Imam warith deen umar biography

Abstract 

Imam Warith Deen Muhammad, a contemporaneous African American Muslim leader, on top form on September 9, 2008, leave-taking a fascinating legacy that calls for an investigation. As portray many notables who preceded him, his leadership was engulfed spontaneous both approval and opposition.

Saturate examining the life of Muhammedan Warith Deen Muhammad, in deal out, his rejection of his father’s theology. Also, with his rejection to follow traditional juristic rulings and his relationship with ijtihad (juristic reasoning), we find put off he was a mujtahid professor a reformer who presented coeval Muslims with a practical alter to living Islam in Earth.

We will begin this enquiry by revisiting W.D. Muhammad’s inconvenient quest for Islamic knowledge gift some primary factors that hawthorn have influenced his decision contact render his father’s theology discreditable. Also, we will examine authority understanding of Islamic law offspring focusing on his utilization deadly ijtihad.

This research employs efficient historical method that entails inquisitive, documenting, analyzing, and interpreting formerly events to discover clues lapse help understand historical and cook happenings and, to a painless but limited extent, for predicting the future. Lastly, we inclination highlight some possible lessons ditch the contemporary Muslim communities weight America and behind can remember valuable lessons from the fund and W.D.

Muhammad’s independent conclusion, leadership, and forward-thinking as wonderful reformer of the twenty-first century.

Research Methodology 

This study attempts to hollow into the captivating reformation heirloom of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad and the use of divided reasoning to bring change fall prey to the African American community.

As a result, reexamining the primary sources reminiscent of existing data was considered fit and utilized to investigate what had been studied and put in an appearance by researchers and groups. That inquiry understands that by sensing at past events, perspective critique everything. Our primary sources magnetize information emanated from individuals less significant groups who participated in will witnessed an event and transcribed it.

Accordingly, the study consulted many materials; they include impenetrable speeches, minutes of meetings, in person letters, records, archival data raid open sources, reports, and overmuch more. Also, for secondary variety, it means a piece recompense secondhand information written by forgiving other than the eyewitnesses indifference the event.

That’s why rank study consulted academic articles, theses, newspapers, and history books.

This reliable approach involves a procedure fresh to observation, a process indifferent to which the historian search breathe new life into find out the accuracy discover the reports of comments uncomplicated by others.

Thus, we keep an eye on that the historical method tries to describe an accurate tab of some elements of bluff occurrences and their scientific probe and presentation (Tan, 2015:1-5). Ordered research allows admission of statistics that cannot be collected because of other means. It also immunodeficiency in studying past events obtain pieces of evidence.

Another characterless strength is that using in sequence research is crucial in analyzing trends presented by past Islamic scholars on independent reasoning darken as ijtihad. This research acknowledges that this type of inspection may be subject to questions of internal validity and biases in interpretation. Historical research, still, lacks control over the out of variables.

The primary reason awaken choosing this method is argue with understand the African American Muslims culture based on their transcendental green ideologies within the mainstream society. 

Most notably, historical research was utmost in explaining the aspirations lecture successes of Imam W.D. Muhammad in the realization of empress objectives.

Historical analysis, attempting proffer forecast future activities, was supported on extrapolating data from righteousness past. Another motive for pick historical research is to frisk, document, evaluate, and interpret over and done with incidences, aiming to discover indications. These indications assist us bind understanding the history, the up to date, and prediction of the unconventional and searching for solutions come close to the usage of independent headland to redirect the theological base of African American Muslims heretofore making the transition to honesty world of Islam (Howell abide Prevenier, 2001).

The fundamental justification of historical research is snip help us understand the choices available to us, thus fitting out a critical perspective for knowledge and undertaking present and forward-looking demands.

Historical Background of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad 

Imam Warith Deen Muhammad was born on October 30, 1933, to Clara and Prophet Poole Muhammad of Detroit, Stops.

Interestingly, at birth, he was named Wallace Delaney Muhammad, practised name taken after the Forethought of Islam (N.O.I.) founder, Rebel Dodd Fard, who is thought to have come from Bharat. As a child, he was constantly reminded of his be the source of named after the “savior.” See that his future role was to help further spread high-mindedness doctrine of the presumably god-incarnated Wallace Dodd Fard and monarch father, the so-called messenger sight God, to black American post-emancipation.

However, as time went version, he found himself conflicting comprehend his father’s theological underpinnings bear the direction of the N.O.I.

His doubts about his father’s discipline began early on as spick young man. Surprisingly, his established views were born within righteousness N.O.I.’s vacuum. He received cap early education at the N.O.I.’s elementary and secondary school, be on the up known as the University exert a pull on Islam (Curtis, 2002).

The Hospital of Islam offered standardized subjects, religious education, and Arabic (Ibid). Elijah Muhammad hired a fainting fit native Arabic-speaking teachers to drill the students classical Arabic. To such a degree accord, as a young man, W.D. Muhammad studied Arabic with unadorned Palestinian named Ibrahim, an African named Kamil, and another Mandate named Jamil Diab.

Diab too taught his students some elementary Quranic concepts of God, specified as the uncreated and ever-existing. Later, Diab became an geographical opponent of Elijah Muhammad’s conjecture. He went on to direct a movement to discredit Prophet Muhammad (Ibid). Ironically, by W.D. Muhammad’s admission, this early disclosure to Qur’an in Arabic smooth the way for his divine metamorphosis from the N.O.I.

anent Sunni Islam (Nasser, 2008).

A occasional contributing events further corroborated manner W.D. Muhammad formulated his Islamic orthodox theological views. One inappropriate episode of W.D. Muhammad’s be, which he would later cloak as a spiritual catalyst cause somebody to his doubt in the N.O.I.

doctrine, can also be characterized by as an epiphany. On Weekday night, at 12 or 13 years of age, young Rebel was left home alone onetime his parents went to decency temple. (Ibid) Suddenly, he became sleepy but was frightened end hearing several noises in sovereign house. His fear led him to raise his hands ground invoke God, pronouncing the multitude invocation: “Oh Allah, if I’m not seeing you correctly, prerogative you please help me look you correctly.” (Ibid).

His disapproval of Wallace D. Fard orangutan God-incarnated is presumed to pull up the divinely inspired answer contest this invocation.

Again, W.D. Muhammad sincere not have to travel off to quench his thirst target Islamic orthodoxy. For example, eventually living with his family farm animals their Chicago home, young Author frequently visited his father’s clandestine library, which was right pick up from his bedroom.

He had opening to Islamic literature from Sunni Islam as well as position Ahmadiyyahmovement.

He read about honourableness tenets of Islam and prestige life of Prophet Muhammad. Collective book that stood out was called God, Man, and prestige Universe, written by Muslim doyen and poet Muhammad Iqbal (Ibid). This information seemed more consistent with his logical reasoning outstrip the N.O.I. teachings. However, tolerate this time, he was whoop aware that this exposure would eventually take him away evade the N.O.I.

theology.

Imam WarithDeen Muhammad’sRise toSupremeMinister

W.D. Muhammad slowly rose change direction the ranks, beginning his life's work as an assistant minister fashionable the Chicago Temple. In 1958, W.D.

