Question:
Assalamualaykum Shaykh Gibril,
The Deobandis have recently wrote answers in English to several of the accusations of error in their books, and claim Imam Ahmad Rida told lies. See the following:
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74127-Barelwi-Article-on-Ilm-al-Ghayb&p=639252&viewfull=1#post639252
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74127-Barelwi-Article-on-Ilm-al-Ghayb&p=639652&viewfull=1#post639652
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?75392-Reply-to-Husam-al-Haramayn-s-Misrepresentation-of-Tahzir-al-Nas&p=643764&viewfull=1#post643764
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74735-A-critical-look-at-Gibril-Haddad%E2%80%99s-Review-of-Taqwiyat-al-Iman%E2%80%8F&p=641474&viewfull=1#post641474
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74735-A-critical-look-at-Gibril-Haddad%E2%80%99s-Review-of-Taqwiyat-al-Iman%E2%80%8F&p=641668&viewfull=1#post641668
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74735-A-critical-look-at-Gibril-Haddad%E2%80%99s-Review-of-Taqwiyat-al-Iman%E2%80%8F&p=642584&viewfull=1#post642584
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?74735-A-critical-look-at-Gibril-Haddad%E2%80%99s-Review-of-Taqwiyat-al-Iman%E2%80%8F&p=642773&viewfull=1#post642773
What is your opinion on these answers, and are they correct and justified?
Jazakumullah
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
Those who painstakingly gathered and translated the apologetic evidence in defense of Shah Ismail deserve credit because they have brought to light material from the sources that was unavailable before, and my feeling is they have tried to be fair in their translations. After a quick perusal of a few issues I am satisfied that on the one hand Shah Ismail is blameless on the issue of sarf al himma, but not on that of ‘mixing with the earth’ despite Mawlana Gangohi’s attempt to make it sound acceptable to use an ambiguous expression. Prophetic Attributes are tawqifi and here as elsewhere we stand with athar. Nor is Shah Ismail’s position that more Muhammads can be created other than tanqis of Prophet posing as ta’zim of Allah Most High. Those who ask for such discussions must therefore sift the chaff from the good and give each its due. In the end we repeat it is best to leave it alone, make peace, worship Allah and bless the Prophet.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
