Criticism and Difference of Opinion

Criticism and Difference of Opinion

1991 5-6 May-June 21 Criticism and Difference of Opinion (333) Ibn Qayyim was born in Damascus in 691 AH and died in 751 AH. He writes in one of his well-known books; Elam al Muwaqqieen that there were differences of opinion in one hundred religious matters between Umar Faruq and Abdullah ibn Masood. Mentioning many such differences between the companions of the Prophet, he writes: “And no one ever objected to such differences. All of them regarded this as something natural. Such differences neither strained their relationships nor caused any friction in the-Muslim Ummah.”

This was the state of Islam which prevailed in the times of the Prophet’s companions – a time known as the exemplary period of Islamic history. In those days every Muslim felt free to differ from others and this difference of opinion was often expressed in harsh words. Even so, it never happened that anyone was urged to withhold his criticism. Nor, for that matter, was such criticism treated as something displeasing.

On the other hand, when we look at the Muslims of today, we find a completely different state of affairs. If, today, a Muslim figure is criticised, all his followers are instantly up in arms. They are not ready to bear with the critic. What is the reason for the state of affairs to have been so different during these two periods?

The reason is that the companions of the Prophet had attributed all greatness to the one and only God. Besides Him, all human beings were treated on an equal footing. As such, criticising one of them did not make any difference. On the other hand, the Muslims of the present day have associated greatness with human beings alongside God. These human beings are called ‘akabirs’, that is, the greats. That is the reason for our contemporaries becoming provoked by criticism directed at their favorite personalities.

The companions of the Prophet are the standard. If Muslims uphold someone else as the standard, it is undoubtedly an innovation (bid‘ah) in religion, and innovation is not acceptable in Islam.