The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam

mhamzah

Junior Member
:salam2:

The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam

http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/TA_edi/chapter3.html

Few Hadiths fom the Book

During the Battle of the Confederates, the Prophet is reported to have said to his Companions: "Do not perform the mid-afternoon (`asr) salaah until you get to the [place of] Banoo Qurayzah." While still on their way, the time of the salaah came. Some of the companions said, "We will not perform the salaah until we get to the [place of] Banoo Qurayzah" while some others said, "We shall pray. That [saying of the Prophet] will not prevent us [from praying now]." The matter was later brought before the Prophet and he did not disapprove of either group. [See Fath al Baaree commentary on Saheeh al Bukhaaree, 7/313; Saheeh Muslim, the Book of al Salaah.]

Differences over the Prophet's (pbuh) Burial

The second issue on which the Companions differed concerned the place where the Prophet should be buried. One person said: "We should bury him in his mosque." Another said: "We should bury him next to his Companions." Aboo Bakr then said: "I heard the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, say: `Whenever a prophet died he was buried where he died.'" Thereupon, the bed on which the Prophet died was raised and his grave was dug beneath it. [ Ibn Hishaam, Seerah, 2/661, 666. It is related that `Umar ibn al Khattaab said something similar when he gave his oath of allegiance (bay`ah) to Aboo Bakr in the Prophet's mosque, Also al Tirmidhee, Sunan, hadeeth 1018.]

Umar ibn al Khattaab and `AlI ibn Abee Taalib, May Allah be pleased with them

There was a woman whose husband was away. `Umar, who was then the khaleefah, was told that she admitted men into her house in the absence of her husband. As `Umar disapproved of this, he sent someone to summon her to him. "Go to `Umar," she was told and she said: "Oh, woe unto me! Why should `Umar want to see me?" The woman was pregnant, and on her way to him she was so scared that she went into labor. She therefore entered a house where she gave birth to a child who died shortly afterwards. `Umar consulted the Companions of the Prophet, some of whom advised that he was not to be blamed for anything; he was only doing what his office required of him. `Ali, on the other hand, kept silent. Noticing that, `Umar came up to `Ali and asked him: "What do you say?" `Ali replied: "If what these Companions said is what they really think, then their opinion is wrong. But if they said that in order to please you, they have not given you proper advice. I believe that you have to pay compensation for the child. It is you who scared the woman, and she miscarried because of you." [ Transmitted by Muslim, Aboo Daawood, al Nasaa'ee, Ibn Hibbaan and others.]

Umar yielded to the opinion of `Ali without feeling any resentment in acting on his verdict, even though he was the head of the Muslim state.

:wasalam:
 

mhamzah

Junior Member
:salam2:

Lately there have been many unnecessary disagreements on this website. If we keep few basic principles in mind a lot of this can be avoided. First of all,

1. Let us start to respect each other’s view:

If you feel someone isn’t doing a thing properly than politely point to him/her. There are a lot of ‘so called’ scholars out there, it is important when you mention something you provide reliable evidence (verse from the Quran or Hadith) on the issue. If still the other person disagrees, than let us start to respect each others view or as they say let us agree to disagree.

2. Burden of proof:

In issues concerning religion everything is forbidden except those things that are permissible, where as in worldly matters everything is permissible except things that are forbidden (wine, gambling to name a few).

So in religious affairs the burden of proof lies on the one who says a religious duty should be done in a particular manner. Where as in worldly affairs the burden of proof lies on the one who says a thing is forbidden (for example if some one says pictures are not allowed in Islam, he has to bring proof from Quran and Sunnah, not that I am saying pictures are allowed).

3. Interpreting vs. teaching:

Scholars don’t interpret the Quran and Hadith; rather they teach the Quran and Hadith. When we say only scholars can interpret the Quran and Hadith it implies as if one few selected people can understand Quran and Hadith. This is not what the scholars of Tafisr and fiqh do; rather they teach us how to understand the Quran. For example when ever there is an implicit verse in the Quran, Tafisr will point to an explicit verse on that issue. That’s based on the principal mentioned in the Quran (3:7).

Quran tells us to ask people of Knowledge.

So ask the People of Knowledge if you do not know (21:47)

However an important Hadith needs to be kept in mind, 'Do not follow any scholar blindly'

4. Brother Shaheepak:

Brother, you need to get married soon. Nah, Ignore that.

:wasalam:
 
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