A BLIND follows a BLIND BLINDly

A blind follows another blind blindly in regards to whatever he says. And this blind also said whatever he said blindly. This is what is called darkness over darkness and this occurs when a person refuses to accept the wise and the Fuqaha such as Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi alayh), Imam Malik (Rahmatullaahi alayh), Imam Shafi'i (Rahmatullaahi alayh) and Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal (Rahmatullaahi alayh). And yet Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi alayh) was a Taabi'i. That is, he saw the Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum). The epoch of the Taabi'in is among the three epochs that Nabi (Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasallam) called the best era. But nowadays, people put all these aside and prefer to follow the contemporary Shuyukh (plural of Sheikh) blindly. They prevent people from following Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi alayh) but they themselves follow Sheikh Uthaimin. In response to queries, they satisfy themselves with the answers that Sheikh Uthaimin had given. But they do not allow the same in regards to Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullaahi alayh). This is what is called "out of the frying pan into the fire ". They prefer following the blind blindly but they disdain at following one who sees clearly.

Once, three brothers came to debate in regards to giving Khutbah in Creole. When they were asked what is the status/ruling of this practice? Is it Farz, Waajib, Sunnah, Mustahab or what? They did not know what to reply. One is debating on a subject without knowing its legal status! Is it insouciance, ignorance, negligence, childishness or what? It is the lack of maturity that leads to such situations. After a considerable time, one of these three brothers replied that it is Mustahab. The other brother who acted as the captain says that one cannot say that it is Mustahab. After a few moments, the captain says that it is Mubaah. The two brothers accepted this without asking for proof. These are the ones whose arrogance prevents them from following the great 'Ulama. But on the other hand, they do not hesitate to follow blindly their blind 'captain' who could be qualified without a shadow of doubt as the most ignorant in front of the famous 'Ulama whom they scorn at following. If one scorns at Zamzam water, then what awaits one to drink besides ditch water. 

Likewise, they have always made it clear to the public in the past for more than a quarter century that the 15th night of Shabaan is an ordinary night. There is nothing special about it. They have given speeches in that regards. They wrote booklets to refute those who consider this night as blessed. They did all this without having knowledge and without understanding. But the 'Ulama whom they had blindly accepted ever since, have themselves acknowledged that the 15th night of Shabaan is a blessed and special night. This has soothed them to some extent in the sense that they have stopped their reprehensive manner of refuting something merely by following blindly without possessing the required knowledge and understanding.

According to principle, they should have retracted in the same manner that they had refuted. They should have retracted in public in a perfectly clear manner with the same ardour. They should have said that for a long time, we were against that but now we have realised that we were in error and therefore, we are retracting. Did they do that? One needs courage to do that. Unfortunately, not everyone has this courage and this guts. Moreover, Allah Ta'ala does not grant this honour to all types of people. Only the true honourable will have that. But this should not be taken lightly because this reluctance is a symptom of a very serious disease. It emanates from a serious illness called Kibr or arrogance, one atom of which also suffices to prevent a person from entering into Jannah.

[English Version of "AVEUGLE suive AVEUGLE AVEUGLEment" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.3]