Adapted from the book "Tohfa-e-Hanafiyyah" by Maulana Abu Sohaib Dawood Arshad حفظه الله, this is a scholarly response to Abu Bilal Jhanguvi’s "Tohfa Ahl-e-Hadith".
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr al-Maliki رحمه الله:
Imam Malik practiced Raf' al-Yadayn as per this Hadith until his death.
Source: Al-Tamheed, Vol 9, Pg 213
❀ Companions such as Amr ibn Umayyah, Bilal, Thawban, Salman al-Farsi, and Khuzaymah ibn Thabit رضي الله عنهم narrated this act.
Prominent Imams including Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Ibn Abbas, Imam Ahmad, Imam Awza'i, and Imam Sufyan al-Thawri supported this.
Sources: Sahih Muslim, Ibn Hibban, Tabarani, Majma' al-Zawaid
❀ Supported by: Ali, Ammar, Ibn Abbas, Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, and Urwah ibn al-Zubayr.
Sources: Tirmidhi, Al-Muhalla
❀ Imam Malik, Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Isḥaq held it obligatory.
Source: Tafsir Qurtubi, Al-Tamheed, Vol 20, Pg 194
❀ "لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ"
Sources: Bukhari, Muslim
No Sahih Hadith affirms that joining in Ruku equals catching the Rak’ah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari
Multiple companions including Ali, Ibn Mas’ud, Abu Hurairah, Anas, and Ibn Amr practiced this.
❀ Ibn Abd al-Barr: Abu Bakr and Umar's Janazah were prayed in the mosque too, with no Sahaba objecting.
Source: Al-Tamheed, Vol 21, Pg 222
❀ One-rak'ah Witr practiced by: Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Ibn Umar, Muawiyah, Aisha, and 20+ other companions
Source: Tirmidhi, Ibn Hajar, Al-Muhalla
❀ Companions including Asma bint Abi Bakr and Jabir ibn Abdullah affirmed it was eaten during the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
Source: Bukhari, Muslim, Sharh Muslim by Nawawi
❀ Hadith: "كُلُّ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ ذَبْحٌ"
Sources: Musnad Ahmad, Dar Qutni, Bayhaqi
Even Imam Abu Hanifa’s final Fatwas differ from his earlier opinions.
❶ Wiping over turban
❷ One-strike Tayammum
❸ Reciting Fatiha in Janazah
❹ Janazah in mosque
❺ One-rak’ah Witr
❻ Halal status of horse meat
❼ Four-day Udhiyyah
❽ Women’s I’tikaf in homes
❾ Enforcement of Hadd by owner of slave
❿ Judging by oath and witness
Even Shah Waliullah quoted Imam Malik refusing state-enforced implementation of his book "Moṭṭa".
فما كان جوابكم فهو جوابنا
"Your answer to these points is our answer to your objections."
◈ Introduction: Misrepresentation of Ahl al-Madinah
Abu Bilal Jhanguvi attempts to highlight differences between the Ahl-e-Hadith and the people of Madinah by solely representing Imam Malik رحمه الله as their voice. This generalization is misleading, for Madinah was home to numerous scholars from the progeny of the Companions. Imam Malik, though a significant scholar, is one among many—his views do not represent the collective consensus of Ahl al-Madinah.◈ Issue:
According to Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنه, the Prophet ﷺ used to raise his hands at the beginning of Salah, before and after Ruku.❀ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr al-Maliki رحمه الله:
Imam Malik practiced Raf' al-Yadayn as per this Hadith until his death.
Source: Al-Tamheed, Vol 9, Pg 213
◈ Issue:
Jhanguvi claims Imam Malik did not permit wiping over the turban, yet authentic Ahadith from Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, and Musnad Ahmad confirm that the Prophet ﷺ did so.❀ Companions such as Amr ibn Umayyah, Bilal, Thawban, Salman al-Farsi, and Khuzaymah ibn Thabit رضي الله عنهم narrated this act.
