Abandoning the Quraan and Sunnah and instead Following Opinions and Desires Taken from Sharh al-Usool as-Sittah by Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

[Refuting the doubt that the Shaytaan has brought about concerning (his focus on making the people) abandon the Quraan and the Sunnah and instead following the various opinions that exist and the desires that oppose (the Book and the Sunnah). (And this doubt is) that no one can understand the Quraan and the Sunnah unless he is a qualified scholar who can make al-Ijtihaad. So they describe this ‘qualified scholar’ with attributes that one cannot even find in Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both. 

So (they allege that) if someone does not fit this category then he is obligated without any doubt or difficulty to turn away from the Book and the Sunnah. And that whoever seeks guidance from the Book and the Sunnah then he is a heretic or he is insane due (in their estimation) to the difficulty in understanding them both! 

Allah is purified from such beliefs being attributed to Him and to Him is all praise. How many times did Allah, the Glorified clarify (in His Book) by way of the divine legislation, by divine decree, by way of creation, and by what He commands, the refutation of this rejected doubt from several aspects that have become general necessities in knowledge? And yet most of mankind is unaware: 

{Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe. We have placed iron collars on their necks reaching to their chins so that their heads are forced up. And We have placed a barrier before them and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up so that they cannot see. It is the same to them whether you warn them or you don’t warn them, they will not believe. You can only warn him who follows the reminder (the Quraan), and fears the Most Beneficent (Allah) unseen. Bear you to such one the glad tidings of forgiveness, and a generous reward.} Soorah Yaa Seen: 7-11]

Explanation: This is the final principle and it is a very important one. This principle is based on the statement of those who say that we cannot understand the meanings of the Book and the Sunnah nor do we possess the ability to understand it unless one is from the Major Scholars. So it should be said to them that the Quraan contains clear issues that the layman can understand and that the educated person can understand. The proof has been established upon creation. There are some issues that only the scholars understand and there are some issues that no one but Allah the Glorified, the Most High only understands.

Now there are some affairs in the Quraan and the Sunnah that can only be understood by a qualified scholar (al-Mujtahid al-Mutlaq) but there are many other things within both that the common people can understand. And the educated person who has knowledge of the easy aspects of the religion can understand these affairs. This is like the statement of the Most High:{…Worship Allah and do not associate partners with Him.} Soorah an-Nisaa’a: 36

And His statement: {Whoever associates partners with Allah then Allah will forbid him from entering the paradise and the hellfire will be his abode.} Soorah al-Maa’idah: 72

And like His statement: {And do not commit adultery.} Soorah al-Israa’a: 32

And like His statement: {Dead cadavers have been prohibited for you to consume.} Soorah al-Maa’idah: 3

And like His statement: {Say to the believing men, lower your stares and protect your private parts.} Soorah an-Noor: 30

These affairs are so clear that even the layperson can understand them when he hears them.

There are those who make up principles that they attribute to the qualified scholar (al-Mujtahid al-Mutlaq) that are not completely found amongst the best of people such as Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar. They make up these principles based upon their own desires.

Allah the Most High says: {Do they not reflect on the Quraan?} Soorah an-Nisaa’a: 82

This is a general statement that applies to all of the Muslims.

Each person understands from the Quraan whatever Allah makes easy for him. So, the layperson understands what he is able, the educated understands what he is able, and the one firmly grounded in Islamic knowledge understands what he is able:{He sends down rain from the sky and the valleys flow based on their measure.} Soorah ar-Ra’d: 17

Each valley flows based on its measure just as the knowledge that Allah has revealed. Each heart beats based upon its measure, the heart of the layperson, the heart of the educated person, the heart of the scholar, the heart of the one firmly grounded in Islamic knowledge, each one understands based on his measure and by what Allah blessed him to understand. As for saying that no one can understand the Quraan unless he is a qualified scholar (al-Mujtahid al-Mutlaq) then this is incorrect.

They say that attempting to understand the Quraan is a responsibility that one cannot (fulfill). The conditions that the scholars have mentioned concerning the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be considered a Mufti is the qualified scholar (al-Mujtahid al-Mutlaq). They do not mean that everyone who wants to reflect on the Quraan and benefit from it must fulfill this obligation. There are conditions to extract in-depth rulings but it is not a condition in order to understand the clear issues such as at-Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism), ash-Shirk (Idolatry), the open obligations that one must carry out, and the open prohibitions that one must not fall into.

The aforementioned verses (at the end of the text) are about those who refuse to reflect on the words of Allah and the words of His Messenger, peace be upon him. And in the last part of the verse it refers to the one who Allah has blessed, which is {him who follows the reminder (the Quraan), and fears the Most Beneficent (Allah)}.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, 
pages 43-46, ad-Daar al-Athariyyah print
Translated by Thomas Maldonado