Following Another Imam in Legal Rulings

There are a number of states one may have in following the legal position of an Imam other than one's own, among them:

(1) to believe that the other Imam's position on the particular question is stronger, in which case it is permissible to follow him in deference to what one believes to be the sounder position;

(2) to believe that the position of one's own Imam is stronger, or not to know which Imam has the stronger position on the question, in both of which cases it is permissible to follow the position of the other Imam whether or not one thereby intends to take the way that is religiously more precautionary, in which case it is not offensive, though if it is a mere stratagem that is not intended as such (i.e. not intended as being religiously more precautionary) it is offensive;

(3) to intend by following the other Imam to take a dispensation when there is a need for it (such as a Shafi'i circumambulating the Kaaba at a crowded hajj who follows the position of Abu Hanifa that touching a woman does not nullify one's ablution), in which case it is permissible to follow the other Imam, unless one believes both that the position of one's own Imam is stronger, and that it is obligatory to follow the more knowledgeable of the two;

(4) to intend merely following the easier way of taking a dispensation when (neither (2) nor (3) above is the case, and) one does not believe that it is the stronger position, in which case following it is not permissible, as Subki says, "because one is then merely pursuing one's own caprice, and it is not for the sake of religion";

(5) to do this frequently, so as to become one of those who seek out dispensations, taking the easiest ruling from every school, which is also forbidden, as it connotes a dissolution of the limits of legal responsibility;

(6) to assemble by such a procedure a single composite act that is unacceptable by the consensus of scholars, which is impermissible, such as when a Shafi'i follows Imam Malik in considering dogs to be physically pure, but only wipes part of his head when performing ablution (wudu'), for in such a case his prayer is not considered valid by Malik, because he has not wiped his whole head, nor yet by Shafi'i, because of the physical impurity of dogs (though it is unobjectionable to piece together such a composite act by way of following the scholarly evidences supporting each part, if one is qualified to appreciate them, since then one has become a mujtahid on the question);

(7) or to follow one's original Imam in doing an act whose consequences are still in effect when one subsequently intends to follow another Imam, despite the continued existence of the first act's consequences; such as a Hanafi who, by right of being a neighbor, acquires a piece of land by preempting a neighbor's sale of it to another (since one of the purposes that permit preemption in the Hanafi school is to prevent property adjacent to one's own from being acquired by an objectionable neighbor (though the Shafi'i school does not allow preemption for such a reason))—but when a second neighbor for the same reason preempts the Hanafi's taking possession of the land, the Hanafi refuses to allow the second preemption on the pretext that he now follows the Shafi'i school on the question, which is not permissible because it confirms that he is mistaken, either by following the first opinion or by following the second, while he is but a single responsible individual.

- Ibn Hajar Haytami, al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyya; Extracted from 'Reliance of Traveller' by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri, Commented, edited and translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller

Merits of Other Dhikrs

After the above-mentioned Dhikr, then the Dhikr that is of utmost precedence and renowned is:

“Subhaanallaah Walhamdulillaah Walaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wallaahu Akbar (Glory be to Allah and all-praises be to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is Most Great).”

Related in a tradition by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, regarding the aforementioned Dhikr, which he said: “Verily it (the aforementioned Dhikr) is the best of speech and the dearest towards Allah Most High.”

Said the Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, further: “In fact, saying Subhaanallaah Walhamdulillaah Walaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wallaahu Akbar is more beloved to me than whatever the sun shine upon. (i.e. than all worldly matter mankind are after—translator)”

In another tradition, the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, related as saying: “On the night I was ascended (to the Heavens), I met with the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, subsequently he said: Oh Muhammad! Convey my regards to your community, and inform them that truly Paradise has pure (fertile) lands, fresh waters, and it’s spacious and even, and that which is its plantation is: Subhaanallaah Walhamdulillaah Walaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wallaahu Akbar.”

And he (the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him,) said further about these four expressions; that is: Whoever utter it would have planted for him for every expression a tree, that is in Paradise.

In one occasion, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, said to Abu Darda’, may Allah be pleased with him, saying: “Say: Subhaanallaah Walhamdulillaah Walaa Ilaaha Illallaah Wallaahu Akbar, Walaa Hawla Walaa Quwata Illaa Billaahil-‘Aliyil-‘Azhiim, as it would shed all sins like the shedding of leaves from trees.”

When explaining the importance of the utterance: Laa Hawla Walaa Quwata Illaa Billaahil-‘Aliyil-‘Azhiim (And there is no might or power except with Allah, the Most High, the Exalted), he (the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him,) once said: “Verily it is the treasure of the treasures of Paradise, and it is the cure for ninety nine illnesses, the least severe of them is depression.”

Said the Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, further: “Whoever receives a kindness (ni’mat) from Allah Most High, and wishes it would last, hence he should utter in abundance: Laa Hawla Walaa Quwata Illaa Billaahil-‘Aliyil-‘Azhiim.”
Among Dhikrs that are of higher precedence (besides those already mentioned) is Dhikr:

Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih (Glory be to Allāh with His (Own) Praise). Concerning it, the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, once said: “Speech that is very beloved by Allah (is) Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih.”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, was once asked: “What speech is most recommended?” Answered him, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, : “The one chosen by Allah for His Angels, (that is): Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih.”

He (may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him) said also: “Whoever utter: Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih once, a tree would be planted for him in Paradise. If he utters it a hundred times, it is recorded for him a thousand good deeds, and erased of his a thousand evil deeds.”

He (may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him) further said: “Whoever utter every morning and afternoon: Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih a hundred times, verily there is no person that would comes with deeds more than that of his in the End of Days (Qiamaat), except if the person utter as much as he uttered more than he did.”

