“There is No Male Preference in Islamic Law” is a work by the Moroccan scholar Shaykh Muhammad al-Ta’wil (1934-2015). It covers the debate about Islam’s purported unequal treatment of women. Why can Muslim men marry more than one wife? Why is the ratio of male to female witnesses in certain cases 2:1? Why do men receive a greater portion of inheritance than women? Come explore the answers to these questions and more.
After his talk, Shaykh Abdullah will be available to sign books. Books will be available to purchase for $20. Join us for this special occasion!
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Sunday, March 19 | MCC Prayer Hall | Join in person; talk will not be live-streamed
- More Shaykh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali: https://mcceastbay.org/abdullah
“Muḥammad Al-Taʾwīl was an intellectual powerhouse. And it is rare these days for students of knowledge to be able to claim to have studied with a master. So, I take great pride in being able to say that he was my actual teacher, not merely someone I encountered. May Allah shower him with His infinite mercy and eternalize his benefit.” Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali with the late Shaykh Muhammad al-Ta’wil (May Allah have mercy on him)
“The book repudiates the common allegation of Islam possessing an inherently male bias to the detriment of women as a false stereotype promulgated by the enemies of Islam whose goal is to alienate Muslim women and others…”
Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
About Lampost Education Initiative
The Lamppost Education Initiative is pleased to present this unique work by one of Morocco’s brilliant legal scholars of the 20th century, Dr. Muhammad al-Ta’wil (May Allah have mercy on him).
The debate about Islam’s purported unequal treatment of women is thoroughly addressed with cogent proofs and arguments. This book is an insightful response to Islam’s detractors and ammunition for Muslims who are proud of their faith.
This book has been translated by one of Shaykh Muhammad al-Ta’wil’s former students, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, the Founding Director of the Lamppost Education Initiative.
Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali’s commentary on the book: “There is No Male Preference in Islamic Law”
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ta’wil
1353-1436 AH
He is Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim ibn Hasain At-Tawil Al-Maghribi Al-Maliki.
Birth and early life
The Imam was born in the year in the city of `Ein Baridah in the land of Morocco to a modest family. His first teacher was his father, Imam Muhammad ibn Qasim, who was a great Imam in the sciences of recitation of the Qur’an and other fields in the Revealed Law.
Imam Muhammad At-Tawil memorised the Qur’an while still a young boy and went on to study with another great scholar by the name of Shaikh Muhammad Al-`Arabi Al-Masari. The Imam learned from this teacher Al-Ajurumiyyah and the commentary Alfiyyah in Arabic grammar. In fiqh, the Imam concentrated on Al-Murshid ul-Mu`in, Al-Mukhtasar and At-Tuhfah.
Upon completion of these he focused his attention to inheritance and other sciences. Allah brought him success when Imam at-Tawil enrolled into the oldest university of Muslim Orthodoxy, Al-Qarawiyyin.
He next came into contact with Shaikhs Abu Bakr Jasus, Muhammad al-`Imrani Az-Zarhuni and `Abdul Karim Ad-Dawudi and studied fiqh with them and other affairs while in the area of commentary he studied with Shaikh Al-`Arabi Ash-Shami. He began his hadith studies under Shaikh `Abdul `Aziz Bil-Khait while in grammar he was tutored by Shaikh `Abdul Hadi Al-Ya`qubi Bakhubza.
Shaikh Habib al-Mahaji was his teacher in Usul ul-Fiqh and in logic and creed he was taught by Shaikh Ibn `Abdul Qadir Al-Baqali. He continued to study and completed his work in rhetoric, speech and history under Shaikhs Muhammad Al-`Imrani and `Abdul Karim Al-`Iraqi and Al-Faqih Al-Ghamri, respectively.
Knowledge and Notable Rulings
The Imam is the marja` of the land, head preacher and teacher for the Moroccans as well as North Africa. His forceful stance on issues immediately surrounding the Revealed Law has made him a hero and champion to all who love knowledge and the truth.
He categorically demonstrated that the benefits taken from banks and also the mortgages (whether they are claimed as Islamic or not) were impermissible and cannot be claimed as emergency or necessity for Muslims living in the lands of Kufr. [Source: Wa Akhiran Waqa`at il-Waqi`ah wa Abih ir-Riba: Al-Fawa’id al-Bankiyyah, pp. 34-45]
No secular court has the power to dissolve a marriage or declare one valid but rather only the maraji` can effect a faskh or dissolving. [Source: This was beautifully dealt with in his text, Shadharat udh-Dhahab: Fima Jadda fi Qaday an-Nikahi wat-Talaqi an-Nasab]
DNA tests are not definitive proof for establishing maternity or paternity unless weighed with other factors as well.[Source: Mawqaf ush-Shari`at il-Islamiyyati Man I`timad al-Khabarat at-Tibbiyyata wal-Basamat al-Warithiyyata fi Ithbat in-Nasabi wa Nafiyahu]
A Muslim woman according to Consensus is not allowed to marry any man that is not a Muslim; but there have of late been “love doctors” at work not only in the Muslim world but even among “spokesmen for Muslims in the West” who have distorted verses and made it seem as if there was a “gentleman’s disagreement” on the topic.
This Imam categorically shows the proof, history, evidence and continuous examples of Consensus on the topic. [Source: Shadharat udh-Dhahab: Fima Jadda fi Qaday an-Nikahi wat-Talaqi an-Nasab, pp. 81-123]
As the teacher of Fiqh and Usul from the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, the Imam has showed great courage in tackling some of the most thorny and controversial issues of this current time. After years of service and teaching, he died at the time of `Asr prayer on Monday 16 Jumada Al-Akhirah in the year 1436 AH. And may Allah reward him and give him the highest rewards of Paradise.
Taken from: https://meeraath.wordpress.com/imam-muhammad-at-tawil/
Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural and Historical Studies in Religion (2016) and an M.A. in Ethics and Social Theory (2012) from the Graduate Theological Union. He obtained his B.A. (ijaza ‘ulya) in Islamic Law
(Shariah) from the prestigious Al-Qarawiyin University of Fes, Morocco in 2001. He served as full time Islamic chaplain at the State Correctional Institute of Chester, PA from 2002-2007, and is the founding director of the Lamppost Education Initiative. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Islamic law and Prophetic Tradition at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. His research interests include the interconnection between law and identity formation, comparative Islamic law, and Islam’s role in the modern world.