Religious Studies

TEXT AND MATERIALS:

Textbooks:
1.Introduction to Islam by Dr. Hameedullah
2.Four basic terminologies of Quran by Abu ‘ala almaududi
‫( أبو األعلى المودودي‬JI)

Assignments 20%
Quizzes 10%
OHT 20%
Final Exam 50%
Total 100%
 Lecture# 1
Introduction to Islamic Methodology
1.Importance of Knowledge and Proofs
2.Blind following in Islam
3.Final Authority in Islam

Importance of Knowledge and Proofs

Knowledge helps us to survive and progress.

For Example: A child first became curious about

the surroundings and then learns due to curiosity
to survive on its own.
Islam has given great importance to the process of seeking knowledge.
If we look at the first five verses revealed from the Holy Qur’an, we
can see that.
•Quran:
“Read! In the name of your lord” (Alaq 1st revealed ayah)
•Hadith:
“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every muslim” (Ibn Majah)

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every muslim”

Obligation but how much and what knowledge?
The above mentioned knowledge is fardh ul ayn because it is
obligatory on every single one.
Two types of fardh:
•Fardh Kifaya,
•Fardh Ayn.

The knowledge which is fardh kifaya is the knowledge which

if few people gain then rest of the population can seek help
from them.

For example It is fard-i-kifaya to learn how to perform the salat

of janaza, the services to be done to a dead person, the methods
of arts and trade.
what knowledge as fardh ul ayn one should gain:

•Belief in Islam definitely so that there remains no doubt in

mind at all. This is knowledge of understanding the aqedah and
its fundamental.

•We must know the matters of Halal (Permissible) and Haram

(Impermissible)

•We must know our specific roles and responsibilities as defined

by Islam. Each role has different responsibilities.
2 catagories of knowledge and sciences:
Al Ilm Naqalia or ilm Shariya:

•Transmitted knowledge
•Fardh Ayn

•Sciences included under this category is mainly related to the

study of Islam as a religion and a complete way of life.
1. Aqidah 2. Shari’iah, 3. Akhlaq
Ilm Aqaliyah:

•Rational or intellectual sciences (applied sciences,

philosophy)

•Fardh Kifaya
•Islam makes it a religious duty upon Muslims to seek
knowledge.

•Seeking knowledge with the intention of benefiting oneself

and the people is rewarded like performing additional prayers
or fasting.

•Teaching others is one of the good deeds that will get us great
rewards even after death. Whoever leaves behind beneficial
knowledge will get rewards as long as people are still getting
benefits from his knowledge.

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “When a man dies all his

deeds comes to an end except for three: an ongoing charity,
beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who prays for him.”
(Bukhari)
 Proof/Daleel in Islam
Daleel linguistically means a proof, indication, or evidence.
As a term, Daleel means the source or evidence for a
thought, concept.
Ayah:
. [We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances.
And We revealed to you the message that you may make
clear to the people what was sent down to them and that
they might give thought.” Surah An-Nahl (16:43-44)

We can see that the ultimate form of Daleel, al Quran

clearly calls for us to ‘make clear’ with ‘clear proofs and
written evidence’ so that others ‘might give thought’.
Understanding Daleel

To further understand Daleel one must understand the aspects of

Daleel, namely
Riwayah (Reporting) and
Dalalah (Meaning).
The Riwayah
It covers issues related to how the information was transferred,
which includes the number and the integrity of the reporters
Dalalah
It is related to the meaning of the text in the Daleel.

There are also two terms used in connection with Riwayah and
Dalalah, Qatai and Thanniy.
The Qatai in Riwayah implies that the evidence is authentic
without any shadow of doubt.
Any Ayah from the Quran or Hadith Mutawatir (consecutive)
is considered Qatai (conclusive) in its Riwayah (report).
This authenticity is established based on the methodology of
transmission.
The methodology by which Quran was transmitted to us
precludes any possibility of fabrication.
Hadith Mutawatir was not transmitted generation by
generation as was the Quran, but rather by a large number of
people. So that chain of transmission should be proper,

because if not, then that would not be a hadith mutawatir (all

the narrators are unanimous(like-minded) in reporting it with
the same words without any conflict)
The second aspect of the Daleel is the Dalalah (meaning).

If the text of Quran, Hadith Mutawatir or Hadith Ahad is

clear, specific, and has only one meaning, then it is
considered Qatai.

If the text is open to more than one interpretation, then it is

considered Thanniy. (hand of God)
 Blind Following in Islam
There are mainly 2 things:
Following (as we cannot know everything and we are not mujtahids so we
should ask a scholar if we face any problem)

Blind following (as we are distributed in so many sects, we think only we

are right all others are wrong)

The deen of Allah is best understood from principles derived from the
Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.