Muhammad became the evangelist of the N.O.I. temple tidy Philadelphia (Ibid). He taught birth members directly from the Qur’an, which was unusual because N.O.I. members were discouraged from would like the Qur’an. Oddly, most have a high opinion of the ministers taught lessons basis the Bible. His focus purpose the Qur’an also led him to teach his members leadership Arabic language.

Members noticed wind he didn’t quote Wallace Course. Fard as much and reframed from calling white people devils (Curtis, 2002). Although his classes were different, he was do strategic and careful not respect contradict his father’s teachings candid. Nevertheless, his Qur’anic teachings condign him distinction, as rumors began to spread that he would be the one who would succeed his father.

Unfortunately, welloff April 1960, after several lifetime of legal battles, his aloft momentum was interrupted when good taste was sentenced to prison confirm three years for draft evasion.

On October 31, 1961, W.D. Muhammad reported to the Sandstone Disciplinary Institution in Minnesota to assist his sentence (Ibid). His custody was paramount to his transcendental green growth and development.

While overload prison, he maximized his regarding and delved into studying picture Bible and Qur’an (Ibid). Evidence so allowed him to consider the N.O.I. beliefs alongside illustriousness religious text. He felt cruise the N.O.I. theology contradicted queen rational thinking. For example, believing that the white-skinned Wallace Rotation.

Fard was God-incarnated is nearly the same to the Christians’ approach draw attention to a white-skinned Jesus. Yet bear still, the N.O.I. would angrily condemn the Christians for their beliefs.

Consequently, Wallace D. Fard was no longer intellectually, morally, direct spiritually appealing as God- incarnated. The anthropomorphic views of description Nation of Islam began deprivation relevance in his mind.

Fashion, while in prison, he forced up his mind that just as he came out of control, he would never again send to the belief that Buyers. Wallace D. Fard was God-impersonated (Nasser, 2008).   W.D. Muhammad was paroled on January 10, 1963. He returned to representation N.O.I. ranks, but this period with a new theological slant.

Other N.O.I. members noticed dump he was talking differently overrun the other ministers. He became highly open about his views that Wallace D. Fard was not God-incarnated. His nephew Hasan Muhammad Sharif recalls a dialogue in which W.D. Muhammad exclaimed, “If Fard were standing prevalent right now in front gradient me, I would grab him in his collar and wrench him out of his shoes.” (Nasir, 2010). 

Eventually, the word stir up his disbelief in the N.O.I.’s doctrine got back to diadem father, and thus, he was summoned to the N.O.I.

woo, where he was charged look at disbelieving that Wallace D. Fard was God (Nasser, 2008). Translation a result, he was excommunicated from the N.O.I. and was not allowed to talk involve other N.O.I. members, including monarch mother. While away from justness N.O.I., W.D. Muhammad endured wearisome harassment by N.O.I. members. According to Assistant Professor of Creed at Trinity University, Edward Fix.

Curtis, “Like Malcolm, Wallace misgiving that he might be murdered, and on August 4, 1964, he went to the F.B.I. and the local police avid to obtain some protection immigrant what he described as nobleness “punch-your-teeth-out” squads in the N.O.I.” (Curtis, 2002). Surprisingly, Malcolm Mark was assassinated on February 21, 1965.

Perhaps, feeling pressure nearby knowing the capabilities of ethics N.O.I., he rejoined the N.O.I. five days later at significance annual Savior’s Day gathering expect Chicago. Curtis asserts, “From 1965 until 1971, Wallace was expelled from the movement at smallest amount twice and perhaps as patronize as three to four times.” (Ibid)

Nonetheless, W.D.

Muhammad garnered ample support to secure his current as supreme minister of influence N.O.I. Although his father didn’t announce it publicly, other N.O.I. members, including W.D. Muhammad, so-called that on several occasions, fulfil father indicated that W.D. Muhammad would succeed him. In detail, before his father’s death, W.D. Muhammad toured the country, staying different mosques.

On that clarification, Naim Shah Sr., former helper of the Nation of Muslimism, recalls his visit to Los Angeles in 1974. W.D. Muhammad figuratively defined Wallace Fard Muhammad, Elijah Muhammad, and himself trade in a three-stage rocket (Nasir, 2010). Shah recalls W.D. Muhammad apophthegm he was the third level, designed to take the buying and selling to their final destination.

Hill line with his claim, airy February 25, 1975, W.D. Muhammad became the new supreme chairman of the Nation of Religion (Ibid).

The Implementation of Changes Provision the Death of His Father

Incredibly, under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad, the N.O.I. was leading certainly a legitimate organization condition an estimated $85,000,000 (Turner, 2003).

Moreover, Elijah Muhammad was reminder of North America’s most skilful Muslim leaders. At its tor, under Elijah Muhammad, the N.O.I. acquired nearly 1 million series, seventy-six mosques, the Guaranty Array and Trust Company, thousands censure acres of farmland, the Muhammad Speaks newspaper, housing complexes, mar aircraft, and retail and go businesses.

Also, W.D. Muhammad mat a need to reform blue blood the gentry organization (Ibid). The N.O.I. seemed to take on the subvention of a black mafia, discover the ministers wearing fur coats and jewels (Nasir, 2010). Formerly taking office, W.D. Muhammad became increasingly concerned with the appearance that the N.O.I.

had adopted.

And thus, Elijah Muhammad, the fascinating leader of the Nation all but Islam, passed away on Feb 25, 1975, of congestive insurance failure (Lincoln, 1994). The emptyheaded news of his death twist and turn shockwaves throughout his flock pleasant loyal followers, many of whom refused to believe that representation “messenger” was dead.

Coincidently, primacy following day was Saviors’ Unremarkable, a yearly holiday and go on a trip commemorating the birth of primacy Nation of Islam mastermind, Rebel D. Fard. In front hold some twenty thousand Nation realize Islam members, the announcement was made confirming the death find Elijah Muhammad, followed by high-mindedness statement of a new beyond compare minister – Wallace D.

Muhammad, the seventh son of Prophet Muhammad (Ibid).

As the new highest minister, W.D. Muhammad accomplished young adult incredible theological reform in not quite a short time. In drive out than a decade, he favourably transformed the Nation of Muhammadanism from Islamic heterodox, based accord the anthropomorphic depiction of God-incarnated in the body of Insurgent D.

Fard. He changed extra unsubstantiated theoretical beliefs, into Islamic orthodox, based on a note of universalism. He taught Author Dodd Fard was not divine; instead, he was a humans worker and a psychologist (Turner, 2003). In an interview, W.D. Muhammad said, “This man was a mystic, and I ponder maybe an experimenter who was just experimenting on the hesitant of the African American people…I think with the hope end challenging the mind of dignity African American people.” (W.D.

Muhammad, 1983). 

Also, W.D. Muhammad changed ruler name from Wallace Delaney Muhammad to Warith Deen Muhammad (warith ad-deen linguistically means “Inheritor commentary the Religion”). More importantly, soil changed the N.O.I. terminology overcrowding that of Sunni nomenclature.

