Question
Is a person excused for not seeking (Islamic) knowledge due to being busy with studies unconnected with Islamic knowledge, or because of work etc.?
Response:
The acquisition of knowledge is Fard Kifaya meaning that if enough people do so, it is no longer obligatory on the rest of the people. But the acquisition of knowledge could be Fard Ain for all the people that is, if a person wanted to worship Allaah through a certain act of worship, it would be incumbent upon him to know how to perform this act of worship to Allaah.
In view of this, if one were to occupy himself with something to the neglect of seeking Islamic knowledge, he and his family would be protected by learning what was sufficient for them, so long as they maintained the acts of worship which are an obligation upon them.
We hold that this is excused and there is no objection to it, but he must learn as much Islamic law as is possible for him.
Question
What is your opinion regarding those who say: "Whoever has no Shaikh (teacher), his Shaikh is Shaytan?”!
Response:
There is no doubt that knowledge is transmitted by its bearers and they are the righteous scholars and whoever receives knowledge from them benefits greatly understanding the texts (of the Qur'an and Sunnah), knowing how to study and how to act, and that whoever restricts himself to reading book only, (certain) things may not be apparent to him and he may misunderstand what he reads.
Still I do not concur with this saying and it is not an authentic hadeeth neither Marfu nor Mawquf. It might be a saying of some of the scholars, intended to warn people against staying away from the people of knowledge and to encourage them to attend lectures given by the scholars. And Allaah is the Granter of success. - Shaykh Ibn Jibreen.
Question
Is the door to Ijtihad in formulating Islamic rulings considered to be open to every person, or are there certain conditions which must be fulfilled by the Mujtahid? And is it, permissible for any person to rule according to his opinion, without knowledge of any clear evidence. And what is the grade ofthe Hadeeth which says:
"l warn you against delivering legal rulings as I warn against the Fire”
Response:
The door of performing Ijtlhad In order to recognize the Islamic rulings remains open for those who are qualified to do it.
They must have knowledge of the verses of the Quran and hadeeths and be able to understand them, and to use them as evidence as required on the questions in which they are exercising Ijtihad.
He must posses knowledge to the extent that he is able to cite relevant hadeeths on which there is consensus in all questions, so that they do not depart from the consensus of the Muslims (ie the Scholars) In their judgments.
They must have sufficient knowledge of Arabic language to allow them understand the texts (the Quran and Sunnah) and to derive and extract the proofs from them and then to speaker deliver ruling according to their convictions and what satisfies them in religion.
As for the hadith:
"I warn you against delivering legal rulings as I warn against the Fire".
It was narrated by al-Hafiz Abdullah bin AburRahman ad- Darimi in his Sunan, from Ubaidullah bin Abi Jafar al-Misri in Mursal form. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet., Muhammed and upon his family' and Companions. – The Permanent Committee.