An email conversation between Eeqaz and an esteemed reader on: ‘why Eeqaz said some words of appreciation for Sheikh Qaradhawi’. (The email conversation refers to some respectable name that is believed to have made takfeer of Sh Qaradhawi. However, we will not disclose that name in the conversation shown here.) Question by the reader: Salaam! I came across an article by brother Zakaria titled "رافضی عزائم۔۔ قرضاوی کی شہادت" in the latest issue of Eeqaz. Brother Zakaria has praised Yousuf Qardawi with words "مصرکے علامہ یوسف قرضاوی عالم اسلام کے ممتاز علماء میں شمارہوتے ہیں" I don't know whether brother Zakaria has come across the writing of ------------------- on Takfeer of Yousuf Qardawi or not. In case not, then please find the attached document by ----------------------------- with this email. I shall be grateful if this matter is clarified to us. Jazak Allah Khair. Wassallam. EEQAZ ANSWER: وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته Yes we differ with Sh. Qaradhawi in certain things, of which some are very serious. At the same time though, we praise Sh. Qaradhawi for his great knowledge and for his appreciable contributions. As far his takfeer, however, we are sorry not to entertain takfeer of Muslim scholars and da-ees AT ALL! I do not think the brother you referred to is at the level where one, all alone, can make takfeer of a known Islamic figure. Are there any real scholars who he refers to? As far this very article of Eeqaz: We are in the sub-continent and trying to reset the 'tehriki dunya's tone regarding 'Rawafidh' after it has undergone a big diversion since Maududi's days. Since Qaradhawi is one of the renowned names our sub-continent’s tehriki dunya recognizes, we did not want to let this event (Qaradhawi condemning Rawafidh) without 'getting cheese out the milk'. Q: The same reader further asked: Salaam u Alakum Respected Hamid Sb! Regarding Yousuf Qardawi, two possibilities exist: Either you think the matters which -------------- pointed out in his “fatwa” are “minor deviations” and thus in no way it could lead to takfeer of Qardawi (Note: without any doubt I sincerely believe you differ with Qardawi in these matters and clearly disown his opinions). OR You reckon the points raised by ---------------- are valid but since other scholars of Ahle-Sunnah have not opted for takfeer of Qardawi on these issues (and hence “Hujjat” on Qardawi is not fulfilled, so it is not appropriate for us to take such a big step and declare takfeer on Qardawi. If former is the case then sorry I bothered you with the discussion on Qardawi. But if latter is the case then I am afraid to say it is not befitting to you to respect and honour Qardawi with the words “مصرکے علامہ یوسف قرضاوی عالم اسلام کے ممتاز علماء میں شمارہوتے ہیں”. That’s reality that scholars do differ with each other but if the difference of opinion reaches to points where one is accused of being indulged in kuffar (I mean “کفر مطلق” if not “کفر معین”) then how one can use respectful words for the other. ------------------------ also admitted by stating: “ونحن نعترف أن للقرضاوي بدايات طيبة .. وبعض الكتابات الطيبة .. يُستفاد منها .. لو ثبت عليها .. ولم يغير ولم يُبدل .. ونأى بنفسه عن مجالسة الطواغيت الظالمين .. وعن تزكيتهم .. لكن ـ عما يبدو وللأسف ـ قد غرّته بداياته .. وظن أنها تعصمه من الكفر .. وتجعله فوق أن يُشار إليه بالكفر .. أو الزلل .. مهما بدر منه من قول أو عمل! Indeed -------------------- refers to other scholars of Islam, in this same fatwa he has mentioned Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen: ثالثاً: من الأسباب كذلك التي حملتنا على القول بكفره .. استخفافه واستهانته بالخالق وهو على المنبر في خطبة الجمعة .. وعلى الملأ .. وعبر الأثير .. بعد أن حيى الانتخابات الديمقراطية الإسرائيلية .. وأثنى عليها خيراً، وقارن بينها وبين الانتخابات التي تحصل لبعض حكام العرب الذين يحصلون فيها على نسبة 99,99% قال:" هذا مما نحمده في إسرائيل، نتمنى أن تكون بلادنا مثل هذه البلاد؛ من أجل مجموعة قليلة يسقط واحد، والشعب هو الذي يحكم، ليس هناك التسعات الأربع أو التسعات الخمس التي نعرفها في بلادنا؛ تسعة وتسعين وتسعين من المائة ( 99,99% )، لو أن اللهَ عرَضَ نفسَه على الناس ما أخذَ هذه النسبة، ما هذا الكذب والغش والخداع، نُحيي إسرائيل على ما فعلت ..."ا- هـ. ولما عُرِضت مقولته هذه على الشيخ ابن العثيمين قال:" أعوذ بالله، يجب أن يتوب، يتوب من هذا وإلا فهو مرتد؛ لأنه جعل المخلوق أعظم من الخالق فعليه أن يتوب إلى الله، والله يقبل التوبة من عباده، وإلا وجب على ولاة الأمور أن يضربوا عُنقَه "ا- هـ. I agree that refutation of Rawafidh is very important and Qardawi’s statements regarding them should not be missed but I think, without praising him same goal can be achieved e.g. one could say “Even person like Qardawi has spoken against these Rawafidh”, etc etc. Wassallam and Jazak Allah Khair for your precious time. EEQAZ ANSWER: وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته Dear brother! Why should I go to check anything with this brother on the 'takfeer of Al-Qardhawi', leaving all the scholars of ummah aside? Isn't there something wrong, as a manhaj, to begin with? (By no means, here, I want to put down this brother. We