Quote:
Originally Posted by PRB
An honest point....there is no one spokesman/religious school of thought that defines 'true' Islam there are many.
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Yes and no. Here's where the concept of
"SCHOLARLY CONSENSUS (IMJA')" becomes extremely important*
There are four elements to Scholarly Consensus:
1. a number of
mujtahids (qualified islamic scholars) exist at a particular time
2. all
mujtahids agree on the ruling.
3. each
mujtahid present his opinion in an explicit manner by giving a legal decision in a case concerning it.
4. all
mujtahids agree on the ruling.
When they all agree, the ruling becomes an
"AUTHORITATIVE part of Sacred law that is obligatory to obey and not lawful to disobey.
Nor can mujtahids of a succeeding era ...contravene or annul it."
The point is, when you hear UBL or other say "There is no disagreement..." or "There is concensus..." or "The Scholars agree..."
YOU now know that they are in effect saying:
"THIS IS THE LAW. THOSE WHO FAIL TO FOLLOW IT HAVE:
'slipped off the path of guidance and this will lead him to hell.'"
(Reliance of the Traveller, section b7.5)
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* Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law, Pages 23-26 (section b7.0 thru b7.6)