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Self-proclaimed grand Mufti of America, Mf Muneer Akhoon

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

Assalamu’Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

Question:

What do the Ulama Kiram, Muftiyan Izam say about such a person who says the following things:

1-    Saying Merry Christmas is permissible because it is mandatory to congratulate during a non-Muslims holiday or else hatred will spread in society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhUxFqEDBRQ&feature=youtu.be

2-    Machine Slaughter is Halal if a Muslim says Bismillah in the beginning of the day and the line continues to cut all day, all the animals will be Halal. He also says it is completely permissible to eat in a restaurant or purchase meat from a place where it says Halal or the seller is a Muslim. He says a person should not doubt the store or the person. His own actions also prove his statement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_GddX4uCrI

3-    A dream that many tv’s were setup in Masjid Nabawi, and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was watching this Mufti’s live tv program with women. Upon receiving the news of this dream, this Mufti proved the acceptance of his TV channel by the viewer’s dream, and he became extremely happy and emotional.

           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59DWuA3sRJI&feature=youtu.be

4-    It is permissible to stand up during Meelad An-Nabi.

https://www.facebook.com/127198210633037/posts/2328955427123960/

5-    This Mufti used to broadcast a TV program called “Ghaib ki Baatein” whose episodes are still present today online. The name of this program has been changed to “Asrar e Rahmat”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-JcvCd3OM

6-    Establishing Mecca as Ruyat-Hilal Markuz to create unity in the Ummah, and has claimed that there are 29 Ahadith in favor of this view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ0ng53D6bw

7-    He meets women without any pardah, also has mixed gatherings.

Our query is regarding the validity of a person’s fatawa and opinions that he promotes through media misguiding the masses by misusing his relationship with senior Ulama such as his father in law Maulana Yusuf Ludhianvi. This person has claimed himself to be Thani Ibn Sereen, self proclaimed “Grand Mufti of America” without the endorsement of the Ulama in America, no scholar has supported him in being “Grand Mufti” according to our knowledge.

What is the ruling of such a person?

Can this person be followed by the masses?

Can he actually be a Grand Mufti of America?

What is the responsibility of the local Ulama Kiram regarding such a Mufti?

Answer

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

Imaam Muhammed ibn Sireen (Rahimahullaah) has advised[1]:

إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ، فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ

“Verily, ‏this knowledge is Deen, so be cautious of whom you take your religion from.” (Muslim)

The following guidelines will assist in determining an upright ‘Aalim (scholar) of Deen:

  • He is from the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah[2] in matters of ‘aqeedah and fiqh.
  • He is a graduate of a celebrated and accepted Islaamic traditional institute.
  • He does not violate the laws of Shari’ah[3], for example: the laws of hijaab and intermingling.
  • His teachings and statements are in accordance to the Shari’ah.
  • He does not engage in bid’ah[4].
  • He is recognized and approved by the righteous learned scholars.

If any of the above guidelines are violated, then one should not follow such a person. You may conduct your own investigation regarding Mufti Muneer Ahmed Akhoon (Hafizahullaah) and use the above guidelines to decide. You should also enquire from the local ‘Ulamaa about Mufti Muneer based on the above guidelines. If any person falls short of any one of the above conditions, then one should respectfully avoid seeking guidance from such a person. However, it is not permissible to defame and humiliate such a person.

And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best.

Muajul I. Chowdhury

Student, Darul Iftaa

Astoria, New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

___________


[1]  صحيح مسلم (في المقدمة) (1/ 14)

حَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، وَهِشَامٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَحَدَّثَنَا فُضَيْلٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ قَالَ: وَحَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ دِينٌ، فَانْظُرُوا عَمَّنْ تَأْخُذُونَ دِينَكُمْ»

 

موطأ مالك ت الأعظمي (1/ 25)

قال ابن أبي أويس: سمعت مالك بن أنس يقول: «إن هذا العلم هو لحمك ودمك، وعنه تسأل يوم القيامة، فانظر عمن تأخذه»

وقال ابن أبي أويس: «سمعت خالي مالك بن أنس يقول: إنّ هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم … ».

 

[2]  سنن الدارمي (ص: 177)

450 – أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ قَالَ: كَانُوا لَا يَسْأَلُونَ عَنِ الإِسْنَادِ ثُمَّ سَأَلُوا بَعْدُ لِيَعْرِفُوا مَنْ كَانَ صَاحِبَ سُنَّةٍ أَخَذُوا عَنْهُ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ صَاحِبَ سُنَّةٍ لَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عَنْهُ. [الإتحاف:25143]

 

[3]  سنن الدارمي (ص: 178)

454 – أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ, عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ: كَانُوا إِذَا أَتَوُا الرَّجُلَ لِيَأْخُذُوا عَنْهُ نَظَرُوا إِلَى صَلَاتِهِ وَإِلَى سمته وَإِلَى هَيْئَتِهِ. [الإتحاف:23785]

 

سنن الدارمي (ص: 178)

457 – أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ: إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الرَّازِيُّ, عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَأْتِي الرَّجُلَ لِنَأْخُذَ عَنْهُ فَنَنْظُرُ إِذَا صَلَّى، فَإِنْ أَحْسَنَهَا جَلَسْنَا إِلَيْهِ وَقُلْنَا: هُوَ لِغَيْرِهَا أَحْسَنُ, وَإِنْ أَسَاءَهَا قُمْنَا عَنْهُ, وَقُلْنَا: هُوَ لِغَيْرِهَا أَسْوَأُ

 

[4]  سنن الدارمي (ص: 174)

424 – أخْبَرَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو قِلَابَةَ: لَا تُجَالِسُوا أَهْلَ الأَهْوَاءِ وَلَا تُجَادِلُوهُمْ, فَإِنِّي لَا آمَنُ أَنْ يَغْمِسُوكُمْ فِي ضَلَالَتِهِمْ، أَوْ يَلْبِسُوا عَلَيْكُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْرِفُونَ. [الإتحاف:24589]

 

موطأ مالك ت الأعظمي (1/ 25)

قال مطرف بن عبد الله: إني أشهد مالكاً يقول: «أدركت ببلدنا هذا – يعني المدينة – مشيخة، لهم فضل وصلاح وعبادة، يحدثون، فما كتبت عن أحد منهم حديثاً قط.

قلت: لِمَ يا أبا عبد الله؟ قال: لأنهم لم يكونوا يعرفون ما يحدثون.

 

سنن الدارمي (ص: 176)

434 – 435 – أخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ، حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ وَابْنِ سِيرِينَ أَنَّهُمَا قَالَا: لَا تُجَالِسُوا أَصْحَابَ الأَهْوَاءِ وَلَا تُجَادِلُوهُمْ وَلَا تَسْمَعُوا مِنْهُمْ. [الإتحاف:24063]

 

سنن الدارمي (ص: 179)

462 – أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ شَيَاطِينٌ قَدْ أَوْثَقَهَا سُلَيْمَانُ يُفَقِّهُونَ النَّاسَ فِي الدِّينِ. [الإتحاف:11878]

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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