Day 8, I Disagree.

A week of my Fatwa class has passed. Various topics on Mufti, Music, Dance, Trance, Drugs, Coffee, Tobacco, Marriage, Love and Sexuality have been covered quite thoroughly. Fatwa from the ancient and modern was presented to us to be reviewed, analyzed and discussed, not only those made by our Arab Muslim scholars but of those from Turkey during the Ottoman Empire as well.

After each fatwa or images of Islamic art that symbolizes the community during a specific era was shown, our professor would either share his views and thoughts on it first, or he would ask our views and responses. More than often, the class would have something to comment on, whether they disagree with any of the statement shown, or have an opinion on the topic discussed. Being new to the academic environment as such, unlike the traditional way since the twelve years of local Madrasah education and another four at the prestigious Al-Azhar, where one would usually sits and listens to the lecturer without criticizing their delivery except to raise some questions, can be quite uncomfortable.

The class would rise up their hand to disagree on the statement made even if it is from an all time infamous scholars, like Ibn Taimiyah, Ali Gomoa, Yusuf Qardawi or the four sunni schools of thought, and would rather have their own opinion. It is not easy to do that. To criticize our scholars, whom we regard them to have abundance of knowledge, who memorize the Holy Quran, thousands of prophetic traditions, not forgetting history and views of the companions and other scholars of their time. Who are we to criticize them, with such minimal knowledge to challenge their views? Well at least that is what I feel, and I do not think that I am alone.

But to make it clear, I am not saying that is wrong, I do feel that it is necessary to a certain extend. But to change the way things are, is not that simple. I think it is really time to open up the book that I have wanted to read for so long, on how to think critically. Wallahualam.