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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

Is washing the private part after urinating (Istinjaa`) a condition, and is it done with water and soap, or with water only?

Istinjaa` is obligatory for removing impurity, and it can be done with toilet paper, or a stone, or water. It is preferable to do Istinjaa` first with paper, or stone, or the like, then to wash the private part with water until making sure that the impurity has been removed. Using soap is not a condition, but there is no harm in doing so provided that it is washed off with water. It is also permissible to use either water, or paper if impurity is removed by any.

I work overtime after regular working hours and may become occupied with my phone or the work computer for personal matters — what is the ruling on this?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is obligatory upon an employee to abide by the instructions and regulations governing overtime hours, and equally obligatory to uphold honesty and avoid all forms of deception and dishonesty. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful." [Al-Tawbah/ 119]
Whoever is assigned to work overtime must be present at his workplace — even if he has no specific tasks to carry out at that time. In such a case, he should strive as best he can to spend that time in a manner that benefits the institution he works for. If there is genuinely no work for him to do, there is no objection to occupying his time with something beneficial — such as reciting the Holy Qurʾān, reading, or listening to educational lessons — provided he has already completed all the responsibilities assigned to him.
If, however, he does have work to complete, he must spend that time fulfilling it. He may attend to phone calls or other personal matters to the extent that is customarily acceptable, as long as this does not result in delaying or postponing his work. If he delays his work on account of personal preoccupations, the wages he received for that wasted time are not lawfully his to keep, and he is obliged to return the equivalent amount to the institution by whatever means available to him. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the wisdom behind legislating the Udhiyah?

The Muslim must know that through the Uḍḥiyah, he complies with the command of Allah, the Exalted, and performs a worship that brings him closer to Allah and distances him from the Fire.
 
The Uḍḥiyah holds profound wisdoms and noble meanings, including:
 
1-Reviving the Sunnah of Abraham, peace be upon him: He complied with Allah's command when He ordered him to slaughter his son Ishmael. Abraham, peace be upon him, succeeded in the test, and when he was about to slaughter his son, Allah sent down a ram to ransom Ishmael and commanded him to slaughter it instead. Allah, the Exalted, says {what means]: "And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.' He said, 'O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.' And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, 'O Abraham, You have fulfilled the vision.' Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice." [Al-Ṣāffāt/102-107]. Thus, the sacrificial offering became an enduring Sunnah until the Day of Judgment, and Muslims offer their wealth as sacrifices, drawing closer to Allah, the Exalted, reviving this great Sunnah.
 
2-Providing abundance for people on Eid day and the Days of Tashrīq: Among the wisdoms of the Uḍḥiyah is that the Muslim provides generously for his family, neighbors, relatives, and the poor during these days. The Muslim is encouraged to eat from his sacrifice, give charity from it to the poor, and gift from it to his wealthy neighbors. Thus, goodness spreads throughout the entire community. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating and drinking." (Narrated by Muslim). Allah, the Exalted, says {what means}: "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good." [Al-Ḥajj/36]. This good includes the good of both this world and the Hereafter.

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.