Tabraze Azam

RABIʿ AL-AWWAL READINGS FOR FIQH STUDENTS One of the places where there is perhaps some tension between the later and more spiritually-expansive Hanafi tradition and that of the earlier and more spiritually-principled tradition is the usage of certain phrases in the context of supplication or otherwise, such as when praising the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). A work which seeks to defend the later and popular tradition is that of Shaykh Muhammad Bakhit al-Mutiʿi (d. 1935) titled, al-Darari al-bahiyya. It is focused on one issue, being a specific wording of conferring blessings (salawat), and he engages Shaykh Muhammad Amin Ibn ʿAbidin—who appears to lean or at least indicate the other way—throughout. Much to learn about flavours and approaches, may Allah Most High allow us to benefit, amin!

SHOPPING WITH THE FAQIH & THE QARI The partner who worked with Imam Abu Hanifa in his shop was none other than his co-student under the tutelage of Imam Asim, Imam Hafs b. Sulayman al-Bazzaz, transmitter of one of the canonical recitations of the Qurʾan. There are a number of humorous incidents where Hafs does something wrong and Abu Hanifa has to fix it. Fixing here means that he was sometimes erring on the side of intense scrupulousness, may Allah Most High be well-pleased with them both. On one occasion Hafs accidentally sells an item for well above its normal price and Abu Hanifa chases after the purchaser to give his money back. On another occasion he forgets to inform of a defect in the item and Abu Hanifa gives the entire payment received away in charity. I guess this is why Hanafis are very friendly with the recitation of Imam Hafs!

🖌قال يحيى بن أبي كثير ❇️: لَا يُسْتَطَاعُ العِلْمُ بِرَاحَةِ الجِسْمِ. #صحيح_مسلم [٦١٢] 📝

BETWEEN THE ZAHIR & NAWADIR: ALL RIWAYA IS ESSENTIAL In a comment recorded in al-Muhit al-Burhani, Shams al-Aʾimma al-Halwani (d. 448) expresses that Imam Muhammad was concise and somewhat ambiguous in the al-Asl, but it is clarified in the Nawadir. This is an important point because sometimes students can behave as though the latter type of literature is insignificant and unnecessary whereas, in reality, it is essential and provides many insights into what is found in zahir al-riwaya. This is also the reason why Abu ʿAli al-Shashi (d. 344) tested Abu Jaʿfar al-Hinduwani (d. 362) on those narrations in addition to the famous narrations from the Hanafi masters. May Allah Most High grant us deep understanding, amin!

محاضرة الشيخ د. #حمزة_البكري بعنوان: الماتريدية ورثة اعتقاد الحنفية رابط المحاضرة

UPCOMING SOLAR ECLIPSE For those unaware, a solar eclipse is expected this Wednesday evening.

THE PRAYER OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE Whenever there is an eclipse or any form of frightening event in the world, the sunna is to resort to prayer. Although the Hanafis deem communal prayer to be the prerogative of the imam who leads them for the Friday prayer, there is a position (riwaya) which allows every imam of a mosque to lead the prayer. The imam would lead the congregation in two lengthy units (rakʿats) of prayer, reciting quietly therein, and then lead them in supplication until the eclipse ends. Anybody who does not make it to a mosque may pray the prayer alone at home, and opting for four units (rakʿats) is superior to two. If the eclipse will occur in the late afternoon or evening, the eclipse prayer should take place before the ʿasr prayer whilst ensuring that sufficient time is left to pray it before sunset begins. If the ʿasr prayer has taken place, one would suffice with supplication for the duration of the eclipse and until sunset. May Allah Most High grant us tawfiq, amin.

[مطلب في الفقه خير من جميع العلوم] «قال أبو حنيفة رحمه الله: الفقه خير من جميع العلوم.» اهـ. مناقب الإمام أبي حنيفة للزرنجري (ت. ٥١٢ هـ) https://t.me/madrasahanafiyya

ON THE PATH OF ʿILM: ATTENDANCE AND DEDICATION In a recent interview, Dr Hamza al-Bakri shared how he missed only one and a half lessons over an eight-year period of study with his teacher, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama. One because of travel and half a lesson because his child was hospitalised. This is what it means to have the right adab in seeking knowledge and to truly appreciate the teacher, the lesson, the book, and the knowledge being imparted. There is no fast-track method of attaining sacred ʿilm; rather, the journey is slow and steady, and it takes patience and dedication. This is how scholars became scholars. As for attending here and there, whenever convenient, or skipping class because your auntie is in town, or because your ankle hurts, or because your cat died, then it shows one’s priorities are not in order. Sacrifice is part of the struggle. May Allah Most High grant us tawfiq, amin!

