Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, during the closing session of the First Meeting of the Supreme Council of Fiqh and Fatwa on Saturday evening (December 21, 2024) in Zahedan, emphasized the critical importance of “addressing and providing Sharia-based solutions for people’s problems, including jurisprudential issues.” He stressed the need for “consultation and exchange of views among scholars from various regions” to achieve this.
According to the information portal of the Sunni Friday prayer leader’s office in Zahedan, the meeting, hosted by the Darul Ifta of Darul Uloom Zahedan and attended by religious scholars and fatwa authorities from Sistan-Baluchistan and Khorasan Razavi provinces, commenced with Mawlana Abdol Hamid extending a warm welcome to the participants and expressing gratitude to the Darul Ifta team. He remarked: “It is immensely valuable and important for scholars, especially those involved in issuing fatawa, to convene, research, and discuss jurisprudential matters relevant to the needs of the people. Attending to the needs and problems of society, including providing religious and Sharia-compliant solutions, carries great reward.”
He added: “Consultation and seeking advice in all matters are important and beneficial, providing greater clarity. However, holding consultative sessions on jurisprudential and religious issues is even more critical. This practice dates back to the time of the Companions when prominent figures among them gathered from different places to discuss and resolve issues. At times, they even invited advice from the Prophet’s noble wives. In subsequent eras, many jurists, theologians, and hadith scholars regularly consulted each other on matters pertinent to their fields.”
In Today’s Connected World, the Scholars’ Responsibilities Are Heavier
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan stated: “We live in a new era vastly different from past times, with unique needs. Scholars of each era have fulfilled their responsibilities and endeavored to address the people’s problems. In today’s world, where the lives of all nations are interconnected through the internet and where people share common interests, the responsibilities of scholars are much greater.”
He continued: “Communication and mutual exchange of views among scholars from different regions are essential for finding appropriate solutions to people’s needs. Collective consultation and teamwork foster broader perspectives and greater assurance.”
Beyond “Apparent Jurisprudence,” Attention Should Be Paid to “Inner Jurisprudence”
Mawlana Abdol Hamid underscored the necessity of focusing on “inner jurisprudence” and stated: “The discussions and exchanges in these fiqh gatherings primarily concern “apparent jurisprudence.” However, alongside this focus, it is crucial that we also emphasize “inner jurisprudence.” Inner jurisprudence pertains to purification and internal reform.”
He added: “Past scholars placed great importance on ‘inner jurisprudence.’ All leading jurists and imams, including Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi’I, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Sufyan Thawri, and others, alongside their mastery of apparent jurisprudence, were also deeply knowledgeable and skilled in inner jurisprudence and self-purification, which they incorporated into their lives.”
The Quran and Hadith Should Be Studied with the Intention to Implement Them
The director of Darul Uloom of Zahedan remarked in his speech at the Supreme Council meeting: “In today’s religious schools, students read the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), but unfortunately, there is a great shortfall In practicing these teachings. In these schools, the verses of the Glorious Quran and the hadith of the Prophet should be studied with the intention of acting upon them.”
The Friday prayer leader concluded: “The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) aligns perfectly with human nature. The weaknesses and challenges in society stem from the scholars’ actions. If scholars’ lives conform to the Prophet’s life and Sunnah, their influence will transform the people and bring about change in society.”
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