Bismihi Ta`ala
*HANAFIS DO ISAALE SAWAAB AND NOT SALAAH IN ABSENTIA.*
It is the great bounty of Allah that we have different mazahibs that co-exist in this world. The principle that each follower of a mazhab should follow strictly his own mazhab was established by sahabahs. The ideology to follow any mazhab whatever suit you is NOT from Sahabahs and hence should be abstained.
In brief, each of the four Mazhabs tried to follow the last established Sunnah of Rasouloullah SAW. The Maliki find its idealism in the actions of Tabi`ees in Madinah during his era. Imaam Abu Hanifah find the same realm in the sunnahs established by Sahabahs in Kufah. Imaam Shafi`ee and Imaam Ahmad then extrapolated from them and different texts and principles made available to them.
Allah Ta`ala says:[سورة الفرقان (25): آية 73]وَالَّذِينَ إِذا ذُكِّرُوا بِآياتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْها صُمًّا وَعُمْياناً
And those who when the verses of their Lord are read before them, they don`t jump over it, as deaf and blind.(25:73)
So when an ayah is read or when a hadith is read, then do take it to most learned people so that they may advise you on the meaning, implication, whether it is abrogated, etc. Don`t just jump to conclusion as deaf to anything else or that you can`t see anything else besides the hadith you have in your hand.
*This is where Taqleed is important. Because one cannot judge the whole Shariah by one`s limited knowledge of Qur-aan and Sunnah.
*Even Sahabahs and Tabi`ees did Taqleed. A beautiful narration brought in Hayatus Sahabah showed how Sahabahs and Tabi`ees used to refer their ahadiths to their knowledge to their Seniors.
(وقار معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه)وأخرج أبو نعيم في الحلية عن شَهْر بن حَوْشَب قال: كان أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا تحدّثوا وفيهم معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه نظروا إليه هيبة له. وعنده أيضاً عن أبي مسلم الخَوْلاني قال: دخلت مسجد حمص فإذا فيه نحو من ثلاثين كهلاً من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وإذا فيهم شاب أكحل العينين، برَّاق الثنايا، لا يتكلم، ساكت، فإذا امترى القوم في شيء أقبلوا عليه فسألوه، فقلت لجليس لي من هذا؟ فقال: معاذ بنجبل رضي الله عنه، فوقع في نفسي حبه، فكنت معهم حتى تفرقوا. وعنده أيضاً عنه أنه دخل المسجد يوماف مع أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحضر ما كانوا أول إمره عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه، قال: فجلست مجلساً فيه بضع وثلاثون كلُّهم يذكرون حديثاً عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وفي الحلقة فتى شاب شديد الأُدْمة، حلو المنطق، وضيء، وهو أشبُّ القوم سناً، فإذا اشتبه عليهم من أحاديث القوم شيء ردُّوه إليه فحدَّثهم حديثهم، ولا يحدثهم شيئاً إلا أن يسألوه، قلت: من أنت يا عبد الله؟ قال: أنا معاذ بن جبل.حياة الصحابة
*So reported that when some Sahabahs r.a. was discussing on shariah and Mu`aaz bin Jabal r.a. was between them, so they would rather stay quiet and wait for Mu`az to pronounce over it. Also reported that when there was confusion on ahadiths, then they would present their ahadiths to Mu`az bin Jabal r.a. and he would explain their ahadiths and conclude the final established sunnah. (Hayatus Sahabah of M Yousuf Kandlewi r.a.-Musnad Ahmad and Musnad Bazzaar)*
Another example that Sahabahs also were referring to the one was most learned is found in Bukhari:حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو قَيْسٍ سَمِعْتُ هُزَيْلَ بْنَ شُرَحْبِيلَ قَالَسُئِلَ أَبُو مُوسَى عَنْ بِنْتٍ وَابْنَةِ ابْنٍ وَأُخْتٍ فَقَالَ لِلْبِنْتِ النِّصْفُ وَلِلْأُخْتِ النِّصْفُ وَأْتِ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَسَيُتَابِعُنِي فَسُئِلَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ وَأُخْبِرَ بِقَوْلِ أَبِي مُوسَى فَقَالَ لَقَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنْ الْمُهْتَدِينَ أَقْضِي فِيهَا بِمَا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِلْابْنَةِ النِّصْفُ وَلِابْنَةِ ابْنٍ السُّدُسُ تَكْمِلَةَ الثُّلُثَيْنِ وَمَا بَقِيَ فَلِلْأُخْتِ فَأَتَيْنَا أَبَا مُوسَى فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ بِقَوْلِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ فَقَالَ لَا تَسْأَلُونِي مَا دَامَ هَذَا الْحَبْرُ فِيكُمْبخاري
A masla of inheritance was asked to Abu Moossa r.a. He answered it and told the person to still confirm with Abdullah bin Mas`ood r.a. But Abdullah bin Mas`ood r.a. answered differently. So when they came back to inform Abu Moossa r.a. He then advised: *‘’Do not ask me anything of Shariah when you have this great scholar(Ibn Mas`ood) amongst you.’’(Bukhari)*
And also when in Hajj the platforms of different great scholar Sahabahs are gathered, then Sahabahs used to do Taqleed of their great scholar and leave everything else:عَنْ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ سَأَلُوا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَاعَنْ امْرَأَةٍ طَافَتْ ثُمَّ حَاضَتْ قَالَ لَهُمْ تَنْفِرُ قَالُوا لَا نَأْخُذُ بِقَوْلِكَ وَنَدَعُ قَوْلَ زَيْدٍبخاري*
Overhere, the people of Madinah did not take the fatwa of Ibn Abbas r.a., but stick to the mazhab of Zaid r.a.(Bukhari)*
*Sahabahs were not chameleons in mazhab.* Even on an international platform like Makkah, they did not change mazhab or their established practice of their imaam. One should always follow one imaam between the four accepted imams: Abu Hanifah, Maliki, Shafi`ee and Hambali. Having a relax attitude towards mazhab is dangerous and it is definitely not on the road of Sahabahs and hence not on the road of ‘the right path’ nor the way ‘the blessed people’(Surah Fatihah)
*THE ISSUE OF SALAAH IN ABSENTIA*.
