Assalamu Alaykum,
With Mashwarah, much thought and with the push required from a very useful post from aaa, debates are now banned on muftisays forums in all the public categories.
A lot of light has been shed in this topic about the spiritual harms of endless debates by people without knowledge in the subject. http://www.muftisays.com/forums/peoples-say/6285/debates.html
What happened to Muftisays Forums?
Muftisays.com forums was added to share information, help, learn, teach and pass good time as a substitute for games web sites and other sites which waste time. Alhamdulillah thousands have spent many hours on the site to achieve just that. One of our most popular categories (in terms of views and time spent) is "the lighter side"
Bad Image
Many non-Muslims visit the site too and will be completely baffled and find us a joke to witness such debates which to them is meaningless. Picture the following:
John: Hey Hamzah! Check this page out, what are they arguing about? I don't get it and they're at each other's throats
Hamzah: Well, they're arguing about whether to raise the hands before bowing down to their lord or not.
John: What's wrong if you do or don't?
Hamzah: Well, neither is wrong. Both are correct
John: So why are they arguing?
What is the answer?
Well, the answer is, we're simply identifying or learning which opinion is stronger as BOTH are proven in Saheeh Ahadeeth. Now to go beyond this is where the endless debates and arguments and virtual fights occur. In some cases, threats too.
To demolish this illness, all Fiqhi debates and arguments will now be moved to a private section where only those interested will see it. This is not an open group nor is it for public viewing. This group will not be monitored nor will it be censored as much time has been wasted in the past week not to make the Muslim Ummah look like a laughing stock.
My personal advice is to avoid it unless you have knowledge in the subjects.
A few regulations and advice on refuting
Please follow these steps to refute anything in the Hanafi Madhab or the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah in general. If not the following then simply read it and decide for yourself what the most sensible method would be.
- State your claims clearly with the original texts, sources and names if required.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : لو يعطى الناس بدعواهم ، لادعى رجال أموال قوم ودماءهم لكن البينة على المدعي واليمين على من أنكر . حديث حسن ، رواه البيهقي وغيره هكذا ، وبعضه في " الصحيحين " .
Ibn 'Abbas, radiyallahu 'anhu, said that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said: "Were people to be given according to their claims, some would claim the wealth and blood of others. But the burden of proof is upon the claimant and the taking of an oath is upon the one who denies (the allegation)." [A Hasan Hadith which al-Bayhaqi and others have narrated and parts of it are in Bukhari & Muslim]
- Take the claims to a qualified scholar. Do not start posting it in public sections where the general public would just run. If I find something wrong with my computer, I will not take it to a plumber and eat his head about it. This is very important. GO TO THE ULAMAA FIRST
- If the scholar answers, get it in writing and do not try to memorise the reply as it will be changed overtime.
- If the scholar refuses to answer, ask the reason and get the reason in writing too.
- If the scholar forwards you to a book, an article or another scholar, it is upon you to follow up on that as this scholar may not be as well versed in the subject as the one you are being referred to.
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه narrates that ‘Umar ibn Khattab gave a sermon at Jabiyah and said, “O people! If you want to know about the Qur’aan, go to ‘Ubaid ibn Ka’b. If you want to know about inheritance, go to Zaid ibn Thaabit. If you want to about Fiqh, go to Mu’aadh ibn Jabal. If you want to know about wealth, then come to me for Allah has made me a guardian and a distributor. “ (Tabarani)
Was Umar رضي الله عنه not capable of answering questions about the Qur'aan? Or inheritance? So being forwarded to another scholar is not a thing to claim that you were refused an answer.
- If you were forwarded to a book and the answer you seek was not there, DO NOT USE THIS AS A CONCLUSION. Go back to the scholar and request help in the matter.
- If after trying genuinely, you were not given any answers, you can continue to pursue the issue on a more public domain such as this forum and others like it. Allow time and space for someone to attend to it and don't overwhelm otherwise it turns into what's been happening lately (endless and rotating debates).
Remember, the forum DOES NOT have Muftis and scholars on it. It is for the general public. Aalims may use the forum too not at a curricular level. For that we have schools, organisations, Masaajid and teachers within.
The above decision is not for discussion nor will it be revoked. If one still feels issues with it, there is always the option of simply leaving. If you truly believe that guidance is in your hands and not in Allah's then pursue endlessly. Otherwise remember that your message itself should be sufficient.
One must also remember that this site and it contents represents a strict adherence to the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah. Contents which disturb you will not be removed if it complies with the defence of our A'immah, the Aslaaf. The oneness of Allah disturbs the Christians and Hindus but they do not bombard the forum asking for us to remove the Kalimah from the site or to filter anything contrary. If you wish to propagate your beliefs, please use your own web sites the same way the rest of the world does. I truly hope this message was clear and makes sense to all parties.
Jazakumullah
