Tahzeeb al-Afkaar

The other day I was talking to one of my friends on certain issues of importance. He observed, “Then what about the sayings of our salaf (previous scholars)?” What he implied was how we could differ so much from them. I suggested, “You will also become salaf someday. What about this?” All the previous scholars were current and said many right things considering their situations. In fact, all our ‘Ulama were most modern – in their time and age. For instance, the business practices which they mention in the books of Jurisprudence are the ones which were current during their period. We idolized them because of the absence of Ijtihaad (individual independent creative thinking). And thinking is the most difficult job on earth. (Please bear with me. I intend to keep repeating this sentence for obvious reasons.)

Another example of a faulty argument: During a discussion a friend of mine said (in the context of the need for cordial relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in India), “…. Islaam and kufr can never be together. There cannot be any compromise between the two.” This is an absolute truth. No question about it. But while uttering this incontrovertible truth he forgot a very important point. I told him, “I agree with you 100%. But then we are not talking about an absolute truth. We are talking about a human environment wherein this objective truth has become subjective – amidst a number of social factors and forces. Now eemaan is found in a person (subject) and kufr in another (subject). The very moment these two traits became subjective there is a chance of the kaafir becoming a believer and a believer turning to kufr (Gor forbid). Can this possibility be also ruled out (like the compromise)? If not, then why not to start from this possibility?”

Later, I advised my friend, “Repeat whatever all others have said. There is no problem with this. But then let all those utterings be your own re-discovery, too. Do not just repeat because some others have said something similar earlier.”

I have noticed that if we apply some of our faculties to some extent many of the queries and objections could very satisfactorily be tackled. This is why I love to hear questions and more so the objections. If I don’t have an answer that is even better. I pray that the Almighty guides us all to the Staraight Path and gives us strength to stay on That.