Aqaaid

Q: What is your opinion regarding the book Ar Raheeq Al Makhtum by Saifur rehman Al mubarakpuri?

Q: A Gair Muqallid told me that Taqleed is shirk. I asked him the reason for Taqleed being shirk. He told me that the Muqallids follow their Imam even if the Imam's view conflicts with Qur'an & Hadith. So Muqallids are Mushriq. Is the statement about Muqallids being mushrik given by him correct? Can you tell me some authentic reference to tell him that Taqleed is not shirk and give me some online sources links where I could gain knowledge about the topics of Taqleed, following only one imam etc?

Q: Concerning "the pen has been lifted and the ink has dried", what is this referring to? i.e. What aspects of destiny? I was of the opinion that dua can change destiny, but how does dua changing destiny fit into the qouted hadith?

I guess what i'm asking is:

1. What exactly has been written in ink? i.e. Is every action of every insaan written down?
2. Can dua change any of what has been written in ink?
3. If I make dua to change my destiny, is me making this dua written down? If so then is it not true that my dua hasnt really changed anything as it was already written that I would do this and my destiny would change? I just can't quite get my head around this, any light shed on the matter would be appreciated.

Q: Below are the Kitaabs that I make common use of. The list below is in the order in which I store them - one on top of the other.

Mufti Saheb, please advise if the order is fine owing to their respective importance.

From top to bottom:

1. Surah Ya-Sin Kitaab.
2. First five para’s of the Qur’an Shareef.
3. “Essential Duas In The Life Of A Muslim.”
4. “Duas for the contentment of the heart.”
5. “Taleemul Haq”

Q: I want to know whether the 73 sects are created today or not. Please tell the names of all the sects created today.

Q: Is it kufr to say that this medicine cures like acne as example. Like is it kufr to put your trust in that medicine? Before I read a fatwa of someone asking that question but they said its not, I don't really remember. But now I am hearing that Allah cures him not the medicine, so I am confused. So whenever I say this medicine has a cure for this, I think is the cure from Allah or Allah put the cure in the medicine. But I know if Allah wills he wouldn't let him be cured by that medicine. Did I commit kufr?

Q: I am a student of deen and I would humbly request Mufti saheb to help me in the issue of bidah. I want a ﺟﺎﻣﻊ definition of bidaah that excludes everything we doing and includes the other deviated sects.

Q: I have a doubt in mind that maybe I'm on the wrong path being a Deobandi. I think maybe salafism or barelwiat maybe the right path. How can I be sure that Deobandiat is the right path on which today's Muslims should act as the salafees and the barelwis also present the Qur'an and the Hadith?

Q: I have talked to barelwis about the impermissibility of asking help from someone other than Allah Ta'ala like Auliyas. But they say that the verses revealed in the Quran about the impermissibility of asking someone other than Allah Ta'ala apply to idols only. How can I make them understand that it is for everyone except Allah?

Q: I would like to find clarity and closure on the school of 'aqidah that is ascribed to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (RA) which is refered to as the Ahl al-Athar or the Atharis. What are the core differences between this school and the other two viz. the Asha'irah and the Maturidis? Is the Athari school that is claimed to be followed different to that followed by Imam ibn Hanbal and other early Hanbali 'ulama? A clear explanation on this issue is required as many are being confused and led astray by bringing up the Athari 'aqidah.