Valid Differences of Opinion and Interpretations in

by

Dr. Adebola S. Kasumu

1 2018-01-14 Disclosure/Disclamier

• Not the presenter’s opinions

• Presentation of facts and opinions of different scholars and schools of thought • Presentation of different methodologies for deriving opinions and rulings from the same sources

• Whatever examples might be used, ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT ON ANYONE, as Allah is the All-Knowing and the only Judge! – Very important!!!

2018-01-14 2 Issues Raised in the Video Condemning Congregational Tahajjud Outside of Ramadhan…

✓ People going out late at night – safety issue

✓ Women praying at home is more rewarding

✓ Intermingling of the sexes during Tahajjud

✓ The prophet (SAW) didn’t do congregational Tahujjud outside of Ramadhan ✓ Tahajjud on Muharram 1st or January 1st as an innovation

✓ January is derived from the pagan “Janus”

✓ Performing Tahajjud on January 1st equates following the Pagan worship 2018-01-14 3 “The Book as a clarification for all things…”

And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves. And We will bring you, [O ], as a witness over your nation. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the . (Suratul Nahl, 16:89)

➢ Tafsir Ibn Kathir….. “(And We revealed the Book (the Qur'an) to you as an explanation of everything,) Ibn Mas`ud said: "Allah made it clear that in this Qur'an there is complete knowledge and about everything.'' The Qur'an contains all kinds of beneficial knowledge, such as reports of what happened in the past, information about what is yet to come, what is lawful and unlawful, and what people need to know about their worldly affairs, their religion, their livelihood in this world, and their destiny in the Hereafter….”

2018-01-14 4 “The Book as a clarification for all things…”

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe. (Surah Yusuf, 12:111)

➢ Tafsir Ibn Kathir….. “….(and a detailed explanation of everything) Meaning the allowed, the prohibited, the preferred and the disliked matters. The Qur'an deals with the acts of worship, the obligatory and recommended matters, forbids the unlawful and discourages from the disliked. The Qur'an contains major facts regarding the existence and about matters of the future in general terms or in detail. The Qur'an tells us about the Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored, and about His Names and Attributes and teaches us that Allah is glorified from being similar in any way to the creation…..”

2018-01-14 5 “The Book as a clarification for all things…”

And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail. (Suratul Isra, 17:12)

• Can we get how to perform from the ?

• There are those who say anything not in the Quran is not acceptable because Allah says everything is in the Quran! – i.e. they reject all ahadith!

2018-01-14 6 Comprehension of Verses of the Quran

✓ How many times will the trumpet be blown?

And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on. (Suratul Zumar, 39:68)

2018-01-14 7 Comprehension of Verses of the Quran

2018-01-14 8 Comprehension of Verses of the Quran

✓ While many scholars, including Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Hajar say 2 times, Ibn Tamiyyah and Ibn Kathir say 3 times….evidence?

And [warn of] the Day the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be terrified except whom Allah wills. And all will come to Him humbled. (Suratul Naml, 27:87)

- The first blowing, called raajifa is to cause horror, terror, shock and awe - The second blowing, called raadifa is to cause death - The third blowing, called zajarah is to cause resurrection

2018-01-14 9 Comprehension of the Prophet’s Statements, Actions and Known Practices

• “Do not pray 'Asr except at Bani Quraizhah”

• Salatul Janazah in absence of the deceased…..

• Salah alone has more than 200 differences!

• Countless differences in many other acts of (Zakah, Fasting, etc.)

2018-01-14 10 Some Islamic Concepts - Ijtihad

:said ﷺ narrated that the Messenger of Allah "When the judge passes a judgement in which he strived and was correct, then he receives two rewards. And when he judges and is mistaken, then he receives one reward.” [Jami`at-Tirmidhi 1326]

:say ﷺ It was narrated from 'Amr bin 'As that he heard the Messenger of Allah “When the judge passes a judgement and does his best and gets it right, he will have two rewards, and if he passes a judgement and does his best and gets it wrong, he will have one reward.” (Sahih) Yazid (one of narrators) said : “So I Narrated it to Abu Bakr bin 'Amr bin Hazm. He said: 'This is how it was narrated to me by Abu Salamah from Abu Hurairah.’” [Sunan Ibn Majah 2314]

2018-01-14 11 Some Islamic Concepts – Actions Judged According to Intentions

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: saying, "The reward of deeds depends ﷺ I heard Allah's Messenger upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." [Sahih al-Bukhari 1]

2018-01-14 12 Some Things the Prophet (SAW) did not do….