Thus it is essential for us that we get the knowledge of

(1) the book of Allah and
2) the authentic sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (‫)ﷺ‬,

we should follow that, and leave all else aside. For that is the principle at
the very core of our shahadah of: La’illaha il’Allah Muhammadur
rasool’Allah
The advice of the leading Imams is that students should not blindly
follow but they should acquire knowledge from where they acquired
it, in other words, Quran and Sunnah.

Let us quote some of their sayings:

Abu Haneefah said: “This is my opinion, but if there comes

someone whose opinion is better than mine, then accept
that.”

Maalik said: “I am only human, I may be right or I may be

wrong, so measure my words by the Qur’aan and Sunnah.”

Al-Shaafa’i said: “If the hadeeth is saheeh, then ignore my

words. If you see well established evidence, then this is my
view.”
•Imam Ahmad said: “Do not follow me blindly, and do not
follow Maalik or al-Shaafa’i blindly. Learn as we have
learned.” And he said, “Do not follow men blindly with
regard to your religion, for they can never be safe from
error.”

All the religious leaders of old times always brought evidences

from Quran and Sunnah. Mindless and blind following is always
rejected by imams and religious scholars.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:

No one has to blindly follow any particular man in all that he enjoins
or forbids or recommends, apart from the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
The Muslims should always refer their questions to the Muslim
scholars, following this one sometimes and that one sometimes. If the
follower decides to follow the view of an imam with regard to a
particular matter which he thinks is better for his religious
commitment or is more correct etc, that is permissible according to
the majority of Muslim scholars, and neither Abu Haneefah, Maalik,
al-Shaafa’i or Ahmad said that this was forbidden.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 23/382.

It is obligatory for us to ask proof from Quran and Sunnah for
any religious verdict and take the time to examine it in order to
save ourselves from the position of a blind follower.

The Quran disagrees with blind following. It warns humans

against not using their mind, their intellect and reason, in Quran:
"Indeed, the vilest of living animals, in God's sight, are the
deaf, the dumb and those that do not use their intellect (Surah
Anfal)
"... Will you not use your intellect?“ (surah al A’raf 169)
Throughout the Quran, the narratives engage with its audience
appealing to make use of their intellect and reason.
Let us critically examine if we can blindly follow someone or
not?

MESSAGE VS. CARRIER

We have to differentiate between the message (Qur’an &

Sunnah) and the carrier (scholars/ muhadditheen/
mufassarreen).
The deen is infallible (cannot make mistake) but personalities are
not (as a whole) with the exception of Messengers.

For example: Just because Newton stated the law of gravity, does
not mean that he is to be followed in all of his opinions in physics,
despite the fact that he was a leading expert in his field.

many scientists disagreed with him on several accounts and

many of his other theories were proved wrong by other scientists.

Would it be wise to follow Newton blindly in all affairs of science

and build the entire infrastructure of modern science on that
premise?
 Final Authority in Islam

What Is Authority?
Authority means “the right to give instructions or orders“, this
extends from the family, the country and the religion.

Islam is a religion with an authority structure,

•humanity is told to obey Allah,
•people are told to follow the Prophets.
•children are told to obey their parents, and so on.

In fact one could argue the disastrous mistake Iblees (Satan)

made by incurring Allah’s anger was that he did not accept the
authority of Allah, the authority that Allah had given to man.
Ultimately for humanity the “truth” is what gives someone
authority, if someone brings some knowledge which is certainly
true, then those that do not possess that knowledge are some
what reliant on the person who possess the truth.

For example, if someone is particularly gifted mathematically,

and someone who is terrible at calculations asked him a
question, that person has given the mathematician authority in
the area of maths, he as acknowledged his ability

In a religious sense, for a believer the truth starts from Allah,

and is passed down to His Prophets and Messengers and
those whom have authority among us.
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the
Messenger and those in authority among you” (Al nisa)
However having authority does not make one person better
than another, for example a wife should obey her husband,
but she maybe a much better person, and a child should
obey their parents, even though they may also be bad
people.
In each case the purpose of the authority is to regulate
society, whether it is a couple, or large family, or a whole
society, without an authority system, there will be problems.

In matters of religion, the authority is Allah, so all truth

comes from Him, all that is correct we find in the Quran and
among the Hadith, Allah has send messengers.
Authority vests in Allah alone. (And) He has Commanded
that we do not give our 'ibadah to any accept Him; this is
the Deen, right and proper. (Quran 12:40 Surah yusuf)
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