Nahiem Ajmal (born c. 1979), commonly known by the kunya Abu Layth, is a British Islamic scholar of a Pakistani background based in Birmingham. A follower of the Maliki school of jurisprudence and the Ash'ari school of theology of Sunni Islam, Abu Layth is a mufti and has received criticism from other Islamic scholars for many of his controversial views.
Abu Layth | |
|---|---|
 Abu Layth in 2024 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Nahiem Ajmal c. 1979 (age 44–45) |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Maliki |
| Creed | Ash'ari |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Subscribers | 41 thousand[1] |
| Total views | 13.42 million[1] |
Last updated: 25 June 2024 | |
Early life and education
editAjmal was born in c. 1979 and is of a British Pakistani background. He studied Islamic theology first at the Damascus University and then at Jamia Darul Uloom, Karachi, where he memorised the Qur'an. Besides this, he has studied psychology[2] He speaks five languages, including Arabic and Urdu.[3][dubious – discuss] He is based in Birmingham.[4][5] Abu Layth aligns himself with the Ash'ari school of theology and the Maliki school of jurisprudence.[6]
Views
editJurisprudence (Fiqh)
editDespite 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.[7][8] He is known to employ a satirical approach to Islamic jurisprudence 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.
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]
Theology
editIn his sessions he also answers theological questions, such as, "Do we accept mutawatir hadith if they contradict the Qur'an?"[2] He rejects the Second Coming of Jesus and the belief in the Antichrist,[11] as well as the concepts of evil eye, black magic, and jinn possession.[12] Theologically, he does not align with literalist schools of thought that believe in anthropomorphism.[13] He also adopts an allegorical approach towards the Quran's miracle stories.[14] 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.[15]
Politics
editAjmal 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.[16] On 17 May 2021, Ajmal's house in Birmingham was invaded by a mob, accusing him of supporting Israel, which Ajmal denied.[17]
Ajmal was 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, controversy and criminal conviction
editAbu Layth's views has caused criticism and denunciations. English Islamic scholar Muhammad Yasir al-Hanafi labelled him a dajjal ("deceiver") due to Ajmal's satirical approach and boldness in front of fundamentalist preachers.[20][21] Others accuse him of "mocking the din" and have stated he has "no ghayra", 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]
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]
References
edit- ^ a b "About Mufti Abu Layth". YouTube.
- ^ a b Kesvani 2019, p. 25.
- ^ Oldham 2014.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, p. 67.
- ^ Kesvani 2019, p. 23.
- ^ Mufti Abu Layth (2019-11-04). The differences between the Ashari & Athari School | Mufti Abu Layth. Retrieved 2024-07-19 – via YouTube.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, p. 70.
- ^ Kesvani 2019, p. 24.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Birmingham Mail 2021.
- ^ a b Cartledge 2015.
- ^ a b c Gilligan 2015.
- ^ Dalvi 2018, pp. 67–69.
- ^ a b Kesvani 2019, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Birmingham Mail 2014.
- ^ BBC 2015.
Sources
edit- Ali, Rashad; Stuart, Hannah (2013). A Guide to Refuting Jihadism. London: Henry Jackson Society. ISBN 9781909035089.
- "Birmingham police officer sentenced for misconduct". BBC. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- "Teacher at 'Trojan Horse' school charged over extreme porn". Birmingham Mail. 29 May 2014.
- "Moment armed gang burst into Castle Bromwich home of imam as kids and family inside". Birmingham Mail. 18 May 2021.
- 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.