✓ Compilation of the Quran…..But Abubakr and Umar did it

✓ Making Wudhu up to the shoulder and the knees…..but Abu Hurairah did it

Abu Hazim reported: I was (standing) behind Abu Huraira and he was performing the ablution for . He extended the (washing) of his hand that it went up to his armpit. I said to him: O Abu Huraira, what is this ablution? He said: O one xof the tribe of Faruukh, you are here; if I knew that you say. Inﷺ( ) were here, I would have never performed ablution like this; I have heard my Friend a believer adornment would reach the places where ablution reaches. [Sahih Muslim 250] It was narrated that Abu Hazim said: "I was behind Abu Hurairah when he performed ' for Salah. He washed his hand up to the armpit, and I said: 'O Abu Hurairah! What is this Wudu'?' He said to me: 'O Banu Farrukh! You are here! If I had known that you were here I would not says: "The jewelryﷺ(( ) have performed Wudu' like this. I heard my close friend (i.e., the Prophet of the believer will reach as far as his Wudu reached." [Sunan an-Nasai’ Vol. 1, Book 1, 149]

2018-01-14 13 Some Things the Prophet (SAW) did not do….

✓ Complete recitation of the whole Quran in one night……but Uthman bin Affan and others did it

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: As for those who completed the Qur’an in a single rak‘ah, they are innumerable, because they are so many. They include: ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, Tameem ad-Daari, and Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr.

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Qataadah regularly used to complete the Qur’an every seven days, and in Ramadan he would complete it every three days, and in the last ten nights of Ramadan he would complete it every single night. In Ramadan ash-Shaafa‘i used to complete the Qur’an sixty times [i.e., twice a day], reciting it outside of prayer. Something similar was also narrated from Abu Haneefah. https://islamqa.info/en/156299 2018-01-14 14 Some things the Sahabah did without any direction from the Prophet (SAW)

✓ Surah Al-Fatihah seven times as Ruqya

"The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) dispatched us on a military expedition. We camped with some people and asked them to entertain us but they did not entertain us. Their leader was stung so they came to us saying: 'Is there anyone among you who can treat a scorpion sting with Ruqyah?' I said: 'Yes I can. But I will not do any Ruqyah until you give us some sheep.' They said: 'Then we shall give you thirty sheep.' We accepted that,and I recited Al-Hamda [Lillah] seven times. He became better and we took the sheep." He said: "We became concerned about that being permissible and said: 'Do not be hasty until we reach the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W)." He said: "When we arrived with him I mentioned what I did to him. He(S.A.W)said: 'How did you know that it was a Ruqyah? Take the sheep, and assign me a share among you.’” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi Vol. 4, Book 2, Hadith 2063]

2018-01-14 15 Other things we do that are not acceptable to some……

✓ Reciting dhikr together in congregation ✓ Reciting Quran together in congregation

Ibn Taymiyya's Opinion on the Meetings of Dhikr

The following is the opinion of Ibn Taymiyya on meetings of dhikr: Ibn Taymiyya was asked about people that gather in a masjid making dhikr and reading Qur'an, praying to Allah and taking their turbans off their heads (leaving their heads bare) and crying, while their intention is not pride nor showing off but seeking to draw closer to Allah: is it acceptable or not?

He replied: Not only is it acceptable but it is good and recommended. [Vol. 22, page 253 of the Collected Fatwas, King Khalid ibn `Abdul `Aziz edition ("Majma'a Fatawa Ibn Taymiyya")]

2018-01-14 16 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

http://www.daruliftaa.com/node/6182

2018-01-14 17 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

2018-01-14 http://www.daruliftaa.com/node/6182 18 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

2018-01-14 http://www.daruliftaa.com/node/6182 19 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

2018-01-14 https://islamqa.info/en/38606 20 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

2018-01-14 https://islamqa.info/en/38606 21 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

http://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/acts-of-worship/tahajjud-

2018-01-14 prayer-congregation-allowed/ 22 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

http://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/acts-of-worship/tahajjud-prayer-congregation-allowed/ 2018-01-14 23 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

http://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/acts-of-worship/tahajjud- 2018-01-14 prayer-congregation-allowed/ 24 Different Opinions on Congregational Tahajjud Outside Ramadhan

http://questionsonislam.com/question/are-there-any-hadiths-about-praying-tahajjud-prayer-congregation 2018-01-14 25 Halal or Haram, or Bida’a?

