The Obligation to Refer to Scholars Regarding Nawazil
Referring to Scholars During Nawazil and the Danger of Undermining Their Fatwas — Shaykh Arafat ibn Hassan Al-Muhammadi
What Is a Nazilah?
Question: “May Allah reward you with goodness, honorable Shaykh. A questioner asks: What does the term nazilah mean?”
Answer:
A nazilah refers to an event that occurs and affects all Muslims, requiring senior scholars to examine it, study its nature, the circumstances in which it occurred, the religious matters related to it, and the religious ruling that should be issued concerning it.
Take the example of the coronavirus. This pandemic affected Muslims everywhere, so scholars had to examine the situation and determine the appropriate fatwas.
A nazilah, therefore, refers to a new event that people are confronted with. It may also be particularly serious, making it necessary for scholars to explain the religious rulings that Muslims must observe under such circumstances.
To do so, scholars must develop an accurate understanding of the situation, identify precisely the issues involved, conduct their research, examine similar cases, and then consult one another before issuing a fatwa.
Consider, for example, questions relating to mosques, physical distancing, wearing face masks, contact between people, limiting such contact, and distancing measures.
All these questions involve aspects governed by Islamic law, for which we must consult those qualified to address them, namely the scholars.
The Example of Umar During the Plague in Sham
This is why, when the plague broke out in the region of Sham, what did Umar ibn Al-Khattab — may Allah be pleased with him — do?
He gathered the scholars.
He first consulted the Muhajirun, then the Ansar. Whom did he consult after that? The elders of Quraysh who had embraced Islam at the conquest of Makkah.
And yet, this was Umar himself, the Commander of the Believers!
He listened to the opinions of one group, then another, before reaching a decision.
Yet he was the Commander of the Believers, the one in authority, whose commands must be obeyed when he gives an order that requires obedience.
When he made his decision, one of the Companions disagreed with him. This was the man who was then in command in the region of Sham, where the plague was spreading, and who later died from that epidemic — may Allah be pleased with him — namely Abu Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah.
He asked:
“O Commander of the Believers! Are you fleeing from Allah’s decree?”
Umar replied:
“If only someone other than you had said that, O Abu Ubaydah!”
In other words: How can you, with all your knowledge and virtue, make such a statement? Had someone else said it, we might have accepted it from him, but coming from you, we cannot accept it!
Umar then explained:
“Yes, we flee from Allah’s decree to Allah’s decree.”
While Umar was explaining his reasoning to him, and Abu Ubaydah was becoming convinced by his explanation, Abd Ar-Rahman ibn Awf arrived and said:
“I have knowledge concerning this matter.”
He then narrated the hadith in which the Prophet — may Allah extol him and preserve him — said:
“If you hear that the plague is spreading in a land, do not enter it. And if it breaks out in a land where you are, do not leave it.”
Thus, Umar’s decision was shown to be in accordance with what had been reported in the Sunnah.
Therefore, whom should we turn to when such situations arise? To the scholars!
The Seriousness of Undermining the Scholars’ Fatwas
Today, some people have emerged saying:
“Do not consult the scholars!”
Why?
“Because the scholars know nothing about medicine! What is the point of consulting them?”
These are extremely dangerous statements!
By speaking in this manner, you are undermining the fatwas of scholars concerning a nazilah.
Do you realize what you are saying?
When you claim that scholars should not be consulted on medical matters because they do not understand medicine, does any one of us claim that Shaykh Al-Fawzan is a specialist in medicine, agriculture, or computer science?
Yet according to the reasoning of the person who made these statements, we should therefore not consult Shaykh Al-Fawzan during nawazil, since he is not a specialist in medicine, agriculture, computer science, the media, or many other fields!
So what is the conclusion of this reasoning?
That we should no longer consult scholars during nawazil!
But whom should we turn to instead?
An agricultural engineer for agricultural matters, a computer engineer for computer-related matters, and a physician for medical matters?
These are dangerous statements!
And that is not all! This individual did not stop there. He also claims, concerning the scholars:
“They never depart from what the ruler says. If he gives them an order, they respond: ‘We hear and we obey.’”
Is this really how our scholars behave?
Would they obey everything the ruler says, regardless of what it involves?
