as-salaamu ‘alaikum Bubbles. Indeed, this is what I thought I implied by citing Abu Hanifa (ra) and Hanafi scholar, Shaykh Ahmad al-Farooqi Sirhindi (ks) also known as Imam Rabbani when you wrote,

“I understood it as an exhortation from the Iman to his followers…”

Bubbles and omyma if I was unclear about the nature of my position concerning the text, please accept my humblest regrets. And now that we have established some common ground, it seems to me what we should be looking into is whether or not other madhahib are saying the same as Abu Hanifa (ra)? For example, on this issue in particular, concerning the eight branches of Tradition Islamic Sciences, Al-’Ulum an-Naqliyya, what are Imam Malik (ra); Imam Shafi’i (ra) and Imam Hanbal (ra) saying of tasawwuf and the conditions (ahkam) for study (fard, wajib, mustahabb, etc.)?

Bubbles you are correct, what Abu Hanifa (ra) said of tasawwuf may not necessarily be “taken to apply by all Muslims”. However, the conditions (ahkam) placed on the study of tasawwuf with respect to the madhahib is relevant to all Sunni Muslims and worth investigating. Because whether one is Sufi or Salafi (Salafis follow a madhhab), the four madhahib are still relevant and the preferred method for “correct guidance” according to the majority of Islamic Scholars. That is unless you are rejecting the madhahib and taking on the course of those against the traditional schools of Islamic thought, al-La Madhhabiyya.

-Saifuddin

Even in the famous hadith ‘to seek Knowledge all the way to China’ it didn’t say it was a sin not to seek a particular knowledge.

but if it means that one must delve into various sects and become a part of a sufi path and follow a particular leader or “father”, for example, then this is definitely not what Allah asked us to do

wa ‘alaikum as-salaam Yursil, you wrote:

“One should dwell on this part: “as much as necessary”.”

MashaAllah, thank you for that wise instruction.

-Saifuddin

There is a lot of subtlety being missed in reading this passage.

One should dwell on this part: “as much as necessary”.

And even further, we should apply that to what we are discussing here now that the topic is become “who is a Muslim…”

The Imam was not speaking of that divisive topic, rather the quote seems to speaking to the sinfulness of trying to escape from necessary knowledge.

And this is a state which sometimes too much discussion and not enough wisdom tends to promote, so I’ll keep quiet now!

-Yursil

wa ‘alaikum as-salaam khudija.

“but i cant agree with u that a person who is not ahl-e-sunnat is not muslim.”

I’m not saying, so you are disagreeing with the author of the text I’m citing, which happens to be Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) and Imam Rabbani (ks).

-Saifuddin

wa ‘alaikum as-salaam. Welcome omyma, clearly you are not understanding many things of this tradition and the beautiful Sunnat of our beloved master Sayyidina Maulana Muhammad (may Peace and Bessings be upon him). So I will ask you this one question and you should answer because it does have serious consequences.

Is Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) wrong?

In these days we are finding that any and everyone has the freedom to speak. And because of our disconnection with our tradition we, Muslims, are not seeking permission to speak. As a result we Muslims are often misspeaking.

tawba astaghfirullah ya rabbi. May You allow us to be of the sincere one’s. May You guide the sincere one’s to siratul mustaqim. And may the sincere one’s hold tightly onto that Rope. amin.

Allah hafiz

-Saifuddin

Thank you for thinking, seeking.
Alsalamu alaykum.

Ma Salam.

The Ulema can differ within a certain Madhab. For example, most Hanafi Scholars are of the opinion that folding the trousers whilst offering Salah is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi, but I have also heard a few who say that it is only Makrooh-e-Tanzeem (can’t remember the exact spelling). A modern day example would be the watch. Imam Ahmed Raza Khan Breilly (Rahmathullahi Alay), who was a great Hanafi Scholar of the Sub-continent, was of the opinion that it is not permissible to wear a watch with metal strapping, but there are many Scholars who believe that it is permissible.