Page 25 - Pakistan Link - August 13, 2021

RELIGION AUGUST 13, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25

Issues and Questions Gems from the

Prayers with Pictures in the Room, Madhahib and Unity Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi
. Are we allowed to pray
in a room where there
Qare pictures and photo-
graphs?
A. As long as the pictures
and photographs are not in front
of you towards the
direction of Qiblah
and they do not
distract you from
your concentration
in your Salah, you
are allowed to pray
in that room. But if
the pictures are towards the direc- From the translation by
tion of Qiblah, then they should be Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss)
removed from there or you should
find another room for prayer. About the translator:
Q. How and why did the four Muhammad Asad, Leopold
Madhahib - the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Weiss, was born of Jewish parents
Maliki and Hanbali - emerge and in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in
evolve? Why do Muslims follow 1900, and at the age of 22 made his
one school in one country and first visit to the Middle East. He
another school in another coun- later became an outstanding for-
try? Why this lack of uniformity? eign correspondent for the Fran-
A. As long as the Prophet furter Zeitung, and after years of
- peace be upon him - was with devoted study became one of the
the Ummah, he was the Imam. that when Muslims differed on the quently used Qiyas and Ra’y. This lar Madh’hab among Muslims is leading Muslim scholars of our
Muslims followed the Qur’an and readings of the Qur’an, the Caliph situation continues throughout the decreasing, alhamdulillah. Now age. His translation of the Holy
the explanations of the Prophet Uthman - may Allah be pleased Umayyad period. Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali Qur’an is one of the most lucid
- peace be upon him. Whenever with him - sent his authorized After the Umayyad (661-750 and even Ja’fari pray together and and well-referenced works in this
they needed any explanation they copy to all provinces and removed CE) came the Abbasids. They were work together. We read each oth- category, dedicated to li-qawmin
went to the Prophet and he either all other copies of the Qur’an from also not the ideal caliphs like al- er’s books and attend the Islamic yatafakkaroo (people who think).
waited for the divine revelation circulation and burned them. Thus Khulafa’ al-Rashidun, but in com- conferences together. In America
in order to answer them, or gave he was able to keep the unity of the parison to the Umayyads, they this is happening much more than Chapter 32, verses 19 – 21
them his own answers according Ummah. were more supportive of Islamic in any other place. I hope this
to the authority that Allah gave However, with the emergence law and its scholars. During their trend will continue and our unity As for those who attain to faith
him. We, however, know that the of the Umayyad rule, the situation time various scholars were encour- as well as the unity of the whole and do righteous deeds – gardens of
Prophet - peace be upon him - also changed. The Umayyad caliphs aged to write books on Islamic Ummah will increase, by the Grace rest await them, as a welcome [from
allowed sometimes the variety of did not have the same religious laws. They also patronized the and Mercy of Allah. Ameen. God], in result of what they did; but as
opinions among his Sahabah in authority as the previous Khulafa’. collection of early Fatwas. The Ca- Q. I am a new Muslim with a for those who are lost in iniquity – their
certain matters. Some of them deviated from the liphs encouraged religious discus- question concerning Jesus. What goal is the fire: as oft as they will try
After the Prophet’s departure true path of Islam. Many jurists sions and debates. Various schol- happened on the day of cruci- to come out of it, they will be thrown
from this earth, his Rightly Guided and scholars used to avoid them ars had the opportunity to debate fixion? My (Muslim) husband back into it; and they will be told, “Taste
Caliphs (al-Khulafa’ al-Rashidun) and they began their teachings their positions with others. Due doesn’t explain it so I could un- [now] this suffering through fire which
were the leaders of the Ummah. independently in their own loca- to more discussions and debates, derstand. He mentioned some- you were wont to call a lie!”
Unlike the Prophet, they were not tions. The great Sahabah and their some people changed their opin- one else took his place. Can you However, ere [We condemn them
