understanding madhabs

until i got to amman
– or rather, in this little bubble of iman called kharabsheh –
the thought of choosing a madhab
only briefly crossed my mind.
the topic came up,
but i didn’t really understand.

i was thinking that i’d just do “the basic five” as a muslim,
i.e. tawheed (oneness of Allah),
salat (prayer),
zakat (charity),
sawm (fasting),
hadj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

well, when you get here
folks ask you
your name, where you’re from, and what madhab you follow.
either i was like “huh?” or “i don’t.”

fortunately there are many opportunities
to learn about a particular madhab is this community.
and you know what happens when you learn more:
the more you learn,
the more you know,
and the less likely you are to be satisfied with ignorant bliss.

i don’t know if i will follow a madhab,
but at least i’ll know a bit more about what i don’t know.

but here’s an excellent article about madhabs:
Understanding Madhhabs: A Beginner’s Guide and FAQ
By Umm Nabeel
[http://www.modernmuslima.com/madhhabs.htm]

it defines the term,
and answers common questions
(once you know you need to ask the question)
like “Do I have to follow a madhab?”, and
“How do I choose?”, and
a classic question for all us independent-minded western muslims:
“Why Can’t I Just Read the Qur’an and Hadeeth and Find Out the Rulings For Myself?”