have published few of his useful works in Eeqaz, and will do in future as well). I know that you are not asking me to go for takfeer of Qaradhawi. But I have objection to even considering such 'sources' on these most crucial subjects (i.e. takfeer of scholars)! What I want to say is that I love and respect these wonderful brothers, students of knowledge, but I will resist considering them a 'reference' on this MOST SENSITIVE kind of issues, to begin with. I believe that there must be a big barrier in the path of ‘passing rulings on Islamic da-ees and movements’ unless such rulings come from high level scholarship of the ummah. And of course, I have big problems with some of what Qardhawi has written or said or done during his dawa or his iftaa career. All I want to say is that I do not want to accommodate this new style of being 'independent' of high level scholarship on such shocking issues. You know, brother, that takfeer of Qaradhawi or Ibn Baz etc, is far more sensitive than 'takfeer of hukkaam'! Obviously, if I need 10 SCHOLARS on 'takfeer of hukkaam', I would need 100 SCHOLARS on takfeer of 'known Islamic figures' like Qaradhawi and a thousand on 'hurting Ibn Baz'! Shouldn't I get alarmed seeing that the situation here becomes the 'other way around'? I mean: No scholar at all on takfeering 'such and such Islamic figure'!!!!! This business is only in a certain limited circle, if I may say. Why do I only find few non-scholars trying to introduce this new tone to the youth of 'Sahwa' and cause them start a 'new journey' in the recent history of Islamic movement? Why do I find few non-scholars daring to enter a valley scholars would rather stay away from stepping in?! I am all for Sh Ibn Uthaimeen's noble comment. But that is considered a momentary remark by a scholar on something 'reportedly' brought to his notice. That is not called 'fatwa'. Were he to pass a 'fatwa' against Qaradhawi, he would have verified the incident with Qaradhawi himself, asked him several times to make taubah, and at his 'not listening', if ever, would 'might' pass a fatwa not necessarily of 'Qardahwi has become a kafir', but something of the effect of demolishing adalah (credibility) of Qardahwi. But, as we know, nothing of that kind ever happened. There is big difference between a 'momentary comment' and a 'fatwa'. Let me put the way we follow in Eeqaz in simple words, and I know there is lot of confusion around the issue of ‘living sources’... Our methodology on ‘resorting to the scholars’ is: We would 'move' where we see scholars of our time 'move'. We would rather 'stop' where we see the scholars 'not moving'. Where we see them agree, we will not bring 'our own' opinion AT ALL, and of course, follow them. Where we see they have multiple آراء, we will go with one of thoseآراء, considering ALL THOSE who follow other آراء 'our brothers' and, in that case, we will have NO PROBLEM with them as long as anyone is not forfeiting others' right to follow the opinion of their own choice (within the righteous scholars' opinions, of course). We will oppose however where we see no scholars! Simple as that! Coming back to the point: As far some occasional good words for Sh. Qaradhawi… If you know of real scholars declaring that Qardhawi must not be mentioned in good words at all, I will definitely be interested to know that. To the contrary, however, I have seen numerous Ulama of al-Jazeera, that while mentioning Qardhawi, they give him due regard as a scholar, even though they will completely reject lot of his stances. Following these scholars, I allow myself too, to say some 'occasional' good words for him. Here are few examples of how some sunnah scholars mention Sh Qaradhawi: First of all, on the very issue of his recent combat with Rawafidh (the very subject of Br. Zakarya’s article this time), see how firmly Sh Salman's website stands behind Qardhawi: http://islamtoday.net/albasheer/artshow-14-14088.htm http://islamtoday.net/salman/artshow-78-14410.htm http://islamtoday.net/albasheer/artshow-14-14138.htm Sh Fahad al-Juhani, while refuting a fatwa of Qardhawi, uses the words: فضيلة الداعية والعالم المعروف الشيخ د. يوسف القرضاوي –حفظه الله for Qardhawi, here:http://islamtoday.net/bohooth/artshow-86-5256.htm Here, Sh Salman answers the question: 'Should Qardhawi be saught for fatwa?':http://islamtoday.net/salman/quesshow-23-582.htm ملتقى أهل الحديث is one of the most renowned and a kind of 'reference' Salafi forum. See how it says: الشيخين القرضاوي وابن باز . By the way, you may see this very article on large number of Salafi websites. Surprisingly and interestingly enough, the subject of this article is about: how greatly and manner-fully both Ibn Baz and Qardhawi behaved while debating about their differences!: http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-85122.html I have not seen our sunnah scholars giving any respect to Shaikhul Azhar, for example, and I think you have seen the 'tone' we have for Shaikhul Azhar. But to bring Qardhawi to the 'same level', I would need shcholars way ahead of me. |