the recipients of Divine revelation followers (tabi’un) went to differ- ions. Some schools were eliminat- fill me in so that I could spread to] that supreme suffering, We shall
(wahy), but they had the full au- ent areas and taught and preached ed and others merged into major the right message to others when most certainly let them taste of a suffer-
thority to interpret the Shari’ah in to their local people. There was no schools. Thus four major schools asked. ing closer at hand, so that they might
their time. Their knowledge, piety central authority that could unite of Fiqh came about. The crystalli- A. There is a great deal written repent and mend their ways.
and religious authority made the all the opinions at that time. The zation of four major Madhahib of on this subject by the commenta-
people to go back to them for any Islamic State was expanding. This Islamic Fiqh came about by the 3rd tors of the Qur’an and many other Chapter 32, verses 23 - 34
final decision. The Caliphs used to set a trend for the development of century of Hijrah or the 9th centu- Muslim writers. This is not the
consult many Sahabah, but then various schools of interpretations ry of the common era, before this place to go in any detail about this And, indeed, [O Muhammad,]
whatever decision they would under various able scholars and there were about twenty different subject. You may read some good We did vouchsafe revelation unto Mo-
make, theirs was the final word. In jurists. Madhahib. Qur’anic commentaries such as ses [as well]: so be not in doubt of [thy]
other words, we can say that there The Hadith was also not fully Once the Madhahib became Yusuf Ali’s translation and com- having met with the same [truth in the
was only one Madh’hab during the collected. So there were two main established in different areas, the mentary or Maulana Maududi’s revelation vouchsafed to thee].
time of al-Khulafa’ al-Rashidun. trends among the early jurists: local teacher used them to teach Towards Understanding the Qur’an And [just as] We caused that [ear-
They kept the unity and unifor- those who relied on Hadith only, the Shari’ah to their students. The and other writings on this subject. lier revelation] to be a guidance for the
mity of the Ummah. We know while there were others who fre- local courts applied the decisions Briefly, let me tell you that Allah in children of Israel, and [as] We raised
and Fatwas of the Qur’an (Surah al-Nisa’ 4:157- among them leaders who, as long as
their local ju- 8) says “And concerning their say- they bore themselves with patience and
rists. Thus in ing, ‘We killed the Messiah Jesus son had sure faith in Our messages, guided
a natural way of Mary, Allah’s Messenger.’ They [their people] in accordance with Our
the Madhahib killed him not, nor crucified, but it behest – [so, too, shall it be with the
spread in dif- appeared so to them. Indeed those divine writ revealed unto thee, O Mu-
ferent areas. who disagree concerning it are in hammad.]
Although doubt about it. They have no (true)
we do not knowledge about it except that they Chapter 33, verse 35
have unifor- follow conjecture. Surely they did Verily, for all men and women
mity among not kill him. But Allah did take who have surrendered themselves
Muslims at him up unto Himself. Allah is ever unto God, and all believing men and
this time, we Mighty, Wise.” believing women, and all truly devout
should still try Thus according to Allah’s tes- men and truly devout women, and all
to unite them timony in the Qur’an, the cruci- men and women who are true to their
with tolerance fixion did not take place and Jesus word, and all men and women who are
and broadmin- was not killed or died on the cross. patient in adversity, and all men and
dedness. We In the Gospel of Luke it is also women who humble themselves [be-
should unite written: “And he (Jesus) withdrew fore God], and all men and women who
them as much from them about a stone’s throw, give in charity, and all self-denying men
as possible. and knelt down and prayed, ‘Fa- and self-denying women, and all men
I am ther, if thou art willing, remove and women who are mindful of their
pleased to see this cup (meaning death) from me; chastity, and all men and women who
that the fa- nevertheless not my will, but thine, remember God unceasingly: for [all of]
natical loyalty be done.’ And there appeared to them has God readied forgiveness of
to a particu- RELIGION, P24 sins and a mighty reward.
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