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Values of Civilization in Islam (Pioneers of Values)
Author : Dr. Fadi Rabab`ah
Date Added : 11-08-2022

Values of Civilization in Islam (Pioneers of Values)

 

When addressing values, it is imperative to refer to the pioneers who have called for these values and implemented them in their daily practices. A fair researcher of the history of civilizations, sociology, and education would arrive at the conclusion that these pioneers are the Prophets (PBUT) since all of them have called for and had the same values. In fact, values are common denominators where there is no contradiction between a value called for by a Prophet and another. Therefore, you wouldn`t have a Prophet calling for truthfulness and another calling for the opposite.

 

We could divide values into the following: Values pertaining to the intellect, reason, and belief, such as rejecting myths, abandoning the worship of idols and creatures. Values pertaining to the purification of the self, cleansing of the hearts, the senses and dealing with others, the universe, life, and all that exists.

In addition to calling for the greatest value, which is The Oneness of Allah and moving from worshipping the created to worshipping the creator, the pioneers, the Prophets, have called for comprehensive values and were characterized by them, even before they were sent with the Divine Message.

 

They are both a mercy and a blessing from Almighty Allah Who sent them to address people in their own language and guide them to the right thing in religious and worldly matters.

 

An example of these values is showing mercy to people, feeling sympathy for them, and dealing with them humbly, in addition to serving them, admonishing them, guiding them, and enjoining kindness and forbidding iniquity in a general sense that encompasses all values of kindness.

 

Moreover, Prophets did this for no wealth or reward in return. Almighty Allah Says (What means): "And O my people! I ask you for no wealth in return: my reward is from none but God: But I will not drive away (in contempt) those who believe: for verily they are to meet their Lord, and ye I see are the ignorant ones!" [Hud/29].

 

For example, Prophet Noah (PBUH) spent fifty years, day and night, calling his people to worship Allah. He, The Almighty Says (What means): "We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin." [Al-Ankabut/14]. Moreover, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) called his people to abandon the worship of idols, planets, and stars. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his rectitude of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. Behold! he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?" They said: "We found our fathers worshipping them." He said: "Indeed ye have been in manifest error - ye and your fathers." [Al-Anbiyaa`/ 51-54].

 

Furthermore, Prophet Yousef (PBUH) curbed his desires and didn`t fall for the temptation of the wife of the King of Egypt, because the latter had put his trust in him. Allah Says (What means): "But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "God forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!" And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence of his Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him (all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants, sincere and purified. So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back: they both found her lord near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a grievous chastisement?" He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar." [Al-Qasas/23-26].

 

This is the situation of all the Prophets (PBUT) for they have called people to get out of the darkness of ignorance and vice to the light of knowledge and righteousness. Later on, Prophet Mohammad came as the Seal of all Messengers. He was known among his people, before being sent with the Message of Islam,  as the truthful and the trusted and of noble human values; some of which are reflected by the words of `Khadija (May Allah Be Pleased with her): "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones." [Al-Bukhari].

 

Prophets (PBUT) are the pioneers of values and the role model that should be followed. Almighty Allah Says (What means): "Those were the (prophets) who received God’s guidance: Copy the guidance they received; Say: "No reward for this do I ask of you: This is no less than a message for the nations." [Al`Ana`am/90]. He also Says (What means): "Ye have indeed in the Apostle of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of God." [Al-Ahzab/21].

 

These values, embodied in the life and manners of the Prophets, suffice to raise the status of nations and be a measuring stick for the progress of human civilization. Indeed, nations prevail as long as they preserve their morals. If their morals are gone, they perish.

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the meaning of the word aqiqah?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah in its linguistic sense refers to the hair upon the head of a newborn at the time of birth.
In its Sharī'ah sense, it refers to the livestock that is slaughtered on behalf of a newborn child.
And Allah Almighty knows best.

I`m in love with a certain man, and want to marry him in particular, but my family refused that, what should I do?

The father should know what is in the best interest of his daughter and consider her situation. On her part, the daughter should trust her father`s view point as far as suitors are concerned. Moreover, it is prohibited for any woman, or girl to get involved in a relation with a non-Mahram (Marriageable man).

The Jurisprudential Significance of the Ḥadīth: "Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr Prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking..."
"Whoever says, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer, while crossing his legs, before speaking: 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa yumītu wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr' ten times — ten good deeds will be recorded for him, ten bad deeds will be erased from him, he will be raised ten levels, he will spend that day in protection from everything disliked and guarded from the devil, and no sin will be able to befall him on that day except associating partners with Allah" — does this noble ḥadīth apply to the imam, and what is meant by "extraneous speech"?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite, immediately after the final salām, the specific remembrance reported in the sunnah to be said before turning away from one's place of prayer. The imam then leaves his praying spot, and the act of "turning" is fulfilled when the imam faces the congregation — even without physically leaving his spot — by positioning his right side toward them and his left side toward the qiblah, and this applies even while he is engaged in supplication.
Al-ʿAllāmah Ibn Qāsim al-ʿAbbādī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Tuḥfah (Vol.2/P.105): "It is most virtuous for the imam, once he has given the salām, to rise from his place of prayer immediately afterward." He adds that an exception must be made for the remembrances that are specifically required to be recited before he turns away. He then notes, citing Sharḥ al-ʿUbāb: "Yes, an exception to this rising immediately after the salām applies to the Fajr prayer, due to the authentic report that the Prophet ﷺ, when he prayed Fajr, would remain seated until the sun rose." He further cites, from al-Khādim, the ḥadīth concerning one who recites, at the conclusion of the Fajr prayer while still in the position of crossing his leg to rise: "Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah..." and the rest of the well-known ḥadīth. He comments that this makes explicit that this particular remembrance is to be recited before the worshipper turns his legs to leave, and the same applies to Maghrib and ʿAṣr, as reported in those contexts as well.
What is meant by "speech" in the relevant ḥadīth is extraneous worldly speech that is not called for after the prayer and for which there is no legitimate excuse. The remembrances reported to be recited upon concluding the prayer, however, do not fall under this category of extraneous speech, since they are themselves required by the sharīʿah.
Al-ʿAllāmah ʿAlī al-Shabrāmalsī states in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā al-Nihāyah (Vol.1/P.551): "If someone greets a person with salām while he is occupied with reciting this remembrance [i.e., 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh...'], should he return the greeting — without this causing him to forfeit the promised reward, since he is engaged in an obligatory matter — or should he delay returning the greeting until he finishes, this being a legitimate excuse for the delay?" He continues: "I say: the more likely view is the former, and the prohibition on speech is to be understood as applying to extraneous speech for which there is no legitimate excuse. Based on this, should the worshipper give precedence to this remembrance ('Lā ilāha illā Allāh...') or to reciting Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ ('Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad')? This requires consideration, though it is not unlikely that the remembrance takes precedence, given that the Lawgiver urged hastening to it through his words 'while crossing his leg.' This is not considered ordinary speech, since it is not extraneous to what is required after the prayer."
Accordingly, it is recommended for both the imam and those praying behind him to recite this remembrance and to give it precedence over the other remembrances of the prayer, ensuring it is said before they move from their place. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

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