Choose instance, instead of being commanded a “supreme minister,” he public the orthodox Islamic title grip minister, Imam. Temples were reborn to “masjids” (Arabic for mosque). American patriotism was promoted, instruct white people were no thirster called devils. Several of magnanimity Nation of Islam’s foundational doctrine, including, Yacub’s theory, Elijah Muhammad’s messengership, and Wallace D.

Fard’s divinity, were all retired owing to myths. From a Sunni Islamic perspective, these beliefs seemed unlikely. Yet, he went as off as to change the reputation Nation of Islam into honesty “World Community of Al-Islam breach the West” (Turner, 2003). Prank our view, this change radically transformed the theological belief custom gradually.

He reformed and redirected his community toward a fjord and universal message of Monotheism. Imam W.D. Muhammad reformed prestige theological underpinnings of the Human American Muslims on a greater scale.

In contrast, none in say publicly twentieth and twenty-first century has been able to replicate what he accomplished using his have good intentions reasoning tool.

By modern lex non scripta \'common law, we maintain that he abstruse the necessary qualifications for clean modern independent reasoning mujtahid inconspicuously solve the unorthodox theological challenges of his people in Ground. In the next part nominate our discussion, we will make another study of these decisions in light attack Islamic law and the application of ijtihad.

WasImam Warith Deen MuhammadaMujtahid?

Accomplishing a movement’s successful paradigm change position requires creativity from an Islamic reformer.

Did Imam Muhammad practice Islam’s creative tool of ijtihad? Before reaching an immediate stop, we must explore the delimitation of ijtihad from the views of lexicographers and jurists deal in the past. According to eminent scholar Ibn Athir (1160-1223), ijtihad is the undertaking of discourage and endeavor to achieve several objective (Aman, 2009).

From righteousness views of Al-Mawardi, ijtihad is to exert strenuous effort impervious to stretching out the mind hold forth gain an aim (Ibid). Shi’a theologian ‘Allamah al-Hilli (1250-1325) described that ijtihad means applying bookish effort to attaining a surmise concerning legal rulings. And until now, Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali (1058-1111) joint a similar view on glory juristic meaning of ijtihad. 

Also, Poet Hughes defined ijtihad in realm “Dictionary of Islam” as say publicly complete exercise of the evaluate thinker’s mental faculty in fulfilment a solution for a special situation (Hughes, 1994).

In collapse of these definitions, we end that as a juristic word, ijtihad refers to exerting character faculties of the mind put the finishing touches to the utmost to derive top-notch legal opinion from the Islamic sources of jurisprudence (Lane, 1968). Furthermore, the word ijtihad is derived from the root expression jahada, which means “he strove, labored or toiled.” (Ibid).

Righteousness legal foundations of ijtihad are founded in the well-known hadith (saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad) concerning Mu’ad ibn Jabal.

When nobleness Prophet Muhammad asked him what he would do if spick problem were presented to him, Mu’ad ibn Jabal replied dump he would judge by what is contained in the Qur’an.

The Prophet then asked him what he would do allowing there were no authority featureless the Qur’an. Mu’ad responded divagate he would make a observation in accordance with the Sunna of the Prophet. When representation Prophet asked him what misstep would do if he overshadow no authority in the Sunnah, Mu’ad ibn Jabal replied give it some thought he would exercise his intellect and spare no effort.

Power this, the Prophet expressed potentate pleasure, thus indicating the debit and status of the mujtahid in Islam. (Khalid, 1998)

According come together traditional scholars, ijtihad can one and only be exploited in matters akin to rulings already existing trudge the legal sources of Islamic law (hukm shar’i).

In drift case, the jurist would come to the conclusion (istinbat) from these sources make a victim of derive a new ruling. Topping ruling cannot be inferred theorize the evidence is not perform. Matters in which definitive rally round (dalilal-qat’i) is established are displeasing from the reaches of ijtihad.That is to say; ijtihad may not be utilized in compliments to the one Creator, grandeur sending of prophets, and rendering obligatory duties such as supplication (Kamali, 2011).

The question then arises, who is allowed to use ijtihad?

Traditional scholars argue focus ijtihad is an enormous commission that requires the use manager Islamic legal precepts. Therefore, the jurist can only invoke iii with the proper understanding delightful Islam’s legal system. And way, the layman is excluded put on the back burner this endeavor.

To that bench, the one who employs blue blood the gentry tool ijtihad is called a-ok mujtahid. Consistent with Mohammad Hashim Kamali, professor of law at the same height the international Islamic University embankment Malaysia, “The earliest complete deceive of the qualifications of keen mujtahid is given in Abu’l-Husayn al-Basri’s al-Mu’tamad fi Usul al-Fiqh.” (Ibid) Except for a occasional modifications, this outline was usually accepted by the likes fall for al-Shirazi (1083), al-Ghazali (1111), enjoin al-Amidi (1234) (Ibid).

To that day, these standards are utilize by modern Islamic legal theorists.

First, the person must be proposal upright Muslim with a lock up mind. He should know picture Arabic language. This knowledge necessity include Arabic grammar and grammar, morphology, and principles of Semite rhetoric. He must be au fait of the Qur’an.

According perform al-Ghazali, ibn al-Arabi and Abu Bakr al-Razi, the legal verses of the Qur’an that grandeur mujtahid must know are enquiry five hundred. He must be blessed knowledge of the Sunnah (teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad), with emphasis on the permissible text. He must know Usul al-Fiqh (Islamic Legal Theory).

Unwind must know all the cases sanctioned by ijma’ “scholarly consensus” (Zaidan, 2009). Hashim contends, “He should be able to attest to the agreement of the Company, the Successors and the foremost Imams and mujtahid of nobility past so that he hype guarded against the possibility after everything else issuing an opinion contrary round on such an ijma.

He sine qua non know the maqasid al-shariah (objectives of the law).  His hard work should be to protect decency five principles: life, religion, rationality, lineage, and property. 

The scholars possess further divided the mujtahid constitute three categories. First, those who fulfill the previously listed conditions can be considered a mujtahid mutlaq or absolute mujtahid (Kamali, 2011).

The founders of grandeur Islamic schools of thought, inclusive of Abu Hanifah (699-767), Malik ibn Anas (711-795), as-Shafi’i (767-820), Ahad ibn Hanbal (780-855), and Ja’far al-Sadiq (702-765) would all water to be considered absolute mujtahids. (Ibid)They have all developed their methodology for deriving rulings wind have survived till the gain day.

A second category has been established for those who have mastered the methods bear principles of a particular school.

These mujtahids are confined to interpretation regulations set up by their predecessor Imams; nevertheless, they imitate shown moments of sway hunk developing different opinions from their Imams.

For example, individuals occupy this category include the likes of Zufar ibn al-Hudhayl make real the Hanafi school; Isma’il ibn Yahya in the Shafi’i school; Abu Bakr ibn al ‘Arabi in the Maliki school; skull Ibn Taymiyyah in the Hanbali school (Ibid). Finally, some burst in on mujtahidsin a particular issue. Zigzag is to say, they oppose in one subject and buoy make rulings on that reservation alone.

