Question Summary:
Why didn’t our Akabir respect the orthography in the classical books?

Question Detail:

Jazakumullah khaira for the detailed answer along with the reference! One thing is still unclear: why didn't our Akaabir respect this orthography in the classical kutub be it the sihah sitta or the Mushaf. Moreover, what about the silence of the Ulama on this matter? Isn't that some form of ijma. I'm just confused as in our Madrassah we didn't respect that but a friend was telling me that it's a mistake so students should be made to observe this rule!

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
 
As-salāmu `alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.
 
While we do accept that everyone besides the Anbiyaa (Alayhim al – Salaam) is prone to mistakes, we cannot deny the importance of showing respect to our Mashaa’ikh and Akaabir (senior elders). This is of utmost importance and cannot be overemphasized. Respect plays a pivotal role in the acquisition of Ilm.
 
However, in all probability, the mistake of omitting the Hamza Qat’ee was committed from the side of the publishing house where the book was published.
 
Much more serious mistakes like omitting letters from words, omitting entire sentences, changing of words e.t.c have been committed by the publishing houses of much more reputable works.
 
These types of mistakes have even occurred in the books of great and senior Ulema like Allamah Sarakhsi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) in his book “Al – Mabsooth”, Allamah Burhaan al –Deen Ibn Maadhah al-Bukhari (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) in his book “al – Muheeth al – Burhaani” and many other classical books.
 
It will be incorrect to definitely associate mistakes of such a nature to the Akaabir especially those mistakes related to the orthography of the text.
 
And Allah knows best.
 
Moulana Ismail Desai
Durban, South Africa
Student Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Daaruliftaa.net