Keeping the hair long for men

Imam Ahmad (r) was asked about keeping the hair long for men. He said: ❝It is a good recommended Sunnah; had we (I) been able to act upon it we would have, but it requires effort (in looking after it well).❞ [Masa-il ‘Abdillah b. Ahmad] So the Imam (r) considered it a recommended practice. But […]

The evidence itself

❝The way you, or your teacher, or your group understand an evidence is not the evidence itself. The one who rejects your understanding, on which there is no consensus, is not rejecting the evidence itself. If a person understands the evidence in a plausible manner and has authoritative scholars of the past holding the same […]

Following one Madhhab on every issue?

According to our madhhab, following one madhhab on every issue is not obligatory. So, it is permissible to follow one scholar or madhhab on one issue, and a different madhhab on another issue. On the condition that you do not do this simply because it suits you or is in accordance with your desires. [See […]

What suffices a layperson?

If a layperson does his best to ask a scholar that he trusts to give him the Islamic ruling on a particular issue, then he has done what Allah has commanded him to do, and this suffices him in this life and the next. The layperson is not responsible for knowing the evidence of his […]

‘Shaykhu-l Madhhab’

The title of ‘Shaykhu-l Madhhab’ is generally given to three of the Imams of the madhhab: 1. Qadi Abu Ya’la (380 AH – 458 AH) 2. Imam Muwaffaq ibn Qudamah (541 AH – 620 AH) 3. Qadi ‘Ala al-Din al-Mardawi (817 AH – 885 AH) [See al-Madkhal al-Mufassal]

Asking more than one Scholar?

The questioner should not ask more than one scholar. You ask four or five people, then you claim that you are confused. You were hard on yourself so things were made hard for you as was done with Bani Isra-il. Your job is to find someone whose religion and knowledge you trust and ask them. […]

Al-Taghaful…

Al-Taghaful… ❝A man said to Imam Ahmad (r) that attaining a state of well-being is ten parts, nine of it is al-Taghaful. The Imam replied, “Rather, (well-being) is ten parts and all of it is in Taghaful.”❞ [Kitabu-l Furu’ of Ibn Muflih (r)] Al-Taghaful is a forgotten virtue which involves overlooking people’s faults, sins, shortcomings, […]

“This ruling has no basis/evidence.”

Some thoughts on the statement, “This ruling has no basis/evidence.” ❝Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim Often we hear certain students of knowledge say, whilst explaining textbooks or in their Fatwas, that, “There is no basis/evidence for this.” In my opinion, these words aren’t appropriate for a number of reasons: 1) To negate the presence of any evidence […]

Clapping and Whistling

Shaykh ‘Abdu-l Qadir al-Jilani al-Hanbali (r) said: ❝Clapping and whistling is Makruh (disliked).❞ This is the apparent position of the Madhhab. [Al-Adab al-Shar’iyyah by Ibn Muflih (r)]

Advice to the one who Initiates Salam to a group

❝Abu ‘Abdillah Ahmad b. Hanbal (r) was asked about a man who walks past a group of people and gives them Salam but none of them return his Salam. He (r) replied, “The man should walk faster so that he isn’t affected by the curse (that is about to befall them).”❞ — Mufti of the […]