i would like to know the differences in the Maturidies and the Asharee’s. About the person who is living where no Muslim has gone. He has never gotten the message of islam. He lives a life of sins. Is he going to Jannah or not. What are the opinions about the above mentioned shcools about this. Is it haraam for a man and a ghair mahram to be in the same temporarily for eg. the elevator. Jazakallahu khairan
1. Kindly refer attached.
2. It is not permissible for a Ghayr Mahram (not prohibited in marriage) male and female to be in isolation at any time for any period of time.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Difference between Asharis and Maaturidis
Shaikhul Islam Ibn Kamaal Baasha, has enumerated 12 differences between the Asharis and Maaturidis.
We hereunder list 9 of them:(“A” refers to Asharis, “M” to Maaturidis)
1. A- Takween is a Sifat fi’liyyah, is not azali and is haadith. M- takween is from the Sifaat Azaliyyah
2. A- Speech (Kalaam) of Allah can be heard M- Kalaam of Allah cannot be heard; what is heard is that which points to it.
3. A- Hikmah meaning “perfection” is not a quality of Allah M- It is a sifah of Allah
4. A- Both the Ridha(Pleasure) and Irada (intention) of Allah is connected to everything. M- The Irada of Allah is connected to everything, not the Ridha
5. A- “Takleef ma laa yutaaq”(Burdening more than is bearable) is Jaiz M- Not Jaiz
6. A-Laws connected to “Takleef” can only be received directly from Nass M- Some such laws can be grasped by intellect
7. A-Forgiving Kufr is Jaiz Aqlan not Sam’an M- Not Jaiz
8. A- Possible for a mu’min to remain in Jahannum forever and for a kaafir to remin in Jannah forever M- Not possible
9. A- Being a male is not a condition for being a Nabi M- Being a male is a condition B.
If one happens to be a well-grounded alim,who is well-versed in Aqeedah, then it could be acceptable for him to follow another school in some issues.
Many famous scholars eg. Razi, Ghazali, Ibn Humaam etc had differences with the school they followed.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Ml. Husain Kadodia
CHECKED & APPROVED:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Deobandis and Maturidis
Introduction
Of recent, the so called Salafi sect have declared the followers of the Ulama of Deoband to be out of the pale of Islam on the basis of them being Maturidis.
Who are the Maturidis’
The beliefs of Islam are quite clear, as expounded in the Quráan and Sunnah, and as understood by the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum). It is this set of simple beliefs that are the fundamentals of Imaan. Whoever adheres to these straightforward Aqaaid is considered a Muslim and one who rejects any of the essential beliefs of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum) is out of Islam. It is this set of simple beliefs that is the criterion of whether a person is Muslim or not.
As Islam spread far and wide, many of the works of Greek philosophy were translated into Arabic. Muslims were for the first time exposed to the rational theology of the Greeks. This created a climate where arguments for and against Islamic beliefs were examined in the light of Greek rational thought. This gave birth to a new discipline called Ilmul Kalam. Thus Ilmul Kalam was not a purely Islamic discipline, having not existed during the time of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum).
It was a branch of knowledge that arose out of the need of the time, i.e. The need to refute Greek theology on the basis of rational principles. In the process of examining Islamic beliefs on the basis of Greek philosophy, many new questions arose. These delicate and intricate questions were never posed before, nor were they discussed during the age of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum).
There were no explicit texts of the Quráan and Sunnah in reply to these intricate questions. Discussions around these intricate issues led to the formation of many groups. In this field of knowledge the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah were represented by two Ulama, Imaam Abul Hasan Ashari and Imaam Abu Mansoor Al Maturidi (Rahimahumallah).
They successfully covered these delicate issues in their discourses, and clarified the standpoint of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah in these matters. Thus, as far as Ilmul Kalam is concerned, the outlook of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah is confined to the works of these two Imaams of Ilmul Kalam.
Allamah Haythami states in his Fatawa Hadithiyyah “‘whoever is upon a path other than the path of Ahl al-Sunna wa l-Jama’a, Ahl al-Sunna wa l-Jama’a meaning the followers of Sheikh Abul Hasan Ash’ari and Abu Mansur Maturidi, the two Imams of Ahl al-Sunna” (Haytami, al-Fatawa al-hadithiyya, 280).
The followers of Imaam Abu Mansoor Maturidi are called Maturidi. The Ulama of Deoband are Maturidi. While these two Imaams differed on minor issues, it was merely a difference of interpretation, for the subject matter of Ilmul Kalam is rational thought, which itself allows for differences of interpretation.
Salafis and Maturidis
At the very outset it should be stated the Salafis possess very shallow knowledge. They lack depth and understanding, and are extremely hasty in rejecting that which they cannot understand, or rather, do not wish to understand. The Salafis have taken some of the statements of these two Imaams (Imaam Abul Hasan Ashari and Imaam Abu Mansoor Al Maturidi – Rahimahumallah) and misinterpreted them on the basis of their superficial knowledge. They have thus decreed these two to be out of the pale of Islam (May Allah Ta’ala save us from such evil).
Secondary Nature The issues discussed by these two Imaams are of a secondary nature. They are issues of rational thought, and not issues of the basic and simple Aqaaid of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum). Since there exists no clear cut texts of the Quráan and Hadith on these issues, differences in these issues do not render one out of Islam, provided one adheres to the Aqaaid of the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu unhum).
The Challenge
If the followers of the Ulama of Deoband are to be regarded as apostates on the basis of them following Imaam Abu Mansoor Al Maturidi (Rahimahullah), then we challenge the Salafis to declare all those illustrious Ulama (past and present) who followed him to be apostates as well. The result will be that a major portion of the heritage of the Ulama of Islam will have to be thrown in the waste bin.
Salafis and Barelvis
If the Salafis continue at their present rate of Takfeer (declaring others as kaafir), they will soon resemble the Barelvis who declare almost everyone beside themselves to be kaafir. Thus, besides this handful of misguided souls, everyone of earth are out of Islam. May Allah Ta’ala save us from such misguidance.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Moulana Imraan Vawda
for: FATWA DEPT.