Do you know if a translation is available, or in progress? Also do you know of an example where you have ahadith from either sahih Muslim or Bukhari that apparantly contradict each other, but the contradiction is resolved by the jurists?
jazakAllah khair

Thanks again for your comment. I’m happy to hear that you are enjoying the class.

The criteria of reliable scholarship is where they get their knowledge from: if they are get their fiqh knowledge from one of the four schools of law, for example–any of them–and they answer questions based on this inherited knowledge, then their knowledge is reliable because they are basing their answers on the work of a millennium of first-rank cooperative scholarship. If–as is mentioned in the blog post–they are “going it alone”, then their knowledge is not reliable.

Unfortunately (or forutnately, depending on how you look at it), the ability to understand this requires the common Muslim to raise their level of knowledge to a degree where they are able to recognize reliable scholarship from unreliable scholarship. This means spending time and effort learning one’s religion in a reliable manner.

We live in confusing times. The lack of knowledge and the spread of confusion is actually one of ths signs of the end of time. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) foretold this in many sahih hadiths, including the following two hadiths, both of which are related by Bukhari:

“Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the hearts of people, but He takes away knowledge by taking away scholars, until when not a single scholar remains, people take ignorant people as their leaders, who are asked and give legal opinion without knowledge, going astray themselves, and leading others astray.”

“Verily, among the signs of the hour is that knowledge will be lifted up and that ignorance will become firmly entrenched …”

The material in this course used to be self-evident knowledge to Muslims all over the world. The reason why this has become a problem is because scholars are few and far between, and ignorance is widespread.

What is the solution? If you find that you have a reliable way to acquire knowledge, acquire it before it’s too late and even that avenue disappears.

First, the lost la illaha illa Allah, or at least some of it.

Second, and as a consequence of (1), they lost Muhammad (saw) rasulullah, or at least some of it to the degree of what they lost of la illaha illah Allah.

Third, and as consequence of (2), they lost confidence in Scholars of sound knowledge i.e. the inheritors of Muhammad (saw), or at least some confidence to the degree of what they lost of Muhammad (saw) rasulullah – but they perceive it not.

Forth, they lost Guidance, or put differently, they got lost to the degree of what they lost of confidence in Scholars of knowledge.

“..other books are difficult and complex.”

Okay – after the first lesson I see what you mean. I am still trying to digest the material. It is quite complex.

It is an excellent class and you are doing an exceptional job covering the material.

I think definitely it will create a tremendous amount of respect and confidence in the scholars and the efforts they put in analyzing the hadiths.

Regarding your comment on scholars – what criteria does one use to determine if one is a scholar or not? There are too many people saying they are scholars in Islam and they hurl hadiths and ayahs at the speed of light. It could be that some of them caused a negative opinion toward people of knowledge in general and that is why group 2 likes to go it alone on their own.

Unless this has been a general problem since Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings upon him). My point is we should always look at the cause and not just the symptoms.

How did people overtime lose their confidence in Scholars of sound knowledge? What happened that we need to accept accountability for?

wasalaam,
Fedwa

You are absolutely right: the way forward is to connect the masses to people of knowledge.

The masses, however, fall into two categories. Some of them are like you: they know that they don’t know and all they need is a small push in the right direction and they’re on their way.

Others don’t know that they don’t know: they actually do think that all there is to the matter is to “go it alone”. What’s worse is that a large number of people who fall into this category go around spreading this mistaken approach among the masses. This goal of this course is to discuss and counter the issues raised by this group of people. Unless this is done, the masses won’t realize the importance of connecting to people of knowledge.

(As a sidenote, what I mean by “people of knowledge” is the great scholars of the past, such as the four imams and their great students.)

As for reading the book 50 times, I didn’t mean to say that we need to spend our entire life locked in a room re-reading the same book time after time until we become like robots who can tell you exactly which page and line a particular word occurs in.

Rather, I meant that the book is a deep book that is so full of insight and knowledge, that a couple of cursory readings don’t give you everything that you can gain from it. Some books are easy and superficial, other books are difficult and complex. The latter type require repetitive reflection before they can be fully understood. I think you’ll appreciate this more once the course is over.

I’m very happy that you took the course and I look forward to hearing your questions in class and on the discussion forums.

Hamza.

I have a comment regarding those who go it alone. I am one of those who went it alone for quite awhile. Not because I felt very smart and brillant in my ability to figure things out – but at times that is what is available. Particulary for women – at times that is the only choice you have.

From where I am residing I feel people are open to listening to those with knowledge. The issue is access. It is not always easy to get hold of people with knowledge to clarify issues. Not all of us can really pack up and travel to far away lands and live there to study.

Maybe I am wrong in this logic – Instead of reading a book 50 times, I think 10 is enough, and making time for those non-scholars who go it alone is better than reading it 40 more times.

I think the dilemma facing us is to connect people with sound knowledge of Islam to the grassroots and the masses. Convincing them to not go it alone is not an issue.

I am enrolled in the class you are preparing for.

wasalaam,
Fedwa