Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal & Tawassul — Yasir Qadhi’s Arrogance.

IMAM AHMAD IBN HANBAL ALLOWS TAWASSUL THROUGH THE PROPHET (PBUH)

The following is evidence of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s approval of tawassul through our beloved Prophet (peace & blessings upon him):
“Imam Ahmad made tawassul through the Prophet a part of every du`a according to the following report: `Ala’ al-Din al-Mardawi said in his book al-Insaf fi ma`rifat al-rajih min al-khilaf `ala madhhab al-Imam al-mubajjal Ahmad ibn Hanbal (3:456): “The correct position of the [Hanbali] madhhab is that it is permissible in one’s supplication (du`a) to use as one’s means a pious person, and it is said that it is desirable (mustahabb). Imam Ahmad said to Abu Bakr al-Marwazi:

“yatawassalu bi al-nabi fi du`a’ih”
(“Let him use the Prophet as a means in his supplication to Allah.”)

The same report is found in Imam Ahmad’s Manasik as narrated by his student Abu Bakr al-Marwazi. Similarly the lengthy wording of the tawassul according to the Hanbali madhhab as established by the hafiz Ibn `Aqil in his Tadhkira was cited fully by Imam Kawthari in his appendix to Shaykh al-Islam Taqi al-Din al-Subki’s al-Sayf al-saqil included in Kawthari’s edition of the latter.”
(Source: http://www.sunnah.org/publication/encyclopedia/html/tawassul.htm)

YASIR QADHI DISMISSES THE SALAF-US-SALIH

Regarding Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s permissibility of doing tawassul through Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings upon him), Yasir Qadhi said:

“As for the statement attributed to Imam Ahmad, yes some Hanbali books state this. Personally, I haven’t come across the isnaad of this narration (I’m not saying its not authentic, I’m saying I haven’t found it yet), and for such delicate issues I would like to be fully certain before unequivocally attributing such an opinion to Imam Ahmad. Regardless, even if he did allow it, this would be an opinion that we would respect (from him and others), but not necessarily follow.”

(Source: http://forums2.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=11291&page=4&pp=10&highlight=Ammar)

The above quote by Yasir Qadhi must not be underestimated. This is explicit evidence from Yasir Qadhi (and by extension al-Maghrib Institute) that he is willing to NOT follow the pious adherents of the Salaf-us-Salih if their views do not conform to the Wahhabi-Salafi perspective.
In this case, Yasir Qadhi is willing to reject the opinion of a mujtahid mutlaq Imam — the founder of the Hanbali madhab — who  clearly allowed tawassul through Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings upon him), as clearly illustrated in the evidence above.
This means that Yasir Qadhi’s measure of approval for opinions of the  Salaf-us-Salih depends on whether they agree with his own opinions or not. If they don’t, Yasir Qadhi conveniently dismisses them. Is this the approach of a genuine orthodox Sunni? Obviously not. The Salaf-us-Salih is only useful to Yasir Qadhi inasmuch as they agree with him — that’s it.
Yasir Qadhi has reversed the matter to mean that the Salaf-us-Salih should follow him instead. This makes Yasir Qadhi a dangerous and arrogant innovater who uses the name of the Salaf us-Salih only to promote his Wahhabi agenda and unorthodox interpretations. This is while knowing well that the Salaf-us-Salih are the ‘best of Muslims’ who we should try our best to emulate. They are our role models. They possess more knowledge than us. We should be humble and follow their understanding of Islam that was deeply rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Our beloved Prophet (peace & blessings upon him) said:

“The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”

(Source: Bukhari and Muslim)

In spite of the Prophet (peace & blessings upon him) specifying the high status of the Salaf-us-Salih, Yasir Qadhi conveniently dismisses them when they differ from his Wahhabi perspective.  Yasir Qadhi should fear Allah and repent for his arrogance.

YASIR QADHI SAYS TAWASSUL IS “INNOVATION”

As if this was not enough, Yasir Qadhi proclaimed his view of tawassul in complete contradiction to the ijtihad of our beloved mujtahid mutlaq Imam, Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Yasir Qadhi said:

“The issue of asking Allah ‘…by the rank/status/body/honor of the Prophet.’ This is an innovation.”
(Source: http://forums2.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=11291&page=4&pp=10&highlight=Ammar)

Does Yasir Qadhi know that Imam Ahmad memorized one million ahadeeth, including all the chains of narration and status of those narrators? What authority does Yasir Qadhi have to reject Imam Ahmad’s ijtihad on the matter when Yasir is clearly not at the rank of being a mujtahid mutlaq? Does Yasir expect us to reject Imam Ahmad’s approval of tawassul through the Prophet (peace & blessings upon him) and embrace his (Yasir’s) opposition to tawassul when Yasir’s understanding is NOT rooted in the Salaf-us-Salih, nor in agreement with what the Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali madhahib said about the matter?

IMAM AHMAD APPROVES OF TABARRUK

Imam Ahmad even said that the minbar can be used for tabarruk:
“Imam Ahmad’s son `Abd Allah said: I asked my father about the man who touches and kisses the pommel of the Prophet’s minbar to obtain blessing, or touches the grave of the Prophet. [Imam Ahmed] responded by saying:

“There is nothing wrong with it.”

“`Abd Allah also asked Imam Ahmad about the man who touches the Prophet’s minbar and kisses it for blessing, and who does the same with the grave, or something to that effect, intending thereby to draw closer to Allah. [Imam Ahmad] replied:

“There is nothing wrong with it.”

This was narrated by `Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his book entitled al-`Ilal fi ma`rifat al-rijal (2:492).
(Source: http://www.sunnah.org/publication/encyclopedia/html/tawassul.htm)
Will Yasir Qadhi dismiss this evidence too? How much evidence will he dismiss to uphold his Wahhabi credentials?

YASIR QADHI CONTRADICTS AL-ALBANI’S FINDING ON TAWASSUL THROUGH THE PROPHET (PBUH)

It is interesting to note that even the late Wahhabi Naseeruddin al-Albani contradicted Yasir Qadhi when he confirmed that Imam Ahmad allowed tawassul through the Prophet (peace & blessings upon him). It seems like Yasir Qadhi thinks he knows more than all teachers of hadeeth  – even if the hadeeth “teacher” is a Wahhabi! Al-Albani said:

“Imaam Ahmad allowed tawassul by means of the Messenger alone, and others such as Imaam ash-Shawkaanee allowed tawassul by means of him and other Prophets and the Pious.”

(Source: al-Albani, At-Tawassul, p. 38)

Allah Protect us and our children from such misguided “scholars” who lead themselves and those who follow them astray. Aaameen!


http://sunni1.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/imam-ahmad-ibn-hanbal-tawassul-yasir-qadhis-arrogance/