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Bis-millaahir Rahmaanir Rahiym
I was wondering as to why there is no information in the section about Schools of Thought...then it dawned on me that it seems that the moderator and administrator of this site may be young and fairly new to the Diyn. So, Sabriyyah and I hope to open good dialog concerning our Perfect Diyn Al-Islaam, with the Niyyat of gaining the pleasure of our Rabb, and spreading the Diyn as it has been passed down for over 1400 years in its' prestine purity.
The very first concept that one must come to terms with in Islaam when approaching the science of Fiqh (Jurisprudence; Law) is Taqliyd.
We Western born Muslims tend to have a hard time dealing with the science of Fiqh because of the culture of the Americas and our life styles.
So, the first thing I try to teach my students is that Islaamic sciences all have their roots grounded firmly in nature. Thus, Taqliyd must have a natural existance with in the personality traits of people. If not, than the concept of taqliyd will be asked to be applied where it is abnormal or against our natural abilities as human...and this can not be, so let us test the concept of the natural existance of Taqliyd in all human beings.
Taqliyd: To accept the statements of another, while of the understanding
that those statements are in accordance with truth and fact.
The primary problem with adopting taqliyd with others is how we veiw them.
Taqliyd has to exist within the new born baby. If the child is told that a person is mama, at some point the child will accept this information and address the person as, "Mama".
As the child grows, it will start to ask Mama more questions, e.g. "What kind of fruit is this Mama?" and the Mother will explain, "Baby, that is a melon, and its' flesh is sweet." If the child does not have a natural disposition toward Taqliyd, the child will ask, "But, how do you know this, Mama?" The Mama will say, "Because my Mama taught this to me, Baby" And then if Taqliyd is not enough for the child, then the child will not believe the Mama.
But, we know all children are born Muslim...that it is their parents who train them to be Christain, Jewish, fireworshippers, etc. etc. Diyni Daliyl(evidence) of the natural existance of Taqliyd in human beings.
Our problem as Western born...Old ignoramuses, and new Muslims...is the destruction of the ability to adopt Taqliyd properly.
If one is blessed, they will have been given a mother or primary caregiver that would never pass along information, formally and knowingly, that is incorrect or false. Thus, children are born with the ability to adopt taqliyd with their primary caregivers and thus grow up to be moral, knowledgable, good tempered people. Imagine if the Muslimahs of today were to administer nothing but Al-Islaam to their new born!...then imagine if she was backed 100% by her husband...American born Muslims could very well produce armies of Mu'miynun! Revolution begines in the heart, then in the home!
But, in order for these things to happen, we must first re-learn how to adopt taqliyd ourselves. Thus, we must know who to follow and how to follow...that is easy, we follow a qualified Ustaad and follow them strictly. And we start by understanding how and why the Four Schools of Thought come to be as they are today. We will soon learn, Insha-llaah!
Was-Salaam
A.W. Jamiyl Al-Haniyf