Download PDF: [S] Cautious befor giving Fatawah (Islamic Story)

It is reported that the early scholars in Islam were extremely cautious before issuing any Islamic verdict in the form of a Fatwah. When anyone approached them, they always sent this person to another scholar and only agreed to give a verdict when they had no choice.

 

The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “That person who is the most hasty in giving a fatwah, he is the most brave in (rushing towards) the Fire of Hell.”

 

This Hadith Shareef has been reported by Imam Daarimi in his Sunan from Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jafer – may Allah be pleased with him – and Imam Suyuti – may Allah be pleased with him – has mentioned this in the Jamia as number 183 and Imam Ajluni as number 113.

 

The pious ‘Ulama in the past used to tremble in giving an Islamic verdict, hence they used to refer people to other scholars. Hadrat Sayyiduna Umair bin Sa’eed – may Allah be pleased with him –narrates: “I once approached Hadrat Sayyiduna Alqamah – may Allah be pleased with him – and asked him a question. He then told me to approach another scholar. When I approached that scholar, he passed me on to another and another until finally, I returned once more to Hadrat Sayyiduna Alqamah – may Allah be pleased with him. When I finally approached him, he stated, ‘O Umair! DO not become surprised that the Islamic scholars had sent you from one to another. The pious among the Islamic scholars have stated that, ‘The one who is the hastiest in issuing Islamic verdicts, you must understand that he possesses the least knowledge.’”

 

This is the reason that the pious ‘Ulama of the past, whether it be in the time of the Ashaab or the Taba’een, used to dislike passing any fatwah. They used to pass this on to other Islamic scholars so that this heavy responsibility is carried by another. However, if by any chance there were no other alternatives except themselves, then they used to fearfully record their verdict with utmost care and caution.

 

They always wished that if someone else could carry this responsibility. Some of the eminent Jurists were so cautious that at times, they did not even feel it an embarrassment to withdraw their fatwah.

 

One example of this extreme caution was Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Shafi – may Allah be pleased with him. Whenever he saw some of his decrees and verdicts issued in the past, and felt they should be amended, he used to do so and present another opinion.

 

Imam Azzudeen bin Abdus Salaam – may Allah be pleased with him – once gave a fatwah and he realised that he had made a mistake in this verdict. He then announced in Egypt, “I have committed a mistake and I turn towards the truth and my verdict was against the truth.” (A’laamul Muqineen).

 

May Allah Almighty continue to shower His choicest blessing upon these pure souls. They are indeed symbols of Imaan and honesty. Humility was their backbone and they never allowed themselves to be embarrassed if they had to withdraw their statement. If they felt that they had to reinstate any opinion in place of their first opinion, they never moved away from this. These were those people who always had this on their tongues, “O Allah! Show us the truth in truth. And give us strength to follow that. Show us falsehood in falsehood. And give us the strength to protect ourselves from that.”

 

Who were Hadrat Sayyiduna Umar bin Saeed – may Allah be pleased with him – and Hadrat Alqamah – may Allah be pleased with him.

 

Abu Yahya Umar bin Saeed Nakh’i Sahbaani Kufi – may Allah be pleased with him – has narrated on certain occasions from Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – and Hadrat Sayyiduna ibn Masud – may Allah be pleased with him . Imam Shu’ba and Abu Husain – may Allah be pleased with him – has also narrated from him. Ibn Hayyan states that, “He is considered among the authentic narrators and passed away in 107th A.H. Ibn Sa’ad has stated that he passed away in 115 A.H.

 

Hadrat Alqamah bin Qais bin Abdullah bin Malik Nakh’i Hamdaani – may Allah be pleased with him – whose appellation was “Abu Shahal”, was a Taabaa’i and a noted Jurists from Iraq. In behaviour and outlook he resembled Hadrat Sayyiduna ibn Masud – may Allah be pleased with him – and was also his student. He was born in the era of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. He has narrated many Ahadith from the blessed companions and many eminent scholars have narrated from him. He was also present in the Battle of Siffin and passed away in Kufah in 62 A.H. (Al ‘Alaam, 4/248)