Reflections on Sh Nuh's refutation and counter rebuttal
Aslaamu 'alaykum,
We should all take a step back and control our emotions and reflect upon a few facts.
• Firstly, forum members should read the counter rebuttal article ‘A Just Response to a Biased Authour’ without reading the last paragraph first as it is ambiguous as this is not a fatwaa possibly highlighting the proximity to those who have historically stumbled.
• Secondly, let the rebuttal evidence and logic steer your mind and thoughts other than any sectraian or partisan motives.
Lets pray for the haqq to illuminate and for the accurate ijtihad to prevail.
Background
Shaykh Nuh appears to have written the original unfortunate article ‘Iman, Kufr and Takfir’ which has been in the public domain on his website
http://shadhilitariqa.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37
for more than two years without any retractions or disclaimers from himself, his mureeds, students and associates. Therefore the Shaykh has to take full responsibility for the content, rulings, aspersions and misgivings that has instigated this response ‘A Just Response to a Biased Authour’ which appears to be more technical than partisan. Because Shaykh Nuh penned his thoughts in black and white regarding a fatwa provided by a deceased colossal 'Aalim - whose works, mass following and tributes are a testimony to his brilliance, sincerity and global appeal then and today.
He easily has a following of over 350million subcontinent ‘linked’ Muslims who are guided by his penetrating, clear and evidenced based elaboration of the Sunni, Marturidi, Hanafi and Sufi principles and possible trappings especially pertaining to affording the correct adab, hubb, tazeem and haqooq; navigating the pitfalls of detractions, and championing orthodox Sunni aqeedah, fiqh and tassawwuf.
Shaykh Nuh must rethink his position in light of this detailed and scholarly response which raises many questions pertaining to his intent, scholarship, grasp, motivations and interests.
Some questions:
1. Why did Shaykh Nuh not consult the ‘Ulema of the Barelwi community in UK or Pakistan whom he had access to? – as they have in the main been his main hosts and facilitators (even to this day) and allowed him open access to their members, communities and resources especially in the UK. NB - At the time when Shaykh Nuh’s article was released he was in Lahore at the time!
2. Why did Shaykh Nuh not consult his ‘learned’ and ‘connected’ mureeds who could have helped him shape a more accurate and better informed writing.
3. Why Shaykh Nuh has not read some of the specific works of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan pertaining to these very issues – which I hear he has been trying to gather after he released the article his website.
4. How come he has no real awareness of the historical chronology and grasp of the views of contemporaries pertaining to these issues leading to the build up to the eventual haramayn endorsed fatwa and incorrectly accusing Imam Ahmad Raza Khan for coining the term imkan al-kadhib
5. How would he have dealt with the ‘ulema of deoband who were not ordinary scholars, teachers or mosque imam’s but carried distinguished titles as hakim ul ummat’, ‘muhaddith’, ‘shaykh al hind’ and ‘shayk ul islam’ but were tainted by their irresponsible writings that entailed ‘indefensible breaches of proper respect’ were ‘unacceptable’, ‘repungant’ and vulgar to Muslims of all times repulsive ‘in any Islamic community’. Keeping things real how is he dealing or has dealt with the blasphemous comments of the Mufti of Shaam or is he querying his ‘intent’ too? Shaykh Yaqoobi has clearly taken a stand and made his view public suffering some personal consequences as a result similar to Imam Ahmad Raza Khan who took a stand in his time against a kaleidoscope of fitnah’s the ramifications of which are felt even today through the clearly drawn dividing line between haq and baatil. Surgeons make life and death decisions daily based on their knowledge and responsibility and competently qualified 'ulema should be able to clearly demarcate the parameters of faith and infidelity for the laity and not sit on the fence or tie themselves in knots withwaswasa
The unfortunate thing is:
Shaykh Nuh was recently made aware that the scholars of Damascus – including prominent students of Shaykh Badr ud din Hassani - that they honoured and held in high esteem Imam Ahmad Raza Khan beyond his fataawa he was provided scanned copies of their letters to him
We know that the Shaykh intentions for unity appear noble but to questions the integrity, intentions interpretation, ‘Ilm and rulings of a highly reputable Sufi and Jurist who dealt with the challenges of his time that even plague us today is extreme. How was this deliberate subversion of faith to be tackled at the time that took root in world post Islamic State in India in the grips of colonialism with rise of many fitnah’s in the Subcontinent that were identified, analysed and warned about by the likes of Imam Ahmad Raza Khan which included wahabism, qadianism, ahle Qur’an, literalism, modernists, naturalists, deniers of hadith, pseudo scholars, charlatan Sufis, deobandi’s, shia’s, nasbi’s, tafzili’s, rafidi’s, bidati’s, and the threat from their highly organized missionary movements and religious institutes all masquerading as ‘Ahle sunnah’ & ‘Ahle Haqq’ . Do the scholars who come after be better judges of the intent and struggles of earlier ‘ulema from a different era, culture and place by simply observing the unfolding impact of the historical phenomenon.
A scholar in the absence of an Islamic state, without holding a post in the Ottoman empire was able to get the greatest scholars of his time from Makkah & Medina, Damascus & Yemen to agree with his findings shows his stature as scholars amongst his peers.
Some have asked by putting Imam Ahmad Raza Khan in the dock is the next person up for a pardon or exoneration Ismail Dhelwi, Mirza from Qadyaan, ibn Taymiyya, Elijah Muhammad, Ibn Abdul Wahhaab, Ibn Saba or even Yazid?. Where is this ‘retrospectively’ leading too! What is the Shaykh’s research say of all the other scholars who wrote against Deobandi’s blasphemies as well as those who supported and endorsed the fatwa are they all to be retrospectively questioned with this new inquisition into ‘intents’ – did they all overlook this single point!
Apologies for the crude analysis but just think how hundreds of millions have felt for the last few years with the trickle of muffled taunts is the Hanafi ‘Barelwi’ community going to furnish a response to this fresh technical work or be dismissive like the Deobandi’s who too have not faired well at the hands of Shaykh Nuh either as commented upon by Mufti Taqi Usmani. Shaykh Nuh from this counter rebuttal has unfortunately been placed among the ‘subvertours’ ship probably resulting in irreparable damage to his scholarly standing unless he responds in a manner that undo’s the very knots he has tied himself in.
May Allah (swt) guide us to the manifest Haqq and I seek forgiveness from all
for any perceived lack of adab (Ameen) but 'living issues' can bring prejudices and emotions acutely into focus which people are susceptible to both intentionally and unintentionally.
Khuda Haafiz for now
Abu Fayz
