Allah Hu Akbar.com - Islamic Forum to Discuss about Islam

i have some questions, because i find this confusing.
muslims are supposed to learn - in fact, spend a lifetime learning. they are not supposed to blindly follow. their most important relationship is between themself and god. which is why there is equality among muslims and no "priesthood" or central authority figure - no middleman required.
so, on the one hand, i get the impression that a muslim is not supposed to let others do his thinking for him but (if at all possible) do his own research and weigh things for himself and to question. because, otherwise - if he is just going to accept what people claim to be the majority view - he doesn't really have to study - he can just pick a scholar or a school of thought, and read the rulings and automatically accept them.
i don't think this is islam's view of "knowledge" - am i wrong?
i want to be very clear that i am not speaking of some muslim who finds a religious requirement to be too much trouble and is seeking an easy way out, but a muslim who submits to god only and is motivated only by the desire to be a better muslim.
so here are my questions:
are islamic rulings always based on what the majority of scholars rule on a given subject? sometimes when someone raises the issue that there is not only one scholarly view on something but there are dissenting views - also by respected scholars - he is immediately put down and told, "well the majority of scholars say such and such."
is there no room for dissent within islam? are scholars who take a different position just to be dismissed?
how does anyone know that "the majority" is indeed the majority of all islamic scholars? who determines this?
are scholars who hold minority positions to be simply ignored on all issues?
is islam supposed to take a unanimous stance on every subject?
this is what i find confusing - because islam's respect for knowledge is one of the things i admire about islam.
if a sincere muslim (whose intent is not to find a clever way to avoid something required from god), after much research on his own, and reaches a conclusion that the majority are wrong on a given subject, is it permissible for him to follow the minority?
thanks in advance.

Salaam:

A Muslim must follow the Truth, even if the majority disagree.

However, he or she should take every opportunity to hear and consider other points of view.

If, after careful consideration of all points of view, one is still convinced that his or her position is correct and in accord with the Guidance of Allah, one should follow the Truth as he or she sees it.

Allah will inform them of that wherein they differ.

Is this not what the principle of "ijtihad" deals with?

RM

we have to follow the ones with knowledge to gain more knowledge

Assalamualakum,

im new to this wat do u so here??

Salaam brother.

See regarding your question, first you should know that little knowledge is dangerous.....So you should be well Knowing before you pass a verdict.
In Islam knowledge holds a high position.The first guidance that ALLAH(swt) gives to mankind through Prophet Muhammad(saw) is "IQRA" or "To Read"..
ALLAH first commands his servants to read and understand and then judge. I'll tell you a hadess which was narrated by Ibn Masud(R.a.) that he had the Messenger of ALLAH (saw) saying:
"Seeking knowledge is compulsory on every MUSLIM"
So it clear that we must gain knowledge..Also there is a verse in the quran (i am not specific with the reference ) which says that if you have some questions than go to those who know..
But if you go to any scholar you should check that what he says is from authentic sources and not of his own sources.Even if the biggest scholar of the world says something or passes a fatwa, which goes against the quran and the sunnah that statement carries no weight...

From what I know, in Islam you must seek knowledge based on Al-Qur'an and Al-Hadith.

If there are majority scholar make decision against what in Qur'an and Hadith, we must not follow them


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