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The Preservation and Protection of Life (Nafs) is among the Higher Objectives of Islamic Law
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Hunaiti
Date Added : 05-01-2022

 

The Preservation and Protection of Life (Nafs) is among the Higher Objectives of Islamic Law

 

 

 

Praise be to Allah Who honored man and appointed him vicegerent on the earth to make it a better place. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? - whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He Said: "I know what ye know not." [Al-Baqarah/30].

 

Praise be to Allah Who sent the Messengers and revealed with them scriptures so that mankind may uphold justice. Allah wouldn`t leave people live like animals where the strong preys on the weak and deny him/her the right to live. To solve this dilemma, Allah has set up limits and granted rights to make sure that nobody would transgress against others and that conflict of interests amongst people would happen.

 

However, some people, and this does exist in all times and places, don`t seek the path of Allah and go astray surrendering to whims and desires and sell their souls to the devil. This chaotic situation causes the strong to overpower the weak, the rich to overpower the poor, and the ruler to overpower the ruled leading to the spread of crimes and the shedding of blood.

 

For that, Sharia, through its clear rulings, preserved life and made this a necessity. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land." [Al-Ma`idah/32]. In addition, on the authority of Ibn Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in three [instances]: the married person who commits adultery, a life for a life, and the one who forsakes his religion and separates from the community." [Moslim]. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (Blessings and peace be upon him) said: "Everything belonging to a Muslim is inviolable for a Muslim; his honour, his blood and property. Piety is here (and he pointed out to his chest thrice). It is enough for a Muslim to commit evil by despising his Muslim brother." [Moslim].

 

Based on these texts, Islam forbids taking life and considers this a major sin that has serious repercussions on the individual and the society considering the panic and fear it causes. Thus, it can`t be imagined that a Muslim would kill another Muslim save by mistake. Allah Says (What means): "Never should a believer kill a believer; but (If it so happens) by mistake," [An-Nisa`/92].

 

In explaining this verse, the great scholar Al-Alousi said: "Because belief discourages killing." [Tafseer Al-Alousi, vol.4/pp.178]. Commenting on this verse, Al-Qortobi said: "It means that a believer should never kill a believer, but if this happens it is by mistake." [Tafseer Al-Qortobi/ vol.5/272]. 

 

As for the one who kills deliberately, Allah has threatened to inflict the severest punishment on them. Allah Says (What means): "If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever):  "And the wrath and the curse of God are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him." [An-Nisa`/93]. Abu Darda` reported God’s Messenger as saying: "God may forgive every sin, except in the case of one who dies a polytheist, or one who purposely kills a believer." [Abu Dawood].

 

Due to the gravity of this crime, Allah holds the son of Adam, Cain, liable for every time someone is killed unjustly as he was the first to introduce this evil practice. The Messenger (Blessings and peace be upon him) said: "Cain is accountable for every life taken unjustly for he is the one who introduced this evil practice." [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No.3450]. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has spread throughout our society and even within the family itself.

 

It is worth noting that this crime is committed for trivial reasons and unrightfully; for money, revenge or honor. Therefore, officials, government and nongovernment bodies must curb this serious phenomenon, deter the offenders, and execute the punishments stipulated by Sharia in this regard to make them an example to others.

 

Furthermore, there are punishments in Sharia that suffice to deter offenders and murderers; so severe that they would never even think about committing a crime. Allah the Almighty says: "In the Law of Equality there is (saving of) Life to you, o ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves." [Al-Baqarah/179]. Moreover, Narrated Anas (May Allah Be Pleased with him): A girl was found with her head crushed between two stones. She was asked: Who has done this to you? Is it so and so? Is it so and so, until a Jew was named, and she gave a sign with her head. The Jew was caught and he admitted. So the Prophet (Blessings and peace be upon him) gave command that his head should be crushed with stones." [Abu Dawood].

Qisas (The Law of Equality) should be the punishment for whoever commits this heinous crime (murder) for restoring safety and security to our society.

 

In addition, it is also the duty of the scholars and the intellectuals to help curb this phenomenon. Therefore, religious media should intensify its role in terms of explaining this major sin and the punishment stipulated in Sharia for it.

 

Finally, the spread of this dangerous phenomena indicates killer`s weakness of belief, even total absence of belief, at the time of committing crime. Narrated Abu Huraira (May Allah Be Pleased with him): The Prophet (Blessings and peace be upon him) said: "The one who commits an illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer at the time of committing illegal sexual intercourse and a thief is not a believer at the time of committing theft and a drinker of alcoholic drink is not a believer at the time of drinking. Yet, (the gate of) repentance is open thereafter." [Bukhari].

 

All praise is due to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds, and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad, his household and upon and Companions.

 

 

هذا المقال يعبر عن رأي كاتبه، ولا يعبر بالضرورة عن رأي دائرة الإفتاء العام

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it allowed for a Muslim woman to wear nail polish?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Nail polish is an adornment that a woman is allowed to wear for her husband, and not in the presence of non-Mahram men. However, during ablution water needs to reach the nails, so it isn`t possible to perform 'Wudu (ablution) with nail polish on. Therefore, it isn`t valid to make Ghusl Jnabah (Ghusl performed after sexual intercourse or ejaculation), Ghusl after menstruation and Ghusl after Nifas (blood of childbirth) while wearing nail polish. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I work in an accounting and auditing office, and among the clients of the office are restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets that sell alcohol. Our work is limited to collecting invoices, whether purchases, sales, or expenses, and recording them in daily books. We also review income and sales taxes on behalf of these clients.

You are more knowledgeable about the nature of your work. If you see it as assisting in wrongdoing, then it is forbidden, as Allah The Exalted Says (What means): "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression" [Al-Ma’idah/2]. However, if your work is merely documenting the reality, then I hope there is no sin upon you. The the pious predecessors (Salaf) used to take the tithe from the traders of the People of the Book, even if it included alcohol, after knowing the value of their goods. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

Is it incumbent on the fiancée to obey her fiancé?

When the woman settles in her husband`s house, it is incumbent on him to provide for her and it is incumbent on her to obey him. Before that, and if the marriage contract had been concluded, then she is lawfully his wife and thus she should abide by custom in treating him, but if the marriage contract hadn`t been concluded, then she should treat him as a non-Mahram (Marriageable ).

An engineer has to work in a circuit system of a non-Islamic bank. What is the ruling on the income she receives from doing this job?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Necessity lies in fearing for one`s life, honor or mind, so the wage received for doing a forbidden job is equally forbidden. Kindly contact the Iftaa` Department to further clarify the nature of your work. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

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