Links with Arab ulama

Discussion in 'General Topics' started by abu Hasan, Nov 16, 2021.

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  1. abu Hasan

    abu Hasan Administrator

    while it is true that we had a gap of 40-50 years during which deos made good progress, especially by roping in people like abu ghuddah (who even dabbled in politics). some of your young ulama who are so brave and daring and blunt in criticising sunni ulama from the subcontinent will not show the courage to criticise the excesses of people like abu ghuddah or other scholars. abu ghuddah was an avid ibn taymiyyah admirer.

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    however, in the past two decades, a lot of progress has been made. our ulama have been engaging with scholars from syria, yemen and even in saudi.

    dar ahl al-sunnah (of mufti aslam raza tahseeni) is doing a good job, printing and publishing alahazrat's works and other sunni works in standard arabic and in high-quality prints. check the brief intro to dar ahl-as sunnah below.

    in fact, they came out with a high-quality edition of fatawa ridawiyyah in a 22-volume edition. this 22-volume unlike the previous 30-volume, mostly because the 22-volume edition is aimed at scholars and muftis and hence does not contain translations of arabic/farsi passages. it can be called as the original fatawa.

    mufti aslam raza sahib's organisation has stocks available - after spending millions of rupees on printing, the stocks are gathering dust in warehouses. sunni muslims in the UK (and other rich countries) should support such efforts of 'barelwis' rather than deriding them as good-for-nothing etc. why should those who identify themselves as 'barelwis' run behind those who do not want to be associated with 'barelwis' and/or fund them instead of people like aslam raza sahib?

    hundreds of copies (even thousands) of alahazrat's works which are researched, takhrij-ed and ready to ship NOW. sunnis should promote these ulama and their efforts by buying these copies and presenting it to arab ulama in their vicinity.

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    so yes a lot of work is being done. everyone is doing their bit.

    so apart from doing our bit, we must also support each other - and the least of which is not putting down our own people. however, criticism of a specific work is a different matter - where we are obligated to criticise as a duty. in fact, i would severely criticise many english translations available - almost all of which are substandard or at the least, superficial and literal translations. i do not do it because:

    - i do not have time
    - i am myself a translator and my criticism could be viewed as professional jealousy
    - my time is better spent on my translation than defending my criticism (backlash can be expected)
    - my criticism will cause unpleasantness

    do not give unsolicited counsel
    you won't be loved, and your advice futile
    ra'ay.png

    yet, i respect the intentions of those translators and they will get their reward according to their intentions. the product is criticised, not the people behind it. such criticism is not 'putting them down'. wAllahu a'alam.

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    my only appeal to translators is to leave complex texts alone - especially aqidah texts. and until you have read and/or able to refer to well known aqidah texts in original arabic, do not attempt translating aqidah works. even more specifically alahazrat's works on aqidah. a superficial translation will only translate the urdu text without understanding the nuance, or the background, or that one phrase of alahazrat would probably have a history of discussion known to a kalam student. without this knowledge, the translation will be downright shallow. in some cases, it is against the aqidah of ahl al-sunnah (and alahazrat) but you have attributed it to him by your flawed translation.

    i do not understand why young upcoming scholars rush to do an alahazrat translation. i even started writing a guide for translators upon the advice of mufti aslam raza sahib, but that is another WIP. however, some suggestions for new/young translators:

    - read good english literature for clarity of expression. just like the commentary of al-mu'allaqat is taught, reading good literature - both fiction and non-fiction in ENGLISH, will help a new writer immensely to both improve his communication and to expand his/her vocabulary.

    - pick simpler texts and if at all you think you can handle complex works, read up similar works by other authors for perspective and increasing your understanding of the subject.

    - pick a text that you think will be useful for the masses. it is tempting to produce a work of art and something nobody has done before or something very complex that experts will praise you. this could be perilous and push you in the ring hankering for glory - and that will undo everything else. love of fame and glory will be the undoing. may Allah protect us from these dangers. nas'alu-Allah al-aafiyah.

    - the translation should be product after you have internalised the information. if you are able to restate the author with your own summaries and commentaries - you are good to go. if you cannot, you probably need to read and understand well.​

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    Allah knows best.
     

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  2. Unbeknown

    Unbeknown Senior Moderator

    sad but true ...
     
  3. Ibrahim

    Ibrahim New Member

    The problem those who go to Arab lands and have close links to Arabs,

    majority come back and never calls themselves barelwis and don't speak about Alahazrat
     
  4. Hanafi Sunni

    Hanafi Sunni Well-Known Member

    Mufti Shamsul Huda is very good in arabic and has been to turkey etc.
     
  5. Aqdas

    Aqdas Staff Member

    Any of our Barelwi ulama who are fluent in spoken Arabic must forge links with Arab ulama. Send them books, visit them, keep in contact.

    Sunni awaam need to sponsor these visits instead of showering notes on naat khwans, who are mostly shiah anyway.
     
    Unbeknown and Khanah like this.

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