Assalamu'alaykum

[Clarity]

Assalamu'alaykum,

Firstly, I would like to thankyou for this wonderful and comprehensive website. Whenever I felt unsure, or disheartened about some other rulings on various matters, I consulted this site which put my mind at ease. It's not "way out there" like MWU! and it's not "way down there" like islam-qa.com

However, I do have some concerns regarding the authority on which you give your opinions on. I know you do not claim to be scholars giving fatwas, and that a lot of what you say is your "opinion" ... but you see, when discussing various matters with other people who give me say, a ruling from islam-qa and I show them something from here - they ask me, "Is the answerer a scholar?"

How would you respond to this?
What is your "islamic training" so to speak?

Also, your approach to issues tend to be a little liberal. What is your religious background in terms of ... i dont know, salafi, sufi, shia, sunni, modernist, progressive... in between?


Thankyou
wassalam,
- Astral.

[vinod]

Assalamu Alaikum Astral

How would you respond to this?
What is your "islamic training" so to speak

I tend to say - "I've seen the reasonings behind the fatwas given by scholars elsewhere and that given by scholars here. The line of reasoning in UI is in harmony with my heart/conscience and intellect. There are many angles missed by the other scholars in their reasoning, specifically with respect to context. It's not that I have forever formed an opinion on issues that will never change. I keep an open mind - to the likelihood that perhaps I may come across a better reasoned answer to these issues in which case I'll adopt that. I'm on the lookout for the reasoning behind the ruling not on the authority of the person giving the ruling. I wouldn't mind reviewing my conclusions with them, if given the opportunity."

I'm careful while giving this answer in support of UI, that I do not condemn other scholars and their fatwas.

Trust the above helps

Was-salam
Vinod

[vinod]

Salam Astral

What is your religious background in terms of ... i dont know, salafi, sufi, shia, sunni, modernist, progressive... in between?

Religious background is "Allah's servant". Does that count as a sect?
I don't mean to kid. But seriously, try not to get lost in these names/categories. Give an answer that qualifies you as nothing but Muslim.

Was-salam
Vinod

[Ansar Al-Haq]

Br. Vinod,
I got into a debate once, and they brought up a difference between this site and another, and I told them that I'm only going to deal with the Qur'an and Sunnah, and then they started putting words in my mouth asking me if I thought the other scholars were ignorant of Islam and they said "if no one even knows how to interpret your sources then Islam is not universal".

Its tough debating with people who are sumun bukmun umyun.

[vinod]

Salam Ansar

Since you're my favorite murid (do I smell sufism?... ) , here's some gentle spiritual advise for ya-

when you said - "Its tough debating with people who are sumun bukmun umyun" you probably had a few individuals in mind. It is of utmost importance that we do not think negatively about anyone, no matter what his/her views. Using words like sumun bukmun umyun ( deaf, dumb and blind) is too hard hitting to even hold in one's own heart against anybody.

Have you ever had the experience of losing a debate and winning the opponent, Ansar?

I would be very careful that I give all due respect in my heart to any scholar, even if he/she has got every bit of his/her fatwa wrong. That'll reflect in my speech. When I'm asked this question - "Are you wrong-ing the other scholars?" I answer - "I'm only following the best of reasonings according to the Quran and sunnah. I have utmost of respect for the scholars that you mentioned and have no hesitation in reviewing my opinions with him/her if given the opportunity"

That wil mollify them, inshaAllah

Fii Amaanillah
Vinod

[Ansar Al-Haq]

It was a debate I had on a non-muslim forum.

Thanks for your advice. I would like to pm you the link and maybe you could give me more advice.