I think this is an artificial semantic barrier to say knowledge and information are different. Information is knowledge communicated. I would rather leave it at morals rather than mix it with knowledge.
Re: How to become a scholar?
I feel some elaboration is needed here.
Of course if we stagnate in knowledge then the world will dominate us which it has done. But on the other hand if we follow the world we will lose the aspects of the past that were precious to us.
I think as far as modern research is based there are a few fundamental flaws that could perhaps be unIslamic. The focus of the result as opposed to the effort, a desire for building luxury into our lives, the intention to make material gains, stress on the product and dismissal of the bi-products, justifying why we should do something rather than looking for a reason why not.
This demonstrates that the scientific approach of the modern/secular times is unethical. We should not deny progress except that which has not been undertaken whilst taking ethical impact into consideration. Not all scholars but many today have material taught to them that is secularised from worldly knoweldge.
However, there are a few examples of good scholars ... people who do not divorce themselves from maximal knowledge but at the same time have deep traditional values.
These times need us to go back to traditional VALUES and perhaps seek modern SCIENCES, but then we need to reclaim the loss of values in the current wave of unethical scientific discovery and experimentation.
The Qur'an was collected as a means to protect it
Later hadith too were collected and classified in to levels of authenticity to protect them
The need for the day is to protect Islamic understanding by standardising translations and classifying all versions to their respective people so no one can malign the way scriptures are understood. We need an approval committee that does not stop for any given fiqh group but does the whole subject justice, by classifying all interpretations.
This should have no bearing on life issues and current affairs that scholars should be engaged with. However, I tend to see these times are destined to be. Scholars will be hidden away, protected from public scrutiny. Leaders will be tyrrants and Islam will be a means of income. I think Crescent has been sitting with very different scholars to USResident. But I think both have valid arguments.
Alhamdulillah! Full house ....
Please elaborate Sis. Define roots and traditions in material terms.
I wrote a lenghty post but the system logged me out.
It'll be a lot easier for me to explain if you just name a problem we're facing in modern world.:)
Br. Psyah
Don’t be thinking about Pepsi in Ramadan …
Your last sentence is what really needs to be worked on by people from both camps. A bridge needs built to reconciliate valid arguments from both camps, that is where the unifying process should take us and then the next step is to have one focused direction for all the muslims.
I have always been of the thought scientific discoveries and research needs moral checks, which comes through the proper understanding of Islam. An educated person in the midst of those sciences is more likely to bring balance to it by understanding the Islamic principles as compared to Islamic scholars bringing balance to it by understanding the scientific research. Some may disagree. However I have never found it difficult understanding the principles of Islam, which is why I make this statement. I find it very hard to envision religion in isolation from the world.
Could you please write it again … 
Re: How to become a scholar?
The Prophet (saw) used to address people in accordance to their mental level, their educational, professional, religious and family background,...etc. But at the same time his speech was too the point and comprehensive covering all the necessary aspects of the topic under discussion. I agree to USResident that we should also have knowledge of other religions and their lifestyles in order to convey our message to them in most effective manner.
Re: How to become a scholar?
Why limiting scope to only RELIGIOUS scholars NeScio!
Re: How to become a scholar?
^ The question we believe is aimed for religious scholars because the thread exists in the religion forum!
I feel it is important to identify what a scholar is in order to define how one can become one.
I feel one of the best descriptions of the process of gaining knowledge is in accordance with the Bloom's Taxonomy.
That is:
Exposure to Knowledge
Understanding
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Simply memorising say something of the Qur'an for example is a primitive form of knowledge acquired. A grade higher enables us to understand what we have been exposed to, a grade higher still shows we have truly understood and believed is when we apply those things in our life, scholars would probably begin from the analysis stage, which is being able to find wisdom in the taught method and being able to logically conclude matters therein, synthesis is about taking the model and reproducing it elsewhere, for example giving effective dawah and being a symbol of piety and good conduct. The evaluation stage is being able to make exceptions to the rules and to consider all aspects of the deen in one go to root out the best way to proceed. It is the status of Qadi in Islam.
I can truly say that I am finding it difficult in the apply stage.
I know here in US, people who choose to study theology and christian studies have to go through a quite rigorous program. They have to take general ed classes (which included sciences, maths, arts, humanities, language arts, sociology, psychology, politics/government, and history), electives for theology, and faith. They need certain number of service learning hours, then couple internships, etc. For one of my religion classes I had to interview the father, pastor, or minister at the church and the guy I interviewed had a masters in theology. Also over here you won't be hired as minister or pastor even in a small church unless you have a bachelor’s degree.
So yeah there should be a change in the curriculum used for our scholars. It is should not only focus on teach Quran but other subjects as well that would help them better understand Quran and its teachings. They should be required to have a certain number of service hours (that is volunteer work with programs for unprivileged people), and internships.
