When scholars differ on an issue, each with their evidence, and we are unable to prefer one opinion over the others, what should we do?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Shaykh, what do we do in such matters where we find a great deal of disagreement among the scholars, and we trust all of these scholars and their religion, yet we are unable to determine which of them holds the truth, each having their own evidence? Do we consult our own souls and hearts in accordance with the hadith , or what do we do? And does this apply to these moral matters, no, excuse me, the issue of gold and others?
The Shaykh : The answer is that this issue is not the first one in which scholars have differed, in the past or the present. If this question had arisen from the general Muslim community who have not been guided by the Book of Allah or the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but rather lived by what they found their fathers and grandfathers doing, or each lived by the school of jurisprudence in which they were raised, then the words of Allah the Exalted and the words of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not be a consideration for such a group. If this question had come from such people, it would not be strange. But I believe I am in a Salafi community, this Salafi community that has transcended the ignorance that has settled upon the hearts of the masses of Muslims, which is blind following. The Salafis always seek what Allah said and what the Messenger of Allah said. So when the questioner, or questioner, asks, "What do we do? We are confused," we say, "You are confused because you did not think about the evidence of those who differ. Otherwise, what is the meaning of the words of the Lord of the Worlds:[An-Nisa 4:59]? The meaning of this verse and others is that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has obligated upon His servants what they are not able to do when He asked them to return to the Book of Allah and the hadith of the Messenger of Allah in cases of disagreement and dispute. So I say with complete frankness that the questioner and others are in doubt about their matter because they have not studied the evidence presented in this specific case. However, I have given an example: those who say that gold is permissible absolutely do not act upon these hadiths; rather, they nullify them completely. The one who permits gold based on the hadiths of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is only permitting it generally, saying: Sunan Ibn Majah 3595Sahih (Darussalam).
He permitted gold for women generally. Did a specification enter into it or not? This is where jurisprudence lies, and this is where every Muslim man and woman must pause for a moment.
Consult your heart, even if people give you fatwas, even if they give you fatwas.
استفت قلبك ولو أفتوك الناس ولو أفتوكThe Shaykh : The answer is that this issue is not the first one in which scholars have differed, in the past or the present. If this question had arisen from the general Muslim community who have not been guided by the Book of Allah or the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but rather lived by what they found their fathers and grandfathers doing, or each lived by the school of jurisprudence in which they were raised, then the words of Allah the Exalted and the words of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not be a consideration for such a group. If this question had come from such people, it would not be strange. But I believe I am in a Salafi community, this Salafi community that has transcended the ignorance that has settled upon the hearts of the masses of Muslims, which is blind following. The Salafis always seek what Allah said and what the Messenger of Allah said. So when the questioner, or questioner, asks, "What do we do? We are confused," we say, "You are confused because you did not think about the evidence of those who differ. Otherwise, what is the meaning of the words of the Lord of the Worlds:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فإن تنازعتم في شيء فردوه إلى الله والرسول إن كنتم تؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر ذلك خير وأحسن تأويلاThese two are forbidden for the males of my nation, and permitted to the females.
هذان حرام على ذكور أمتي حل لإناثHe permitted gold for women generally. Did a specification enter into it or not? This is where jurisprudence lies, and this is where every Muslim man and woman must pause for a moment.