What is proposed today as Traditional Islam?

Today we see that many people are posing off that they represent Traditional Muslims. But many of times these same people have tendencies of non-Islamic behaviour or habits that have never been seen amongst the older Ulema.

A good example is one website we have a link to some entertainer's website, which apparently has been endorsed by 'traditional' Ulema. On this individual's website we have a link to another site, which contains pics of women, and performers of pop music, women with boyish haircuts etc. Or men with guitars.

Or a clothing company which contains pictures women posing off for shots. Even though they do not show the faces the curves of the body can be seen clearly. Or these links contain pics of women with no scarves even though i'm sure there is no bad intention behind such pics but how does one pose this off as traditional Islam? Or a traditional institute's site on which one can find pic of sisters.

Or the websites where one can find bros and sisters talking so freely. Or a mawlid where women were serving brothers. How is one supposed to think this is Traditional Islam?

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.

The way of Sunni Islam is clear. Anything that is agreed upon to be haram by living scholars from all four schools is rejected, without doubt. Anything else is not absolutely condemnable.

However, one should consult with scholars of piety and wisdom and leave to them the task of determining the right course of conduct in dealing with the religious errors of others. Otherwise, all we'll have is fitna and discord.

With this, many ulema will work with people if most of what they do is sound and worthy of support--even if they have some errors.

We must also remember that there are many things that may not agree with our understanding of the deen yet have some basis in the Shariah--and are thus not condemnable.

Other things are mistakes, and the principles of commanding the good and sincere counsel would apply. These are pursued out of a sense of brotherhood, and the resulting mercy and love that it entails, not a sense of thinking badly of others.

As for the specifics you've mentioned:

* The interaction on many (if not most) forums is inappropriate. On others, the general interaction is proper--the cases of undignified interaction are the exception and certainly not the rule.

* Leading Islamic clothing companies with pious ownership and management have consulted reliable muftis specifically about the graphic content of their site, and seek to implement that to the best of their ability.

* At events, it is not haram for women to serve men, if it is done in a dignified and restrained manner--according to many ulema. Others differ--but, again, this lifts the right to condemn this matter.

* As for pictures of women, this is a matter that many of our ulema are uncomfortable with--among those who accept photography--but there are others who hold that it is permitted to have pictures of women if the pictures are not immodest. Definitions and understandings of "modesty" differ among our ulema.

What I accept for my personal practice and in my teaching others is not binding on others who follow the understanding of other ulema from within our Sunni tradition.

We may differ; we may find some stances to be mistaken--but we shouldn't forget the bigger picture: we are all seeking the pleasure of Allah, and should seek to build bridges and understanding, such that we are on certain things, and respectfully disagree on others.

Yes, it is true that there are mistakes being made. Many of the leading Western traditional ulema are aware of this. But they are also aware that the sunna of Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is to take people towards what is best a step at a time; with wisdom; in a spirit of thinking well of others; being of sincere counsel; and remembering that we have so much in common in our actions, concerns, and goals as believers.

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani