Saturday, February 25, 2012

Various sources of Islamic law are used by Islamic jurisprudence to elucidate the Sharia,


           Various sources of Islamic law are used by Islamic jurisprudence to elucidate the Sharia, the body of Islamic law.[1] The primary sources, accepted universally by all Muslims, are the Qur'an and Sunnah. The Qur'an is the holy scripture of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the direct and unaltered word of Allah. The Sunnah consists of the religious actions and quotations of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and narrated through his Companions and Imams- (as per the beliefs of the school of Ahle-Sunnah and Ahle-Shia).[1] However, some schools of jurisprudence use different methods to judge the source's level of authenticity.
            As Islamic regulations stated in the primary sources do not explicitly deal with every conceivable eventuality, jurisprudence must refer to resources and authentic documents to find the correct course of action.[1] According to Sunni schools of law, secondary sources of Islamic law are consensus among Muslims jurists, analogical deduction, al-Ra'y; independent reasoning, benefit for the Community and Custom.[2] Hanafi school frequently relies on analogical deduction and independent reasoning, and Maliki and Hanbali generally use the Hadith instead. Shafi'i school uses Sunnah more than Hanafi and analogy more than two others.[1][3] Among Shia, Usuli school of Ja'fari jurisprudence uses four sources, which are Qur'an, Sunnah, consensus and 'aql. They use ijma under special conditions and rely on 'aql (intellect) to find general principles based on the Qur'an and Sunnah, and use usul al-fiqh as methodology to interpret the Qur'an and Sunnah in different circumstances, and Akhbari Jafaris rely more on Hadith and reject ijtihad.[1][4] According to Momen, despite considerable differences in the principles of jurisprudence between Shia and the four Sunni schools of law, there are fewer differences in the practical application of jurisprudence to ritual observances and social transactions.[5]

Primary sources

 Qur’an

A copy of the Qur'an, one of the primary sources of Islamic law.
The Qur'an is the first and most important source of Islamic law. Believed to be the direct word of God as revealed to Muhammad through angel Gabriel in Mecca and Medina, the scripture specifies the moral, philosophical, social, political and economic basis on which a society should be constructed. The verses revealed in Mecca deal with philosophical and theological issues, whereas those revealed in Medina are concerned with socio-economic laws. The Qur'an was written and preserved during the life of Muhammad, and compiled soon after his death.[6]
The verses of the Qur'an are categorized into three fields: "science of speculative theology", "ethical principles" and "rules of human conduct". The third category is directly concerned with Islamic legal matters which contains about five hundred verses or one thirteenth of it. The task of interpreting the Qur'an has led to various opinions and judgments.

The interpretations of the verses by Muhammad's companions for Sunnis and Imams for Shias are considered the most authentic, since they knew why, where and on what occasion each verse was revealed.[1][6]