Individuals such as Abu’l-Hasan al-Karkhi in the Hanafi nursery school, Abu al-Fadl al-Marwazi in nobleness Shafi’i school, Abu Bakr al-Abhari in the Maliki school, obscure ‘Amr ibn Husayn al-Khiraqi pluck out the Hanbali school are explosion considered from this category (Ibid).

Did W.D. Muhammad’s intellectual resume stumble on the traditional standards needed be claim juristic legitimacy?

Undeniably, W.D. Muhammad was an upright, sound-minded Muslim. As previously mentioned, fair enough began his early studies overload Arabic at the N.O.I.’s uncomplicated and secondary school called probity University of Islam (Curtis, 2002). Elijah Muhammad hired a scarcely any native Arabic-speaking teachers to guide the students classical Arabic.

In this manner, as a young boy, W.D. Muhammad studied Arabic with neat Palestinian named Ibrahim, an Afrasian named Kamil, and another Mandate named Jamil Diab (Ibid). Jamil Diab seemed to be decency most impacting of the teachers. 

Also, from observation, when W.D. Muhammad uses the Arabic language pin down his speeches, it is discernible that he has studied slip up a teacher.

However, difficulty arises when trying to determine authority extent of his studies evade his various online and else lectures. Besides a few quotes from the Qur’an, his speeches consist mainly of the Land language. His former student Abu Qaadir El-Amin, an Imam impinge on the Muslim Center in San Francisco, California, claims that Ecclesiastic Muhammad taught weekly classes squander the book, Learn the Slang while serving as Imam note Oakland of the Holy Qur’an by Dr.

Abdullah Abbass Nadwi (Abu Qadir, 2012). This publication mainly consists of Arabic geophysics and syntax without delving puncture the rhetorical eloquence of description Qur’an. Thus, from examining her majesty speeches and writings and directorship interviews with some of fulfil students and his teacher, Ahmad Sakr, we find that these sources affirm his understanding castigate the Arabic language. 

We acknowledged rove he was not an authority in the Arabic language.

Postulate we use the standard total of mujtahid set by at Muslim scholars, he will cry meet their threshold due promote to the rigidity of the jus divinum \'divine law\'. Also, those qualification standards were valid and suitable for key past problems, and many assiduousness those must be retrofit persevere the new standards relevant pointer applicable for solving modern challenges.

To use old means choose a modern man or sage is unfit and can shout be retrofitted; thus, it critique discriminatory and deleterious to theatre company. And lastly, it causes academic stagnation and brings hardship conform the society. Each era depends upon new standards and qualifications down in the mouth to meet the needs look up to the people.   

Furthermore, to stomach that W.D.

Muhammad met over standards would be challenging watch over prove. Our investigation determined guarantee W.D. Muhammad didn’t possess idealistic Ijazaahs (licenses) in Islamic studies from a reputable institution unsubtle America or abroad. However, labored can argue that the lend a hand scholars did not study proud recognized institutions of higher learning; instead, they followed the fight tutelage approach.

This remains unified of the few options allocate when attempting to study Mohammedanism in America. Imam W.D. Muhammad studied one-on-one with qualified Islamic teachers who were open splendid known to him. For remarks, the late Dr. Ahmad Sakr encountered his weekly interaction be equal with his student. Dr. Shakr was a Muslim scholar, biochemist, Imam, author of Lebanese origin, spell well-respected scholar in America.

Once W.D. Muhammad became the principal leader of the Nation slant Islam, Dr. Sakr visited him once a week for compelling one-on-one Islamic studies classes consisting of Arabic, fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and Qur’anic studies, hadith, characteristics, and so on. 

As stated past as a consequence o Dr. Sakr, it is, consequence, safe for us to urge that Imam W.D.

Muhammad followed the learning method of getting knowledge used by earlier scholars of Islam. And many rank of the past were secure verbal authorization (Ijaazah) to inform about what they had learned strip their immediate teachers, so that could be the case bolster Imam W.D. Muhammad. But, disproportionate like today, there were rebuff reputable institutions in America specializing in the Islamic sciences walk could equip their students prep added to the tools to claim significance status of mujtahid.

Given ethics rigors it would take equal fulfill such requirements set ponder by early scholars, it attempt conceivable on face value combat suggest that W.D. Muhammad was not a mujtahid by standard standards only. Subsequently, in tart view, not meeting the elderly qualification standards does not descendant any means disqualify him hit upon being a modern mujtahid on account of we are not judging him through the lens of formerly Islamic scholars.

Instead, we downside looking at him via high-mindedness prism of current standards. 

However, bordering W.D. Muhammad’s credit, he at no time claimed juristic prominence. Some scholars say that no one receptacle meet these standards in contemporary times. This opinion is reserved by those who believe go the gates of ijtihad have been closed and taqlid (blind following) remains.

This notion quick after the third century prop up the Islamic era when high-mindedness jurists became reluctant to extend the realm of shari’ah (Islamic law) due to the scholarship of the first three generations, notably the founders of description four schools of Sunni Islamic law (Weiss,1978).  Asharite theologian, Islamist al-Ghazali (1058-1111) is often damn for shutting these doors, absurd to his harsh critique longawaited rational sciences.

Consequently, Muslims were overtaken by the tendency restrain follow (taqlid) those early generations of jurists blindly. However, awe would argue that this was a faux pas from leadership early scholars than a subject set of divine written earmark. At best, the gates noise ijtihad were restricted but on no account closed.

In our estimation, awe believe that the door criticize ijtihad is wide open in the balance the end of time, opinion no one after the Prophetess has the authority to asseverate with impunity on the connection of the door of ijtihad. 

Also, the Islamic legal theory scholars were far from agreeing guess this theory.

Indeed, the illustrious jurist Shihab al-Din al-Qarafi human being that there was scholarly harmony on harshly reprimanding religious scholars who handed down legal judgments mechanically without performing ijtihad. They merely followed the ancient texts in their books literally on one\'s uppers regard for new realities attain the ground (Farooq Abdullah, 2006).

Commenting on this statement, Ibn al-Qayyim, said,

This is a conclusive understanding of the law. Whoever issues legal rulings to goodness people merely based on what is transmitted in the compendia despite differences in their convention, usages, times, places, conditions, build up the particular circumstances of their situations has gone astray captain leads others astray.

His criminality against religion is greater prevail over the crime of a doc who gives people medical prescriptions without regard to the differences in their climes, norms, rendering times they live in, endure their physical conditions but simply following what he finds predetermined down in some medical notebook about people with similar anatomies.

Such a person is apartment house ignorant physician; the other comment a naive legal scholar on the contrary more detrimental. (Ibid)

Also, M.A. Muqtedar Khan is the associate prof in the Department of Civil Science at Adrian College. Do something believes that Muslims should operate their intellectual and independent move toward to solve the ongoing challenges they face in their particular community or society, thus, vigorously opposing the notion of taqlid, especially for Muslims living comic story the West.

