In my opinion you are misunderstanding the issue. Adopting Taqwa and acting on "Fatwa" of a righteous Scholar is one and the same thing and no different.
I am not able to distinguish and differentiate between the Fatwa of Shaykh (Mufti) Taqi Usmani (HA) and Shaykh (Mufti) Ebraheem Desai (HA) and there is no obligation on me to pick the harder Fatwa. In fact I can pick (out of the two) which is easiest for me and that is fine.
Laymen is not required to be "Fatwa James Bond", we simply consult Ulamah and act. Sahabah (RA) went to Nabi (Sallalaho Alaihe Wassallam), heard and obeyed and after that they went to their Senior Sahabah (RA) "again" heard and obeyed.
Brother Muadh, you've yet to specify which other examples were incorrect and now you claim that I misunderstood the issue. Could you please be more specific what was incorrect and what exactly I have misunderstood.
I merely emphasized the importance of taqwa in general which involves abstaining from doubtful matters. I fail to see what was incorrect about the three points I made:
1) There are many levels of taqwa one of the important aspects of which is abstaining from doubtful matters.
2) When a layperson is confronted with two sets of rulings - one stating permissibility and another stating prohibition - then it is best to take the path of taqwa that involves staying away from doubtful matters.
For example, Mufti Taqi permits some forms of Mortgages whilst many senior Ulama vehemently prohibit it and regard such forms of mortgages as riba-based (including Mufti Ibrahim Desai). It is better for a person who is aware of the two sets of rulings, to adopt the path of taqwa that involves abstaining from doubtful matters.
3) The Sahabahs (radhiyallahu anhum) possessed the highest levels of taqwa. In fact, they would abstain from the majority of the permissible in order to avoid the risk of falling into doubtful or Haraam matters. Whilst no-one again will be able to match their level of taqwa, we should all at least aim to have their attitude and encourage each other to do so.
So, I re-iterate again, I completely fail to see what was so incorrect about the points I made and what exactly have I misunderstood. I would be grateful if you could point out precisely where exactly have I erred so that we could then discuss the incorrectness/correctness of that particular point inshAllah.
Seriously guys be easy going amongst yourselves. No serious topic such as bidah/shirk is being discussed.
Relax none of you guys will be questioned about this in the grave, you have your differences and understanding just like all brothers do, no big issue, smile hug and move on with no ill feelings towards anyone.
Debate? I don't think anyone (sensible) here is intending to arrange a debate. Your nafs disagrees with everyone going against your opinion and desperately wants to establish what you think. When proof was provided, you just ignored. These attitudes completely match with your username and this isn't character assassination.
Last night I saw a dream, in which people were chasing me and trying to harm me. They looked like people but they weren't people, in the end I asked them' bhai mainay aap kya bighara hai' ? (What have I ruined for yours ) I was told off for my trolling brothers here, and therefore they have come to teach me a lesson, I guess some of you guys are big Allah-waaala's man, I'm sweating whilst writing this right now..
I would like to apologise to everyone in this thread. I admit I was trolling and acting like a know it all, despite you all putting your points forward which were perfectly valid and I dismissed without even considering them
So can everyone please forgive me, I've wronged myself severely in this thread, something which I am deeply ashamed of, if this was in real life I would have gotten on my knees and grabbed your feet and begged for forgiveness. So please brothers please do forgive this pathetic little sinner. I'm deeply ashamed by my childish behaviour. Guys I'm only 12 so I hope you understand. Plus I don't want to be haunted in my dream again
May Allah (azza wa jal) reward you and grant even more Barakah in your knowledge. I am amazed at your knowledge considering your young age, Masha-Allah.
Please forgive me too if I had written anything that offended you.
So uncle muadh if I come across a fatwa by an azhari permitting x,y,z can I follow it on the basis that I do not know...and the person knows??? I am just trying to understand this point. Also how about if I follow a blatently wrong fatwa. e.g. a certain place is darul harb and thus my girlfriend is permissible for me etc and other such ludicrous things.
Muadh keeps saying layman is not obliged to follow "taqwa" - well who said that? The most frequent command in Qur'an is "ittaqullah" "HAVE TAQWA OF ALLAH". So yes, it is a GREAT NEED to strive towards Taqwa.
Taqwa MUST be the ideal for everyone. Now, if you say "who defines taqwa?" - then this is a separate question which every believer must search for honestly in themselves. Taqwa simply means to avoid sin. And Nabi SAW defined sin as "that which causes disturbance in your chest, and you dislike others to learn about it". And it is also said "take fatwa from your heart" (istafti qalbak). This is preconditioned that a person is sincere in their belief, sincere with their relationship with Allah, and they just want to come close to ALLAH.
With respect, what Muadh is saying is, in fact, INCORRECT. Remember the Hadith, I've written it out below which you can find in 40 hadith of Nawawi RA
Indeed Halal is clear, and Haram is clear and between them are matters which are doubtful about which many people do not know about. The one who has TAQWA (abstains) from doubtful matters, he has safeguarded his DEEN and HONOUR, but he who falls into DOUBTFUL, he will (eventually) fall into HARAM, like the shepherd who pastures around the boundary, .......... Truly every king has a boundary, and truly ALLAH's boundary is the HARAM. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.
Subhanallah - to those people who are questioning "fatwa vs taqwa" - it is IN HADITH. Hadith makes distinction between "HARAM" and "TAQWA".
When a person strives for TAQWA they will also learn HUSN AZ -ZANN - so one should always seek the good in people. Therefore, TAQWA is a very personal struggle, one which is related to the slaves loving relationship with ALLAH. No one should be discouraged from it, in fact, if you read the Quran, you will struggle to find a single page without mention of TAQWA! The Quran is "hudan lil muttaqeen" - GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE OF TAQWA. So if you want HIDAYAT, you need to work for TAQWA.
If I see two Fatwas, and I have capacity to struggle (make mujahadah) and take the precautionary option, then it is better for me - this is TAQWA.
People have misused, and abused, this concept of "The Deen is easy". My friend, Deen is easy because, Deen is an act of LOVE. When the 'abd is in LOVE, then every Mujahadah is EASY!!!
Regarding taking "rukhsa" (dispensation) - YES, taking rukhsa with intention of following Sunnah, is very good. For example, if you are Musafir, then you SHOULD take rukhsa to say "I don't have to pray my Salat in masjid with Jamat" - and this is very powerful in showing your weakness and gratitude to BELOVED ALMIGHTY ALLAH.
You see, TAQWA has to be TRANSFERRED - it is a KAYFIYAT, from one heart to another. TAQWA is not found in books. How do I know that following "rukhsa" isn't against TAQWA? YOU HAVE TO LEARN THIS FROM THE MASHAYIKH, WHEN TO TAKE RUKHSA, WHEN NOT TO?
Imam Abu Hanifah RA never ate the sheep - but his fatwa was that it is "jaaiz". There are many stories like this. They are following TAQWA.
May Allah SWT give us tawfeeq to at least do some AMR BIL MA'ROOF and at least encourage TAQWA, even if we haven't attained it ourselves.
HAZRAT PEER ZULFIQAR SAHIB NAQSHBANDI says (paraphrased): "there is no set limit on TAQWA". This means taqwa is INFINITE, LIFELONG. So the one who is saying "what about restaurant VS eating at home" or "bank VS no-bank" - my friend, you should at least earn SOMETHING, instead of NOTHING! Try SOME taqwa, instead of ZERO TAQWA!!
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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