Changing times: Ijtihad and other questions Muslims must revisit

[Dubious]

i know men are idiots, i was arguing with a bearded class mate of mine he was like "women should stay at home" i was like "why" he said "i cant control myself" i was like "well then you should be shut up at home and not them"

lolz ...yea that is his problem...

 

[Jf Thunder]

lolz ...yea that is his problem...

so now currently there is no justification that men can lead woman and men both, while women cant even lead women?

 

[Dubious]

Those who have some doubts about islam, should needs to revisit their hollow iman.

Or just accept the challenge in the Quran by producing a verse equal to that in the Quran and make its place in the book that is already complete (mathematically as well as linguistically as well as through mercy and its law)

 

[Dubious]

so now currently there is no justification that men can lead woman and men both, while women cant even lead women?

Justification is needed when you have an alternative theory

and few pages back I did say women can lead woman...please learn to read!

 

[Dubious]

now let us suppose this is true, then why is a man allowed to lead women, wont they find his voice "sexy"?

We dont get aroused as easily as men...it is surprising a scientist thanked that one .... Maybe not a real scientist.... coz anyone with basics in Biology or psychology can tell you why! Go ask one!

the most suitable method i find here is men leading men and women leading women.

Thats your method you are welcome to open your own cult....call it whatever suits you coz you are not happy with what god has told the msgr!

 

[Jf Thunder]

Justification is needed when you have an alternative theory
and few pages back I did say women can lead woman...please learn to read!

but but, i thought you said they cant :p lollllzzz

 

[Dubious]

but but, i thought you said they cant :p lollllzzz

They CANT lead men...I wrote wrongly and just corrected it...

Even when I wrote wrongly I asked you to visit my post (post no. and page no was given) which you didnt....so you didnt even point out I wrote wrongly

 

[Multani]

Is suicide bombing justified? Can women lead prayers? Is there a feminist interpretation of Islam?

These are some of the questions Muslims living in the West often face. They attempt to answer these questions as best as they can. And in the process, they are often forced to reinterpret their faith, a process called 'ijtihad', although they are no 'mujtahids'.

The concept of ijtihad allows Muslims to interpret their beliefs according to the time and place they live in. This concept, however, has not been used for centuries.

'Ijtihad' is an Islamic legal term that means "independent reasoning", which is used for defining an issue in a way that does not contradict the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.



Explore: Why are matters of faith beyond discussion?



In Sunni Islam, ijtihad is recognised as a process of legal decision-making through personal effort. It is also accepted as one of the four main sources of law.

The person making such a decision is required to have a thorough knowledge of theology, revealed texts, legal principles and the Arabic language. Other qualifications include sincerity, goodness and intellect.

A person qualified to do so is recognised as a mujtahid, one who can make ijtihad.

Both words are derived from a three-letter Arabic root, J-H-D, i.e. struggle. Thus ijtihad is a process of “struggling with oneself” to interpret an issue through independent reasoning in the light of the revealed text and the instructions of the Sunnah.

In the early periods of Islam, Muslims saw ijtihad as an acceptable form of interpreting legal and social issues that an individual or a group faced.

Among the Sunnis, ijtihad was often interpreted as a scholar’s personal judgment of an Islamic law.

Among the Shias, ijtihad evolved into a practice of applying careful reasoning to uncover the knowledge of what Imams would have done in particular legal situations.

Besides sharing some requirements with the Sunnis, the Shias also required a mujtahid to receive further training at a 'hawza' or a religious centre.

Since Shias do have religious schools entitled to produce mujtahids, this tradition has continued unabated among them.

But among the Sunnis, there has been no undisputed mujtahid since the mid-tenth century. Yet, calls for a revitalisation of ijtihad have always been made, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, when the Islamic world confronted Western thoughts. This confrontation made many Muslim scholars realise the need to reinterpret religious laws to cope with modern concepts entering their thoughts.



Also read: Alcohol consumption in Pakistan: Don't mix sin with crime



The scholarly debate over ijtihad has been going on for well over 200 years and has produced some prominent revivalist thinkers such as Jamaluddin Afghani, a 19th century Iranian scholar, Mohammed Abduh, his Egyptian friend and reformer, and Mohammed Iqbal, a poet philosopher from the Indian subcontinent. These scholars also included Hasan al-Banna, Syed Qutb and Maulana Maududi, founders of Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and the Jamaat-i-Islami in the subcontinent.

Their works deal mainly with issues such as state and religion, individual and society, secularism and Islam. They had a major influence on Muslim thinkers, writers and political activists in the 20th century. Yet, they were generally accepted as scholars, not mujtahids.

But the need for a process to understand and interpret legal, social, economic and political issues of the modern world is felt at all levels.