Re: How to become a scholar?
Salam USResident,
Isn't the Quran full of stories of the past? So we learn from them and better our lives today? This is in essence what the traditionalist scholars today try to adhere to.
As for the difference of opinion, it is healthy it exists. Some scholars have ruled out moon sighting and 8 rakah or 20, we just have to work to seek the truth right. We can take their word, then search for it on our own.
You mashAllah are trying hard as apparent from your posts, you do your research, most muslims, even I sometimes dont try to understand our religion, due to the busy schedules and lives we've adapted.
Salam USResident,
Isn't the Quran full of stories of the past? So we learn from them and better our lives today? This is in essence what the traditionalist scholars today try to adhere to.
As for the difference of opinion, it is healthy it exists. Some scholars have ruled out moon sighting and 8 rakah or 20, we just have to work to seek the truth right. We can take their word, then search for it on our own.
You mashAllah are trying hard as apparent from your posts, you do your research, most muslims, even I sometimes dont try to understand our religion, due to the busy schedules and lives we've adapted.
Agree. Our duty is to extract the wisdom from them and utilize it today where relevant. My biggest gripe with traditionalist scholars of today, whom I do try to understand, research and definitely read opinions of and even follow where I deem appropriate, is that their outlook on life is way too simplistic and impractical from todays perspective and where the world stands today. The wisdom they preach was good when life was simple. Not that what they say is incorrect or wrong but I just find it impractical.
Differences of opinion are definitely healthy as long as they are not meant to oppose most of the time but rather compliment and achieve a common goal.
Alhamdulillah! I try what I am capable of and I believe there is a lot of room for improvement for everyone.
Re: How to become a scholar?
US, Please share an example with us where you find that their outlook on life is impractical?
US, Please share an example with us where you find that their outlook on life is impractical?
Which topic should we start with, there are very few outside the sphere of religious fiqh itself where they have had any impact in inculcating Islamic values.
Since we are in Ramadan, have our scholars been able to unite all the muslims across the globe on a single method for beginning and finishing Ramadan. How many traditionalist scholars (those who support moonsighting by eye) acknowledge that there are better ways to determine the birth of a new moon today? It seems that there understanding of sunnah is to literally follow it rather than differentiate what it really means. There is no fuss about the remaining 11 Islamic months worldwide among scholars and everything progresses according to astronomical calendar data, our five prayers daily are held based on it as well. The point I am touching on is that they cannot give up moon sighting by eye because they think the moonsighting by eye is the sunnah rather than understand that it is means to determine the the birth of the new moon. Was there another method in place during the Prophet SAW time to determine the lunar cycle with certainty other than moon sighting?
Pakistans hudood ordinance was a joke and a product of scholarly minds, another bright example.
Finance is another area where some contribution has been made to provide an alternate financial system. Interestingly if you check the holding of the Islamic funds in USA atleast, all American companies. I have read Mufti Taqi Usmani's book on Islamic finance and it has some substance to it yet nothing of scholarly value that other people could not have come up with who are familiar with Islamic principles. This is an area where some contemporary minded scholars or educated people have done some work.
Womens leadership issue. Tell me is it literally forbidden for women to assume leadership positions (and I am not talking about Imamat). In many circles our scholars still preach that women are defficient in mental capabilities.
Our scholars denounce genetic evolution. I denounce the agenda to disprove Gods existence using genetic evolution but definitely not the research. It carries much significance and knowledge to it. The studies themselves were not biased but infact done to prove or disprove an agenda i.e. division of humans in subspecies.
The kind of material you find in fatwas restrating womens movements in todays society. Is that level of restriction actually warranted now. Please don't take this to mean I am against womens modesty as per Islamic guidelines.
Especially in Pakistan, have our scholars ever voiced opinion of the Shaheed name b*****ng to every person who dies by hook or crook. It is truly insulting to the status of the true Shuhada.
There are other as well but these ones I mentioned can spiral into long discussions themselves.
There are countless examples of where local alims just make a mockery out of religion in every muslim country nowadays.
The important question that begets here is, WHAT IS TO BE THE ROLE OF OUR SCHOLARS IN TODAYS SOCIETY AND HOW MCUH AUTHORITY SHOULD THEY HAVE?
Re: How to become a scholar?
Salam, USResident, I read 3 lines of your post, then I stopped. Here is why.
Did you ever read the reasoning behind the moonsighting? Why they view it with the naked eye?
You assumed that Traditionalist scholars just refer to hadiths and then blindly follow it?
Couple of points i’ll mention, and then I’ll refer you to a scholarly work of a traditionalist scholar.
-
Prayer times and moon calculations are NOT done similarly. They are different! One is definite without any conditions, the other has a condition placed upon it. Why? (refer below)
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Were the same methods used today (intercalculations and averaging out the lunar cycle) used back in the time of the prophet pbuh and afterwards? Yes. (refer below)
All the proofs, all the evidence, all the scientific benefits are listed below.