Sunnah

              The Sunnah is the next important source, and is commonly defined as "the traditions and customs of Muhammad" or "the words, actions and silent assertions of him". It includes the everyday sayings and utterances of Muhammad, his acts, his tacit consent, and acknowledgments of statements and activities. According to Shi'ite jurists, the sunnah also includes the words, deeds and acknowledgments of the twelve Imams and Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter, who are believed to be infallible.[1][7]
               Justification for using the Sunnah as a source of law can be found in the Qur'an. The Qur'an commands Muslims to follow Muhammad.[8] During his lifetime, Muhammad made it clear that his traditions (along with the Qur'an) should be followed after his death.[9] The overwhelming majority of Muslims consider the sunnah to be essential supplements to and clarifications of the Qur'an. In Islamic jurisprudence, the Qur'an contains many rules for the behavior expected of Muslims but there are no specific Qur'anic rules on many religious and practical matters. Muslims believe that they can look at the way of life, or sunnah, of Muhammad and his companions to discover what to imitate and what to avoid.
              Much of the sunnah is recorded in the Hadith. Initially, Muhammad had instructed his followers not to write down his acts, so they may not confuse it with the Qur'an. However, he did ask his followers to disseminate his sayings orally. As long as he was alive, any doubtful record could be confirmed as true or false by simply asking him. His death, however, gave rise to confusion over Muhammad's conduct. Thus the Hadith were established.[7] Due to problems of authenticity, the science of Hadith (Arabic: `Ulum al-hadith) is established. It is a method of textual criticism developed by early Muslim scholars in determining the veracity of reports attributed to Muhammad. This is achieved by analyzing the text of the report, the scale of the report's transmission, the routes through which the report was transmitted, and the individual narrators involved in its transmission. On the basis of these criteria, various Hadith classifications developed.[10]
               To establish the authenticity of a particular Hadith or report, it had to be checked by following the chain of transmission (isnad). Thus the reporters had to cite their reference, and their reference's reference all the way back to Muhammad. All the references in the chain had to have a reputation for honesty and possessing a good retentive memory.[7] Thus biographical analysis (`ilm al-rijāl, lit. "science of people"), which contains details about the transmitter are scrutinized. This includes analyzing their date and place of birth; familial connections; teachers and students; religiosity; moral behaviour; literary output; their travels; as well as their date of death. Based upon these criteria, the reliability (thiqāt) of the transmitter is assessed. Also determined is whether the individual was actually able to transmit the report, which is deduced from their contemporaneity and geographical proximity with the other transmitters in the chain.[11] Examples of biographical dictionaries include Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's "Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb" or al-Dhahabi's "Tadhkirat al-huffāz."[12]
Using this criterion, Hadith are classified into three categories:[7]
  1. Undubitable (mutawatir), which are very widely known, and backed up by numerous references.
  2. Widespread (mashhur), which are widely known, but backed up with few original references.
  3. Isolated or Single (wahid), which are backed up by too few and often discontinuous references.
'

Secondary sources

                      All medieval Muslim jurists rejected arbitrary opinion, and instead developed various secondary sources, also known as juristic principles or doctrines[clarification needed], to follow in case the primary sources (i.e. the Qur'an and Sunnah) are silent on the issue.[13]

Consensus

Main article: Ijma
also called anlogy
The ijma' , or consensus amongst Muslim jurists on a particular legal issue, constitutes the third source of Islamic law. Muslim jurists provide many verses of the Qur'an that legitimize ijma' as a source of legislation.[14][15] Muhammad himself said:
  • "My followers will never agree upon an error or what is wrong",
  • "God's hand is with the entire community".[14][16]
In history, it has been the most important factor in defining the meaning of the other sources and thus in formulating the doctrine and practice of the Muslim community.[17] This is so because ijma' represents the unanimous agreement of Muslims on a regulation or law at any given time.[18]
              There are various views on ijma' among Muslims. Sunni jurists consider ijma' as a source, in matters of legislation, as important as the Qur'an and Sunnah. Shiite jurists, however, consider ijma' as source of secondary importance, and a source that is, unlike the Qur'an and Sunnah, not free from error.[19] Ijma' was always used to refer to agreement reached in the past, either remote or near.[17] Amongst the Sunni jurists there is diversity on who is eligible to participate in ijma' , as shown in the following table:
School of jurisprudence             Formation of ijma'                  Rationale


(Hanafi) through public agreement of Islamic jurists.                                  The jurists are experts on legal matters


(Shafi'i).  through agreement of the entire community and public at large.

                                                                                                                         The people                      cannot agree on anything erroneous.


(Maliki) :-  through agreement amongst the residents of Medina, the first Islamic capital.
                                                                                          
                                                                                                                       Islamic tradition says "Medina expels bad people like the furnace expels impurities from iron".


(Hanbali)   through agreement and practice of Muhammad's Companions.

                                                                                                                     They were the most knowledgeable on religious matters and rightly guided.


(Usuli).    Only the consensus of the ulama of the same period as the Prophet or Shia Imams is binding.

                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    Consensus is not genuinely binding in its own right, rather it is binding in as much as it is a means of discovering the Sunnah.