These statements are false and baseless!
If the ruler makes a mistake and commands disobedience to Allah, they do not obey him in that disobedience, because there is no obedience to a created being when it entails disobedience to the Creator.
And if the ruler makes a mistake, they advise him and seek to meet with him in order to offer their counsel, because this is the methodology of the people of the Sunnah.
We therefore condemned these statements and explained that they were dangerous, since they lead to undermining the scholars’ fatwas concerning nawazil.
If you believe that a mistake has been made, and you are a Salafi who respects the scholars and those in authority, then simply present your point of view and explain it.
But to go so far as to establish this reasoning as a general principle is a mistake and a baseless position!
This is exactly the same methodology as that of the As-Sururiyyah[1] and Al-Qutbiyyah[2] movements.
The Parallel With the Gulf Crisis
What did the followers of the As-Sururiyyah and Al-Qutbiyyah movements say during the turmoil surrounding the Gulf crisis?
What did they say?
“Our scholars do not understand reality! We are the ones who understand it! America has intervened, Europe has done this and that… As for you scholars, including Ibn Baz, all you do is remain close to the ruler and obey him!”
These are exactly the same statements! Only the individuals and the circumstances have changed.
At that time, it was the Gulf crisis, involving the intervention of disbelievers. Today, it is the coronavirus crisis, involving medical questions.
Moreover, this man himself works in the medical field.
But if we examine his specialty, we could ask him:
“Do you practice in every branch of medicine? Have you mastered each of its specialties?”
No!
Then limit yourself to your own field of expertise!
That is the first point.
Secondly, would you have the entire Muslim community disregard physicians and specialists throughout the world in order to follow your opinion alone?
These are extremely dangerous statements!
I do not know what this man is seeking to achieve by speaking in such a manner.
A Fatwa Declaring Physical Distancing to Be a Form of Polytheism
Yet this individual has received advice. We ourselves advised him in the past and sent him messages several years ago, particularly when he issued a fatwa.
Consider this fatwa, which many of you are probably unaware of!
He declared that physical distancing constituted polytheism (shirk)!
He claimed that anyone who practiced physical distancing had fallen into minor polytheism.
Thus, according to his reasoning, Shaykh Al-Fawzan would have fallen into polytheism! The Grand Mufti would have fallen into polytheism! Our shaykhs, including Shaykh Ubayd and others, would also have fallen into polytheism!
And all of us, students of religious knowledge, would likewise have fallen into polytheism!
The scholars who issued fatwas permitting physical distancing would therefore have issued fatwas calling people to polytheism!
But who is behind you that you dare make such statements?
And what exactly are you trying to achieve by attacking the scholars in this manner, claiming that they have fallen into polytheism, that they should not be consulted, and that they neither understand nor grasp the reality of things?
Yet this is precisely what he says in his audio recording!
Some people have still not listened to this recording and do not even want to hear it.
And that is truly disastrous!
You then see certain people rushing headlong into turmoil without even knowing what it is about.
And when you say to them, “Come, let us sit together so that I can explain things to you,” they refuse to listen!
This is what blind partisanship is!
The Scholars’ Methodology in Issuing Fatwas
But we do not concern ourselves with such people. We refute errors and make them clear.
Whoever accepts guidance, all praise belongs to Allah! And whoever goes astray does so only to his own detriment.
Shaykh Ibn Baz was asked, as reported on his website:
“O Shaykh! Should we refer only to physicians, or should we also refer to scholars?”
He replied that it was essential to consult the scholars.
Indeed, if the question concerns medicine exclusively, then yes, we turn to physicians.
Even Shaykh Al-Fawzan consults physicians, because they are the specialists in that field.
But what if a question involves both medicine and Islamic law?
Do you think that Shaykh Al-Fawzan immediately issues a fatwa whenever a medical question is presented to him?
You consider yourself an expert in your own field. Very well!
But these scholars, such as Shaykh Al-Fawzan, the Grand Mufti, Shaykh Al-Abbad, Shaykh Rabi, and others, when they must issue a fatwa concerning a question related to worldly sciences, such as medicine or agriculture, do they consult specialists in those fields or not?
Of course they do!
So you do not even know how scholars go about issuing their fatwas!
