What Does It Mean To “Die Without Knowing the Imam of One’s Time?”
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
What is the context and the explanation of this hadith, “Anyone who dies without knowing the Imam of his time will die the death of one belonging to Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance).”
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Wording and Authentication
The word ‘without knowing the Imam of his time’ is not mentioned in the hadith books.
As for the following hadith, which is, ‘Whoever dies without an Imam, dies a pre-ignorant-era death’ is mentioned in Muslim, Tabrani, Jam’u’l-Fawa’id, Musnad al-Tayalisi, Ilal al-Dar al-Qutni. Also, the following words are in the hadith book, ‘whoever dies and does not have the noose of allegiance on his neck has died a pre-ignorant-era death.’ [Muslim]
Nafi (may Allah have mercy on him) reports, (When they deposed Yazid and gathered on Abdullah Ibn Muti’) Ibn’ Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Abdullah ibn Muti’. He said, Put up a pillow for Abu’ Abd al-Rahman (Abdullah ibn Umar). He replied, I did not come to sit down; I came to you to speak to you; I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Whoever takes off a hand of obedience to Allah, on the Day of Judgment he has no argument, and whoever dies and does not have the noose of allegiance on his neck, has passed a pre-ignorant death.” [Muslim]
Explanation
The meaning of both the hadith is that if there is a Caliph/Supreme Leader (Imam), one should not break allegiance, and it is not permissible to go against him unless one sees clear disbelief. The companions put ahead the matter of appointing a Caliph before the burial of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), as it is necessary to appoint a Caliph who can fulfill and take care of its interests and rights, organize its army and collect its obligatory alms. Supreme leadership (Imamah) may be legally affected through the selection of those with discretionary power to enact or dissolve a pact (Ahl al-hall wa-l’-aqd) like the appointment of Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him), or through the caliph appointing a successor, for Abu Bakr appointed ‘Umar as his successor. [Nahlawi, Al-Durar al-Mubaha]
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
