Articles

The Distortion of Islam`s Good Image by Enemies
Author : The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies
Date Added : 08-10-2014

 

The Distortion of The Tolerant Image of Islam`s by Enemies and Extremists

 

Islam is a comprehensive, global, divine religion with which Allah, The Almighty sent our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as a mercy to the Worlds and as a savior to humanity from temptation and straying from the right path through propagating what is right and just as well as calling people to follow the way of Allah with wisdom and beautiful preaching; therefore, the Prophet delivered the message of Allah and fulfilled His Trust. As a result, the bright image of Islam was reflected on the whole universe and Muslims started propagating the values of tolerance, justice, and human dignity in adherence to Allah`s injunction, whereas; He The Most Exalted Says in following verse (What means): "God commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." [An-Nahil/90].

Islam has done its part in establishing noble human values that propagate justice, tolerance, and mercy. Similarly, Muslims have done their part in founding human civilization throughout the different stages of history. However, nowadays, we can clearly notice the barbaric campaign, against this religion, which aims at degrading it and distorting its true image. This campaign is orchestrated by enemies and by some Muslims as well.

Enemies have manipulated extremist groups and so, they depicted Islam as their enemy, over distorted its image, and done wrong to its Prophet (PBUH). Consequently, , The Message of Amman-the message of the true Islam- was released in 2004 as a warning against this distortion, and as a denouncement to terrorism regardless of its form, or source, which is embodied in transgressing against human life through killing the innocent and terrorizing the peaceful.

Non-adherence to the righteous path by some doesn`t legitimize stigmatizing Islam and Muslims with extremism and terrorism. It is imperative that scholars, intellectuals, and people of bright minds clarify the true image of Islam as well as its great principles. They must also refute the suspicious matters of the extremists and reflect the true nature of extremism and methods of addressing it since a true Muslim is one who calls to the way of Allah with wisdom and beautiful preaching as He, The Most Exalted Says (What means): "Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance." [An-Nahil/125].

We, The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies, stress a number of principles that can`t be manipulated under any circumstance. The most important of these is that any transgression against life, wealth and honor is forbidden since protecting them is among the aims of Islamic Law. Another principle is confirming the maintenance of social peace and security for the Prophet says in this regard: "He who sleeps safely among his people, enjoys good health, owns his daily food is as if he owns the whole world." A third principle is to bring forward the bright image of the moderate Islam, which is free from all aspects of extremism, terrorism and transgression.

Accordingly, we call on all Jordanians to unite steadfastly against calls of violence, extremism, bloodshed, and to be aware of biased rumors, and not to circulate them without considering the consequences and evils which could lead to the destruction of society and undermining its pillars.

We also call on the various means of mass media to carry out their role in portraying the true image of Islam, not to trust rumors, and to solidify the true Islamic values. This is because media shoulders a great responsibility as it represents the conscience of the nation and society. Thus, it is incumbent on those working in this field to do their job responsibly without distortion, counterfeiting, or exaggeration since a word is a dangerous weapon which can be double-edged since once it is true, reliable, and good it leads to goodness and construction, but once it is untrue, unreliable, and corrupt it leads to evil and destruction.

We beseech Allah The Almighty to keep our country safe and secure through the united efforts of its loyal citizens, Amen. And all perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible for a woman to offer the obligatory prayer after Adhaan (call for prayer), and before Iqamah (The announcement that the prayer is about to begin) in the mosque?
 

Yes, it is permissible for a woman to offer the obligatory prayer immediately after the Adhan and before the Iqamah in the mosque. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on using a patch to suppress hunger or a nicotine patch while fasting?

Fasting is a great act of worship and one of the pillars of Islam. If people knew the immense reward of Ramadan, they would wish for the whole year to be Ramadan.
Whoever eats Suhoor and breaks their fast according to the Sunnah will not experience extreme hardship, making such patches unnecessary.
However, using these patches does not break the fast because they are not a source of nourishment and do not enter the body cavity (jauf) through an open passage.

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is the Saying "Whatever is Taken by the Sword of Shyness is Forbidden" an Authentic Ḥadīth?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The saying "Whatever is taken by the sword of shyness is forbidden" is not an authentic ḥadīth, though its underlying meaning is sound. The established sharʿī principle is that a Muslim's wealth is not lawful for anyone to take except with his wholehearted consent, as Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly, but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Al-Nisā/ 29] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Listen to me and you will live well: do not wrong others, do not wrong others, do not wrong others. Indeed, a man's wealth is not lawful except with his full, willing consent." (Reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.) Whatever is taken through the pressure of shyness or social embarrassment runs directly counter to genuine, wholehearted consent.
The jurists have explicitly stated that whatever is taken by means of the "sword of shyness" carries the same ruling as that which is taken by coercion — it must be returned to its rightful owner.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states in al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā (Vol.3/P.30): "Do you not see the reported scholarly consensus that whoever has something taken from him purely out of shyness, without his genuine consent, does not pass ownership of it to the one who took it? They reasoned that this constitutes a form of coercion through the 'sword of shyness,' comparable to coercion at the point of an actual sword. Indeed, many people would rather submit to the literal sword and endure the pain of its wound than submit to this first kind of coercion, out of fear for their dignity and standing — which people of sound judgment hold dear and guard most fiercely." And Allah the Almighty knows best.