Assing
10-26-2007, 10:19 PM
I recently translated this fatwaa which was just sitting on my computer and I figured it would be quite 'munaasib' to post it on a forum such as this one.
Question: If a student of knowledge who listened to the explanation of a particular book from one of the scholars by means of tape, and in spite of the fact that he never saw that scholar, does he have the right to say regarding that shaykh 'shaykunaa (our shaykh) so and so', even though he never sat with him in his gatherings, but rather all he heard were his tapes?
Answer (shaykh Mashhoor Hasan Salaam) : The scholars have different ways and means of teaching their students. For example, Al-Haafidh Al-'Iraaqee used to teach his brother-in-law and student Al-Haythamee, so he suggested to him to write a book on 'Az-Zawaa'id'.[1] Thus the one who originated that idea to write a book on 'Az-Zawaa'id' was Al-'Iraaqee. It is not necessary that a student reads for the shaykh whereby this entitles him to say, 'shaykhee'. Abu Haneefah method of teaching his students was that of question and answer. Thus he would pose a question, then he would answer that question, then he would put an additional question to the answer, and he was a man of proofs and evidences.
The scholars have various approaches and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said, "Seeking knowledge is an obligation."[2] Thus he did not limit the means. Hence, it is upon the old and the young, the male and the female, the knowledgeable and the ignorant, the literate and the illiterate, that they should all be students of knowledge. The means of doing so is unrestricted. This is why it is permissible for a person to say, 'shaykhee is so and so' if he benefited from him and is very familiar with his fiqh opinions, even though he never met him. And this is why we find some of the latter generation of scholars saying, 'shaykhunaa Ibn Taymiyyah' and between them and Ibn Tamiyyah is four hundred years.
What is important is there should be no deception and nor should a person pretend to possess that which he does not. Thus if you were to say 'shaykhunaa' and you never met the shyakh, yet still you make the listener think that you are close to the shaykh and that you sat in his gatherings, then this is impermissible. That is, deception and giving a false impression. However, it is allowed to show respect and admiration. Thus if the intent of this person is to show his respect and admiration for those whom he benefited from, then this is something good. But say the truth and be just. Do not make the listener feel that you are from his close students, that you traveled to sit with him, and the likes thereof. Other than that, this is a sign of respect for the scholars and an illustration of the high esteem that one holds for them, and Allaah knows best.
http://www.almenhaj.net/broad22/mashhoor.php
[1] This is a book of hadeeth that seeks to gather various ahadeeth with an additional wording or a different chain of narration based on the ahadeeth that are in primary sources of the books of hadeeth which the author uses as the point of reference.
[2] Saheeh. Refer to shaykh Al-Albaanee's takhreej of Yusuf Al-Qardaawee's Mushkilaatul-Faqr (pg. 42-68)
Question: If a student of knowledge who listened to the explanation of a particular book from one of the scholars by means of tape, and in spite of the fact that he never saw that scholar, does he have the right to say regarding that shaykh 'shaykunaa (our shaykh) so and so', even though he never sat with him in his gatherings, but rather all he heard were his tapes?
Answer (shaykh Mashhoor Hasan Salaam) : The scholars have different ways and means of teaching their students. For example, Al-Haafidh Al-'Iraaqee used to teach his brother-in-law and student Al-Haythamee, so he suggested to him to write a book on 'Az-Zawaa'id'.[1] Thus the one who originated that idea to write a book on 'Az-Zawaa'id' was Al-'Iraaqee. It is not necessary that a student reads for the shaykh whereby this entitles him to say, 'shaykhee'. Abu Haneefah method of teaching his students was that of question and answer. Thus he would pose a question, then he would answer that question, then he would put an additional question to the answer, and he was a man of proofs and evidences.
The scholars have various approaches and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said, "Seeking knowledge is an obligation."[2] Thus he did not limit the means. Hence, it is upon the old and the young, the male and the female, the knowledgeable and the ignorant, the literate and the illiterate, that they should all be students of knowledge. The means of doing so is unrestricted. This is why it is permissible for a person to say, 'shaykhee is so and so' if he benefited from him and is very familiar with his fiqh opinions, even though he never met him. And this is why we find some of the latter generation of scholars saying, 'shaykhunaa Ibn Taymiyyah' and between them and Ibn Tamiyyah is four hundred years.
What is important is there should be no deception and nor should a person pretend to possess that which he does not. Thus if you were to say 'shaykhunaa' and you never met the shyakh, yet still you make the listener think that you are close to the shaykh and that you sat in his gatherings, then this is impermissible. That is, deception and giving a false impression. However, it is allowed to show respect and admiration. Thus if the intent of this person is to show his respect and admiration for those whom he benefited from, then this is something good. But say the truth and be just. Do not make the listener feel that you are from his close students, that you traveled to sit with him, and the likes thereof. Other than that, this is a sign of respect for the scholars and an illustration of the high esteem that one holds for them, and Allaah knows best.
http://www.almenhaj.net/broad22/mashhoor.php
[1] This is a book of hadeeth that seeks to gather various ahadeeth with an additional wording or a different chain of narration based on the ahadeeth that are in primary sources of the books of hadeeth which the author uses as the point of reference.
[2] Saheeh. Refer to shaykh Al-Albaanee's takhreej of Yusuf Al-Qardaawee's Mushkilaatul-Faqr (pg. 42-68)