[Kona_Silat]

I had a civil debate with someone (well up until the person started making personal attacks) about the Quran. It started off with a discussion of a verse from Sura Al-Nisa about how men are protectors of women and this person went off with that a certain female "scholar" has said that there should be a need for more female quranic interpreters and the "scholar" was very well versed in Islam. I then questioned the schloraship of the "scholar" asking where did this person studied Islam (a critical thinking skill of questioning and analyzing the source-harmless nonetheless) and if this person knew Arabic enough. The person said he/she did not know but that "scholar" went to an Islamic school in Indonesia. I said in return that I doubt that this person has any weight in making a sound judgment or opinion considering that there is some doubt about the education of the "scholar". The person was offended that I doubted the person's knowledge of Islam (which is valid since we did not know where this person studied islam formally) and was labeled an "arrogant" Westerner. Then the flood gates of immature personal attacks came my way.

My question is ..was I wrong for questioning the "scholar"?


Btw scholar is a wife of one of Indonesian's presidents. Her name is Shinta Nuriyah. Based on what I read she is an activtist.

[Revert]

Originally Posted by Kona_Silat

I had a civil debate with someone (well up until the person started making personal attacks) about the Quran. It started off with a discussion of a verse from Sura Al-Nisa about how men are protectors of women and this person went off with that a certain female "scholar" has said that there should be a need for more female quranic interpreters and the "scholar" was very well versed in Islam. I then questioned the schloraship of the "scholar" asking where did this person studied Islam (a critical thinking skill of questioning and analyzing the source-harmless nonetheless) and if this person knew Arabic enough. The person said he/she did not know but that "scholar" went to an Islamic school in Indonesia. I said in return that I doubt that this person has any weight in making a sound judgment or opinion considering that there is some doubt about the education of the "scholar". The person was offended that I doubted the person's knowledge of Islam (which is valid since we did not know where this person studied islam formally) and was labeled an "arrogant" Westerner. Then the flood gates of immature personal attacks came my way.

My question is ..was I wrong for questioning the "scholar"?


Btw scholar is a wife of one of Indonesian's presidents. Her name is Shinta Nuriyah. Based on what I read she is an activtist.

If you have grounds too , then of course you have the right to question the scholar.

[Kona_Silat]

Originally Posted by Revert

If you have grounds too , then of course you have the right to question the scholar.

Well based on my post did i?

[GOTFIVEONIT]

Originally Posted by Kona_Silat

Well based on my post did i?

all scholars should be questioned. they are not holy men, they are theologians and nothing more.

[m_ali_qazi]

scholars are inheritors of the prophet peace be upon him and even the prophet was questioned.

There are specific times when the scholar cannot be questioned, but I doubt that applies to average people.

[Revert]

Originally Posted by Kona_Silat

Well based on my post did i?

i believe you did bro

[Kona_Silat]

Originally Posted by m_ali_qazi

scholars are inheritors of the prophet peace be upon him and even the prophet was questioned.

There are specific times when the scholar cannot be questioned, but I doubt that applies to average people.

But what makes a person a "scholar" as opposed to an average person because that was what the conflict was about? Shinta Nuriya is just a Muslim feminist activist, yet because she studied at a madrassah does that also make her an Islamic scholar.

[Revert]

Originally Posted by Kona_Silat

But what makes a person a "scholar" as opposed to an average person because that was what the conflict was about? Shinta Nuriya is just a Muslim feminist activist, yet because she studied at a madrassah does that also make her an Islamic scholar.

It all depends

Usually its an agreement by an Established school or the community.


To be a scholar one has to fufuil certain critirea (ie an command of the arabic language, knows the Quran and its tasfeer..Knows Many hadith books and fiqh manuals of by ehart)

I think it depends on the community though...I doubt an avaerage person would study to the extaent as many of the 'ulema do...though do find exceptions to that.