Source:[1][19]

In modern Muslim usage it is no longer associated with traditional authority and appears as democratic institution and an instrument of reform.[17]

Analogical deduction

Main article: Qiyas
             Qiyas or analogical deduction is the fourth source of Sharia for the Sunni jurisprudence. Shiites do not accept qiyas, but replace it with reason (aql). Qiyas is the process of legal deduction according to which the jurist, confronted with an unprecedented case, bases his or her argument on the logic used in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Qiyas must not be based on arbitrary judgment, but rather be firmly rooted in the primary sources.[20]
             Supporters of qiyas will often point to passages in the Qur'an that describe an application of a similar process by past Islamic communities. According to Hadith, Muhammad said: "Where there is no revealed injunction, I will judge amongst you according to reason."[21] Further, he extended the right to reason to others. Finally, qiyas is sanctioned by the ijma, or consensus, amongst Muhammad's companions.[20]
                     The success and expansion of Islam brought it into contact with different cultures, societies and traditions, such as those of Byzantines and Persians. With such contact, new problems emerged for Islamic law to tackle. Moreover, there was a significant distance between Medina, the Islamic capital, and the Muslims on the periphery on the Islamic state. Thus far off jurists had to find novel Islamic solutions without the close supervision of the hub of Islamic law (back in Medina). During the Umayyad dynasty, the concept of qiyas was abused by the rulers. The Abbasids, who succeeded the Ummayads defined it more strictly, in an attempt to apply it more consistently.[20]
                The general principle behind the process of qiyas is based on the understanding that every legal injunction guarantees a beneficial and welfare satisfying objective. Thus, if the cause of an injunction can be deduced from the primary sources, then analogical deduction can be applied to cases with similar causes. For example, wine is prohibited in Islam because of its intoxicating property. Thus qiyas leads to the conclusion that all intoxicants are forbidden.[20]
               The Hanafi school of thought very strongly supports qiyas. Imam Abu Hanifa, an important practitioner of qiyas, elevated qiyas to a position of great significance in Islamic law. Abu Hanifa extended the rigid principle of basing rulings on the Qur'an and Sunnah to incorporate opinion and exercise of free thought by jurists. In order to respond suitably to emerging problems, he based his judgments, like other jurists, on the explicit meanings of primary texts (the Qur'an and sunnah). But, he also considered the "spirit" of Islamic teachings, as well as the whether the ruling would be in the interest of the objectives of Islam. Such rulings were based on public interest and the welfare of the Muslim community.[20]  

           “The knowledge of ours is an opinion, it is the best we have been able to achieve. He who is able to arrive at different conclusions is entitled to his own opinion as we are entitled to our own”. —Abu Hanifa[20]
             The Shafi'i school of thought accepts qiyas as a valid source. Imam Shafi'i, however, considered it a weak source, and tried to limit the cases where jurists would need to resort to qiyas. He criticized and rejected analogical deductions that were not firmly rooted in the Qur'an and sunnah. According to Shafi'i, if analogical deductions were not strictly rooted in primary sources, they would have adverse effects. One such consequence could be variety of different rulings in the same subject. Such a situation, he argued, would undermine the predictability and uniformity of a sound legal system. [22]
                 Imam Malik accepted qiyas as a valid source of legislation. For him, if a parallel could be established between the effective cause of a law in the primary sources and a new case, then analogical deduction could be viable tool. Malik, however, went beyond his adherence to "strict analogy" and proposed pronouncements on the basis of what jurists considered was "public good".[22]

Preference

Abu Hanifa developed a new source called istihsan, or juristic preference, as a form of analogical deduction (qiyas).[23] Istihsan is defined as:
  • Means to seek ease and convenience,
  • To adopt tolerance and moderation,
  • To over-rule analogical deduction, if necessary.[24]
           The source, inspired by the principle of conscience, is a last resort if none of the widely accepted sources are applicable to a problem. It involves giving favor to rulings that dispel hardship and bring ease to people.[22] This doctrine was justified directly by the Qur'an: "Allah desires you ease and good, not hardship".[24] Though its main adherents were Abu Hanifa and his pupils (such as Abu Yusuf), Malik and his students made use of it to some degree. The source was subject to extensive discussion and argumentation,[25] and its opponents claimed that it often departs from the primary sources.[22]
              This doctrine was useful in the Islamic world outside the Middle East where the Muslims encountered environments and challenges they had been unfamiliar with in Arabia.[23] One example of isthisan is cited as follows: If a well is contaminated it may not be used for ritual purification. Istihsan suggests that withdrawing a certain number of buckets of water from the well will remove the impurities. Analogical deduction (qiyas), however, says that despite removing some of the water, a small concentration of contaminants will always remain in the well (or the well walls) rendering the well impure. The application of analogical deduction means the public may not use the well, and therefore causes hardship. Thus the principle of istihsan is applied, and the public may use the well for ritual purification.[24]

