One of the Maraji` of `Iraq
1341-1435
He is Yasin ibn Turki ibn Jasim At-Turki Al-Heeti Al-Hanbali. Originally hailing from a family of Hanbali theologians, artisans, craftsman and builders, he was born into a good family of knowledge and etiquettes in the year 1341. He studied and completed the Qur’an at a very young age and benefited from his teacher, the great marja` and Imam, `Abdul `Aziz As-Samara’ii.
His peers consider the Shaikh to be the greatest and most knowledgeable of his time without any dispute. He is certainly senior to most of the maraji` of `Iraq in age and it is through his careful and diligent prompting that much of the Sunni uprising was called to a halt in the initial period for a greater good.
The reasoning of the Imam was that the brothers should strengthen their forces first and then when they had sufficient power they could launch a full scale assault. In the current phase, the Imam explained, they would not have sufficient power for a sustained war and would instead have to rely on guerrilla tactics – something he did not believe feasible due to the terrain and history of `Iraq.
His Activities
Imam Yasin Al-Hanbali was the Imam and Friday preacher at the `Uthman ibn `Affan Central Masjid in Heet and the head specialist in all the beginning (madaris) and advanced (ma`ahid) schools.
Notable rulings
The Imam, upon conducting marriages, tends to hold absolute decreed due to the prevalence of divorce requests and also the haste of some husbands in uttering pronouncements. By holding absolute decree, couples cannot divorce without his consent.
Imam Yasin Al-Hanbali holds the position that three talaqs delivered in one sitting when the woman is in her monthly cycle is counted as one talaq. The primary position the Imam leans on is taken directly from the rulings and conclusions of the marja`, Imam Ibn Al-Mabrid, in the text, Ilhath.
The ruling given by the Imam is that the case of Surat un-Nisa’ (4), ayah 34, the husband (and not the court – according to normal jurisdictional accounts) can deliver light corporal punishment to the wife as long as it is not severe, does not leave marks nor are the blows to be delivered to the face.
This same Imam also commanded that the khutbahs should deal with contemporary affairs and never preached from a book as this can lead to ossification of the soul and loss of attention span.
When asked about current issues and which madhhab he uses for deducing current rulings for new rulings, the Imam stated that he uses the Usul but the periphery of all the schools and then reaches his conclusions. He has thus firmly placed himself in the same camp of understanding as Imams Muwaffaq ud-Din Ibn Qudamah, `Ala’ ud-Din Al-Mardawi (d.855), `Abdul Ghani Al-Lubadi (d.1319) and half of the maraji` of the school.
Thus when it comes to new issues, he made ample use of the Usul of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him and exercised great levity in the branches and uses the maximum consideration possible.
Imam Yasin Al-Heeti, by doing this, has grounded himself carefully in the more lenient tradition of Usuli scholars like Imam Najm ud-Din At-Tufi (d.716) – who believed that Masalih ul-Mursalah (General Principles of Revealed Law that Can Lead to Particulars being Expounded) should receive maximum consideration.
This position – as espoused by Imam At-Tufi – is not without detractors and neither is Imam Al-Heeti; but both have their reasons and both are held in high regard no matter what contemporaries may hold opposing views.
Later life and death
The Imam had a life filled with teaching and preaching. As one of those held in high regard by the youth, he called for a cessation in the uprising against the foreign troops in Iraq in order to allow the Muslims to regroup.
This level of strength and rank, along with his careful bearing of the septre of ijtihad, made it a great blow to other authorities when he died on 1 Shawwal 1435 AH. His funeral was headed by laity and elite alike, mourners remembering the man of tremendous rank and humility.
Source: [website/al-maktaba.org/book/31617/3087]
Meeraath 