AN EXAMINATION OF THE MAJOR MADHHABS: A CASE FOR REUNIFICATION
Keywords:
madhhab reunification, madhhab dogmatism, minor madhhab, major madhhab, fanatism, sectionalism, sectarianism, difference in madhhabs, useful policy prescriptionAbstract
Madhhab dogmatism is now the order of the day with ‘ordinary’ Muslims and scholars sticking to the rulings of one madhhab. Though, this development seems normal, it is a threat to the Ummah. This manifestation has produced factionalism, sectarianism and even fanatism. This is a precarious situation as it impedes further developmental exploits as well as breeds knowledge decline. This write-up advocates a re-unification of the madhhabs. Specifically, the study has as its objectives the following; mainly to propose a re-unification of the madhhabs, to demonstrate the probable reasons why there are differences in rulings between the madhhabs, point out the disparity between the legacy of the Imams and happenings amongst the Muslims and to proffer some theoretical panacea to achieve the cohesion of the madhhabs. As a result, the qualitative cum phenomenological approach is accordingly used in the study owing to the questions as well objectives sought to be achieved, which is an enquiry into the problems of rigidity in madhhab adoption and the need to achieve a decisive unification solution to such problem. Adopting a diachronic strategy whilst adhering to sound scriptural reasoning, the author concisely looks at the madhhabs and issues surrounding its existence and concludes that the form of reunification sort at the moment existed at the messenger (PBUH) up to the point of the illustrious companions where convergence on an Islamic ruling was effortlessly achieved by presenting superior arguments in the face of sound primary source of Islamic law such as an authentic prophetic statement or tradition.
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