كان الحفاظ من علماء الحديث يلتزمون بالمذاهب الفقهية، حتى قال الإمام وكيع بن الجراح: «وهل يقدر أبو حنيفة أن يخطئ؟» من محاضرة الشيخ د. #بلال_البحر « الاجتهاد والتمذهب بين الدعوى والاعتقاد » #قضايا_أصولية_معاصرة

THE FIRST EUROPEAN HANAFI INTENSIVE (25-27 SEPTEMBER 2026) I’m pleased to be able to announce that the very first European Hanafi intensive will be taking place in the Netherlands next month, insha’Allah. Over three days [25-27 September], we will study a beautiful primer on creed, law, and ethics, authored by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Ghani b. Talib al-Maydani (d. 1298), student of the master-jurist, Imam Muhammad Amin Ibn ʿAbidin (d. 1252). The work is titled Isʿaf al-muridin, and it has a published English translation titled The Seeker’s Aid. The intensive is open to men and ladies, with segregated facilities for both, and the fee includes snacks, lunch, and dinner (where applicable), as well as the course text. International students are also most welcome. The confirmed location for the intensive is: De Blauwe Moskee, Amsterdam. Further details, registration, and a full schedule are now available at the link below. REGISTER: https://fiqh-intensive.com/

AL-TAHTAWI ON KEEPING THE CLOSE COMPANY OF A TEACHER In his collection of licenses, al-Sayyid Ahmad al-Tahtawi (d. 1231)–author of the marginalia on the Maraqi al-falah and al-Durr al-mukhtar–begins by mentioning that one cannot truly attain unto fiqh without keeping the close company of a teacher. He then he proceeds to mention one of his teachers, Muhammad al-Hariri (d. 1220), who was the one whom he would return to with difficult issues in the madhhab, and he is also the one who authorised him in teaching and issuing fatawa. He writes: “It also became incumbent upon them to remain constant in studying it and to hasten toward becoming familiar with it, so that each one may become an exemplar for the people of his own community, after first cleansing the stains of his own soul. Yet this cannot be achieved except by keeping the company of a teacher, who acquaints them with its subtleties and explains its marvels, just as he himself received it from his predecessors, and they from their predecessors.” (AI)

Sa‘īd al-Halabī's Ijāzah to his student Ibn ‘Abidīn

In recent days, a thesis was digitally released which contained a partial edit of Ibn Habib’s (d. 1005) commentary on the al-Ashbah wa al-Nazaʾir.

ON HAVING REAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH LIVING TEACHERS “This generation has been deprived of the blessing of taking from scholars and remaining closely in their company.“ «هذا الجيل حرم بركة الأخذ عن العلماء وملازمة العلماء» — الشيخ محمد وائل الحنبلي

THE WASIYYA OF IMAM ABU HANIFA TO YUSUF AL-SAMTI This reading of the Wasiyya of Imam Abu Hanifa to Yusuf al-Samti was covered during the final session at the recent Hanafi intensive in Leicester (UK), and it is a lesson which summarises the art of transmitting knowledge to people and the kind of heart which is required to do it properly. Alhamdulillah, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to reflect over these beautiful teachings once again, and those interested can now find a full explanation of each of the four transmitted wasaya on the Irshad YouTube channel. Watch here: https://youtu.be/ylCbu4hvsQ4

يقولون: تكلم حتى أراك! وأقول للطالب: اسأل حتى أراك! الأسئلة كاشفة عن عقل المتكلم كثيرًا.

الفتوى في الوثائق العثمانية .......................... هي نوع من أنواع الوثائق، تتكون من مسألة وجواب، ولها أركان كبقية الوثائق العثمانية، منها: الدعوة مثل: اللهم يا ملهم الحق والصواب نسألك العصمة في السؤال والجواب، والسؤال أي المسألة المراد معرفتها، ثم الجواب أي الرد على السؤال المقدم للمفتي، ويكون مختصرًا، مثل: يجوز، لا يجوز، الله أعلم. وتُستخدم أسماء معينة في الفتوى على لسان السائل وهي: زيد للرجل وهند للمرأة. وهذه فتوى طريقة مقدمة لشيخ الإسلام أبي السعود أفندي يسأله السائل قائلًا: السؤال: "إذا قال زيد لا أدخل الجنة التي تدخلها النساء! ما حكم الشرع في ذلك؟ الجواب: إذا لم يدخلها سيدخل جهنم! توقيع: أبو السعود

A NEW LEAF FOR MANKIND: AI BOOK “EXECUTIONS” To feed the machine, they have been guillotining [that’s beheading for books] books one after the other. A frightening sight for the bibliophile, and another reason to make your own home library before the system owns and controls all human knowledge, and then dictates to you when and how often you are allowed to access it. There is good in digitalisation (even if only from the perspective of preservation), of course, but there is also something to be concerned about. Experiences tend to be much better when one has the actual book in hand. Read more here: https://novaramedia.com/2026/07/29/ai-firms-are-buying-up-old-books-then-scanning-and-destroying-them/

https://www.openmadrasa.org/read/sadral-sharia