Differences In The Ummah

The Foundational Proofs of Imam al-Sanusi is one of the foundational works in Islamic theology and is considered historically as an elemental text in traditional Islamic education. Studied for centuries and memorized by children throughout the Islamic world, The Foundational Proofs offers readers a methodical outline of Islamic doctrine that satisfies the mind and the heart alike. In this age of mass confusion and intellectual malaise, where fundamental Islamic beliefs are misunderstood and credulity is championed as faith, The Foundational Proofs explains the tenets of faith and supports them both rationally and textually. Further enhancing the value of this work is the engaging and relevant additions of Shaykh Sa'id Foudah, one of the worlds leading Islamic theologians today, who presents Imam al-Sanusi's work with the interlinear commentary of Imam Ahmad b. Isa al-Ansari and engaging and detailed footnotes collated from a variety of famous commentaries, such as those by Imam al-Bajuri, Imam al-Battawi, Imam al-Sawi, Imam al-Marghani, and others, as well as his own insightful comments.

For some time now people have been occupied with the question that, since the Imams (of various schools) have established everything from the sayings and practices of the Messenger of Allah (S), why are there differences of opinion among them? The numerous sessions of debates and the excessive number of publications on the issues of controversy have rendered the problem even more menacing. The issue has reached such dire proportions that those who object (to why the Imams have differed) have split into two groups. The first group is haplessly trapped in their evil thoughts of the Imams, so much so that even if they wish to disentangle themselves from this vicious web just out of good thought for the Imams, they are unable to free themselves from this trap because they are further ensnared by the apparent disparity between the sayings of the Imams and some of the clear source texts. The second group, on the other hand, has gone even further and, let alone the Imams, they have started harboring insolent thoughts about the Messenger of Allah (S) himself; simply because of the apparently contradictory hadiths transmitted from him. However, the fault lies in referring to (English or) Urdu translations of the hadiths, because in order to get a clear picture of the meaning, one has to posses the intellectual capacity to comprehend the hadiths together with a proper understanding of the background and the prelude of the hadiths. In the absence of these prerequisites, the mere translation of the hadiths is bound to lead to objections and misgivings. The repercussions of these differences have reached such proportions that people have split up into various sects grappling and contending with one another. The wudu’ of one group is considered invalid by the other while the salat of one group is considered void by the other, and so forth. In zakat, sawm, hajj and virtually every other act of worship [‘ibada] as well, there is inevitably some difference or other which has led to people debating with one another. Therefore, it has become necessary to expose the basis of the differences (of opinion) found among the Imams. The reasons for these differences, dating back to the first epoch of Islam, will be expounded upon to demonstrate that the apparently contradictory texts of the hadiths leave no scope for doubting the Messenger of Allah (S), nor do they give anyone the right to cast aspersions on the Companions [sahaba], the Followers [tabi’in] or the Imams (may Allah have mercy on them). The fact is that all the Imams [mujtahidin] were leaders of the correct path and they encouraged and guided the masses toward the correct path as well. Any slanderous remark cast against them is a sure sign of the deprivation of Allah’s mercy.