Acquiring Deeni Knowledge

Q: Can you explain in detail about the concept of  ijmaa in Islam, and what are its types and conditions?

Q: I am a home schooling mother who really wants to learn as much as she can about Islam but due to my commitments I am not able to leave home to attend any lessons. I have recently come to know of a website called Islamic Online University which is run by Dr Bilal Philips which offers a range of Islamic courses. I would like to know if it will be permissible for me to study this way and through this institute as I am very worried about their aqeeda and if I will be learning the correct Islamic beliefs that I should have.

Q: My question is about the validity of usage of stories or parables of great saints or people to explain the concepts of Deen to common people. I forwarded the below story to my friends and colleagues: 

A king wanted to build a great palace for which he spared no expense and so made available all his treasures. Anything that did not suit his fancy in the slightest he had torn down and built again. Finally he was convinced the palace had no shortcoming and was the greatest palace ever built.
Overflowing with pride at his beautiful palace the king announced throughout his kingdom that he would reward anyone who could point out a flaw in his new abode. All who would visit could not see any shortcoming in the beautiful building, not that anyone would even dare to point it out to their king.
People kept coming and going for the next few days until a venerable sage close to Allah happened to be passing by and stopped by when he heard the king's decree. After surveying the palace he came before the king and said, "Your Majesty, I have found two flaws in your palace." The king was taken aback because an old man apparently found what all his subjects could not, and so he asked what these flaws were. The wise man said, "Your Majesty, one flaw is that this palace will not stand forever, and will end like all things will end one day. The second is that you cannot live in this palace forever for all must die one day."

The World is a Temporary Home
No matter what high hopes a person has in this world, no matter how many beautiful houses and cars he has he will have to leave everything behind one day. The Messenger of Allah said: Be in the world as if you are a stranger
Excerpted from The Sermons by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi(db)

One person from the Wahabbi sect replied back asking me the following:

1. Quran and hadith is sufficient for us we do not need such stories to understand deen.
2. What if these stories are not authentic or are just imagination of some scholars, will we then not be sinners for propagating such false.
3. Prophet [Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam] in his last sermon advised us to firmly hold on to Quran and Sunnah, then why do we have to propagate such stories.

My Questions:

1. Do we need to verify the authenticity of such stories even if the message is as per the shariah?
2. Please explain in great details for me to explain to the others.

Q:

1. What is the difference between Ilm-e-Takwini & Ilm-e-Shari?
2. How are both reconciled jointly in Islam?
3. Are they people still carrying out Takwini  works?
4. Is takwini works only carried out by Belivers? or Disbelivers also?

Q: In my childhood, I promised to my teacher that I will not watch television (T.V). When I started trying to bring Islam in my practical life I realized the importance of promise in Islam. Alhamdulillah I tried to abstain from watching T.V and every kind of videos on internet. Sometimes I want to listen the lectures of religious scholars, learn tajweed/ Aabic or other languages. Being a female I can't go outside easily. Can I convert the video lectures into audio mp3 and then only listen them?  

Q: 

1. Could the respected Scholar please explain how following the verdicts of various Scholars constitutes following ones desires when the verdict is from the Sharia'ah and not ones desires?

2. What is meant by Nabi sallahu alaihi wasalam chose, encouraged and advocated the easiest way, manner path etc. if there were options?

3. Does the quoted Ayah and Hadith refer to following the verdicts of Scholars? or following one’s own analogy and outcome?

Q: Is it permissible to practice the science of ilmul aadaat and Naqsh? This science utilizes powerful mathematics and numerology to express the various verses of Quran and Ruqyah Asshariah which are translated to numbers. These naqsh have benefited several people and are described in various books of amaliyaat.

Q: Is there anything wrong with consulting/querying a verdict with multiple reputable Scholars, Sheiks, Muftis. Thereafter one follows and adopts the easiest verdict and decision of any one/few of them.. even though the verdicts and decisions of the rest may be contradicting and different?

Example: Some scholars permit Witr in the Makah Sharif and others don't. Can one choose the easier of the two? Is consistency on one Scholars verdict essential? or can one consider the verdicts of other Scholars?

Q: Respected Mufti Saheb Please verify if the statement below is correct:

Facebook newsfeed post by: MuslimMarriageAdvice

MuslimMarriageAdvice wrote:

This is a bit harsh BUT very wise and beneficial words. "Say what you wish in abuse of me, for my silence towards an idiot is indeed an answer. I am not at a loss for a response but rather, It does not befit the lion to answer dogs." - Imam Shafi (rahimaullah)

What have you learnt form this statement?