Tahqeeq [Research] & Tahreef [Distortion]

 

Modernists and Liberals claim to be very able in the field of 'research'. However, a study of their activities in the current climate of the attack upon Islam by the so called researchers and academics reveals a very different picture. 

When a person looks at Tahqeeq, i.e., research, as done by the genuine adherents of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, we find that it entails gathering sources and evidence on a particular issue and then gauging where the evidence reaches and what it points to. After this, a researcher comes to a conclusion. 

On the other hand, we have academics who begin with a predetermined outcome and conclusion, based on the Modernist and Liberal framework that they want to achieve, then they look at the sources and evidence to back it up. By engaging in this type of lopsided methodology, they hit a dead end when the evidence does not point in the direction that they want it to. So, they resort to Tahreef, i.e., distortion. 

For this reason, we find that the current day Modernists resort to Tahreef (distortion) of the ayaat of the Noble Qur'an, twisting the Ahadith out of its context, flipping the principles of Fiqh on its head, and openly denying consensus (ijma') of the Muslim Ummah in order to legalize every kind of un-Islamic and anti-Islamic idea. 

By doing this, they 'find' evidence in the Noble Qur'an and the Blessed Sunnah for interfaith, intermingling, closing Masajid, and casting the entire corpus of Islamic scholarship aside in favour of polytheism, adultery, consuming intoxicants, display of nudity, and a host of other evils that serves only to destroy themselves. 

The Bani Isra'il were masters at Tahreef, and they are the teachers of the current day 'Muslim' modernists who tread in their footsteps. The modernist 'Muslims' often speak about Maqasid-ush-Shari'ah (Higher Objectives of the Shari'ah), Ittihaad (Unity), Ikhtilaaf (Difference of Opinion), Adab (Decorum), and Hikmah (Wisdom). However, a closer analysis of these terms and their proper connotations shows that, in essence, the Modernists abuse them to garner public favour and support, because doing this is in-line with the dictates of the nafs. 

The Modernists supplant themselves as representatives of Islam and the Shari'ah, all the while distorting the Shari'ah. Decorum is only decorum when they deem it so, and wisdom is the pacifier that seems to never run out of supply. 

The Modernists and Liberals continue to invent new pacifiers, all the while feeding new bags of distortion, in order to distort the pure and pristine Deen of Islam. Hence, it follows, that those who stand in their way are also given many titles and designations, many of them derogatory. Why are the titles dished out by the Modernists not termed as disrespect? Why is the Modernist approach not called into question? Why is the proper connotation of Hikmah, as adopted by the genuine Muslims, not viewed as Hikmah, but backwardness? Why is the attack upon Islam and the Qur'an by the Modernists not given titles and designations showing its reality?

Modernists only appeal to the minds and desires of people, whereas the genuine Muslims and the traditional 'Ulama appeal to the hearts and call for suppression of the nafs. In the end, when we leave this world, and stand in front of Allah, the successful will be those who suppressed the nafs, as stated by the Noble Qur'an.

May Allah Ta'ala guide us and keep us steadfast. Ameen