Prominent Imams including Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Ibn Abbas, Imam Ahmad, Imam Awza'i, and Imam Sufyan al-Thawri supported this.
Sources: Sahih Muslim, Ibn Hibban, Tabarani, Majma' al-Zawaid
◈ Issue:
Imam Malik accepted Tayammum with one strike, aligning with Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, where the Prophet ﷺ instructed one strike for wiping the face and hands.❀ Supported by: Ali, Ammar, Ibn Abbas, Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, and Urwah ibn al-Zubayr.
Sources: Tirmidhi, Al-Muhalla
◈ Issue:
Though Imam Malik was known for not permitting Fatiha behind the Imam in audible prayers, Imam Qurtubi al-Maliki affirmed the obligation of Fatiha in every rak’ah for everyone.❀ Imam Malik, Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Isḥaq held it obligatory.
Source: Tafsir Qurtubi, Al-Tamheed, Vol 20, Pg 194
◈ Issue:
Ahl-e-Hadith do not consider a Rak'ah valid without Fatiha, based on:❀ "لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ"
Sources: Bukhari, Muslim
No Sahih Hadith affirms that joining in Ruku equals catching the Rak’ah.
◈ Issue:
Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه recited Fatiha in a Janazah prayer and stated it is Sunnah.Source: Sahih Bukhari
Multiple companions including Ali, Ibn Mas’ud, Abu Hurairah, Anas, and Ibn Amr practiced this.
◈ Issue:
Despite Jhanguvi’s objection, Aisha رضي الله عنها confirmed the Prophet ﷺ prayed Janazah in the mosque.❀ Ibn Abd al-Barr: Abu Bakr and Umar's Janazah were prayed in the mosque too, with no Sahaba objecting.
Source: Al-Tamheed, Vol 21, Pg 222
◈ Issue:
Though Imam Malik said Witr is three, Ibn Abd al-Barr clarified Imam Malik endorsed two + one format, affirming single Witr practice.❀ One-rak'ah Witr practiced by: Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Ibn Umar, Muawiyah, Aisha, and 20+ other companions
Source: Tirmidhi, Ibn Hajar, Al-Muhalla
◈ Issue:
Despite Imam Malik calling it Makruh, Abu Hanifa had two views. Final Fatwa: horse meat is Halal.❀ Companions including Asma bint Abi Bakr and Jabir ibn Abdullah affirmed it was eaten during the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
Source: Bukhari, Muslim, Sharh Muslim by Nawawi
◈ Issue:
Imam Malik preferred three days, but Ali, Ibn Abbas, and others extended to four days.❀ Hadith: "كُلُّ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ ذَبْحٌ"
Sources: Musnad Ahmad, Dar Qutni, Bayhaqi
◈ Moṭṭa and Durr Mukhtar: Medinan Texts?
Jhanguvi claims Moṭṭa Imam Malik is the only Medinan text, ignoring the many contradictions between Moṭṭa and Hanafi Fiqh.Even Imam Abu Hanifa’s final Fatwas differ from his earlier opinions.
◈ Ahl-e-Hadith vs. Medinan Practices
Despite their criticisms, Hanafi scholars differ from Imam Malik on:❶ Wiping over turban
❷ One-strike Tayammum
❸ Reciting Fatiha in Janazah
❹ Janazah in mosque
❺ One-rak’ah Witr
❻ Halal status of horse meat
❼ Four-day Udhiyyah
❽ Women’s I’tikaf in homes
❾ Enforcement of Hadd by owner of slave
❿ Judging by oath and witness
Even Shah Waliullah quoted Imam Malik refusing state-enforced implementation of his book "Moṭṭa".
❖ Conclusion: Who Truly Follows Madinah?
Imam Malik never imposed his views as binding. Ahl-e-Hadith respect his scholarship but reject elevating his opinions over authentic texts. Ironically, those accusing others of opposing Ahl al-Madinah themselves differ from Imam Malik in numerous issues. Hence,فما كان جوابكم فهو جوابنا
"Your answer to these points is our answer to your objections."
