Articles

Statement Issued by the General Iftaa` Department
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 19-02-2023

 

From the Islamic perspective, the martyr is the one killed while fighting for Allah’s Word to become superior. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "And say not of those who are slain in the way of God: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not." [Al-Baqarah/154].

 

In addition, Abu Musa told that a man came to the Prophet and said, “One man fights for booty, one for the reputation of fighting, and one for his degree [of bravery] to be seen; which of them is in God’s path?” He replied: "The one who fights that God’s word may have preeminence is in God’s path." {Agreed upon}.

 

Accordingly, how can the Muslim killed by another Muslim be considered a martyr?! This is taking into consideration the fact that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Reviling a Muslim is Fusuq (disobedience of Allah) and killing him is (tantamount to) disbelief." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. He (PBUH) also said: "The extinction of the whole world is less significant before Allah than killing a Muslim man." {Tirmithi}. 

 

In addition, inciting killing and destruction of property is considered a grave sin since the Messenger of Allah says: "… if anyone invites others to follow error, the sin, will be equivalent to that of the people who follow him (in sinfulness) without their sins being diminished in any respect." [Moslim].

 

Islamic Sharia prohibits taking life, except for a just cause, and transgressing against others property and honor. How could we judge that the Muslim killed by his fellow Muslim is a martyr! Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "O ye who believe! Fear God and be with those who are true (in word and deed)." {At-Tawbah/119}. 

 

Consequently, it isn`t allowed for a Muslim to incite Muslims to kill each other then judge who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. This is since the Messenger of Allah {PBUH} says: "When two Muslims confront each other with their swords, both the slayer and the slain are doomed to Hell-Fire." {Agreed upon}.

 

As we know, a few months ago, citizens were given the permission to protest and express their opinions freely and they were treated respectfully to the extent that you would see them walking with the security forces side by side. It was a beautiful scene where the protestors expressed their opinions freely while the security forces provided protection to prevent sedition. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "but the plotting of Evil will hem in only the authors thereof." {Fatir/43}.

 

Both the protestors and the security forces are brothers and treated each other with mercy and kindness, and this is what we have actually seen on the ground. From an Islamic perspective, it is the duty of the scholars and thinkers to warn against seditions, revealed and concealed, since they will have serious repercussions on all members of society. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that God is strict in punishment." {Al-Anfal/25}.

 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The happy man is he who avoids dissensions: happy is the man who avoids dissensions; happy is the man who avoids dissensions: but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance." [Related by Abu Dawood].

 

It is also the duty of the scholars to call people to preserve lives, properties, unity and avoid division and conflict. Allah, The Most Exalted Says {what means}: "And obey God and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For God is with those who patiently persevere:" {Al-Anfal/46}.

 

As Ramadan is about to begin, we invite fellow citizens to unite, cleanse their hearts from any feelings of hatred and animosity, and learn a lesson from the shedding of innocent blood and violation of sanctities that is happening in neighboring countries.

 

This is a call to help the poor, the needy and the sick, in addition to warning the people not to engage in obscene and false speech, and to urge them to abide by virtuous morality and right behavior, especially as we prepare for the holy month of Ramadan. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that He should abstain from his food and his drink."[Agreed upon]. It is also a duty to call others to good word since it is a charity.

 

We seek refuge in Allah from trials both open and secret and that He Bless this country and other Muslim countries with safety and stability.

 

And All perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on bypassing a nearby mosque for a distant one?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a distant mosque has a larger congregation (Jama‘ah) while the congregation in the nearby mosque is smaller, and the congregation in the nearby mosque is not adversely affected by the worshiper's absence, then it is better for him to pray in the distant mosque with the larger congregation. However, if the congregation in the nearby mosque would be affected by his absence—such as if he is its Imam, or if his presence encourages others to attend—then praying in the nearby mosque is better. This ensures that the congregation is established in two different locations within the community. This is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: 'A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah, the Mighty the Majestic' (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa'i). And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on sitting between the two prostrations, and what is the ruling on the dhikr recited during it?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Sitting between the two prostrations (al-jalsah bayna al-sajdatayn) is one of the pillars (arkān) of the prayer, while the dhikr recited during it is Sunnah according to the Shāfi'ī scholars. It is recommended (mustahabb) to say what was narrated from Ibn 'Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations in the night prayer: 'Rabbi ighfir lī, warhamnī, wajburnī, warzuqnī, warfa'nī' (My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, make good my deficiencies, provide for me, and raise me)." If one were to say a different supplication instead, such as "Rabbi ighfir lī" (My Lord, forgive me), the prayer would still be valid.
If the worshipper omits this dhikr between the two prostrations, whether intentionally or out of forgetfulness, their prayer remains valid and nothing is required of them, though they miss the reward of following the Sunnah. Leaving it out does not necessitate the prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw).
It is stated in Hāshiyat al-Bājūrī 'alā Sharḥ Ibn Qāsim 'alā Matn Abī Shujā' (Vol.1/P.298): "The eleventh — i.e., of the eighteen pillars — his statement: 'sitting between the two prostrations,' meaning even in a supererogatory (nafl) prayer... his statement: 'with the supplication that has been narrated concerning it,' meaning: 'Rabbi ighfir lī, warhamnī, wajburnī, warfa'nī, warzuqnī, wahdinī, wa 'āfinī' (My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, make good my deficiencies, raise me, provide for me, guide me, and grant me well-being). Al-Ghazālī added: 'wa'fu 'annī' (and pardon me). Al-Mutawallī also added: 'Rabbi hab lī qalban taqiyyan, naqiyyan min al-shirk, bariyyan lā kāfiran wa lā shaqiyyan' (My Lord, grant me a heart that is God-fearing, pure from associating partners with You, innocent, neither disbelieving nor wretched)."And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on sacrificing a hornless sheep?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is valid to sacrifice a hornless sheep (al-Jamma’ or al-Jalha’). Similarly, a sheep with a broken horn is also acceptable; it does not affect the validity of the sacrifice even if the break causes bleeding, unless the injury is so severe that it leads to the spoilage of the meat. And Allah the Almighty knows best.