Public good

                  Imam Malik developed a tertiary source called al-maslaha al-mursalah, which means social benefit. According to this source of Islamic law, rulings can be pronounced in accordance with the "underlying meaning of the revealed text in the light of public interest". In this case the jurists uses his wisdom to pursue public interest. This source is rejected by the Shafi'is.[22]

Textual indication

                Shafi'i accepted cases in which he had to be more flexible with the application of Qisas. Similar to Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik, he developed a tertiary source of legislation. The Shafi'i school adopted istidlal, a process of seeking guidance from the source. Istidlal allowed the jurists to avoid "strict analogy" in a case where no clear precedent could be found. In this case, public interest was distinguished as a basis for legislation.[22]
               Scholars divide istdilal into three types. The first is the expression of the connection existing between one proposition and another without any specific effective cause. Next, istidlal could mean presumption that a state of things, which is not proved to have ceased, still continues. The final type of istidlal is the authority as to the revealed laws previous to Islam.[26]

Reason

Main article: Ijtihad
             Shi'ite jurists maintain that if a solution to a problem can not be found from the primary sources, then aql or reason should be given free rein to deduce a proper response from the primary sources. The process, whereby rational efforts are made by the jurist to arrive at an appropriate ruling, when applied is called ijtihad (literally meaning "exerting oneself"). Shi'ite jurists maintain that qiyas is a specific type of ijtihad. The Sunni Shafi' school of thought, however, holds that both qiyas and ijtihad are the same.[27]
                       Sunni jurists accepted ijtihad as a mechanism for deducing rulings. They, however, announced an end to its practice during the thirteenth century. The reason for this was that centers of Islamic learning (such as Baghdad, Nishapur, and Bukhara) had fallen into the hands of the Mongols. Thus, the "doors to ijtihad", were closed.[27] In Sunni Islam, thus, ijtihad was replaced by taqlid or the acceptance of doctrines developed previously.[28] Later in Sunni history, however, there were notable instances of jurists using reason to re-derive law from the first principles. One was Ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328), another was Ibn Rus̲h̲d (Averroes d. 595/1198).[28]
                 There are many justifications, found in the Qur'an and sunnah, for the use of ijtihad. For example, during a conversation with Mu'ādh ibn Jabal, Muhammad asked the former how he would give judgments. Mu'ādh replied that he would refer first to the Qur'an, then to the Sunnah and finally commit to ijtihad to make his own judgment. Muhammad approved of this.[29]
                  A lawyer who is qualified to use this source is called a mujtahid. The founders of the Sunni madhabs (schools of law) were considered such lawyers. All mujtahid exercise at the same time the powers of a mufti and can give fatwa. Some mujtahid have claimed to be muj̲addid, or "renewer of religion." Such persons are thought to appear in every century. In Shi'ite Islam they are regarded as the spokespersons of the hidden Imam.[28]

