Is it ok to listen to Dr Tahir ul Qadri’s bayans. There are mixed views regarding him here in Pakistan.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
It is important for a Muslim to ensure his source of Deenī knowledge is sound and reliable. Imām Muhammad ibn Sīrīn (d. 110 H) – may Allah Ta‘ālā have mercy on him – said:
إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم
“Verily, this knowledge is religion, so be cautious of whom you take your religion from.” (Sahīh Muslim)[1]
Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī (d. 96 H) rahimahullāh said, in describing the practice of the scholars of his time:
كانوا إذا أتوا الرجل ليأخذوا عنه نظروا إلى سمته وإلى صلاته وإلى حاله ثم يأخذون عنه
“When they would come to a man to take (religious knowledge) from him, they analysed his conduct, his Salāh and his state, and then [if these were to standard], they took from him.”[2]
The person from whom one takes religious knowledge should be of sound character and piety. Imām Yahyā ibn Ma‘īn (d. 233 H) said:
آلة الحديث الصدق والشهرة والطلب وترك البدع واجتناب الكبائر
“The apparatus of hadith (and religious knowledge) is integrity, recognition (amongst the scholars), pursuit (of Deenī knowledge), abandonment of bid‘ahs and avoidance of major sins.” [5]
Thus, one of the primary criteria to assess whether a person should be regarded as a trustworthy and accepted scholar from whom to take knowledge of Deen is his outward observance of the injunctions of Sharī‘ah.
Dr Tahir ul Qadri is a politician based in Pakistan. He is the founder of the religious and educational organisation, Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International, and the political party, Awami Tahreek. It is incorrect to take Deenī instruction from Dr. Tahir ul Qadiri as he does not meet the basic criterion outlined above. Some of the violations of Sharī‘ah which he practises and defends include: Free mixing in educational institutions[3], organisation of Christmas celebrations for Christians and participating with them in the celebration[4], facilitating non-Muslims to conduct their own acts of worship in a masjid[5] and listening to musical instruments.[6]
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best
Zameelur Rahman
Student Darul Iftaa
UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai with the following comment:
While we understand and appreciate the challenges of a politician, the sacredness of Sharī‘ah cannot be sacrificed for political purposes.