According to Imaam Abu Hanifah and Imaam Malik r.a., it is not permissible to read Salaahof Jazaanah in the absent of the body of the deceased. But according to Imaam Shafi`ee andImaam Ahmad, it is permissible to read salaah of Janaazah when the deceased is far away.Imaam Abu Hanifah and Imaam Malik r.a. hold those Sahabahs view that said that it was not aCustom practice of the prophet to read salaah on someone who passed away far away.The only exception of the king of Ethopia, An Najashi is that the body was brought in Madinahby Farishtas. We note that Rasouloullah SAW informed sahabahs live standing on mimbar in Masjid ofMadinah about the death of Zaid, Ja`far and Abdullah bin Rawahah. And that was in Jordan, Shaam.(Bukhari) Yet RasouloullahSwalallahou `Alaihi Wasallam did not perform salaah of Janaazah in Absentia for them:
عن حميد بن هلال عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قالخطب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال أخذ الراية زيد فأصيب ثم أخذها جعفر فأصيب ثم أخذها عبد الله بن رواحة فأصيب بخاري
Rasouloullah SAW was being informed of othersahabahs martyrdom that occured in Makkah and transferred livethrough wahi in Madinah and yet didnot read Salaatul Janaazah.For example Amir ibn Thabit r.a. made du`as that Rasouloullah SAW be informed of the traitors’ attack(Bukhari):
قال عاصم بن ثابت أمير السرية أما أنا فوالله لا أنزل اليوم في ذمة كافر اللهم أخبر عنا نبيك فرموهم بالنبل فقتلوا عاصما في سبعة بخاري
On that very same day, Rasouloullah Swalallahou `Alaihi Wasallaminformed the sahabahs of the martyrdom of Thabit and his companions that Happenedhundred of miles away: فاستجاب الله لعاصم بن ثابت يوم أصيب فأخبر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أصحابه خبرهم وما أصيبوا بخاري
Like this live wahi, information of fall of king around the world, my prophet Muhammad SwalallahouAlaihi Wasallam informed people of Madinah instantly. Is this not a clear proof that prophetMuhammad Swalallahou` Alihi Wasallam is a true prophet? My prophet is a true prophet andHe is the last of all prophets. Accept it please.Khair, over here, the beloved prophet SAW did not perform Janaazah salaah for these martyredSahabahs.
That is why Imaam Abu Hanifah and Imaam Malik says that there is no salaah of Janaazah inThe absence of the body.Followers of these two imaam may send isaale sawaab to the deceased instead. One of theirProofs is reported in Bukhari that when the mother of Sa`d ind ubadah`s mother passed away in hisAbsence, then he asked the prophet about giving sadaqah on behalf of his deceased mother.The prophet SAW approved. He gave sadaqahs to benefit his mother and not salaah janazah(Bukhari):
أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عِكْرِمَةَ مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍأَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَخَا بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ تُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي تُوُفِّيَتْ وَأَنَا غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُهَا شَيْءٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِهِ عَنْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَإِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنَّ حَائِطِيَ الْمِخْرَافَ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهَابخاري
Hanafis and Malikis may sit down at a set specific time in a Masjid or somewhere to doMarsiyyah Or to talk good on the deceased and then make du`as.عن أيوب عن حميد بن هلال عن أنس رضي الله عنهأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم نعى زيدا وجعفرا وابن رواحة للناس قبل أن يأتيهم خبرهم فقال أخذ الراية زيد فأصيب ثم أخذ جعفر فأصيب ثم أخذ ابن رواحة فأصيب بخاري
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قالنعى لنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم النجاشي صاحب الحبشة يوم الذي مات فيه فقال استغفروا لأخيكم بخاري
Our ulamas have performed such majlis withoutExaggeration and without specific azkaar and withoutFood arrangements. Simple one majlis. That`s it.Duas is sunnah at the end of any majlis. Hence makeDuas of istighfaar for the deceased.
Also Hanafis and Malikis can individually read Qur-aan,Do zikr, give sadaqahs and make duas to benefit the deceased. theNo need to follow Shafi`ees in Salaah alal Gha-ib.
Mufti Mackoojee@MuftiMackoojee +23057921333