Which Book Is More Reliable — “Rukn al-Din” or “Bihishti Zewar”?

Question

Between “Rukn al-Din”, authored by Muhammad Rukn al-Din Naqshbandi Mujaddidi, and “Bihishti Zewar” (“Heavenly Ornaments”), authored by Hakim al-Umma, Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi ﵀ — which book, in light of the Noble Qur’an, the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and [the practice of] the Companions, the Tabi‘un and the Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in, is more authoritative, more fitting, sounder, and more elevated, on the matters where the two books disagree?

Answer

The book “Rukn al-Din” contains many rulings that are not established by the Noble Qur’an, the noble hadith, or the reports of the Companions, and are not transmitted from the mujtahid imams, especially Imam al-A‘zam Abu Hanifa ﵀ — rather, they are pure innovation (bid‘a). The common people should therefore avoid studying it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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