04-23-2007, 03:38 AM
<b>Episode 5</b>
In the name of Allah[1], the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (SAWS[2]).
Let me welcome you all and let us continue our "Call for Coexistence".
In today’s episode, we will discuss five points which I hope we apply to our daily lives so that we would be able to coexist and accept each other. Allah says what can be translated as, “and act righteously among yourselves (Or: make reconciliation after differences) and obey Allah and His Messenger, in case you are believers.”(TMQ, 8:1)[3].
Abu-Hanifa believed the Qur’an’s verses are limited in number, while daily events are not. He wanted to bridge the gap between life and religion. Thus, he introduced a new concept that was not known before which is juristic deduction.
Muslim scholars in Al-Hijaz at that time did not accept such innovations as they were not familiar with the circumstances in other places such as Iraq. As a result of his different views; Abu-Hanifa was accused of corrupting the Islamic religion and even of being an atheist.
Abu-Hanifa’s idea of juristic deduction sprang from an authentic hadith which narrates that prophet Muhammad (SAWS) asked Mo’az Ibn-Gabal what his reference in judging was. Mo’az replied that his first reference is the Qur’an, then the sunnah (the Prophet's tradition), then his own opinion and deduction.
Different people need different ways to deal with them. However, we have to deal with all kinds of people, as it is our duty to coexist and to make reconciliations. It was narrated that the Prophet (SAWS) said that the problems and the struggles between the Muslims lead to the deterioration of our religion.
The five points that can help you coexist with those who differ with you are:
<b>1- Rational logic.</b>
2- Scientific logic.
3- Outwitting.
4- Patience.
5- Holding firm to your beliefs.
Abu-Hanifa succeeded because he had the skill of dealing with all types of people. For example, in Al-Higaz, Abu-Hanifa was criticized for following his own opinion and neglecting the Prophet's (SAWS) sayings. Then, while he was performing pilgrimage, he met Al-Imam Mohammad Al-Baker who was one of the Prophet's (SAWS) descendents. Al-Imam condemned Abu-Hanifa for changing his grandfather's religion. Abu-Hanifa denied but Al-Imam insisted on his accusations. Thus, Abu-Hanifa asked Mohammad Al-Baker to sit where he pleased so that Abu-Hanifa would discuss the matter.
Al-Baker sat on a chair while Abu-Hanifa chose to sit on the floor and said that his respect for him was as highly as the companions’ respect for the Prophet (SAWS). Abu-Hanifa started asking Al-Baker a few easy questions in order to find some points of agreement. The first question was: “Who is physically weaker: men or women?” Al-Baker replied: “Women”. Abu-Hanifa said that the man’s share in inheritance is double the woman’s share, but if he was really neglecting the prophet’s sayings, he would have given the woman double the share of man as she is weaker. However, he did not dare do such a thing.
The second question was: “Which is more glorified by Allah: fasting or praying?” The Imam replied “Praying”. Abu-Hanifa continued his words saying that if he followed his personal opinion he would have told women to pray the prayers they have missed in Ramadan rather than fasting the days they missed, but he never dared to do so because it was not what the Prophet (SAWS) said.
The third question he asked the Imam was: “Which is more impure: urine or sperm?” The Imam replied: “In my grandfather’s religion, it is urine”. To this Abu-Hanifa replied that although this was his opinion he would never say that we have to perform the major ablution from urine and perform the minor ablution from sperm. Their conversation ended by Al-Imam Baker kissing Abu-Hanifa's forehead.
Another example was when Al-khawareg (dissidents) entered Al-Koofa mosque, carrying their swords asking Abu-Hanifa about two funerals for two people who have committed grave sins wanting to know if they died as believers or not.
The first funeral was for a man who was a drunk and died while drinking wine. The second funeral was for a woman who committed adultery and died pregnant with an illegitimate child. As Al-Khawareg believed that anyone who commits a grave sin is a rejecter of faith, Abu-Hanifa knew that they will kill him if he said otherwise. Hence, Abu-Hanifa pretended that he was distracted by the swords and that he had forgotten the question.
So he asked them if they are Jewish or Christians. They said that they were neither. Then he asked what their religion was. They replied that they were Muslims. Abu-Hanifa made them say the truth by their own will. They became confused and asked whether they deserve Jannah (paradise) or hell. Abu-Hanifa's answer was a quote from the Qur’an, where Allah (AWJ[4]) says what can be translated as: “So whoever follows me, then surely he is of me; and whoever disobeys me, then surely You are Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful” (TMQ, 18:36). Thus, the debate ended in favor of Abu-Hanifa.
