The Four Imams

Their disagreement on certain matters established for those who came after them the legitimacy of disagreeing on those and similar matters. Their variant conclusions were worthy of due consideration and not indications of religious deviance. This is because those conclusions were drawn directly from the sacred texts or deduced using sound methodological principles.

All of them were rewarded for the effort they made to ascertain the truth in a matter of religious importance. We might argue that in the face of clearly conflicting opinions, only one of those opinions can be correct. Yet if we look at the matter from the angle of the legitimacy of disagreement itself, we can see their differences as an indicator that a plurality of views is tenable in such matters. It is as if the imams agreed that the question is open to multiple perspectives, and this is why they did not censure each other when they differed.

Therefore, leave them with what they have, and let the people of each province decide for themselves what is best for them. The jurists will always disagree. One will permit something that another deems to be unlawful. However, neither one will censure the other for it. If that had been the case, there would be no leeway in the religion. Ishaq ibn Buhlul presented to Imam Ahmad a book he had written compiling together matters in which the companions and their immediate successors disagreed.

He told Ahmad that he had titled it The Book of Disagreements. Imam Ahmad told him: This clearly shows a mindset that can easily accommodate disagreement and engage comfortably with a plurality of opinion. This is a far cry from seeking uniformity or certainty in all matters. It is a recognition that though some things are certain, much is not, and people must be allowed to have differing views on such matters. Otherwise, they will be tried sorely in their faith and their worldly lives will be made unbearable. This system was devoted to dealing with matters of a religious import and had taken the idea of plurality as a central value.

The four imams inherited from them the religious and scholarly authority, and from then on a plurality of viewpoints became the order of the day in the Muslim world. The same thing did not happen in the political sphere. Political authority became absolute.

• The Nemesis, The Wizard and The Waterfall. Book Four.?
• Imam - Wikipedia.
• Review Overview.
• Church & Stage: Producing Theater for Education, Praxis, Outreach and Fundraising.
• .
• The Four Great Imams of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh)?

No political parties or currents developed in the Muslim world which could guarantee balance and leniency or provide any checks and balances upon the wielding of political power. Though it is true that the four imams lived in a unique and exceptional time in history, we live in equally extraordinary times today. The pace of change is unprecedented, as well as the rate of new discoveries. This is not a vain hope. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:.

You never know whether the beginning or end of it is the best. Today, educational opportunities are more accessible than ever. Books, including the great encyclopedic legal works, have become widely available in print. Schools are faculties that have been established everywhere. Communications have become easy from one corner of the world to the other, and people enjoy greater freedom of opinion and expression.

He strongly believed in the orthodox doctrine of Islam and propagated it. He was a great jurist but was reluctant to give fatwa. A l-Mukhtasar by al-Khiraqi is the first written manual of fiqh and an introductory work on Hanbali fiqh. This was against the orthodox Muslim belief. The caliph forced all of the scholars of the time to accept this belief and most of them did but Imam Ahmad completely disregarded the pressure and refused to accept this heresy. As a result, he was imprisoned and severely tortured for over two years.

He would not mention in them anything of the worldly affairs; and I never saw him mention this world. His funeral procession was perhaps the largest in the history of Arabia; over one million people attended the funeral. Hasan Saleem is a seasoned Web professional with experience in planning, launching, and operating successful Web-based ventures.

Navigation menu

Also an ordinary Muslim scholar is better off following these prominent Imams as well. What a great article. May Allah bless u. Pls write more of such beautiful articles. We must respect all of our 4 imams and their followers too. Once upon a there were 4 men at well for water, all of them fetched water from the same well ar thier turn. It ws surprising that, all 4 of them had diferent colour of water from the same well,.

What was the reasknof that diference???? Can any one explain me that???

What Islam says about that?? JzK for gathering all the fruits and putting it in one basket!

Even these great Imams have said: The muslims of today are more keen on criticising the works of these illustrious Imams as if these Imams were some ordinary muslims. Well let us not get divided of The issue of being Shafi,Hanfe. We are Ummati Mohammad pbuh and we must focus on Quraan and Sahi Hadees…which all these great Imaams also laid stress on…let us be united as one Muslim community…..

Brother, nobody gets divided based on their school of thought. Those who reject Ijtihaad outrightly are the ones who unnecessarily create confusion among the muslim masses. May Allah guide us all, Aameen! May Allah reward u on this comprehensive details of this fathers of knowledge and may Allah forgive their shortcomings amin.

May reward u on this comprehensive details of this fathers of knowledge and may Allah forgive their shortcomings amin. Those are great Imams indeed yet it sadens me to not see our beloved Imam Al Ghazzali counted among the greatest imams of all time.

Thank for this beautiful article and may Allah grant you peace; Brother. It was a very informative article on the major Islamic schools of thought.

Islamhouse.com

I wish even the followers of these great imams have utmost respect for each other as the imams did. The fiqh is very important for the organization of the islamic law but the Ilm is the most important knowledge of Islam. Your email address will not be published. June 24, 28 Comments Religion Hasan.

He was regarded in the highest esteem by other three of the great imams. Hasan View all posts. MySchizoBuddy August 25,