Hamzah Yusuf
Hamzah Yusuf: “…and that is why the argument that there is no knowledge except the Salaf period – this argument that we accept only this one period of time and after that its everybody goes astray – that argument is denying something so elemental to our human experience and that is the increase of knowledge…”
Why do American Giants of `Ilm (Knowledge) mock and belittle the Salaf? Do they think that they cannot become leaders and celebrities, except through downgrading the Salaf? Or, is it because they know that their methodology contradicts the Salaf’s way, and so, instead of repenting and abandoning the deviations they have embraced, they instead say, “So what about the Salaf? They are just one of the ways that comprise Islam.”
Just like Yasir Qadhi, Hamzah Yusuf seems to lack basic understanding of simple concepts. Or, do they? They, also, are deviators, innovators, and deceivers. They mix truth up with falsehood, so they can promote their deviations and errors through vague statements and a fabricated methodology.
Who said that everybody after the Salaf goes astray? It’s Hamza Yusuf. It’s not the Salaf or those who follow their righteous lead who made such a silly statement. Who said that the Salafi way obstructs increase in knowledge? It’s Hamzah Yusuf. He lies.
No religion in existence was explained as Islam was explained through hundreds of thousands of books authored by thousands of scholars who excelled in explaining every aspect of Islam and, thus, helped every Muslim generation that came to increase in Islamic knowledge. There are hundreds of reliable books of hadeeth, such as Bukhari and Muslim. There are thousands of books on fiqh (Islamic law). There are thousands of books on history, as well as, on every category of Islam. These valuable resources vastly expanded Islamic knowledge and created the most dynamic and extensive scientific movement the world has ever seen.
The tens of thousands of Muslim scholars who explained Islam also represented their unique human experience and discussed issues that arose during their time, in addition to, preserving the knowledge that came to them from the Salaf. The Salaf lived with, for, and by the revelation. They heard and saw Islam’s Prophet teach them, through his words and practices, how a Muslim should be like so as to excel in this life and worship Allah the way Allah is pleased with.
What Hamzah Yusuf seeks through this khabeeth (wicked) statement here, is to convince the people who listen to his speeches and read what he writes that the Salaf’s way stifles knowledge. Translation: Hamzah Yusuf and his likes desire to innovate in the religion and deviate Muslims from Islam’s true path and creed. What stands in their way is the Salaf. So, they come up with these pathetic ideas represented here by the words of Hamzah Yusuf.
However, Islam, and all of its creed, laws and practices, was preserved and then transferred to the world by the Salaf. Muhammad, Allah’s Messenger, received the last and final revelation from Allah. Allah stated that, {This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favors upon you, and have chosen for you, Islam as your religion} (5:3). “This day” mentioned in the ayah came during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah’s mercy and blessings on him.
Therefore, Islam, according to Allah Himself, is perfect, complete, and, no doubt, needs no saving. It is this perfection announced by Allah in ayah 5:3 that the Prophet’s Companions, the first and best Salaf generation, transferred to the world.
When Hamzah Yusuf claims that Islam was saved by Buddhist logic, he directly objects to Allah’s declaration that He has perfected Islam during His Prophet’s lifetime. When Hamzah Yusuf discounts the role of the Salaf and their methodology as representing the complete religion, he directly challenges Allah Who completed Islam.
In conclusion, Hamzah Yusuf seeks fitnah and deviation from the religion which Allah completed and perfected, by using this devious method that, “…the argument that there is no knowledge except the Salaf period – this argument that we accept only this one period of time and after that its everybody goes astray.”
Contrary to the faulty logic of Hamzah Yusuf, Islamic knowledge has been increasing since the early era of Islam, that is, within the parameters established in the Quran and Sunnah with regards to Islam’s creed and the specific laws Allah commanded from Muslims to rule by; These can never change.
However, Islam left a wide area in the religion under the discretion of successive Muslim generations by which they can deduce rulings for new occurrings during their respective time.
It is not the Salaf’s way that stifles knowledge. It is the deviations of the deviants that stifle knowledge by guiding people away from the true Islam about which Allah said, {This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favors upon you, and have chosen for you, Islam as your religion} (5:3). They stifle knowledge by corrupting the most beautiful religion there is, so as to promote their deviations away from what Allah described as being complete and perfect.
Jalal Abualrub (www.islamlife.com)
July 11, 2019