PSEUDO-SALAFIS PROBLEM WITH THE TITLE AL-IMAM AL-AZAM (THE GREATEST IMAM) You might have heard a Pseudo-Salafi remarking, Akhi, dont say al-Imam al-Azam. It is only befitting to say this for the Prophet ﷺ because he is the greatest Imam. Sometimes I wonder if maybe even the word ignorance is insufficient in explaining the reality of these ignoramuses. This objection is utterly absurd and void for several reasons: - When we say al-Imam al-Azam, we are not, in any way, comparing him with the Prophet ﷺ. We could never even imagine doing such a thing! Rather, when the title al-Imam al-Azam is used, we are referring to the group of Jurists and Fuquha, amongst whom is Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alaih (AKA: al-Imam al-Azam); - This can be further understood with the example of Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu taala anh), who is known as al-Siddiq al-Akbar (the greatest truthful one), and this title has been used for him by many scholars of this Ummah. Here are a few examples of those who have used the title al-Siddiq al-Akbar for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radhiyallahu taala anh: 1) Imam al-Bukhari (rahmatullahi alaih) in his al-Tarikh al-Kabir (volume 4, page 23); 2) Imam al-Tabari (rahmatullahi alaih) in his Tarikh (volume 2, page 310); 3) Imam ibn Kathir (rahmatullahi alaih) in his Tafsir, Surah al-Tawbah (verse 100); 4) Imam al-Qurtubi (rahmatullahi alaih) in his Tafsir, Surah ali Imran (verse 144); 5) Hafiz ibn al-Qayyim (rahmatullahi alaih) in his Madarij al-Salikin (volume 1, page 491), as well as in his other works; 6) Hafiz ibn Taymiyya (rahmatullahi alaih) in his Dar Taarudh al-Aql wa al-Naql (volume 8, page 511), and also several places in his Majmu al-Fatawa and Minhaj al-Sunna al-Nabwiyya. Similarly, the title al-Faruq al-Azam has been used for Umar (radhiallahu taala anh) by the scholars of this Ummah. The famous Ahle Hadith scholar, Shaykh Ihsan Ilahi Zahir (rahmatullahi alaih) has used this title numerous times in his book al-Shia wa Ahl al-Bait. Now, will any numpty pseudo-salafi kindly turn their criticisms towards these scholars (in their special tone of voice) - especially those scholars who they admire and do blind Taqlid of. Why have they used these titles? Isnt the *GREATEST* Siddiq or Faruq the Prophet ﷺ? Of course, when these titles are used, we are referring to the Sahaba, and though all of the Sahaba were truthful, this title is an extra special quality of Abu Bakr (radhiallahu taala anh) and his exclusive title. We are NOT comparing him with the Prophet ﷺ. In the same way, when we say al-Imam al-Azam, we are talking about the Fuquha, though they were all great; this is an exclusive title for Imam Abu Hanifah, and we are NOT comparing him with the Prophet ﷺ. In addition to this, why is it so difficult for these numpties to digest this, when we have great scholars of this Ummah calling him al-Imam al-Azam? Here are a few examples of NON-HANAFI scholars who have referred to Imam Abu Hanifah as al-Imam al-Azam, and acknowledged this the use of such a title for him: 1) Imam al-Dhahabi (rahmatullahi alaih), Tazkirah al-Huffaz (volume 1, page 126); 2) Imam al-Samani al-Shafii (rahmatullahi alaih), Kitab al-Ansab (volume 3, page 97); 3) Imam ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali (rahmatullahi alaih), Shazarat al-Zahab fi Akhbar Man Zahab (volume 3, page 250); 4) Imam Abd al-Wahhab al-Sharani (rahmatullahi alaih), al-Mizan al-Kubra al-Sharaniyya (volume 1, page 85); 5) Imam ibn al-Athir al-Jazari (rahmatullahi alaih), al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh (volume 5, page 595); 6) Imam Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Dimishqi al-Shafii (rahmatullahi alaih) has included AL-IMAM AL-AZAM in the title of his book on Imam Abu Hanifa. The name of the book is: عقود الجمان في مناقب الإمام الأعظم أبي حنيفة النعمان 7) Imam ibn Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki al-Shafii (rahmatullahi alaih) has included AL-IMAM AL-AZAM in the title of his book on Imam Abu Hanifa. The name of the book is: الخيرات الحسان في مناقب الامام الأعظم أبي حنيفة النعمان Even the Ahle Hadith/Salafi scholars of the subcontinent have accepted this title for Imam Abu Hanifa: - Mawlana Nawab Siddiq Hasan Khan, in his al-Hitta fi Zikr al-Siha al-Sitta; - Mawlana Nazir Hussain al-Dehlawi, in his Fatawa Naziriyyah; - Mawlana Abd al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, in his Tahqiq al-Kalam; And the list continues..... And a question for the pseudo-Salafis... If the title Al-Imam al-Azam is such a problem, why and how is it correct to say Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya? Is there any authority in Islam greater than the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam who should deserve such a title? And what about Imam al-Dawah Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab? Is there any Imam in dawah greater than Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, who has been referred to as: وداعيا إلى الله by Allah Himself? So how can this title be given to anyone besides him? May Allah save us from the fitna of the so-called Salafis, whove highjacked the great word Salaf, and are misleading the Ummah based on their false, deluded claims of following the Quran & Sunnah. Amin.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 08:23:53 +0000
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