Its a 40+ page read, but I hope you can find time to read it.
Part 1:
http://www.zaytuna.org/forms/Cesarean_Moon_Births_Pt_1.pdf
Part 2:
http://www.zaytuna.org/forms/Cesarean_Moon_Births_Pt_2.pdf
I hope it atleast clears your misconception about traditionalist scholars and their view on moonsighting.
:salam: Bro Crescent
I have read Shaikh Hamza’s article before. I will comment on it later. However for your reference there was an incident during Umar RA time (I honestly cannot remember where I had read this), where the people had sighted the moon mid-day (unvoluntarily) and were confused about Eid. They broke their fasts and celebrated Eid that same day. They went Umar RA to get his opinion on it adn what he stated is interesting. His essence of his statement was that if the moon has been seen so early in the day then it must have been born the day before and hence forth, the celebration of Eid by them was correct. If the moon is sighted in the evening time, then he deduced that the moon has been born the same day and the next day is to be Eid. The stress was not on moon sighting but explaining what the moon sighting indicates, which is to determine the birth of the moon. The purpose of sighting the moon is not the Sunnah itself but to determine the birth of the new moon. which is why I say that naked eye sighting can be replaced with better methods.
And you did not comment on why there is no hue and fuss about the remaining Islamic calendar months. Are they not based on the lunar cycle?
bro USResident
Being a traditional scholar would not entail formulating an opinion based on partial reference material. It is clear that some ‘research’ techniques of the West are not thorough enough for Islamic exegesis, because the ideas therein are based on coming to an opinion prior to the citing of the evidence then sifting through the material and presenting specimens to support the angle that has been postulated. Rather than taking an impartial approach to all evidence.
For example there are various blessings for supplicating on sighting the waxing crescent. Also, the same reference you give above will compel a greater emphasis towards not planning for the new month but to adjust when new information comes to light. The scholars have already agreed on using technology to support their conclusions in this particular matter and furthermore, the difference is not about who is or is not using technology but rather the main difference is that the traditionally approached are using a balance of technology and hadith to support their stance, but the alternative that is being suggested by some secularised views do not consider the hadith at all and end up giving global methods and calculations based on new moon rather than waxing crescent.
Your observation is correct that there is difference, but I would disagree that the traditional scholars are not consdiering the latest technology, rather there is a puritan group dominating in the middle-east who are not ‘traditional’ and have more or less rejected techonolgy. Or on the other hand there are some low level 'alims who do not understand the science behind latest technologies.
There are still arguments abouts the other months … I know this … but they are less public partially due to less public interest. The main cause of the discrepency in calendar days is purely to do with:
Do we plan for the dates … yes or no?
No planning is easy as when we realise a mistake we adjust, but that in todays climate of 9 to 5 jobs and business meetings will be both impractical and undesriable to the people. Here is one such example where Islam has been pulled to fit the needs of people rather than the people moving to fit the injunctions of Islam. I don’t know any regime in the world today that is willing to perform Eid say at Asr time because it erred the night before.
Akhi
I don’t think the uncertainty in the time of the Prophet SAW and succeeding generations was due the will to leave it be that way, it was for the lack of a way to be more accurate.
Let me put forth a very simple question. Inshallah! I am sure you just as I must be busy trying to locate Laylat ul Qadr. This is only one night and it happens only once during the last third of Ramadan. For the case where literal moon sighting has been followed (take parts of Pakistan for instance, there were 3 Eids celebrated last year in Pakistan, all based on naked eye moon sighting) I am certain if this holy night was at the end of Ramadan, say 29th, then for certain someone missed it, if they had sighted the moon to early. As for supplications, that too is subject to the fact that the moon should be visible, weather permitting. So it is not a definite criteria to this discussion.
Moon sighting can only be done in parts of the globe from where the moon will be visible and this can only be confirmed through astronomical data. So for those parts of the globe where it is confirmed the moon cannot be sighted, them relying on the calender birth of the new moon finds justifiable grounds to be followed. The sunnah for naked eye sighting can still be preserved and practiced in those areas from where it will be possible to make a naked eye moon sighting.
:salam:
I did re-read the paper with more consideration and concentration and I must admit it did answer many things for me, namely, the existence of accurate enough mathematical models to predict moon phases (I still have to get my hands on one of the individual biblio references though).
However there are still many questions that loom as an issue with moon sighting in geographical areas and timezones, which I feel were not addressed by the paper. I think the primary focus of the paper was to prove that when the command for moon sighting was revealed, it was to nullify existing calculation based calendars and methodologies at the time unlike the argument today that calculation based methods have been developed later. I still need to research the claim that they were actually precise enough to be compared to todays calculation based calendars.