Embracing Ease in Faith: A Reflection on Sheikh Dr. J

Disclaimer: This translation was done using AI and may not fully capture the nuanced meaning of the original Arabic text.

🌸 Dr. Muhammad Akram Al-Nadwi

🔹 In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

📝 Introduction:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, Muhammad, the truthful and trustworthy, the Seal of the Prophets, the most honorable of the messengers, and upon his family, companions, and all those who follow them with goodness until the Day of Judgment.

📚 About the Book:

🖋️ Some months ago, I published two books:

“Al-Mu’tamad fi Usul al-Fatwa”

“Fatawa wa Abhath Fiqhiyya Mu’asira” (Fatwas and Contemporary Jurisprudential Research)

📖 While reviewing fatwas in both Arabic and Urdu, I found that most of them adhered to rigidity and imitation, often lacking references from the Qur’an and Sunnah.

🌟 Discovering Sheikh Dr. Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Jaber’s Work:

🔍 However, when I came across the “Qatari Fatwas” by Sheikh Dr. Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Jaber, I found a refreshing approach different from traditional works. His work stood out for its:

Creativity 🎨

Precision 🧠

Appeal to intellect and hearts ❤️

⚖️ Comprehensive Coverage:

These fatwas cover various topics like:

1. Acts of Worship 🕌

2. Financial Transactions 💵

3. Family Matters 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

4. Inheritance 📜

5. Food and Adornment 🍲💍

6. Medicine 💊

7. Sports and Games ⚽

8. Contemporary Issues 📆

🕌 Grounding in Qur’an and Sunnah:

📌 The author emphasized referencing fatwas to the Qur’an and Sunnah, providing clear evidence and connecting Muslims to Allah and His Messenger.

📖 For example, he says about praying on an airplane: “Fear Allah as much as you are able.” (Page 30)

🌍 Making Islamic Rulings Accessible:

📜 Sheikh Al-Jaber’s fatwas are written in language that resonates with the average person, avoiding complex legal jargon. His approach balances precision with simplicity, making Islamic teachings more approachable.

🗣️ Example: When asked about responding to a recorded call to prayer, he said: “A recorded adhan does not require a response because it is not a real adhan performed at the actual time.” (Page 11)

🤝 Connecting Faith and Knowledge:

✨ What drew me to these fatwas and their author is the sense of faith, good character, and Islamic devotion that shines through his work.

📖 He concludes one of his fatwas by saying: “We ask Allah to grant victory to our brothers in Gaza and bless us with the opportunity to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque as victors.” (Page 14)

💡 Need for Thoughtful Fatwas:

🙏 Our need for these scholarly, thoughtful, and educational fatwas is greater now than ever before. This collection is a valuable gift that provides clear guidance, helping people cultivate spiritual and ethical values.

🌿 If these fatwas inspire the reader to increase their faith and draw closer to Allah, then that is the true success of this work.

📚 Closing Prayer:

🌱 I pray that Allah grants acceptance to this collection and blesses its author with more honor and distinction.

📍 Written by: 🖋️ Dr. Muhammad Akram Al-Nadwi 📍 Oxford 🗓️ 6th Rabi’ al-Thani 1446 AH Disclaimer: This translation was done by AI.

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Explanation of a Hadith from Musnad

By: Dr. Muhammad Akram al-Nadwi, Oxford

There is a Hadith that says: “The best religion for you is the easiest one.”

After mentioning the above Hadith, Professor Sayyid Fatima Hana from Mumbai asked the following question: “Assalamu Alaikum, Shaykh. I hope you are well. Please explain this Hadith for us.”

Answer:

This Hadith is the last part of a longer Hadith (إن خير دينكم أيسره، إن خير دينكم أيسره، إن خير دينكم أيسره). It has been narrated by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his Musnad through Affan ibn Muslim: “Abu Awana told us, Abu Bishr told us, from Abdullah ibn Shuqayq, from Raja’ ibn Abi Raja’ al-Bahili, from Mihjan ibn al-Adra’.” This Hadith is classified as Hasan (good).

There is a similar Hadith: “The religion most loved by Allah is the easy and tolerant one,” which is supported by verses from the Quran: “And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham” (Quran 22:78), and “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Quran 2:185), among others.

Additionally, there are many Hadiths with similar meanings, including a famous Hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari: “Indeed, the religion is easy” (Book of Faith, Chapter on Religion is Easy and the Statement of the Prophet ﷺ “The religion most loved by Allah is the easy and tolerant one”). Another Hadith in both Sahihs narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states: “Whenever the Prophet ﷺ was given a choice between two matters, he would choose the easier one, as long as it did not involve sin.”

Some people believe that choosing a difficult path is a sign of piety. Such a belief indicates a lack of understanding of the religion. Adopting a difficult path can lead to various harms:

1. The person is ungrateful to Allah by ignoring the ease that Allah has granted, which is a divine blessing. Allah wants His servants to follow the easy path and take advantage of the concessions He has provided, as indicated by another Hadith.

2. The person falls into the trap of self-admiration, thinking they are better than others, and this arrogance leads to many other evils.

3. This arrogance can lead to pride, causing the person to look down on other Muslims, which is a major sin.

4. It fosters an extremist attitude, making the person rigid and harsh.

5. The person begins to neglect other responsibilities, and it is commonly observed that those who exaggerate in certain areas tend to neglect more important duties.

You should keep the following points in mind:

1. Practicing the religion is a lifelong endeavor. Those who adopt the ease given by Allah will gradually reach their destination.

2. The current times are challenging, and following the religion is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is the responsibility of those working in the path of Allah to guide people towards the easiest way to worship and obedience.

3. When explaining religious matters to others, consider their intellectual level and present the issue in a rational manner. Rational explanations are an effective way to make the religion easy for others.

4. The most important thing is to deal with everyone with gentleness and love, for even a bitter medicine feels like honey when given with kindness and affection.

May Allah make us all callers and teachers of His religion, Ameen.