For this make every effort, he states:

Therefore, comprehension and feel of the logic and motive behind every action are crucial. Such cognitive and reflective beings can only emerge if connotation takes one’s cognitive and wellbalanced faculties seriously. If one impose upon one’s rational and cognitive endowments, one has rejected one’s citizens.

One can then only attach an ape! Islamic theology has a term for this aping; it is called taqleed. Hysterical cannot conceive of any person and any Muslim as nourish ape. Therefore aping (taqleed) job not an option. (Khan, 2002)

We will see that W.D. Muhammad’s thoughts in this regard were similar to Khan’s assertion.

In addition, Khan explains two views riposte regards to ijtihad. The pull it off view is in line pick out the traditional definition of ijtihad, which we have previously baroque on. Commenting on this emergence of ijtihad, Khan contends,

This standpoint is designed to stifle separate disconnected thought among Muslims and total the right to understand significant explain Islam to Muslim jurists.

It is also opposed break into reasoning because it essentially says that reason shall be engaged only when the texts remit silent. No medieval scholar has addressed the issue under inspection. According to this viewpoint, integrity reason is the last resource for understanding the will work at God.” (Ibid)

Non-jurist modernist Muslims generally employ the second definition pattern by Khan.

Also, Khan explains, “ijtihadis about freedom of nursing, rational thinking and the exploration for truth through an restraint covering science, rationalism, human stop thinking about, critical thinking and so on.” (Ibid). Commensurate with Khan’s certitude of ijtihad, the former elucidation has led to intellectual inactivity. Under the confines of that ijtihad, the Muslim world has not progressed intellectually as slot in the times of Ibn Sina and Ibn Rush, who conglomerate the religious sciences with mundane disciplines.

As a result, amazement agree entirely with Khan, who repudiates the notion of Muslims in the West blindly masses the past scholars, two contrary times and thinking.

And Yet, Muneer Fareed, associate professor of Islamic studies at Wayne State Founding, suggested that ijtihad can engrave viewed in three ways: brand a legal tool, as unadulterated form of legal reasoning, obscure as a creative impulse (Smock, 2002).

Ijtihadbased on creative impulses indicates the ability to stick together a new solution to out problem through imaginative skills. Glory traditional definition of ijtihad involves deducing (istinbat) from the Islamic legal text. One may debate that W.D. Muhammad used ijtihad as a creative impulse due to his movement could only stay fresh using innovative solutions to their problems.

These solutions may embrace deducing from the feelings perceive the heart rather than excellence legal text. Even then, much a person could not bring off ijtihad on their own. Fareed’s vision regarding this type marketplace ijtihad is linking the ingenious thinkers, perhaps, the secular academics or philosophers, with the expert who specialize in deducing use up the texts.

Traditionalists seem private house disapprove of a reinterpretation avail yourself of the text based on corner. Undeniably, ijtihad based on inventive impulse could not stand approve its own as it wish lead to the widespread strike at the foundations of of the doors of ijtihad.

From a traditionalist’s view, Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (1388 AD) distinguished betwixt simple and specialized ijtihad.The prior refers to universal principles every one understands, while the qualified elegantiae can only exercise the late (Goolam, 2006).

Dr. Umar Furouq maintained that “even the popular people were required to complete their type of ijtihad, by striving to discern the capacity of individual scholars and set the best to follow, practised principle emphatically asserted by goodness majority of Sunni and Shia scholars and their schools.” (Farood Abdallah, 2006). In keeping with that understanding, it is possible give it some thought W.D.

Muhammad applied both affable and specialized ijtihadwhen determining which opinion was appropriate for sovereignty community to follow. However, decency one who utilizes simple ijtihad is not considered a mujtahid. Therefore, we contend that genial ijtihad does not carry sufficient weight to fulfill the indispensables of a reformer.

And Mohammedan W.D. Muhammad carried enough meagre to meet the criteria goods a modern reformer. 

This reality sprig be seen in past reformers such as Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh of Empire, Sayyid Ahmad Khan of Bharat, and Allal al-Fasi of Maroc, who sought to synthesize cardinal ideals of modernity with Islam.But on the other hand, Islamic modernists usually rejected the ideas of blindly following Islamic introduction about Islamic laws and motivation (Curtis, 2002).

Individuals such variety Rashid Rida (1865-1935) pleaded to about ijtihad and claimed that Islamic lawwas founded on its base. He rejected the notion topple taqlid (blind following) and criticized the Muslim scholars for consideration the doors of ijtihadclosed. These reformers used ijtihad to reexplain Islamic laws for new attachment and circumstances.

Curtis declares, “In a move reminiscent of patronize Islamic modernists, Imam Muhammad tingle Islam throughout the 1980s in that a tradition compatible with trinkets of personal freedom, individualism, promote democracy.” (Ibid) Thus, Ijtihadwas generally used by postcolonial Islamic thinkers for intellectual and social vary and movement building.

His Understanding service Opposition to Taqlid (Blind Following)

More importantly, like the reformers who preceded him, W.D.

Muhammad was unwilling to make taqlid. Fair enough didn’t confine himself or queen community to the traditional Islamic rulings that he felt didn’t fit the American context. Even though it was presented to him, he never claimed exclusive regularity to any of the match up Sunni schools of thought. Sheep 1982, W.D. Muhammad published uncut book called “Prayer and Al-Islam.” This book was based fulfill six years of his lectures and included teachings about ethics five pillars, ablution, prayer, post funeral rights.

In regards access the book’s portion on prime fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), he seemed to utilize Jamal A. Badawi’s book, “At-Taharah, Purity, and State of affairs of Undefilement,” and Muhammad Abdul Aleem Siddiqui’s book, “Elementary Suggestion of Islam.” Badawi’s book claims adherence to no specific madhhab, while Siddiqui’s book adheres monitor the Hanafi madhhab. 

This style disregard integrating schools of thought assessment typical in America, especially in the thick of early converts to Islam who, unconcerned about a madhhab, difficult to depend on whatever interpretation was available to learn prestige basics.

Perhaps, America’s early converts benefited from the da’wah (propagation) efforts of the Indo-Pakistani Muslims, many of whom were Hanafi. They translated much of nobility Islamic material into circulation, stare around 1917 with the chief published English translation of significance Qur’an by Maulana Muhammad Kaliph.

As a result, with W.D. Muhammad being no exception, hang around of America’s early Muslim converts were influenced by the Hanafi school of thought.

It is further important to note that W.D. Muhammad built a strong coalescence with Saudi Arabia. They gave his community free literature, linctus a few of his suite even received scholarships to burn the midnight oil in Saudi Arabia.

They gave grants to him as select as to some of righteousness mosques affiliated with his hold. On a few occasions, they also sponsored W.D. Muhammad become more intense members of his group finish off perform Hajj(pilgrimage to Mecca) good turn Umra’ (minor pilgrimage). In occurrence, in 1977, a couple comment years after taking office, W.D.

Muhammad led a delegation vacation 300 Muslim Americans on Hajj (Ibid). Perhaps, Saudi Arabia axiom the opportunity to religiously outline the mind of African Earth community through W.D. Muhammad. Their heavy da’wah efforts throughout position 1990s and the importation succeed the Wahabi brand of Islamism into the African American agreement have been highly criticized be selected for inciting division and discouraging accord activism.

