Al-Qalam 
Cape scholar Shaykh Allie Khalfe has just published a new volume in his seven-book series titled: “A Journey through Time with Al-Shafi’i: Muhammad ibn Idris.” Imam Dr A. Rashied Omar discusses the work.
It is instructive to note that the very first word revealed in the Glorious Qur’an is in the form of a command – an instruction to: Iqra! To read (Q 96:1). It is thus very clear from the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that the religion of Islam requires its followers to READ. A conscientious Muslim is thus someone who reads regularly and voraciously.
In recent times we have been blessed with so many excellent Islamic books published in the English language, including classical Arabic texts that have been translated into English. This excellent trend is being further boosted and augmented by the publication of a Cape Town-based scholar, Shaykh Allie Khalfe’s seven-book series titled: “A Journey Through Time with Al-Shafi’i: Muhammad ibn Idris” (three of the seven volumes have thus far been published by the Islamic Texts Institute, 2023/4).
I would like to highlight three distinctive features of Shaykh Khalfe’s book series. The first is that the knowledge contained and transmitted through these volumes is derived from and blessed by what is technically known as a sanad, which is an unbroken chain of transmission from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the author.
Second, this series of books emphasises the critical link between knowledge and spirituality and the need to infuse learning with spirituality. One way of doing this, as exemplified in Shaykh Khalfe’s work, is to recall and remember our pious ancestors. In this regard, Volume One cites the following instructive aphorism: “The mentioning & remembrance of the pious bring about mercy and blessings”
Another way in which the book series infuses knowledge with spirituality is by providing numerous anecdotes emphasising the need for both ‘ilm al-zahir , i.e., external knowledge, as well as `ilm al-batin , i.e., inner spiritual knowledge and the refinement of character.
Embrace
The third and noteworthy contribution of Shaykh Khalfe’s book series is in its highlighting the beauty of the legal diversity in Islam and the critical need for contemporary Muslims to cherish, value and embrace this legal diversity. This series of books provides cogent examples of the diverse views and opinions of the founders of the legal schools and the great respect (adab al-ikhtilaf) and love these Imams had for each other. The key thesis of the book series is that legal diversity should not be viewed as a negative phenomenon but rather as a (Rahma), a mercy and a (yusr), facilitating ease in the worshipping of Allah.
The book series provides many numerous examples of the beautiful and benevolent manner in which the founding Imams of the schools of Islamic law embraced their different opinions. An example of this is the story of how Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who was of the opinion that cupping nullified wudu, was asked: “If you saw an Imam performing cupping and then made salah without performing wudu again, would you make Salah behind him? He answered: How could I not pray behind Imam Malik and Sa`id ibn al-Musayyib”.
Another example is the case of Imam al-Shafi`i who omitted the Qunut prayer of the Fajr Salah when he led some followers of the Hanafi school in their Imam’s masjid in Baghdad. Imam Shafi’i did so out of respect for Imam Abu Hanifa
Shaykh Khalfe’s book series thus invites Muslims to take full advantage of the diverse legal rulings of the various legal schools and to adopt and follow the most appropriate ruling for their given situation. This is so since Allah, the Lawgiver, proclaims in several verses of the Qur’an the principle of ease (see Q 2:185 & Q 22:78).
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) embodied this Qur’anic precept of ease and worked tirelessly to establish this principle of ease and alleviating hardship among his early followers. Mindful of this central teaching of Islam, all the major schools of Islamic law recognise the principle of ease as an essential part of Islamic jurisprudence.
In conclusion, the growing number of books published by gifted scholars within our local community provides us with renewed hope and confidence for the future of our longstanding and vibrant South African Muslim community. We need to encourage and support and, most of all, benefit from the knowledge of our local Muslim scholars by reading their books and attending their classes.
(Shaykh Allie Khalfe’s books may be obtained from islamictext@gmail.com, and the WhatsApp is 0714138725)
