Answered by Shaykh Musa Furber
Sidi … I’m certain Shaykh XYZ stated the Hanbali position is to make sincere tawba and don’t worry about qada prayers…
I do not find Sheikh XYZlisted in any books of students of Imam Ahmad (Allah be pleased with him and them), their students, and so on, up until this very day. So shall we give Sheikh XYZ’sword concerning the Hanbali madhhab precedence over what the madhhab’s mujtahids have said, such as Imam Ahmad himself, Ibn Al-Jawzi, Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mardawi, Al-Hajjawi, Mar`i bin Yusuf, Al-Buhuti, Al-Ba`li, Al-Safarini, and virtually every single Hanbali scholar other than Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah (Allah have mercy upon them all)?
Shall we just take this quote without context at face value and declare it the official position of the Hanbali madhhab, or shall we see what the reference books and living scholars of the madhhab have to say?
If someone wants to know the position in the Hanbali madhhab used for fatawa they go to: Kashshaf Al-Qina`, Al-Raud Al-Murbi`, Sharh Al-Muntaha (all by Al-Buhuti), Dalil Al-Talib(Mar`i bin Yusuf), or Nail Al-Ma’arib (Al-Taghlabi). If they want to list opinions in the madhhab then they go to:Al-Mughni (Ibn Qudamah), Al-Furu` (Ibn Muflih), or Al-Insaf (Al-Mardawi). Otherwise they must remain silent, regardless of how famous and knowledgeable they may be in a different madhhab.
We all need to remember the two basic principles that we were supposed to get drilled into our heads that first hear we sat in lessons with our mashayakh:
1. When quoting: use what is authentic
2. When making a claim: provide evidence
I have stated what is to be found in the books of the Hanbalis and I have stated what one of two Hanbali muftis here in Damascus has said. So, shall we take Hanbali fiqh from its references works and living scholars, or shall we take it from someone whose expertise lies elsewhere? I don’t know about you, but when I need I tooth pulled I go to a dentist, even though I have a plumber next door.
This position that these people are having so much trouble over is well known to be one of the personal preferences of Ibn Taymiyyah (Allah have mercy upon him). You won’t even find it mentioned in most basic reference books of Hanbali fiqh.
If today’s great scholars cannot show respect for the expertise of others, how do they expect their students to ever learn it?
Wa la hauwla wa la quwwata illa billah.
wa al-salamu `alaykum
–musa