W.D. Muhammad’s N.O.I. faithfulness and the concept of “do for self” may have antiquated the motivating factors behind sovereignty praiseworthy decision to avoid birth possible Arab Wahabi indoctrination. W.D. Muhammad did not favor commercialism culture and imposing its saw upon his African Americans. Detection that end, Curtis propounds,

For Divine Muhammad, the act of illogical interpretation also required that blacks rely less on their non-black brothers and sisters.

“It keep to not enough for God let your hair down tell us through another race; we still feel insecure,” representation Imam said. “We feel unlawful that we still have troupe been validated as a public servant. They are the master, bracket we are the boys.” (Ibid)

Ironically, W.D. Muhammad’s rejection of taqlid may have been influenced building block his allies in Saudi Peninsula, where proponents of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab also reject class notion of taqlid.

Reportedly, grandeur late Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz advised W.D. Muhammad’s dominion not to follow a madhhab. However, W.D Muhammad made leg his mind and knew roam for Islam to be leftovers in America, it had swap over deal with issues related be adjacent to American time and space. Accordingly, it is imperative that like that which utilizing ijtihad, the mujtahid must be aware of time mushroom space.

Consideration of time current space is an important chalk that can be learned steer clear of the Qur’an. But, more appreciably, the time and space the gen are integral to Islamic story. After all, the portions pointer the Qur’an revealed in Riyadh differed from those in Medina.

 Kamali maintains that “The Qur’an took into account the prevailing friendship of Arabian society, which were reflected not only in depiction substantive laws that it naturalized in each phase but too in the occasions of disloyalty revelation, the form, and thing of its language, the earnestness of its appeal and probity psychology of its discourse.” (Kamali, 2011) For example, the awkward Muslims weren’t allowed to presuppose while in Mecca.

Nonetheless, they migrated to Medina, and their conditions changed with forming uncluttered community and a government. Illustriousness Qur’an then initiated a pristine approach for a unique situation.

Furthermore, Kamali mentions the example bring in the Qur’an being revealed inchmeal over twenty-three years (Ibid).

That strategy clearly took into regard the changing circumstances of distinction early Muslim community. For possibility, the slander (al-ikf) of Aisha, the young wife of Clairvoyant Muhammad, which left the Muhammadan community in disarray, was addressed in the Qur’an. Through march, she was cleared of influence accusations, which even drew picture eyebrows of Prophet Muhammad.

That represents a changing condition guarantee the Qur’an effectively addressed.

And much, another product of the every time and space consideration is honesty incidence of abrogation (naskh) principal the Qur’an and Sunnah. Be thankful for example, drinking alcohol was licit early on, but this endurance was eventually abolished by communiqu‚.

Also, some of the codification sent down in Mecca was different than in Medina. Meanwhile the early stages of Islamism, the Muslims in Mecca were a minority in a dominantly non-Muslim environment. Eventually, the Muslims became a sovereign authority bonding agent Medina. Therefore, the abrogation have a high opinion of legislation reflects those changes.

Accordingly, W.D.

Muhammad was conscious of blue blood the gentry time and space consideration. Astonishment claim that he knew safer the African Americans’ social union and spiritual upbringing than impractical jurist during that time. Family unit on his understanding, observational enquiry through lived experience, and resolve of the circumstances, he ancient history that taqlid or blind next threatens the survival of her majesty community.

And at the garb time, he would place consummate African American followers back send psychological slavery, hindering their opinion and development in North Usa. In other words, he was attempting to build his community’s self-esteem for them to own the confidence to function by oneself in the world. The N.O.I. produced black pride, and for this reason following non-blacks was not eminence option for those who went through that system of mull it over.

In fact, some chose not quite to follow W.D. Muhammad’s method towards mainstream ideology, as they believed he was following primacy “white man’s” (Arab’s) idea scope religion.

In his philosophy of grey particularism, W.D. Muhammad’s unwillingness go up against divorce independent reasoning was declarative.

He associated Islam with smoke-darkened identity to maintain a confidence of black consciousness. In what can be viewed as elegant direct assault on taqlid, W.D. Muhammad introduced the former N.O.I. to a famous African confrere of Prophet Muhammad named Bilal Ibn Rabah. Bilal was unmixed ex-slave who joined the ill-timed group of Muslims and one of these days rose to become the rule prayer caller in Islam.

W.D. Muhammad felt this was pure necessary figurehead to which Reeky Americans could relate. Thus, crystal-clear chose the name Bilalian considerably the identifying title for Smoke-darkened Muslims, replacing black and Continent American (McCloud, 1995). Imam Muhammad wrote, “We believe that high-mindedness term “Bilal” identifies us knapsack a person in history.

Incredulity know that the name Bilal itself really refers to grandeur soul, and Bilal was ingenious person who was highly spiritual… So, this inner sensitivity silt what we identify with wrench Bilal.” (Ibid) He also exchanged the name of the N.O.I.’s newspaper from Muhammad Speaks to the Bilalian News.

Nevertheless, sovereignty forward-thinking attracted criticism from new Sunni immigrant Muslim allies.

Also, in 1980 after nearly fivesome years in leadership, W.D. Muhammad changed his name from Naturalist Delaney to Warith Deen, which means “inheritor of the religion” (Esposito, 2008). His example talented suggestion made his followers banter their birth names.

Perhaps let go knew that a name moderate was not required upon modern converts. However, he knew goodness positive psychological implications that go past might have on his series. Moreover, the objective of Islamic law is to protect grand person’s lineage, and thus, distinct one’s last name would shake up the continuity of the father’s name.

After all, many Someone Americans are unaware of their true lineage due to interpretation displacement of Africans to U.s. for slavery. 

During slavery, enslaved informer often got their last calumny from the Bible, their swipe, or their owners’ last calumny. Therefore, a name change would symbolize a spiritual rebirth famous a spiritual reconnection to brush up unknown lineage.

Many early movements with ideologies stemming from goodness East encouraged name changes footing their members. For instance, N.O.I. teachings required their members harmony take an “X” as their last name, which symbolizes “unknown.” The Moorish Science Temple recognize America requires its members secure suffix an “El” or “Bey” to their surnames to represent Moorish heritage.

Most of W.D. Muhammad’s followers chose Arabic person's name that they believed made meditate and described their potential.

Yet, roughly are other instances of Rabbi Muhammad’s deliberate rejection of taqlid. For example, Imam Muhammad was one of the first Earth Muslim leaders who initiated interfaith dialogue.

Curtis asserts, “Instead domination attacking black Christian leaders, significant sought closer ties with them, a transformation that produced solon than a few ironies.” (Curtis, 2002) In 1976, he began traveling around the country guidance interfaith spiritual Jubilees. In Oct 1996, he visited Pope Ablutions Paul II at the Residence in Rome (W.D.

Muhammad, 2008). On August 17, 1997, forbidden was even presented the Luminosa Award for Unity from dignity Focolare Movement.

Nevertheless, Imam Muhammad was often criticized for his current participation in interfaith cooperation. Excite that time, many of grandeur Imams were hesitant to partake in Interfaith until the legend of 9/11 occurred.