I have already explained this in detail in my refutations of his statements. The methodology followed by scholars when issuing a fatwa is explained there, and these explanations are available on my channel.
Yet some people disregard all of this and refuse even to listen to it.
Unfortunately!
Advice to Students of Religious Knowledge: Do Not Rush Into Turmoil
So be cautious, may Allah bless you, and do not be hasty!
Be a student of religious knowledge who possesses some ability to analyze and critically examine matters. If you are not capable of doing so, then remain silent!
This is the advice I wish to give you.
Among the Salafis, there are many who possess some religious knowledge, love knowledge, and attend lessons.
However, they have not yet acquired sufficient mastery of this field of knowledge to be capable of examining issues and formulating criticism.
If you do not belong to this category, then remain silent when turmoil arises!
Do not involve yourself in it!
Instead, find out what the scholars have said.
Say to yourself: “We follow our scholars and rely upon them. I do not possess the qualifications necessary to examine this matter independently.”
But here you are, rushing in, adopting extreme positions, taking someone’s side, supporting him, and defending his statements, even though you do not know what he actually said!
You have not listened to anything, you are unfamiliar with his statements, and you have not even understood the criticisms directed against him!
It is absolutely inappropriate for you, as a student of religious knowledge, to behave in this manner!
Never!
So fear Allah regarding yourself!
Shaykh Abd Allah Al-Bukhari’s Advice Concerning the Coronavirus
Shaykh Abd Allah Al-Bukhari advised young people throughout the world not to involve themselves in the turmoil surrounding the coronavirus and to remain silent on these matters.
As for whoever wishes to be vaccinated, let him do so by following the opinions of the scholars. And whoever refuses, saying, “I do not wish to be vaccinated,” then let him refrain from doing so.
We do not tell people that they must get vaccinated.
If someone says, “I do not want to receive this vaccine,” we reply, “You are free not to take it.”
But to go so far as to turn people against the scholars, claiming that they do not understand, that they fail to grasp the reality of things, and that they should not be consulted…
“What is the point of asking the scholars?” they say.
This is precisely what he claims:
“What benefit is there in consulting the scholars? They have nothing to offer you!”
I seek refuge in Allah!
These are the statements of the people of religious innovation and the misguided!
He also claims:
“No matter how knowledgeable a scholar becomes, he will always follow the ruler.”
These are extremely dangerous statements!
You are thus reducing our scholars to mere followers, entirely lacking independence!
They themselves would therefore have no value, nor would their fatwas, and they would supposedly be incapable of understanding nawazil!
We therefore wrote to him and sent him messages. Unfortunately, however, they did not heed the advice of Shaykh Abd Allah Al-Bukhari.
When the Shaykh saw that this man was persisting in this course, he made certain statements about him in order to reprimand him somewhat and make him recognize his own limitations.
Despite this, they did not accept his advice.
They even continue to circulate statements made by disbelievers on their networks, pages, and websites!
They have derived no benefit from Shaykh Abd Allah Al-Bukhari’s advice, nor have they learned from their own mistakes.
Nor have they retracted their claims that scholars do not understand and fail to grasp the reality of things.
If I were to say to one of you right now, even to the least knowledgeable among you:
“You do not understand! You are incapable of grasping things!”
Would he accept being addressed in such a manner?
Then what should we say about someone who speaks in this way about the greatest Salafi scholars of this Ummah?
“They do not understand! They fail to grasp the reality of things! Do not consult them! What is the point of referring to them?”
We seek refuge in Allah from such misguidance!
As-Sururiyyah (السرورية): A movement associated with Muhammad Surur Zayn Al-Abidin, criticized by scholars for its activist approach and its positions regarding rulers and scholars. Shaykh Rabi and Shaykh Muqbil particularly criticize this movement for disparaging senior scholars, accusing them of failing to understand political realities, and turning Muslims away from their opinions, especially during major events and crises.
Al-Qutbiyyah (القطبية): A movement that follows the ideas of Sayyid Qutb, a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. Shaykh Rabi particularly criticizes this movement for defending Sayyid Qutb despite the doctrinal errors he identifies in his writings, especially concerning Islamic creed, judgments about Muslim societies, and attitudes toward the scholars of the Sunnah.