Abu-Hanifa did not mind changing his opinion if it was proved to be wrong. Zohair Ibn-Mo’awya once informed him that there were a number of ahadith[5], concerning a certain aspect in jurisprudence, which contradict his opinion. As a result, Au-Hanifa revised the matter and willingly changed his opinion.
Abu-Hanifa could also deal with those who couldn’t be convinced except by scientific thinking. He debated with atheists by using this method. Although Abu-Hanifa was the one who set the day for the debate, he arrived very late. He apologized and said that the reason for his delay was that he could not find a boat that could take him to the other side of the river. Suddenly, he found pieces of wood gathering together to form a boat. The atheist did not believe his story and then Abu-Hanifa wondered how they could not believe that a boat could be built by chance while they deeply believe that the whole universe exists unaided.
One day, Abu-Hanifa heard that there was someone who reviled Othman Ibn-Afan (RA[6]) by calling him “a rejecter of faith”. Abu-Hanifa went to the man’s house and asked him whether he would accept his daughter to marry a rich, noble and honorable man, but also a rejecter of faith. The man replied that he would definitely disapprove. Abu-Hanifa replied that the Prophet (SAWS) too would never have allowed his two daughters to marry Othman if he was a disbeliever. The man was convinced and asked for Allah's forgiveness.
In another example, Abu-Hanifa said that in prayer Muslims do not have to read Al-Fatiha[7] because the imam’s reading is enough. This idea was rejected by many people. Some people actually came from Madinah to argue with Abu-Hanifa. He told them that he cannot argue with all of them, and asked them to choose one. When they chose one, he asked, “Will you accept anything he says no matter who wins?” They said, “Yes.” Then he said, “You loose. This is my point. His words are enough.” They were very confused as most of them were young men. He then told them that they are from Madinah, so when they return where Malik is, who believes that each Muslim has to read Al-Fatiha, they should stick to their Imam. He even said that when he goes to Madinah, he will do what Malik does!
The third method of arguing is outwitting. Some people are not flexible. Abu-Hanifa used his tricky intelligence where he could not use reason. Abu-Ga’far Al-Mansoor killed many people and was the caliph in Iraq at that time. A man called Abul-Abbas al-Tusy worked at his council. This man hated Abu-Hanifa. Al-Mansoor invited Abu-Hanifa to attend a session. Al-Tusy said to the one next to him, “I’ll kill Abu-Hanifa today.” and Abu-Hanifa felt what the man schemed for. The man entered and said, “Caliph, can you permit me to debate Abu-Hanifa? I want to ask him a religious question.” Al-Mansoor was worried from Abu-Hanifa because he is a leader, and up-to-date. The man said, “Abu-Hanifa, the caliph has a certain opinion in someone and ordered us to kill him without saying any reasons. Should I kill him obeying the caliph, or disobey him?” Abu-Hanifa asked him if the caliph orders were according to truth or falsehood. Al-Mansoor said, “According to truth.” He said, “Apply the truth without asking.” Then, he won his friendship by changing the subject and saying a funny story. Such characteristics are gained through dealing with people. Do not isolate yourself from people. The Prophet (SAWS) said that the believer who interacts with people and tolerates their evil is better than the one who isolates himself.
Another example was when a couple came to him quarreling. The husband swore that he will divorce his wife and not talk to her unless she talked to him. She also said that she will not talk to him unless he talks to her. Abu-Hanifa said, “Nothing happened, you are not divorced.” When Sufyan al-Thawry heard about it, he went to Abu-Hanifa and said, “Do you legalize adultery?” He replied, “It is simple. She said to him that she will not talk to him unless he talks to her. By saying this, she did in fact talk to him. I reached a solution through an intelligent trick. I did not commit a sin.”
The forth principle is patience. Some people cannot be convinced by any of the previous ways, such as the people who insult you out of hatred or envy. Abu-Hanifa was insulted many times because he created new methods that were not acceptable at his time. One day a young man told him, “You are an innovator, and a disbeliever.” He replied, “Only Allah (AWJ) knows that I am not. I ask Allah to forgive me if you are right, and to forgive you if you are wrong.” The young man said, “I was wrong. I ask Allah’s forgiveness.”
