Muftis are the highest spiritual elite in the Muslim world. Even today, most of the Islamic states listen to their advice and decrees . But at the same time, for many Orthodox people, this dignity remains a complete mystery. And so let's talk about who the muftis are and why they are so important for believers in Allah?
Muftis - who is this?
The Islamic world lives according to a special law - Sharia. And every self-respecting Muslim must abide by it. This rule applies to everyone, and it does not matter who you are: a simple peasant or a majestic ruler. However, it happens that different people can interpret the same Sharia law in their own way, which will lead to heated debate.
So, muftis are some kind of judges who are vested with the right to resolve religious conflicts. Their word is the last in such disputes, and it is no longer subject to refutation. Moreover, many important decisions that can affect the Muslim world are made only with the approval of the muftis.
Title story
The post “Mufti” first appeared in Egypt at the beginning of the VIII century, under the rule of the Umayyad Caliph Umar II. He believed that every wise ruler needs an adviser who knows the laws of Sharia. After which the post of mufti appeared in every major city and soon spread to the entire Muslim world.
And yet in those years, this title did not possess the same strength as today. But one day everything changed dramatically.
Supreme authority
As you know, initially the Koran prescribed all power on earth to one person - the Caliph. After all, according to the words of the great prophet, he was the deputy of God on earth. But in 1517 the powers of the caliph passed to the Ottoman sultanate, which brought a number of changes to Islam. In particular, the new ruler did not want to interfere in the spiritual strife of the people, and therefore he transferred this duty to his adviser.
If you believe the ancient chronicles, then the first to take this post was Zembilly Ali Jemal Effendi. Thanks to his title, he, on the one hand, legitimized the power of the Sultan, and on the other hand, established a new order of government in Islam. And although not everyone agreed with this order of things, the strength of the Ottoman sultanate was an undeniable argument.
And since then, the supreme mufti has been the chief religious judge. And even today, his power is as strong as in previous years.
Who can become a mufti?
Muftis are the highest spiritual servants, which means that it is quite difficult to break into their ranks. However, according to the laws of Islam, every true Muslim has a chance. But for this you need to meet several requirements.
- First of all, the chosen one must wholeheartedly believe in the power of Allah, otherwise he will be unworthy of this title.
- Mufti is a judge. Therefore, he should be well versed in those laws and legal norms that the Koran and Suna require for all Muslims.
- Also, the future clergyman must be honest, fair and incorruptible.
It should also be understood that the first person they come to this position is not taken. Therefore, it often happens that the current deputy mufti becomes the new judge. After all, he not only practices under the supervision of a living mentor, but also manages to earn a good reputation.