Common practice

Main article: Urf
                      The term urf, meaning "to know", refers to the customs and practices of a given society. Although this was not formally included in Islamic law,[30] the Sharia recognizes customs that prevailed at the time of Muhammad but were not abrogated by the Qur'an or the tradition (called "Divine silence"). Practices later innovated are also justified, since Islamic tradition says what the people, in general, consider good is also considered as such by God. According to some sources, urf holds as much authority as ijma (consensus), and more than qiyas (analogical deduction). Urf is the Islamic equivalent of "common law".[31]
                       Urf was first recognized by Abū Yūsuf (d. 182/798), an early leader of the Ḥanafī school. However, it was considered part of the sunnah, and not as formal source. Later al-Sarak̲h̲sī (d. 483/1090), opposed it, holding that custom cannot prevail over a written text.[30]
                   According to Sunni jurisprudence, in the application of urf, custom that is accepted into law should be commonly prevalent in the region, not merely in an isolated locality. If it is in absolute opposition to Islamic texts, custom is disregarded. However, if it is in opposition to qiyas (analogical deduction), custom is given preference. Jurists also tend to, with caution, give precedence to custom over doctoral opinions of highly esteemed scholars.[31] Shia does not consider custom as a source of jurisprudence.
1.       ^ a b c d e f g h Mutahhari, Morteza. "Jurisprudence and its Principles". Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
2.       ^ "Shari`ah and Fiqh". USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts. University of Southern California. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
3.       ^ Motahhari, Morteza. "The Role of Ijtihad in Legislation". Al-Tawhid. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
4.       ^ Momen (1985), p.185–187 and 223–234
5.       ^ Momen (1985), p.188
6.       ^ a b Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p. 3–4
7.       ^ a b c d Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p. 4–7
8.       ^ Quran 59:7
9.       ^ Qadri (1986), p. 191
10.    ^ "Hadith", Encyclopedia of Islam.
11.    ^ Berg (2000) p. 8
12.    ^ See:
§  Robinson (2003) pp. 69–70;
§  Lucas (2004) p. 15
13.    ^ Makdisi, John (1985). "Legal Logic and Equity in Islamic Law", The American Journal of Comparative Law, 33 (1): 63-92
14.    ^ a b Mahmasani, S. Falsafe-e Ghanoongozari dar Eslam. Tehran: Amir Kabir. pg. 143
15.    ^ Verses Quran 2:143, Quran 3:103, Quran 3:110, Quran 4:59, Quran 4:115 and Quran 9:119 are presented by Mahmasani.
16.    ^ Muslehuddin, M. Philosophy of Islamic Law and the Orientalists. New Delhi: Taj printers, 1986. pg.146
17.    ^ a b c Encyclopædia Britannica, Ijma.
18.    ^ "Id̲j̲māʿ", Encyclopaedia of Islam
19.    ^ a b Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p. 7–9
20.    ^ a b c d e f Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p. 9–12
21.    ^ Mahmasani, S. Falsafe-e Ghanoongozari dar Eslam. Tehran: Amir Kabir. pg. 140
22.    ^ a b c d e f Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p. 13–15
23.    ^ a b Encyclopædia Britannica, Istihsan
24.    ^ a b c Hasan (2004), p.157–160
25.    ^ Hallaq, "Considerations on the Function and Character of Sunnī Legal Theory".
26.    ^ Hodkinson, Keith. Muslim Family Law: A Sourcebook. India: Routledge, 1984.
27.    ^ a b Nomani and Rahnema (1994), p.15–16
28.    ^ a b c Ijtihad, Encyclopaedia of Islam
29.    ^ ʻAlwānī (1973), p. 9
30.    ^ a b "Urf", Encyclopaedia of Islam
31.    ^ a b Hasan (2004), p. 169–71

[edit] References

·         The New Encyclopædia Britannica (Rev Ed ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica, Incorporated. 2005. ISBN 978-1-59339-236-9.
·         Libson, G.; Stewart, F.H. "ʿUrf." Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2008. Brill Online. 10 April 2008

