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.

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

My brother works in a conventional bank and gave me one of the gifts distributed to bank employees — what is the ruling on accepting it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to accepting such gifts, because the physical gift itself does not carry any inherent prohibition — unlike stolen property. Sin does not transfer or extend to the one who receives the gift, for Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [Al-Anʿām/164]
The evidence for this is that the Prophet ﷺ himself ate from the food of the Jews, conducted transactions with them, and purchased from them — and it is well known that their wealth was intermingled with ribā. Similarly, the wealth of conventional ribā-based banks is a mixture of the lawful and the unlawful.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is not forbidden to transact with one whose wealth is predominantly unlawful, nor to eat from it — as al-Nawawī affirmed in al-Majmūʿ." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 9/P.389] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Must a person refrain from eating for the rest of the day if they break a fast of a vow (nadhr) or a make up fast (qada)?

 

Whoever observes a vowed fast (nadhr) or a makeup fast (qada) is prohibited from breaking it without a valid excuse. If they break it without a legitimate reason, they are sinful.
However, they are not required to refrain from eating for the rest of the day, because such restraint is only required out of respect for the month of Ramadan, not for other types of fasting.

Is it permissible to make ablution without answering the call of nature after waking up?

Washing front and back openings (Istinjaa`) is not a condition for the validity of ablution because it is done to remove Najaasah (impurity), thus if there is no Najaasah, there is no need for that, and then it is permissible to make ablution without answering the call of nature. However, prayer is invalidated if there is Najaasah on the anus ,or the front opening, so it (Najaasah) must be removed for the prayer to become valid, and not the ablution.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on following the actions of the imam in prayer and how this following is achieved?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The follower (ma'mum) is required to follow his imam in the actions of the prayer. This "following" (mutaba'ah) means that the follower performs each action of the prayer after the imam has begun it but before he has finished it. For example, the follower bows (in ruku') after the imam has reached the position of bowing, then rises after the imam has risen. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The imam is only appointed to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say the takbir; and when he bows, then bow; and when he prostrates, then prostrate" (agreed upon, i.e., reported by both al-Bukhari and Muslim).
It is stated in Mughni al-Muhtaj (1/505): "Among the conditions of valid congregational prayer (iqtida') is following the imam in the actions of the prayer... meaning that following the imam is obligatory in the physical actions of the prayer, not in its verbal utterances... Complete following (kamal al-mutaba'ah) is achieved when the follower's beginning of an action comes after the imam's beginning of that same action, while the follower's beginning of the action precedes the imam's completion of it" — end of quote, with slight paraphrasing.
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.