This need is even greater in the West where Muslims live in a social setup very different from their own. Since 9/11, there has also been a steady increase in Islamophobia in the West.

This fear of Islam or Muslims, however, has not led to physical attacks on the lives and properties of the Muslims living in the West. But their beliefs and ideas are openly challenged in the media and are sometimes also questioned by their colleagues and neighbours.

The pressure is even greater in the social media where Muslims are often asked to explain:

Is using violence as a tool to defend a religious or political cause justified in Islam?

Were those who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001 right or wrong? Does Islam allow attacking civilians to avenge foreign occupation and political victimisation? Is suicide bombing allowed, particularly when Islam outlaws suicide?

What is the place of a woman in Islam? Can a woman lead prayers, be a priest or a mujtahid?

Can there be a feminist interpretation of Islamic religious texts? Can women interpret those texts?



Read through: Islam in America: When two women decided to pray with men



Muslims in the West, particularly women, are not waiting for answers to come from the Islamic world. There is a realisation here that they have to answer the questions they face, as those living in the Islamic world cannot appreciate the intensity of this issue.

So Muslims in the West have started answering these questions. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the West has seen a visible increase in the number of Muslim religious scholars, jurists, interpreters of the Holy Quran and the Hadith, social activists and educationists.

Attempts have also been made to present a feminist interpretation of Islam and its teachings. And some women have also challenged traditional interpreters, claiming that their interpretations show a clear male prejudice.

Muslim women led prayers, arranged rallies and held meetings to define their faith as they wanted to.

Not many among them qualify as jurists, interpreters of the Holy Quran or mujtahids but they are having an impact.

They are read and appreciated by the Muslims living in the West and their thoughts are also reaching the Islamic world.

It is still too early to say how successful they would be in reshaping the thoughts of Muslims, but they have started a debate.



Take a look: 'We are good Muslims, but Americans too'



The Muslim community, both in the West and in the Islamic world, has started discussing the issues raised by these scholars and activists.

Some of these issues — such as the justification for suicide bombing — stir heated debates. While some say that suicide bombing is 'haram' (forbidden) in Islam, others argue that it is permissible as a means of national resistance.

"Killing non-combatants and civilians is haram in Islam, no matter what means you use for this purpose," says Hamza Yusuf, the Californian Muslim scholar and a popular speaker at Islamic conventions.

But ordinary Muslims do not always view this violence as a religious issue. They do no consult their religious texts for arguments against or for an act like suicide bombing when discussing it. Instead, they almost always describe it as a political issue linked to disputes like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Chechnya or Kashmir.

Yusuf also describes it as a "modern political phenomenon" and insists that it's imperative to resolve the Palestinian dispute in order to fight extremism and violence in Muslim societies.

"Palestine is the issue, and until this issue is resolved, there can be no peace," he argues.

Yusuf also calls upon the Jewish people in the United States to "rise against the suppression they witness with their eyes", urging them to "reject this gross injustice as we reject the killing of innocent children".

Attempts to make peace with the Jewish community are not confined to the Palestinian issue alone. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Muslims across the world have been forced to reconsider their attitudes towards Jews.



Know more: Political Islam: Why militants now symbolise Muslims



Muslim leaders often acknowledge that the dispute with the Israel is encouraging violent tendencies within their community. In public meetings and private conversations, some Muslim leaders now also speak of the positive contribution the Jewish people have made to international civilisation.

Speakers at various Islamic conventions in North America often urge Muslims to learn from the Jews how to co-exist with other faiths.

At one of these conventions, the organisers screened a documentary showing the discrimination the Jews had to face when they first migrated to America. Some speakers also spoke of the Holocaust and the concentration camps in Germany and advised Muslims to integrate themselves with the followers of the two older Abrahamic faiths, Judaism and Christianity.

"We must assert to the Abrahamic people that we are the last extension of the Abrahamic religion... There is no such thing as an Islamic tribe," said Yusuf.

"Knowledge, and not just religion, enables a nation to progress. And now the Jews are holding the torch of knowledge, we must learn from them," said another speaker.

Can these attempts lead to a lasting peace between Muslims and Jews? Only time will tell.
Changing times: Ijtihad and other questions Muslims must revisit - Blogs - DAWN.COM

@Archdemon
@Natan
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@MarkovChain

Once I get time later on [ have to go to school now ], I will dissect this article and prove the lies and fallacies it is infested with.

 

[Jf Thunder]

We dont get aroused as easily as men...it is surprising a scientist thanked that one .... Maybe not a real scientist.... coz anyone with basics in Biology or psychology can tell you why! Go ask one!



Thats your method you are welcome to open your own cult....call it whatever suits you coz you are not happy with what god has told the msgr!

