When Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyya (Rahmatullah alayh) visited South Africa some decades ago he had mass I‟tikaaf and loud Thikr.

Answer

We have no need to reconcile the Shariah with the views and practices of senior Ulama if their views and practices are in conflict with the Sunnah or any aspect of the Shariah. There is the need to reconcile their practices and views with the Shariah. If such reconciliation cannot be effected, then their views and opinions have to be compulsorily set aside, and not propagated for practice as if their acts are the Sunnah.

Senior Ulama and even Auliya also err due to short-sightedness and unawareness of the circumstances and the bid'aat in which the masses are involved. Referring to such errors of the Akaabir (senior Ulama/Auliya), Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah alayh) said:

"Some customs are so firmly entrenched that even great Ulama and Sulaha (pious persons) despite their profound Taqwa and Tahaarat also are oblivious. They are extremely lackadaisical with regard to these customs. This laxity in their attitude is due to the good opinion (husn-e-zann) they entertain. They are unaware of the motives and beliefs of the masses. Their gaze does not extend to the subtle evil consequences and corruption of these customs.

Only those whom Allah Ta'ala has created for the specific mission of eradicating evil, are able to recognize and detect the corruption of these customs."

Allaamah Abdul Wahhaab Sha'raani (Rahmatullah alayh) said: "He who holds on to the obscurities/rarities of the Ulama, verily he has made an exit from Islam." Numerous senior Ulama have echoed the same warning. It is not permissible to scuttle the Sunnah or any command of the Shariah by extracting daleel from such practices of the Akaabir which are in conflict with the Sunnah.