By Mawlana Moosa Kajee
Muftī Muhammad Taqī Uthmānī (Allah protect him) has written regarding his journey to Baghdad, “Baghdad is that city which for centuries had been at the centre of the Islāmic world. The mere sight of this city reminds one of the glorious days of the Abbāsī khilāfah. Upon reaching Baghdad I enquired whether there were any madāris present in which Islāmic knowledge is imparted in accordance with the ways of the pious predecessors. I was informed that all such madāris had now been converted into schools and universities. Now, the knowledge of dīn can only be attained from university faculties, such places wherein Islām is taught as mere theory, similar to ancient philosophy (falsafah). Islām cannot be seen in the lives of the students, nor in the ustādhs. Forget being religious scholars, on seeing their appearance, one wonders if they are even Muslim. This is just like how orientalists study Islām today, in the universities of America, Canada and Europe. If you read their books and articles you will come across the names of such books which many of our ‘ulama have never even heard about. It seems as if deep research (tahqīq) is being made. But alas! In spite of swimming in the ocean of Islāmic knowledge from morning to evening they return dry as a bone. No effect of what they so rigorously study can be seen in their lives. The soul of this knowledge has been destroyed.”
Regarding Imam Abu Hanifah’s allegedly having studied under Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, please be informed as follows:
