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.

[Clarity]

Assalamu'alaykum,

Thankyou for your reply Br. Vinod.

I agree that many scholars tend to overlook a lot of issues when answering questions. Islam-qa, which I mentioned above, is one good example. It's perhaps the most prominent Q&A site on the web, and everybody uses it... yet, when I look at the answers there, I end up having more questions in my head than answers! Sunnipath.com & islamtoday is better but sometimes even their responses are as if it were rushed or something.

And as for the opinions that you do give, I don't think you would be alone. There are many scholars out there who you can very well attribute your opinions to .. they just may not be as pominent.

Allah says in the Quran to ask people of knowledge if we are in doubt. But some people take this to mean that we cannot disagree if the scholars. In a lot of cases we shouldn't, because the answers they've reached came after in depth of research.

However, these scholars are human. They were most likely influenced by their environment. This is one reason why there are differences between the 4 mezhebs even.
There's no sainthood in Islam, yet, if you were to disagree with a scholar, you will be deviating and acting on your whims.

Anyway thats nuff blabber from me.

As for the salafi sufi shia sunni progressive thing...

Well yes you would call yourself Muslim, as would I and the rest of us. But I guess hm... are there any specific scholars you tend to agree more with than others? Or people?

Thanks wa salam.
Your sis, Astral.

[vinod]

Dear Sis Astral

Just a comment on your nuff blabber

But some people take this to mean that we cannot disagree if the scholars. In a lot of cases we shouldn't, because the answers they've reached came after in depth of research.

We shouldn't hesistate to check that depth of research before we take their opinion. I would not take anything on face value.

There's no sainthood in Islam, yet, if you were to disagree with a scholar, you will be deviating and acting on your whims.

Not necessary. The scholar may have simply got it wrong in the reasoning bit. You yourself said - they are human. As far as we go, we can only keep on checking our intentions to keep it sincere. if we disagree with any scholar, we cannot be accused of following our whims. Neither should we unnecessarily worry ourself to that. At the same time, we should keep our minds open to criticism of our views.

For the rest of the studd, you seemed to have reached a closure

Was-salam
Vinod

[Guest]

Well you know what the classic line is?

"So you think that you are more knowledgeable than Sheikh/Imaam so and so, and that you can interpret the religion yourself? Even though you havent spent 8 years at our islamic centre?"

What do u say to that?