Shared Responsibility

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT examine them and choose accordingly.” (Jami‘ Bayan al-’Ilm wa Fadlihi: 1694) Abu Hanifah, the renowned Muslim scholar, expressed the same point in even clearer terms. He said, “One of the two opinions is wrong, and the sin for that error is forgiven.” (Jami‘ Bayan al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr: 1706) This answer is undoubtedly incorrect. Because if each of the differing views is attributed to a Companion, then we do not have the right to independently declare one view correct and the other wrong. In the case of differing opinions among the Companions, we are required to consider one view as correct—but drawing a distinction between them would mean going beyond our limits. If we examine this matter more closely, we find that religion consists of two parts: one part concerns fundamentals, and the other concerns branches and details. All the differences mentioned above relate to branches and details. As for the fundamentals, there is no disagreement. For example, all Muslims agree on the five daily prayers and the number of units in each. However, there are many issues, such as saying Ameen aloud or quietly, in which differences exist. If we look at this division in the light of the Quran, the matter becomes much easier to understand. The Quran states that all prophets were given the same al-din (42:13). Al-din refers to the core and essential teachings of religion. These fundamental teachings are eternal and were given equally to every prophet. There is no difference among them in this regard.