Who is Mufti Yusuf Sacha and is he part of a hard line sect?

Nowadays, there are elements who seek to separate the Muslims from the ‘Ulama of Truth, hence one must be very circumspect with what one reads and believes. It makes sense from their point of view, as the Muslims would totally be lost in Deen without the Scholars of Deen. We need the ‘Ulama in this world, and in the Aakhirah. In this world, we cannot lead our lives according to Shari’ah without consulting the ‘Ulama and their writings, and in the Hereafter when all will be in a deep sense of wilderment at the anger of Allah, and people in their droves will go to the ‘Ulama to discern how to approach Allah for Mercy, and the ‘Ulama will reveal that they will advise to go to the Prophets and ask them for intercession. See how Allah has interwoven our success by following the instruction of the ‘Ulama? The Scholars of Islam deserve our respect and attention, for the ‘Ulama are the flagbearers of the Haqq (Truth) i.e. Qur’aan and Sunnah.

A fantastic similitude is given about those ‘Ulama who are practising and those who are not practising. A similitude where a Qur’aan is correctly printed, and another misprinted Qur’aan which has some pages upside down, and the I’iraab convoluted in places. One would never throw the misprinted qur’aan in the bin, rather, one would accord it respect, honour, love, but nonetheless would not read from it due to the inconsistencies. The correct print Qur’aan we would do accord it much the same, but also we would read from it, benefit from it physically hence we can see that both would be respected and honoured.

With reference to Mufti Sacha (DAM) being a part of a “hard-line sect”, the details of these accusations are found in this article.

Veil teacher was obeying a fatwa – Sunday Times – Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2426770,00.html

If Mufti Yusuf Sacha (DAM) did say what is stated in this paper, then quite patently, he was merely issuing a ruling based on the Qur’aan and Sunnah. We don’t know exactly what he said, under what circumstances, and any other pertinent details so we cannot comment. If this is regarded as a “hardline view”, then what can we do about the opinions of others? I am sure that if a Jewish or Christian Scholar ruled something similar from their own scriptures, then they would not have been met with the same criticism. The verdicts of Rabbi Menachem Brayer about women who don’t wear the (Jewish) veil, are not ones I have seen lambdasted in any paper as yet, or declared as remotely hardline. The verdicts of religious scholars are best understood by the adherents, and not introduced into the politics of the day.

The mystery of the veil goes as far back as Judaism and Christianity. According to Rabbi Dr.Menachem M. Brayer (Professor of Biblical Literature at Yeshiva University) in his book, The Jewish woman in Rabbinic literature, it was the custom of Jewish women to go out in public with a head covering which, sometimes, even covered the whole face leaving one eye free. He quotes some famous ancient Rabbis saying,” It is not like the daughters of Israel to walk out with heads uncovered” and “Cursed be the man who lets the hair of his wife be seen….a woman who exposes her hair for self-adornment brings poverty.” Rabbinic law forbids the recitation of blessings or prayers in the presence of a bareheaded married woman since uncovering the woman’s hair is considered “nudity”. Dr. Brayer also mentions that “During the Tannaitic period the Jewish woman’s failure to cover her head was considered an affront to her modesty. When her head was uncovered she might be fined four hundred zuzim for this offense.” Dr. Brayer also explains that veil of the Jewish woman was not always considered a sign of modesty. Sometimes, the veil symbolized a state of distinction and luxury rather than modesty. The veil personified the dignity and superiority of noble women. It also represented a woman’s inaccessibility as a sanctified possession of her husband.
Menachem M. Brayer, The Jewish Woman in Rabbinic Literature: A Psychosocial
Perspective (Hoboken, N.J: Ktav Publishing House, 1986) p. 239.

Nonetheless Mufti Yusuf Sacha is not a hardliner, but has been instrumental in sustaining peace and understanding in the UK, for years now. The media is well known for its sensationalism, designed to confuse and confound.

And Allah knows Best
Wa Alaykumussalaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

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(Mufti) Abdullah Patel
Halal Food Guide