Foundations & Framework - Part 2
Assertion:-
The Foundations and Framework of Islam are in order of priority as follows:- (1) Allah (2) Quran (3) Sunna (4) The Learned or Foremost (5) Shura and Ijma (6) Istihsaan and Istislaah (7) Urf and Adat.
These can be divided into (1) the Upper or Heavenly Triad, (2) the Connecters and (3) the Lower or Worldly Triad.
Critic:-
I think we are saying pretty much the same thing, except that we use a different set of semantics.
Comment:-
It could be as you say, but I doubt it - perhaps I am mistaken. Your statements appear to be telling us that you believe that anyone who professes to be a Muslim can form any opinion he likes. You appear to be mixing up opinion with Truth though the Quran repeatedly warns us against attributing to Allah what is not True and condemns the followers of past religions for doing just that.
But to clarify the position, let me restate my position and you can tell me if you agree or not:-
I put Allah as number (1) because it is He who has created the Universe and its Laws and Processes and all the Events that occur in it. He also sent all the Messengers and Scriptures, not just the Quran. We are required to be Objective and study His creation.
I did not put Allah as number (1) because this justifies human beings to invent their own opinions because His Spirit is in us, as you did.
To repeat:- Human beings have fallen from perfection and require to undergo a discipline in order to return to the Perfection for which they have an inherent potentiality. It is only those who develop as a result of the application of this discipline who have the objective faculty for discerning the Truth.
But the Islamic community collectively (i.e. those who sincerely accept and surrender to Allah and, therefore, to the Islamic values of Truth etc.) can also reach the Truth through mutual consultation. The community itself will be led by Allah. This cannot apply to egotists and sectarians. Nor does it apply to ignorant self-appointed religious leaders, Mullahs and the like, or even to past authorities that were dealing with past circumstances.
However, each individual does have the right and duty to reach his or her own understanding of Islam. How else can knowledge be his or her own and how else can he or she attain spiritual growth? This does not bestow a right to conjecture, speculation, prejudice, fantasy, lying, hypocrisy, false rationalisation, propagation of illusions and delusions, addiction to self-interest, habit or tradition. He also has the duty to study, think and meditate on the Quran and Creation, consult others - specially those who have knowledge, virtue and ability - and to apply the discipline in order to expand his understanding.
Critic:-
Yes, we are responsible for our actions, inaction, thoughts, opinions etc. If you are to be responsible for them, first step is to own up to them. Something you do in blind taqleed just in case that scholar knows more, is not owned. On judgement, nobody can get away by saying I was merely following Abu Hanifa, or such and such scholar told me so. Make sure you own your actions and such. Because it is you who will have to justify them and prove their worth. Every body must do that. That is the only way in Islam, and that is a unique distinction of Islam. There is no Pope to be followed, no Rabbi; every one for herself or himself; simple and pure. You did it or failed to do it, now own up to it! That is judgement, for you and me and every one.
Comment:-
This is all very true. Did I not write:- "Each individual does have the right and duty to reach his or her own understanding of Islam. How else can knowledge be his or her own and how else can he or she attain spiritual growth?
But I also pointed out that this does not bestow a right to conjecture, speculation, prejudice, fantasy, lying, hypocrisy, false rationalisation, propagation of illusions and delusions, addiction to self-interest, habit or tradition. He also has the duty to study, think and meditate on the Quran and Creation, consult others, specially those who have knowledge, virtue and ability and to apply the discipline in order to expand his understanding.
Critic:-
Putting Allah number one has no meaning, except to acknowledge His Almightiness. Allah has spoken to us through Quran. And we have agreed to put Quran as number 2. The only thing that remains as a candidate for the Number 1 spot is what Allah gave us through our very essence. In any other sense, putting Allah number 1 is nonsensical. Being objective and studying His creation is great. Most scientists do that, in very detailed manner. But to do that they use their God given intellect etc.
