraneous speech, since they are themselves required by the sharīʿah.
Al-ʿAllāmah ʿAlī al-Shabrāmalsī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Nihāyah (Vol.1/P.551): "If someone greets a person with salām while he is occupied with reciting this remembrance [i.e., 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh...'], should he return the greeting — without this causing him to forfeit the promised reward, since he is engaged in an obligatory matter — or should he delay returning the greeting until he finishes, this being a legitimate excuse for the delay?" He continues: "I say: the more likely view is the former, and the prohibition on speech is to be understood as applying to extraneous speech for which there is no legitimate excuse. Based on this, should the worshipper give precedence to this remembrance ('Lā ilāha illā Allāh...') or to reciting Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ ('Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad')? This requires consideration, though it is not unlikely that the remembrance takes precedence, given that the Lawgiver urged hastening to it through his words 'while crossing his leg.' This is not considered ordinary speech, since it is not extraneous to what is required after the prayer."
Accordingly, it is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite this remembrance and to give it precedence over the other remembrances of the prayer, ensuring it is said before they move from their place. And Allah the Almighty knows best.