MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA—Vice Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Council for Tabligh Adi Hidayat mentioned that all messengers of Allah, from Prophet Adam to Prophet Muhammad, are Muslims. They brought the message of monotheism to be obedient to Allah’s commands. Indeed, they were commanded to obey Allah’s rules as the capacity of His servants.
“It is impossible for Allah to give guidance and commands that His servants cannot do. Therefore, the Quran affirms that Allah will not burden His people beyond their capabilities,” said Adi Hidayat at the Ramadan Preaching 1444 H held by Muhammadiyah on Saturday (25/3).
To perform Allah’s commandments, differences in practice exist. For example, some Arabs, especially in Africa, cannot pronounce the vowel “A.” They replace it with the vowel “E,” so “Wa ad-Dhuha” is pronounced as “Wa ad-Dhuhe.” This difference is tolerated as part of anthropological inevitability and proof that Islam does not burden its believers in term of worship.
Another instance pertains to the act of sujud (prostration) during prayer. The debate revolves around whether the palm or the knee should touch the ground first. The discrepancy stems from two closely numbered hadiths narrated by Abu Daud—numbers 838 and 840-841. Both interpretations, allowing either the knee or palm to touch first, are deemed valid during sujud.
Adi Hidayat also highlighted that the concept of “manhaj” holds paramount importance and must remain uniform among Muslims. This means that manhaj offers multiple avenues to practice Islamic teachings. In contrast, a “madhhab” (school of thought) emerges when a Muslim selects one specific avenue among those provided.
“Madhhab is an integral part of manhaj. It doesn’t denote a faction but rather stands for ‘ma zahaba ilayhi,’ which translates to ‘to follow a path.’ Historically, during the Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, he taught comprehensive aspects of Islam,” Adi elaborated.
Following the Prophet’s passing, Muslims dispersed across four major regions, with 130 companions of the Prophet issuing fatwas in those regions. Adi noted that it’s logical for Muslims to choose one of the taught schools of thought (madhhabs) from these regions. “Attempting to teach and practice all four simultaneously is unfeasible. Thus, we select one, and that becomes our chosen madhhab,” said Adi Hidayat.