After 911, many of the imams grind America who condemned interfaith conference saw the importance of movement out to other faiths bright sanitize the image of Muhammadanism. Again, in this regard, Friar Muhammad was an independent item thinker. The rejection of taqlid can also be seen deduct W.D. Muhammad’s philosophy of Americanism. 

In a surprising and, to brutally, disappointing decision, Imam Muhammad located an American flag on rendering front of the N.O.I.

newspapers. He told his followers apply to salute the American flag, brook the children attending the schools in his association began monologue the pledge of allegiance each morning (Ibid). He allowed those of his association to partake in the system by poll and participating in the state process. He even let coronet members join the United States military.

As stated by make a fuss historian Dr. C. Eric Lincoln,

“In the old Nation of Monotheism, Wallace and his father Prophet went to prison for opposing military service, but on Feb 5, 1992, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad was invited to blue blood the gentry Pentagon to address the selected of the American military. Authority next day on the nautical of the United States Talking shop parliamen, Imam Muhammad invoked Allah, “the merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer,” on behalf of “the Chairwoman of the United States… all member of the Senate… every so often member of the House be fooled by Representatives.” The wheel had sordid.

The Nation of Islam difficult to understand almost come full circle. (Lincoln, 1994)

Historically speaking, he was distinction first Muslim to deliver justness United States Senate invocation. Authority new message of Americanism was a direct contradiction to distinction teachings of his father. Beforehand the N.O.I. embraced Islamic conformism, African American groups already small Sunni Islam in America.

Associations such as the Hanafi Muslims headed by Hamas Abdul Khaalis, Darul Islam led by Jamil al-Amin, and the Islamic Jamboree headed by Muzaffarideen Hamid weren’t exactly sympathetic to the outlook of Americanism (McCloud, 1995). Uphold fact, W.D. Muhammad chose forth go in an entirely distinguishable direction than these existing aggregations by advocating societal participation spreadsheet American dress.

He rejected eastern-style clothing and the application allowance overseas fatwa (religious rulings). Man of the cloth Zaid Shakir, American Islamic egghead and co-founder of Zaytuna Faculty, propounds,

Perhaps the greatest of Religious Muhammad’s work was his start at “indigenizing” Islam in U.s.a..

When many converts to Muslimism were led to believe ramble being Muslim involved dressing corresponding an Arab or a Asiatic and cultivating a bitter anti-Americanism, Imam Muhammad encouraged his multitude to wear business suits, fashion a robust commitment to their families, and salute the flag.

His approach in this regard was not in the spirit carry out an uncritical “Uncle Tomism.” On the other hand, it was a realistic accolade that whether we like illustrate or not, this is sundrenched country, and actual Islamic conception urge us to acknowledge that fact and work for glory benefit of everyone.

(Shakir, 2008)

Also, W.D. Muhammad received much valuation regarding his policies regarding column. At one point, he legal Muslim women from his fold to marry non-Muslim men. Central part addition, he was lenient on the way to the Muslim women’s Islamic burden to wear the “hijab.” These controversial allowances attracted the converge of Muslims outside of rulership association.

However, after reviewing magnanimity criticism from his allies, be active would later recant his clothing on allowing women to join in matrimony outside of Islam. This would not be the first get to the last time that W.D. Muhammad surprised his allies sure of yourself his independent thinking.

As reported make wet Curtis, W.D. Muhammad “called be glad about the development of an Person American school of fiqh.” (Curtis, 2002).

In the Muslim Archives on May 6, 1994, be thinking about article by Imam Vernon Set. Fareed entitled “Conference on Integrity in Islamic Thought in America” mentions the establishment of a-okay new madhhab (Hilal, n.). Magnanimity topic was to be too discussed at a conference make real Ohio. In his final examine, W.D.

Muhammad clarified his clothing on following a madhhab.

It’s in that, as I understand, the madhabs are geographically influenced. We safekeeping in totally different geography require America. And I don’t judge we should adhere to stability madhabsbecause those were influenced tough their location, and they wish for different based on their location—the Shafi school, the Maliki faculty in North Africa, and blue blood the gentry Wahhabi one in Saudi Peninsula.

Regions are supposed to bring out these madhabs. I think, awe are gradually getting a thought of madhabs in America, optional extra those like me. We blow away getting a sense of madhabs. And with the coming date, I think that we last wishes be getting a much sticky sense of it. It recapitulate coming more and more.

(W.D. Muhammad, 2008)

Nevertheless, the development lecture an “American madhhab” and class “fiqh of Imam Muhammad” has been mentioned by members cue his association on several occasions. Following W.D. Muhammad’s death, loftiness use of the terminology fiqh and madhhab was frequently invoked by journalists in the Islamic Journal.

We argue that coronet followers may utilize the terms’ linguistic meaning rather than high-mindedness juristic meaning. For example, decency “fiqh of Imam Muhammad” stare at mean “the understanding of Reverend Muhammad.” And likewise, “the madhhab of Imam Muhammad” seems trial indicate “the social philosophy prepare Imam Muhammad.” The technical clarification would require exertion, which authority layperson often misunderstands.

More recently, additional scholars have discussed the expansion of fiqh for minorities (fiqh al-Aqalliyyat).

They argue that significance old religious rulings (fatawa) foreign from an eastern context shape not applicable in North Land. Also, contemporary Muslims are confront issues that never existed before; thus, new solutions are requisite to solve these new issues. Taha Jabir Al-Alwani postulates,

Fiqhfor minorities is a specific discipline delay considers the relationship between nobleness religious ruling, the community attachment, and the location where manifestation exists.

Fiqh applies to trim specific group of people existence under particular conditions with conjuring needs that may not cast doubt on appropriate for other communities. Also religious knowledge, practitioners of that fiqh will need a supplement acquaintance with several social sciences disciplines, especially sociology, economics, state science, and international relations.

(Al Alwani, 2004).

He was a neat mujtahid familiar with the welfare and benefits intended by Islamic law. In essence, the ecclesiastical way-to help develops and governs his community resourcefully and favourably. He was very concerned fear their overall well-being and relations, both in this mundane cosmos and the hereafter.

Imam W.D. Muhammad, to a great compass, understood the objectives of deific law and possessed the vital knowledge of ijtihad. It helps him to rightly understand tell off contextualize the legal texts, rectitude Qur’an and the Sunnah. Reward ijtihad further helped him turn up at sound and practical lyrics and brought benefits to rank African American Muslim community.

Sure enough, W.D. Muhammad’s objective was give an inkling of develop a model community, singularly for African American Muslims life in America. His example jar be utilized to further nobility discussion of fiqh for minorities.

Our Understanding of Ijtihad and Consensus

The notion of ijtihad as on the rocks means of deducing Islamic rulings, the qualifications of the child who practices it, and high-mindedness consensus of past Muslim jurists “ijma” have been contentious subjects throughout the history of Muslims for many centuries.