By the way, he was not only patient with those who disagree with him, but also with the disobedient. For example, he was known for praying the voluntary night prayer almost everyday. He had a young neighbor who used to drink a lot and become really noisy singing that he lost everything. One night, Abu-Hanifa didn’t hear him, so he asked about him. He was told that the police arrested the young man so he went to the police to release him. On their way home and he didn’t talk to him. When they arrived he said, “You can attend my lessons at the mosque if you want”, and this young neighbor later became one of Abu-Hanifa’s students.
Abu-Hanifa was humorous with some people too. One day, he was ill and a man visited him and stayed for an hour. Abu-Hanifa was tired. The man told him, “It seems that I have tired you.” He said, “No, you are tiring me even if you are at home.”
This is Islam, and we are proud of it. This program is to teach you all how to coexist with each other: Muslims and non-Muslims. This is how our Prophet (SAWS) taught us to deal with those who disagree with us. So while we opt to coexist, we do not want anyone to impose their culture upon us.
The last point today is that if someone attempts to impose their opinion upon you in basic issues, you should insist on your opinion. Coexistence does not mean losing our personality or giving up your rights.
The man we mentioned earlier, Al-Mansoor, plotted against Abu-Hanifa because he did not like him since he was against the Abasiyans. One day he ordered Abu-Hanifa to be the magistrate, but Abu-Hanifa refused. He refused because he knows that the caliph does not provide the magistrates with any freedom, and freedom was a basic rule in his life.
For disobeying the caliph, he was whipped everyday ten times until his blood reached his heels. He said, “I will not accept. I am free.” This is how this great man coexisted without renouncing himself.
Abu-Hanifa was hardly whipped, imprisoned for many days, and is now on his death bed.
He succeeded in his life because he was able to coexist with himself, and he was a pious man. He was also so elegant. He is a university it himself. Some people say that he died in prison while others say that he died a few days after he was set free. Al-Mansoor was afraid that a public revolution may take place after Abu-Hanifa was whipped the 120 lashes which is why he set Abu-Hanifa free.
When the Al-Mansoor let Abu-Hanifa go, he was so weak and tired. His son asked him, “I want to take your opinion in so and so.” He replied, “I cannot, son. The caliph ordered me not to give my opinion in anything.”
Because he wanted to unite Muslims, he obeyed the caliph and yet kept his freedom.
When Abu-Hanifa died, 50.000 people prayed for him at his funeral. They were not able to pray all at the same time. They divided themselves into six groups.
We now finished the story of this great scholar, Abu-Hanifa. Next episode inshAllah will be about another great scholar in Hanafi jurisprudence.
ash-Shafi'y was born in the same year Abu-Hanifa passed away. Allah is merciful with Muslims. The last one who prayed for Abu-Hanifa was his son, Hamad. Abu-Ga’far Al-Mansoor prayed for him too. Those who believe in freedom and coexistence are immortals, while those who believe in strength are mortals.
When the great Muslim leader Salah Ad-Din came to Egypt, he ordered that Abu-Hanifa’s jurisprudence be taught at schools in Egypt, although he was a Shaf’I (follower of ash-Shafi’ey’s school of thought). He also sent his sons to learn Maliki jurisprudence in Madinah. This is a great example of coexistance. He believed in coexistance, and that is why he won his struggles.
Before Abu-Hanifa died, he asked the people not to burry him in this place, because it is occupied by Al-Mansoor. He wanted to be burried in a free territory. When Al-Mansoor heard about this incident he said, “Who will forgive me for what I have done to Abu-Hanifa in his life, or after his death?” May Allah bless his soul. Scholars say that every Muslim should pray for him as he delivers the islamic jurisprudence to us until this day.
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[1] The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. Although the use of the word "Allah" is most often associated with Islam, it is not used exclusively by Muslims; Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Jews also use it to refer to the One God. The Arabic word expresses the unique characteristics of the One God more precisely than the English term. Whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form in Arabic, the English form does, and the word 'Allah' in Arabic has no connotation of gender. Allah is the God worshipped by all Prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
[2] SAWS = Salla Allah alayhe Wa Salam [All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon him].
[3] TMQ= Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.
[4] AWJ= Aza-Wa-Jal [Glorified and Sublime be He].
[5] Ahadith = Plural form of hadith [The Prophet’s actual sayings or actions as narrated by his companions].
[6] RA= Radya Allah ’anh [May Allah be pleased with him/her].
[7] Al-Fatiha= The first chapter in the Qur’an.
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