He (may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him) also said: “Two expressions that is light on the tongue, but heavy on the scale (al-miizaan) and very beloved to Allah the Merciful (Ar-Rahmaan), (they are) Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih, Subhaanallaahil-‘Azhiim (Glory be to Allah with His (Own) Praise; Glory be to Allah, the Exalted).”

It was related by the Mother of the Believers, Juwairiyah, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, one day left her house (in the morning), then he returns after completing the Dhuha prayers at the mosque, Juwairiyah was still sitting glorifying (Allah). Then he (may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him) said: Since I left you earlier, till now, you were still glorifying (Allah). Juwairiyah answered: True. Thereupon the Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, said: I recited four words three times after I left you and if these were to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them, and these words are:

“Subhaanallaahi Wa Bihamdih, ‘Adada Khalqih, Wa Ridha Nafsih, Wa Zinata ‘Arsyih, Wa Midada Kalimaatih. (Glory be to Allah with His (Own) Praise to the extent of the number of His creation and to the extent of His pleasure and to the extent of the weight of His Throne and to the extent of ink used in recording words for His Praise)”

- Translated from the Malay translation of An-Nasaaih Ad-Diniyah Wal-Washaaya Al-Imaaniyah of Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Translated into Malay by Al-Ustadz As-Sayyid Ahmad Semait)

The Merit of One Dhikr Over Other Dhikrs

Dhikrs (remembrance) are classified into a few categories, each having merits over the others, or the rewards for one is more compared to the others on top of having multitudes of virtues, advantages, benefits and effects that are praiseworthy.

Among the Dhikrs that have precedence over others, in fact the most praiseworthy and highest in rank of them is, Laa Ilaaha Illallaah (There is no god but Allah).

The Prophet, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, once said: "The best Dhikr is: Laa Ilaaha Ilallaah and the best supplication is: Alhamdulillah."

He, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, also said: "The best words me and the Prophets before me had said is: Laa Ilaaha Illallaah."

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, said, relating that Allah Most High said: "Laa Ilaaha Illallaah is My fortress, and whoever enter into My fortress is saved from My torment."

He also said: "Renew your faith!" The Companions of the Prophet asked: "How to renew our faith?" Answered the Prophet: "Saying in abundance Laa Ilaaha Illallah."

He, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, also said: "Subhanallah (fills) half the scale (al-Mizan), and Alhamdulillah fills it, and Laa Ilaaha Illallah (there is) no wall (separation) between it and Allah."

There is also a tradition that states: "Verily there is a branch made of light rooted in front of Allah. When a person says "Laa Ilaaha Illallaah" the branch shook (out of fear). Then Allah Most High says: Hush! Replied the branch: How am I to hush, when You have not pardoned the person. Hence Allah Most High said: I have pardoned him. Then the branch remains silent."
Another tradition says: "Verily when a slave says Laa Ilaaha Illallaah, with every Laa Ilaaha Illallaah said, it comes across an evil deed in his record book, but it erases it, until it comes across a good deed, where it stays by its side."

Another tradition says: "Even if the seven heavens and the seven earths and whatever is in them is placed on one side of the scale, and placed on the other side the utterance Laa Ilaaha Illallaah, verily the scale with Laa Ilaaha Illallaah would be heavier."

Other traditions that confirm the primacy of the utterance of Laa Ilaaha Illallaah are numerous and are renowned. The reason we stated the merits here is to serve as a reminder and not for the purpose of mere calculation. It is thus sufficient enough to make a distinction of its merits, that it is the declaration that is required to be said if a person wishes to embrace Islam, and verily whoever ends his life with uttering the statement (as his last words), then he would obtain everlasting bliss that has no blemishes thereafter.

“Oh Allah! Oh My God! You are the Most Merciful, we ask of You that You (make) our lives and our deaths and resurrect us upon the words Laa Ilaaha Illallaah, in a surrendering state to You, and likewise for our parents, our loved ones and the entire Muslim Community, Amin.”

It was related from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him : “Laa Ilaaha Illallaah Wahdahuu Laa Syariikalah, Lahul-Mulku Walahul-Hamdu Wahuwa ‘Ala Kulli Syai-in Qadiir (There is no god but Allah the One, no partners ascribed unto Him, to Him belongs all kingdoms and to Him (all) the praises, and He is Above (the cause of) everything that is Powerful), whoever utter it ten times, the reward is like that of a person who frees four lives from the sons of Isma’il, peace be upon him.”

He, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, also said: “Whoever utter: Laa Ilaaha Illallaah Wahdahuu Laa Syariikalah, Lahul-Mulku Walahul-Hamdu Wahuwa ‘Ala Kulli Syai-in Qadiir, every day a hundred times, then his reward is like that of a person who frees a slave (riqaab), recorded for him a hundred good deeds, erased for him a hundred evil deeds, given to him refuge from the devil from that day to its afternoon, and there is no one who did a better deed than that of which he did (uttering the statement), except for the one who did more than him.”

He, may Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, also said: “Whoever utter: Laa Ilaaha Illallaah Wahdahuu Laa Syariikalah, Lahul-Mulku Walahul-Hamdu Wahuwa ‘Ala Kulli Syai-in Qadiir, there is no deed that precedes it, and that there is no evil that would be left.”

- Translated from the Malay translation of An-Nasaaih Ad-Diniyah Wal-Washaaya Al-Imaaniyah of Imam ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Alawi al-Haddad (Translated into Malay by Al-Ustadz As-Sayyid Ahmad Semait)