Comment:-
I am telling you what Islam, the religion, is based on - As Islam is "Surrender to Allah" rather than surrender to the Quran, then Allah has priority over the Quran. The Quran is obeyed not because of itself but because it is the Word of God.
But you have your own reason for putting Allah first - namely yourself. I see you still wish to put Allah at number (1) in order to justify egotism. But Surrender to Allah means quite the opposite. It means destruction of the ego. You are required to surrender.
Critic:-
Yes that Spirit is there to guide us, whether you acknowledge it or not. Do not forget that man is created as a Khalifah of Allah on this Earth. So we are next to God. We should not be afraid to acknowledge that position and put it to good use, in the service of mankind, which would please Allah.
Comment:-
I see that we disagree profoundly.
You have correctly identified:-
"Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the faculties of hearing, and sight and hearts (feeling); little is it that you give thanks." 32:9
Also 15:29, 38:73 and note 16:2, 102, 40:51
But you have ignored the following verses:-
"Verily, We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to undertake it, being afraid of it; but man undertook it. Lo! He has proved a tyrant and a fool." 33:72
"And some of them there are, illiterate folk, that know not the Book, but their own fancies, conjectures and idle tales." 2:78
"But if you follow most of those who are in the land, they will lead thee astray from the Way of Allah. They follow naught but opinion (conjecture or suspicion) and they only guess." 6:117
"But most of them follow naught but conjecture (suspicion, fancy, guesswork, speculation); verily, conjecture can by no means take the place of (or avail against) truth. Verily, Allah is Aware of what they do." 10:37
"Cursed be the conjecturers, who flounder heedless in an abyss (of ignorance and confusion)." 51:10
"And they have no knowledge of it; they do not follow anything but conjecture, and surely conjecture does not avail against the truth at all." 53:28
"Surely, We have created man in the best of moulds. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low; Save those who believe and act right; for theirs is a reward unfailing." 95:4-6
"Allah wishes to turn towards you in mercy, but those who follow their own lusts (desires, prejudices, addictions, superstitions) wish that ye should go far astray!" 4:27
"....obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts (prejudices, fantasies, superstitions), and whose affair has been abandoned." 18:29
"And who is more in error than he who follows his own lust without guidance from Allah? Verily, Allah guides not a wrong doing people." 28:50
"But amongst men are those who wrangle about Allah, without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an illuminating book (Scriptures that gives light and enlightens)." 31:20
Critic:-
My intellectual findings are reduced to "opinions" while casual assertions by Abu Hanifah have to be followed even if it means bending backward. All men are equal in the sight of Allah, only differentiator is Taqwa, and no body knows of one's Taqwa except Allah or the individual. This double standard is a curse on Muslims. Regard not who the speaker is, regard what the speech is. Just because I add no Sheikhdom with my name, or people do not say Rahmatullah Alaihe when they say my name, does not mean anything, Allah will be the final judge. My findings are not to be dismissed as mere opinions, InshaAllah.
Comment:-
Your intellectual findings, like any others, can be defective and are certainly legitimately subject to the scrutiny of others. They are found to be defective.
You have partial knowledge and you base your opinion on data selected to justify your prejudices. We have to dismiss this. This mistake leads people to suppose that they have a valid right to invent their own religion. It is this has led to sectarianism and reduced Muslims to the sorry state in which they now are. And there are people, like you, who continue to encourage this trend. This kind of speculation based on selectivity is the real curse for Muslims.
If what you say were true, we would need no Prophets or Scriptures. In fact, that is what you seem to be suggesting - that Muslims should disobey the Quran and abandon the Prophet.
So even if your intention was only to point out the existence of the Divine Spirit in man (32:9) as the faculties for knowledge in man, it is equally necessary to show the opposite, the limitations of man. But yes, the converse is also true - i.e. given the limitations, the potentialities must also be presented.
Your mention of Abu Hanifah is a "red herring", an irrelevancy. If he spoke or wrote falsehoods based on selective perception like you he too would be dismissed. He is as much subject to appraisal as you are though you wish to be taken as an authority as you think he is.
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