✓ Coffee was initially declared as Haram by majority of Muslims Scholars

✓ The printing press was initially declared as Haram by some Muslims Scholars

✓ Banning Slavery was declared as Haram by some Muslims Scholars until it was banned in 1962 by Kind Faisal ✓ The radio was initially declared as haram and sihr (magic) by some Muslims scholars in Saudi Arabia until King Abdul Azeez ordered the Quran to be recited on the radio ✓ How about TV in Saudi Arabia?....Someone was killed and the assassination of King Faisal is said to be a revenge killing by the brother of the person who was killed on this issue ✓ The NBC series on Umar Ibn Khattab was declared haram by many Muslim Scholars - It became the #1 watched series in the Arab world!

2018-01-14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9kB80Jk8u8&index=96&list=PLF0urF0AjPuhi_uQhDyFHVlobbBTd7Jv2 26 Five Simple Recommendations By Sheikh Yasir Qadhi

✓ Educate ourselves on the foundations of Islam that can never changed e.g. the , the six articles of ….

✓ How to know what cannot change?...... When ALL of the scholars agree on something (ijma of the scholars)

✓ Realize that there will always be a small group of scholars who are “forward- thinking” and realistic

✓ Choose a scholar who’s living your life, in your land and community

✓ Be tolerant of opinions that you don’t agree with as long as it’s coming from a scholar

2018-01-14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9kB80Jk8u8&index=96&list=PLF0urF0AjPuhi_uQhDyFHVlobbBTd7Jv2 27 Sunnah or Not Sunnah?

Pertinent Questions……..

✓ Is there any clear hadith that prohibits congregational tahajjud outside of Ramadhan?

✓ The list goes on and on……….

✓ Sheikh Fayaz held a halaqa at ICSC on Jan 1st, 2018…….?

2018-01-14 28 Sunna or Not Sunna?

“Not everything the Prophet (SAW) did is Sunna, and not everything the prophet did not do is not Sunna” Imam Hasan Abdallah (Toronto)

2018-01-14 29 Do we have these Issues in our Community?......

✓ People going out late at night – safety issue

✓ Women praying at home is more rewarding

✓ Intermingling of the sexes during Tahajjud

✓ The prophet (SAW) didn’t do congregational Tahujjud outside of Ramadhan ✓ Tahajjud on Muharram 1st or January 1st as an innovation

✓ January is derived from the pagan god “Janus”

✓ Performing Tahajjud on January 1st equates following the Pagan worship 2018-01-14 30 Food for Thought…

Why do we sometimes have no problems doing things that have actual textual evidence against them in the Quran/Hadith (according to some interpretations), but then question others (with spiritual benefit) that have NO textual evidence against them in the Quran/Hadith?

2018-01-14 31 Some Benefits of NCMCC Congregational Tahajjud

✓ Salatul Tawbah

✓ Sunna of making du’a

✓ Practical demonstration of performing tahajjud

2018-01-14 32 Survey…

✓ How many people have attended at least one NCMCC Tahajjud program?

✓ How many people have benefitted from the Tahajjud program one way or the other?

✓ How many people want the status quo to continue?

✓ How many people want it limited to only Ramadhaan?

✓ How many people want it stopped completely?

2018-01-14 33 Final Decision to be made by Mission Board

✓ Continue with Status quo?

✓ Limit to only Ramadhan?

✓ Stop Tahajjud program completely?

2018-01-14 34 Lessons/Summary

✓ Valid differences of opinion and interpretations abound in many things we do in Islam

✓ There are many individual and communal issues with different answers in the classical texts

✓ What we know or practice may not necessarily be the only way

✓ Learning never ceases in Islam, and there is wisdom in everything, whether we know it or not

2018-01-14 35 Lessons/Summary

✓ Please consult Mission Board/Executive Committee/Board of Directors on any issue we are unsure about

✓ Generally, think of the consequences before forwarding anything

2018-01-14 36 Questions/Comments

2018-01-14 37