Can we pick and choose what command of the Khalifa is Maruf?

Introduction

We Ahmadi Muslims read the following in our Khuddam, Atfal, Ansar, Nasirat, and Lajna pledge:

Moreover I shall deem it essential to abide by any “Maroof” decision made by Khalifatul Masih

Thus, people often wonder if a certain command/advice of the Khalifa is Ma’ruf or not. This article will explain if we can label the command/directives of the Khalifa as ma’ruf or otherwise.

What does Ma’ruf mean?

The word ma’ruf means everything that is in line with the commandments of the Holy Qur’an and the instruction of the shariah.

Ma’ruf in Quran

This word is used in the Holy Quran for the decisions of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ اِذَا جَآءَکَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتُ یُبَایِعۡنَکَ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ لَّا یُشۡرِکۡنَ بِاللّٰہِ شَیۡئًا وَّلَا یَسۡرِقۡنَ وَلَا یَزۡنِیۡنَ وَلَا یَقۡتُلۡنَ اَوۡلَادَہُنَّ وَلَا یَاۡتِیۡنَ بِبُہۡتَانٍ یَّفۡتَرِیۡنَہٗ بَیۡنَ اَیۡدِیۡہِنَّ وَاَرۡجُلِہِنَّ وَلَا یَعۡصِیۡنَکَ فِیۡ مَعۡرُوۡفٍ فَبَایِعۡہُنَّ وَاسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَہُنَّ اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ

O Prophet! when believing women come to thee, taking the oath of allegiance at thy hands that they will not associate anything with Allah, and that they will not steal, and will not commit adultery, nor kill their children, nor bring forth a scandalous charge which they themselves have deliberately forged, nor disobey thee in what is right, then accept their allegiance and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.

Did the Sahaba (R.A) distinguish between the Ma’ruf and the non-Ma’ruf commands of the Prophet (S.A.W)

In the verse above, Allah describes the commands of the Prophet (S.A.W) using the same word ma’ruf. This means that it is not just the Khalifa that makes a ma’ruf decision but also the Prophet (S.A.W) himself.

But do we have any companion of the Prophet (S.A.W) who divided the commands/decisions of the Prophet (S.A.W) into ma’ruf and non-ma’ruf?

No, we do not find any such example or incident. The Sahaba (R.A) obeyed the Prophet (S.A.W) at all times, without asking him or discussing if a certain command of his was ma’ruf or not.

Can the Khalifa ever give a non-ma’ruf command?

Now that we have established that even the Sahaba (R.A) did not go about making a list of ma’ruf and non-ma’ruf commands. This proves that the Prophet’s (S.A.W) every command is ma’ruf because why would the Prophet (S.A.W) give a command that he thinks is not ma’ruf (i.e not in line with Shariah)?

Similarly, why would a Khalifa deliberately give a command that is not ma’ruf? Thus, every command of the Khalifa is also ma’ruf as per him, otherwise, it doesn’t make sense for him to give a command that is against Shariah.

But the Khalifa is fallible so he can make a mistake and give a non-ma’ruf command?

True, the Khalifa can make mistakes in the matter of religion. He is not a Prophet of Allah. But Allah protects the community from adverse effects even if a mistake is made.

“It is possible for a Khalifa to commit an error in his personal matters. However, in matters upon which relies the spiritual and physical progress of the Jamaat, Allah protects His Jamaat from any adverse effects, even if a mistake is made. Allah somehow makes the Khalifa aware of the mistake”

[Tafsir-e-Kabir, commentary on Surah al-Nur, pp. 376-377]

What should we do in case of a mistake by Khalifa?

A Khalifa can technically make mistakes in matters of religion and fiqh. If one thinks that the Khalifa is not correct in his opinion, one can disagree and remind the Khalifa of the correct view. This can be done by writing a letter to the Khalifa with the relevant proofs from Quran, Sunnah, and Ahadith.

Khalifa V (a.t.b.a) has explained this in the following words:

If you prove that it is not in the Holy Quran and has never been practised by the Holy Prophet sa then you will have to give the proof of it and for that you will write to the Khalifa of the time instead of just talking and giving loose comments on social media.

I remember in my first or second sermon I said that ‘Whenever you see something wrong in me, you ask me. And try to correct me. If I think that whatever I said was right, then I will give you the proof that I was right. If you are right, then I will correct myself.

In such a case the person should give their proof over why they thought a decision was wrong. The Khalifa of the time would either give his proof of why it was right or if the person was correct, he would take the decision back.

[Virtual Mulaqat, March 6th, 2022]

Summary

• All the commandments of the Khalifa are ma’ruf because why would a Khalifa deliberately say something that is not in line with Shariah?
• Sahaba (R.A) did not pick and choose what Muhammad (S.A.W) said and the word ma’ruf is used in the Quran to describe his commandments.
• Since Sahaba (R.A) did not create a list of ma’ruf and non-ma’ruf commands of Muhammad (S.A.W) or the Khulafa after him, we cannot do that.