[edit] Further reading



THE SUNNAH IS THE SECOND SOURCE OF LAW

By: Sayyidi wa Imami al-Habib Ahmad Mash-hur bin Taha al-Haddad
Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu
In addition to knowing that the Sunnah is the corpus of the sayings of the Messenger of Allāh, may the blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him as well as upon his kinsmen, and that it is also the corpus of his actions and of his approvals, you should also know that it derives from unrecited revelation as Allāh, the Exalted, says: Nor does he (the Prophet) say (aught) of his own desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him (Najm 53:3-4). And Allāh, the Exalted, also said: For Allāh has sent down to you the Book and Wisdom and taught you what you knew’st not (before): and great is the Grace of Allāh unto you (Nisaa 4:113). And the Book is the Qur’ān and the Wisdom is the Sunnah which Allāh has sent down via revelation and inspiration.
Indeed, it is distinguishable from the Qur’ān in the sense that the Qur’ān and its Arabic locutions have been revealed from Allāh and that no man can compose anything remotely similar to the Qur’ān in whole or in the shortest of its Sūrahs and that the Qur’ān is a miracle abiding and enduring on the face of time and preserved from being changed and modified; and many other specialities apply to the Qur’ān but not to the Sunnah. These are that there is prescribed a reward for recitation of the Qur’ān, and that it is disallowed to transmit it by meaning and for a ritually unclean person it is not allowed to either touch where it is written neither to carry it. Such ordinances do not apply to the Traditions whether they are Hadith Qudsi or otherwise.
The Sunnah constitute an exposition and commentary on the Qur’ān. Says Allāh, the Exalted: And We have sent down unto you (also) the Message that you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought (Nahl 16:44). And the Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him and his kinsmen, accordingly explained and detailed and clarified in words and actions and approval what was revealed in the Book in general terms, like for example the number of Rak‘aas in the prescribed prayers, their appointed times, their stipulations, their Sunnah, the appointed portions on what Zakāt is due, and also issues concerning Fasting and rituals in Pilgrimage and ‘Umrah. These include the pillars of these devotions, their stipulations, what corrupts them etc. As is the case with Sunnah, in that it has come up with judgements for which there is no exhaustive provision under the headings of transactions - mu‘āmalāt- and also under ethics and morals and merits for acts of virtue. The import of all this is that such guidance as the Sunnah offers organises a whole range of affairs of life and it all derives from the Prophet upon whom be blessings and peace of Allāh, and we have accordingly been commanded to abide by them as Allāh, the Exalted, says: You have indeed in the Apostle of Allāh a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allāh and the Final Day (Ahzab 33:21) and says Allāh, the Exalted: Say: If you do love Allāh, follow me: Allāh will love you (Āl-i ‘Imran 3:31). And thus does the servant who obeys and follows in the footsteps of the Greatest Beloved of Allāh, may the peace of Allāh be upon him and his kinsmen, such a one himself becomes the beloved of Allāh by virtue of his loving the Most Beloved of Allāh.
And what a beautiful line is Majnūn’s when talking of Layla in a similar context:
Layla he saw
And pined for no other
He saw no other beauty
Save Layla’s alone
His is the kingdom
His the crown
If she sees in him
What he sees in her.
And says Allāh, the Exalted: So obey Allāh and obey His Apostle: but if you turn back, the duty of Our Apostle is but to proclaim (the Message) clearly and openly (Al-Taghabun 64:12). And says Allāh, the Exalted: He who obeys the Apostle, obeys Allāh (an-Nisaa 4:80). And says the Exalted: So take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves what he withholds from you (al-Hashr 59:7). The overriding consideration is the universal application of the verse and not the specific circumstance of the verse itself.
The rule implicit in the judgement has general application and extends to all ordinances and prohibitions as is the case with other verses and the many Traditions. Among them is the statement of the Prophet, may the blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him and his kinsmen, in which he says: “The whole of my ummah will enter Paradise except he who refuses.” “And who refuses, O Messenger of Allāh?” someone asked. He said: “Who obeys me will enter Paradise and who disobeys me has refused.” And says the Exalted: But no, by thy Lord, they can have no real Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions, but accept them with fullest conviction (an-Nisaa 4:65). And says the Exalted: Then let those beware who withstand the Apostle’s order, lest some trial befall them, or a grievous Penalty be inflicted upon them (an-Nur 24:63)
Verily, Allāh, the Exalted, has ordered in His Book the adherence to the Sunnah of His Apostle as a matter of both bounden duty and obligation so much so that Faith itself is invalid without following him. And the rejection of the compliance with the Sunnah is an act of unbelief because it is the rejection of what the Qur’ān enjoins.
And for this reason Muslims have taken special care from the times of the Companions to our own times; they recorded the Sunnah as pointed out earlier; they transmitted it verbally and in writing and researched it in a most thorough manner, preserved it accurately, rigorously examined and edited it. And in the circumstances none will desecrate the Sunnah and distance himself from it except one who entertains a weak faith in the Sunnah’s persona, one who is totally removed from the community of Muslims in their path and creed, one who is in fact ignorant of Islām or one who is manifestly hostile to it.
Source: Al-‘Allama The Majestic Shaykh as-Sayyid al-Habib Ahmad Mash-hur bin Taha al-Haddad al-‘Alawi al-Husayni al-Hadhrami, Miftah al-Jannah (The Key To Paradise), translated from Arabic by Shaykh Mohamed Mlamali Adam in consultation with Sayyid ‘Omar ‘Abdallah, Iqra’ Publications, Memon Jamat Nairobi, 1409/1989, p. 58-60.

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