Many gone Muslim jurists and some latest Muslim scholars have believed lose concentration the door of ijtihad was closed. Thus, it is about inconceivable for a new subject to become a mujtahid. Likewise, many scholars have maintained put off the consensus of early generations is binding to the generations to come. This notion, tag on our view, is a with the sole purpose fictional imagination of their mind. 

We maintain that old ijtihad, biblical interpretations, and consensus are clumsy longer suitable to provide great with needed and practical back talks to the encounters we features today.

We must do shoot your mouth off we can to challenge view deal with the plague rule stagnation in our minds. Guess the Quran is the Paperback of all times. In go off case, it means that phenomenon, the Muslims living in representation West, must adapt and expand in our understanding of rank Quran in light of contemporaneous circumstances, as we alluded dump the issues of ijtihad captain consensus have been disputable come to rest continue to be so amongst contemporary Muslim scholars and thinkers.

Historically, we can pinpoint invalid back to the common era’s eighth century. From a reliable point of view, we relevance that the consensus of Monotheism jurists is applied to excellence legal rulings stated in interpretation Qur’an or the teaching for the Prophet. In some cases, the Quranic texts and authority Sunna are not clearly word-of-mouth accepted, or there is no remark of it in either class Quran or the Sunna.

Surprise are well aware that authority consensus under discussion occurred tail the Prophet’s demise. 

We are not quite the first to question decency binding validity of ijtihad cranium the consensus of past generations of Muslim jurists. Many prematurely twentieth and twenty-first-century Muslim Quranic commentators, jurists, legal theorists, presentday thinkers raised questions regarding grandeur validity of the consensus complete past jurists.

In twentieth-century, surprise have scholars such as Rashid Rida, Muhammad Abduh, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Ibn Ashur, Abdullah Ibn Bayah, Ahmad El-Khamlichi, al-Qaradawi, Fazlur Rahman, and others. Some infer those mentioned of twentieth-century because still living today, such likewise Abdullah Ibn Bayah, Ahmad El-Khamlichi, al-Qaradawi, Ali Guma, Abdul Wahid Wajeeh, Abdul Hakim Sherman President, the late Sulayman Nyang, Mohammad Hashim Kamali, and many balance, have suggested and advocated care for new ijtihad, practical for resolve our current problems.

Many scholars have criticized the notion strain maintaining the status quo near past ijtihad and, more unexceptional, ijma. Abdullah Ibn Bayah, Ahmad al-Khamlichi, Wael Hallaq, and distinct others considered past ijma obsolete. Consequently, they have vehemently labelled for overhauling this old-fashioned statutory foundation (Hallaq, 1984).

Furthermore, we defend that the elected body signify Muslim councils, jurists, and thinkers in modern times must incorporate variegated male and female scholars from other fields other ahead of Islamic scholarship to deal tackle everyday challenges and bring idealistic and social changes within integrity Muslim community.

As stated exceed al-Khamlīshī, even though we remnant it back to the 8th century C.E., this consensus could not be generalized as small underpinning of law binding terminate all Muslims past and story, wherever they may be (al-Khamlishi, 1988).  We agree with al-Khamlishi, who believes that past rulings deduced by consensus may band be valid and applicable adoration Muslim living in America, Continent, and elsewhere.

The consensus comprehend those scholars is viewed by reason of their independent reasoning; therefore, they are subject to challenge, better, and disregard. 

Conclusion

In summary, we accept that W.D. Muhammad did distant meet the rigid traditional of mujtahid put forth uninviting early Muslim jurists.

In their view, he was none allround the three classifications of deft mujtahid, which include: mujtahid mutlaq, a mujtahid within a madhhab, and a mujtahid in cool particular issue. He was exceptional man of different times roost places, and the early specification standards were unfit and antique to be used as uncluttered qualifying scale.

We also bicker that the rigorous medieval lex scripta \'statute law\' of nearly a millennium slyly need to be critically pledged for contemporary scholars to mildew standards compatible with modernity. Too the three classifications of top-hole mujtahid, we advocate for additional categories for individuals in situations similar to W.D.

Muhammad should be considered. This classification receptacle be termed a “default mujtahid.” 

This would apply to Imams mess up similar circumstances, such as plug a land lacking traditional Islamic scholars and institutions of enhanced learning. Things are now distinguishable in the United States; surprise have few learning Islamic institutes such as Zaytuna College, Bayan Islamic College, Mishkah Islamic Code of practice, and many other reputable Earth Universities producing modern Muslim learners and thinkers.

This Imammust rectify loved and trusted by wreath community. Therefore, this person could exercise a “restricted or genuine ijtihad” regarding those in diadem following. Otherwise, he could inimitable be considered an Imam in other social circles. Such span classification would be crucial assistance those with a community look into special needs similar to dignity community of W.D.

Muhammad. That way, the community is sheltered from importing a foreign version that could do more subconscious and spiritual damage than good.

Furthermore, we will also mention spruce few practical lessons for original Muslim communities living in ethics West. First, W.D. Muhammad was one of the pioneer selected of interfaith dialogue before benefit was popularized due to excellence tragic events of 9/11.

So, Muslims must continue building alliances with other faith groups indigent compromising Islamic principles. These alliances must go beyond dialogue coupled with move towards project-based initiatives benefiting the communities. Second, W.D. Muhammad taught a message of Expression. Participation in America for entire lot good becomes necessary for those who choose to settle restore America.

The unfortunate unraveling commemorate communities that elected to dissociate themselves often resulted in green and socially deficient community members; a failure to build institutions; and an overall inability familiar with affect the status quo do paperwork society. 

As communities move into magnanimity future, they must consider borough engagement and training individuals who can represent the Muslim grouping in various American social spheres, including the political sector.

Grandeur Muslim community, both the newcomer and indigenous, can learn exaggerate his attempts to balance wreath social philosophy of Americanism move his message of black particularism. Immigrants settling in America flight other nations must realize lose one\'s train of thought maintaining a connection to say publicly culture from whence one came is not against Islam reorganization long as it does arrange hinder growth and integration splotch the host county.

At greatness same time, Muslims who unwanted items indigenous to America do crowd together have to adopt another humanity to be considered authentic Muslims. W.D. Muhammad showed that Religion doesn’t call for one determination abandon their cultural identity.

As amazement alluded, W.D. Muhammad was slight independent thinker, Imam, and mujtahid whose intellectual competence and craft cannot be underestimated or disabled.

His refusal to be henpecked to foreign influences and acceptable a blind follower of shipshape and bristol fashion particular school of thought blight be considered praiseworthy. Lastly, incredulity agree with Curtis, who propounds, “Imam Muhammad’s dynamic style disrespect interpretation could very well net such approaches to problems yet facing the contemporary African Land Muslim community” (Curtis, 2002).

Get to take it even further, phenomenon will say that his birthright is a necessary study financial assistance those looking to lead absurd Muslim community in the Western, regardless of race and ethnicity.

• Dr. Mustapha Kulungu is prestige Principal Researcher at the Flay Foundation Institute of Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Author Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California.
• Dr.

  Jihad Saafir has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic studies, swell Master’s Degree in Islamic edge, and a Ph.D. in everyday theology from the Claremont Kindergarten of Theology.

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