Nahiem Ajmal
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Nahiem Ajmal | |
|---|---|
نهيم أجمل | |
| Title | Shaykh, Mufti |
| Personal | |
| Born | c. 1979 (age 44–45) |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Maliki |
| Alma mater | University of Damascus, Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi |
| Occupation | Islamic scholar, YouTuber, tutor |
| Muslim leader | |
Influenced by | |
YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Subscribers | 39 thousand[1] |
| Total views | 12.81 million[1] |
Last updated: 30 January 2024 | |
Nahiem Ajmal (born c. 1979), more commonly known as Mufti Abu Layth, is a YouTuber, Birmingham-based British Pakistani Muslim cleric.[2][3] He has received criticism from conservative Islamic scholars for his unconventional thinking and criminal convictions.
Education[edit]
Ajmal studied Islamic theology first in Damascus and then in Karachi, where he memorised the Qur'an. Besides this, he has studied psychology[4] He speaks five languages, including Urdu and Arabic.[5][dubious ]
Views[edit]
Jurisprudence (Fiqh)[edit]
Despite his conservative education, he prefers to choose what he believes is a more logical understanding about many of the more traditional codes by which muftis are expected to abide by.[6][7] He is known to employ a satirical approach to fiqh that appeals to many Muslims, shunning mainstream, widely held positions. In particular, he is known for issuing fatawa (Islamic legal opinions) on social media where he has a large following. In a first for Muslim social media, Abu Layth made a video titled "Bukharigate" aimed at proving that the hadith are not as reliable as deemed.[8]
Some of his more famous verdicts include: hijab not being a mandatory clothing for Muslim women,[9] that Muslims are permitted to draw figures and the permissibility of celebrating non-Muslim holidays such as Christmas and Halloween.[10] Other verdicts ascribed to him are that beards can be groomed and that it is permitted to have tattoos.[11] Another major difference between him and traditional scholars is in the age of Muhammad's wife Aisha, where he does not support the view that she was nine at the time of marriage.[12]
Theology[edit]
In his sessions he also answers theological questions, such as, "Do we accept mutawatir hadith if they contradict the Qur'an?"[4] He rejects the Second Coming of Jesus and the belief in the Islamic Antichrist,[11] as well as the concepts of evil eye, black magic, and jinn possession.[13] Theologically, he does not align with literalist schools of thought that believe in anthropomorphism.[14] He also adopts an allegorical approach towards the Quran's miracle stories.[15] His hermeneutical approach is similar to that of other modernist scholars, in that laws were designed to reflect the day and age in which they came, and do not need to be the same in every era.[16]
Politics[edit]
Ajmal supports peaceful relations between Israel and Palestine via a two-state solution. He suggests the two-state solution, arguing that such a pragmatic attempt at resolution is not un-Islamic. He argues to this effect that Islam has for a long time had the goal of mitigating suffering and establishing justice, even at times with compromise.[17]
Ajmal has been invited to the White House in recognition of his anti-terror work.[18] [better source needed]He has also been described as a key figure locally in the UK's counter-extremism Prevent strategy.[19]
Criticism[edit]
Due to some of his views, he has caused criticism and denunciations. Mohammad Yasir has labelled Ajmal "Dajjal" due to Ajmal's satirical approach and boldness in front of fundamentalist preachers.[20][21] Others accuse him of "mocking the deen" and have stated he has "no gheerah", with some criticising in particular his choice of topics in his live streams, especially when he covers topics with a rational point of view.[21] In addition, he has been criticised for his alleged advisory role with the now defunct Quillium Foundation.[11]
Controversy and criminal conviction[edit]
During the Park View School Trojan Horse scandal, Ajmal was a part-time tutor at the school. In a statement, the police revealed however that Ajmal was involved in Prevent. After this was revealed, Ajmal was promptly suspended by the school. The police's statement, Ajmal argued, had jeopardised his safety.[19]
This is the Trojan Horse school, run by senior staff who were people of potential interest to the police. For obvious reasons I didn't tell them about my other works. It was grossly negligent to share such data on potential terrorists with them and it clearly compromised the people concerned for potential manipulation by groomers.
— Ajmal's statement quoted by the Telegraph[19]
In 2014, while working as a religious teacher at Park View school he was arrested by West Midlands Police for possessing extreme pornography under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, but the outcome of this case has not been reported.[22] In 2015, he was jailed for six months for his role in a plot which saw a police officer try to access restricted information about a woman who had fled her husband. Ajmal asked the officer if he could “pull any slippery strings” in order to locate the woman.[11][18][23][24]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b "About Mufti Abu Layth". YouTube.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, p. 67.
- ^ Kesvani 2019, p. 23.
- ^ a b Kesvani 2019, p. 25.
- ^ Oldham 2014.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, p. 70.
- ^ Kesvani 2019, p. 24.
- ^ BukhariGate Part 1: Sahih Bukhari is NOT so Sahih -Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Verse in Surah Al-Nur about the Hijab | Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Dalvi 2018, p. 68.
- ^ a b c d Hussein 2018.
- ^ Age of Aisha (ra)- Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Jinn Possession Debunked | Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ The differences between the Ashari & Athari School | Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ In Depth: Sulaiman (a.s.), the Throne of Sheba, and Miracles in the Quran -Mufti Abu Layth, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ What is Trajectory Hermeneutics? - Mufti Abu Layth Al-Maliki, retrieved 2023-03-12
- ^ Ali & Stuart 2013, pp. 58–59.
- ^ a b Cartledge 2015.
- ^ a b c Gilligan 2015.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, pp. 67–69.
- ^ a b Kesvani 2019, pp. 25–26.
- ^ "Teacher at 'Trojan Horse' school charged over extreme porn". 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Teacher who 'stopped kids joining Isis' is jailed over plot to track down jilted pal's wife". Birmingham Mail. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Birmingham police officer sentenced for misconduct". BBC. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
References[edit]
- Ali, Rashad; Stuart, Hannah (2013). A Guide to Refuting Jihadism. London: Henry Jackson Society. ISBN 9781909035089.
- Brekke, Torkel; Larsen, Malik (2020). "Allah, Villa, Volvo: Muslim Professionals in the Nordic Countries and Their Financial Attitudes and Practices". Open Library of Humanities. 6 (2). doi:10.16995/olh.570. hdl:11250/3017887. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Cartledge, James (10 February 2015). "Teacher who 'stopped kids joining Isis' is jailed over plot to track down jilted pal's wife". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Dalvi, Mohammed Subhan (2018). Fatawa and their development since the early Islamic era (PDF) (MRes). University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Gilligan, Andrew (15 February 2015). "Police chief investigated over Trojan horse school leak". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- Hussein, Dilly (15 May 2018). "Leaked audio recording reveals controversial "Mufti" Abu Layth using vile sexual profanities against critics". 5 Pillars. London. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- Kesvani, Hussein (2019). Follow me, Akhi: the online world of British Muslims. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781787381254.
- Oldham, Jeanette (29 May 2014). "Teacher at 'Trojan Horse' school charged over extreme porn". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham. Retrieved 27 May 2021.