Issues of Ijtihad

INSIGHT BORN OF FAITH When the Prophet of Islam reached that point, he asked his companions what its name was. They replied that it was called Azzaiqa, meaning the “narrow path.” The Prophet said: No it is rather a broad path. (Sirah ibn Hisham, Vol. 2, p. 282) On this journey the Prophet was accompanied by ten thousand of his companions. If they had attempted to go along this path walking several abreast, it would certainly have been difficult to do so, due to its narrowness. But because they went along it in single file, despite its being narrow, it was easy to do so. It was this practical wisdom, which the Prophet pointed to in his reply. We find an important secret of life in this incident: the necessity to adapt our strategy to the circumstances. This practice relates to all matters in life. By our being adaptable all life’s difficulties maybe resolved. Strategic Retreat During the life of the Prophet, in 8 A.H. the battle of Muta took place on the border of Syria, which at that time was under Byzantine rule. The Muslim army, totalling only three thousand, was greatly outnumbered by the enemy forces. Many commanders from the Muslim side fell in the battle. In the last stage Khalid bin Walid, having great military experience, reorganized the Muslim ranks in such a way as to give the impression that massive reinforcements