Khala i love my religion, no need to attack so quick please, i was just asking, all these are based on Fatwas, so i was just asking, i never challenged the Laws laid down in the Quran and Hadith, i only ask why about fatwas.




well according to that men should be locked in home as they cant control themselves :p

 

[Jf Thunder]

They CANT lead men...I wrote wrongly and just corrected it...

Even when I wrote wrongly I asked you to visit my post (post no. and page no was given) which you didnt....so you didnt even point out I wrote wrongly

Khala jee i am do damn lazy to do that

 

[Jf Thunder]

They CANT lead men...I wrote wrongly and just corrected it...

Even when I wrote wrongly I asked you to visit my post (post no. and page no was given) which you didnt....so you didnt even point out I wrote wrongly

ok, ok now dont get angry, but here is what i got
1)Men can lead men
2)Men can lead women
3)Women can only lead women

is this ok?

 

[utraash]

@utraash Sorry took me some time to come to this post....

Needed a sane mind to answer this one...



1) what are today´s time needs?
2) show me 1 verse from the Quran that goes against it....
3) You are worried about 1400 yrs some ppl still follow the vedas and how old is that? (not being rude just countering)

1 simple logic is how we pray

We pray by standing shoulder to shoulder there is no room for air its a compact community ....

By having a woman and man that close its not advisable in any era! From body heat to hormones everything will bother you from having a prayer that is solat khusyuk...which basically needs you to concentrate on god over your surroundings ....

And when you stand shoulder to shoulder you dont ask what the status of the person next to you is...He can be a king or pauper, he can be a rapist or an extra handsom man....in case you are talking about how the ONLY woman who led the prayer prayed - they had men and women standing shoulder to shoulder and some not even having the basic hijab....if one is going that far to distort every principle of Islam ...I dont see any need for following such a twisted version!

If you say no only woman be the imam then there will be questions why men are to stand in front why not behind? why not let them see the bums when women bow (we pray we bow and prostate) so yes you get to see alot of bums..again will hinder ur concentration no matter how HOLY you are you are human first than Muslim!

Please do explain what you mean by what you wrote...

Lovely question...

Even when preparing for an exam ....you do some problems which are similar and practice ....you also learn theories but you apply it by using your brain....

By simply having dos and donts you dont get tested....you dont think then why have a brain? just shows god wants us to think and apply the theory he gives us

First of all no need to say sorry.....
As per my understanding about quranic verses they are biased against women....

Rest bolded parts reminding me about stance of male chauvinism exist in our respective society... Many here in India, educated males blames female dresses for crimes against women .... If a person cant raise above himself his sexuality for a sec then why he even going mosque for praying just for the sake doing it(Same logic is applicable to Hindus too who visit temple to offer their pray)...... Akheilos plz don't,support mentality of rapist here by invoking so called offensive female sexuality ......

 

[Jf Thunder]

First of all no need to say sorry.....
As per my understanding about quranic verses they are biased against women....
Rest bolded parts reminding me about stance of male chauvinism exist in our respective society... Many here in India, educated males blames female dresses for crimes against women .... If a person cant raise above himself his sexuality for a sec then why he even going mosque for praying just for the sake doing it(Same logic is applicable to Hindus too who visit temple to offer their pray)...... Akheilos plz don't,support mentality of rapist here by invoking so called offensive female sexuality ......

i partially agree with you, i agree that a man should control himself, Allah has given a man the power to control everything in himself, so he should use it, instead of blaming it on women, although i must say both men and women should be dressed modestly, but a man should control himself, if he cant, then HE should be locked at home

 

[utraash]

You can question condition is IF you find something wrong in the nizam not the people who are preaching it or conducting it wrongly based on their culture over the laws of god...
If god wanted it amended he wouldnt have given you a broken thing...Thats our believe in our religion that god gave us a perfect thing...

As per me problem lies here when you emphasize that there is nothing wrong in gods words i.e quaran then why only Muslim(Muslims are very religious than any other followers of other religions) worlda under the grip of such chaotic situations....?
As far as vedas are concerned i wont follow my vedas if they also start preaching same biases n you can bring here any verse n i will criticize it by disassociation of mine to,such texts......

 

[Dubious]

all these are based on Fatwas, so i was just asking, i never challenged the Laws laid down in the Quran and Hadith, i only ask why about fatwas.

These are not laid based on fatwahs but backed with sahih hadith.....

Fatwah is only an opinion and can change but what the prophet showed us is what we should do....

well according to that men should be locked in home as they cant control themselves :p

That is up to men to decide....

I never said that and you need not extrapolate either learn the subject and have enough patience to do so or dont learn it and be like the typical Pakistani who goes to the pir to be spoon fed whatever shit the pir feels like