Dear brothers and sisters, May 29, 2009;
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Bharakhathuhu.
What should be the extent of the knowledge of a person giving judgment? Should that person know all that was said regarding Islam by the scholars until now? Is it necessary to study for a number of years in a school teaching Islamic Jurisprudence before one could issue judgment?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=judge+knowledge&translator=3&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "judge knowledge" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Abudawud translation.
(1) Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent me to the Yemen as judge, and I asked: Apostle of Allah, are you sending me when I am young and have no knowledge of the duties of a judge? He replied: Allah will guide your heart and keep your tongue true. When two litigants sit in front of you, do not decide till you hear what the other has to say as you heard what the first had to say; for it is best that you should have a clear idea of the best decision. He said: I had been a judge (for long); or he said (the narrator is doubtful): I have no doubts about a decision afterwards. (Book #24, Hadith #3575)
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From the above Tradition we find that age or the acquired knowledge is not important but Allah’s guidance is important. If the judge has the desire to serve Allah Subhana Wa Taala and is sincere in his desire, he could issue judgments.
What happens if he makes a mistake?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=judge+verdict+knowledge&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "judge verdict knowledge" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated 'Amr bin Al-'As: That he heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If a judge gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct (i.e. agrees with Allah and His Apostle's verdict) he will receive a double reward, and if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong, (i.e. against that of Allah and His Apostle) even then he will get a reward ." (Book #92, Hadith #450)
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Thus a judge could indeed issue judgment to the best of his knowledge He need not study all that is there in volumes and volumes first before he starts giving judgment.
What constitutes knowledge?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=knowledge+versed&translator=3&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "knowledge versed" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Abudawud translation.
(1) Narrated Zayd ibn Thabit: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: May Allah brighten a man who hears a tradition from us, gets it by heart and passes it on to others. Many a bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is; and many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it. (Book #25, Hadith #3652)
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From the above Tradition, we find that authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is knowledge.
Is there any other knowledge? Yes, the Holy Quran.
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=teach+understanding&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "teach understanding" appear in 2 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated Ibn Abbas: Once the Prophet embraced me (pressed me to his chest) and said, "O Allah, teach him wisdom (i.e. the understanding of the knowledge of Qur'an)." (Book #57, Hadith #100)
(2) Narrated 'Abdul Warith: The same but said, "O Allah, teach him (Ibn Abbas) the Book (i.e. the understanding of the knowledge of Qur'an)." (Book #57, Hadith #101)
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Is it enough if one reads the Holy Quran in school? Or is it necessary to re-learn the Holy Quran?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=Musa+knowledge+hobbled&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "Musa knowledge hobbled" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Muslim translation.
(1) Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur'an, for I swear by Him in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad that it is more liable to escape than camels which are hobbled. (Book #004, Hadith #1727)
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We need to study the Holy Quran again and again. We could think about a Hafiz of the Holy Quran reciting the Holy Quran from memory at least during Ramadan every year.
What about the one who has studied – as much as possible of -- the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=wisdom+knowledge&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "wisdom knowledge" appear in 4 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(4) Narrated 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "Do not wish to be like anybody except in two cases: The case of a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and that of a man whom Allah has given religious wisdom (i.e., Qur'an and Sunna) and he gives his verdicts according to it and teaches it." (to others i.e., religious knowledge of Qur'an and Sunna (Prophet's Traditions)). " (Book #92, Hadith #419)
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Any person who exerts in learning the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, deserves to be emulated.
Is that all of knowledge? Is there nothing more?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=knowledge+categories&translator=3&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "knowledge categories" appear in 1 hadith(s) in Abudawud translation.
(1) Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: knowledge has three categories; anything else is extra; a precise verse, or an established sunnah (practice), or a firm obligatory duty. (Book #18, Hadith #2879)
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So we find that knowing the obligatory duties along with the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, completes the essential knowledge and anything more is extra. What are the obligatory duties?
http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=five+Nawafil+Ramadan&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all
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The words "five Nawafil Ramadan" appear in 2 hadith(s) in Bukhari translation.
(1) Narrated Talha bin 'Ubaid-Ullah: A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah's Apostle and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers." He replied: "You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil." The bedouin further asked, "Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting." He replied, "You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil." The bedouin further asked, "Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me." Thus, Allah's Apostle informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, "By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah's Apostle said, "If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise)." (Book #31, Hadith #115)
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In conclusion, a judge need to know as much as possible of the Holy Quran and the authentic Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and know about the five compulsory prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and the Zakat and he could issue judgments relying on Allah Subhana Wa Taala.
There is absolutely no need to be intimidated by those who claim that one must have read at least twenty years in special schools before one could issue judgments based on sincere research.
Why do we write the above? Islam is easy. As a revert to Islam starts living his / her life in earnest she / he would encounter problems. The person could take recourse to the Holy Quran and the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. There are excellent resources available on the Internet. If one desires a collection to be available always, we recommend the ALIM CD. With the aid of the search function, one could collect most of the information relevant for the problem at hand. Having arrived at some solution, the young revert could consult the elders and get confirmation.
Ya Allah! Islam is easy. Guide us to learn Islam as much as possible and help us in our lives. Aameen, Aameen, Ya Rabbil Aalameen.
Your brother,
Mohideen Ibramsha
Was Salaam