Articles

Statement on Giving Respite to the Insolvent Person
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 03-07-2023

Statement on Giving Respite to the Insolvent Person

 

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.

 

In the difficult circumstances that the world is experiencing, the conditions of those who live on a subsistence level are tightening as well as those who get their livelihood day by day. If their work is disrupted, they will not find what they can live on. However, the words of our Lord, the Most High, apply to them: " (Charity is) for those in need, who, in God’s cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (For trade or work): the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their (Unfailing) mark: They beg not importunately from all the sundry. And whatever of good ye give, be assured God knoweth it well." {Al-Baqarah, 273}. Therefore, it has become imperative upon every affluent person to check on the weak and poor individuals whom he knows and help alleviate their burdens and ensure them a minimum level of decent living. This is both a religious and social responsibility on the wealthy and affluent members of society towards their brothers for it raises the spirit of cooperation, love and solidarity between them. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever." {Transmitted by Muslim}. He (PBUH) also said: "A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supporting the other." {Transmitted by Muslim}. Moreover, this is what the Messenger of Allah loves where he (PBUH) said: "When the Ash'ariyun run short of food in the Jihad or when they are at home in Al-Madinah, they collect all the provisions they have in a sheet and then divide it equally among themselves. They are of me and I am of them." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

Helping and forgiving others as well as waiving some of the rights due on them, or postponing their collection or some of them, out of solidarity considering their difficult situation, is a sign of the mercy inherent in the heart. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) promised these merciful people to be shown the mercy of Allah, where he said: "The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy unto you." {Transmitted by Tirmidhi}. This is because when a believer forgives or fulfills the needs of the person who is going through difficult circumstances, Allah  the Almighty treats him in the same way, because of his mercy towards the servants of Allah, for rewards depend on the kind of deed.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has warned against harshness and cruelty of the heart and not helping others although one is able to. He (PBUH) said, "He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully." { Al-Bukhari and Muslim}. He (PBUH) added: "Mercy is not removed (from anyone) except from a wicked one." {Transmitted by Tirmithi}.

 

Not only commanded giving respite to the insolvent person, but Allah the Almighty has also encouraged remitting the debt by way of charity where He said {what means}: " If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time Till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew." {Al-Baqarah, 280}. This is also celebrated in the Sunnah. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "There was a person who used to loan money to the people and he used to say to his servant: 'When an insolvent person comes to you, show him leniency so that Allah may forbear our faults.' So when he met Allah (i.e., when he died), Allah forgave him."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

In conclusion, we call on all Muslims to show mercy and forgiveness to each other, make reconciliation, fulfill the needs of fellow Muslims, give respite to the insolvent person and even remit the debt by way of charity, if possible. And to Allah belongs every success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

How to perform the witr prayer in terms of connection (wasl) and separation (fasl)?

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Witr prayer has several forms that vary in terms of virtue:
 
The First Form: Separating every two units (rak‘ah) with a Tashahhud and a Taslim (salutation). This is superior to connecting the units, even if it is only a single rak‘ah. This is based on the Hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray eleven units between the end of the ‘Isha prayer and dawn, performing the Taslim after every two units and performing Witr with a single unit.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim).
 
The Second Form: Connecting the units with only one final Tashahhud at the very end.
 
The Third Form: Connecting with two Tashahhuds—meaning reciting the Tashahhud before the final unit without performing the Taslim, then standing to complete the final unit. This form is considered the lowest in rank so that the Witr prayer remains distinct from the obligatory Maghrib prayer, as stated in the Hadith: 'Do not make the Witr resemble the Maghrib prayer.' (Narrated by Al-Daraqutni, who stated its narrators are trustworthy).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah: 'It is permissible to connect [the Witr] with one Tashahhud in the final unit—which is better—or with two Tashahhuds in the last two units, as both methods are established in Sahih Muslim from the actions of the Prophet ﷺ. In the connected method, more than two Tashahhuds are prohibited. Furthermore, separating (al-Fasl) is better than connecting (al-Wasl) if the number of units is the same, because the Hadiths supporting it are more numerous and it involves more devotional actions.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."

How should a person who is afflicted with continued major ritual impurity (incontinence of urine, bleeding outside the monthly period) perform ablution?

Such a person should make ablution for every prayer after its due time and after removing impurities from their body and outfit, and should place a fresh diaper whenever needed so as for the impurity not to spread out. They should also perform prayer immediately even if incontinence of urine continued, and should repeat the aforementioned for every obligatory prayer, then perform optional prayer as much as they want.

Does the fast become invalid if water from rinsing the mouth reaches the stomach while performing ablution?

If water reaches the stomach without the fasting person exceeding normal rinsing or being excessive, their fast remains valid.
However, if they exceed the normal practice or exaggerate in rinsing, causing water to enter the stomach, their fast is invalid.
This is because excessiveness in rinsing is prohibited for a fasting person, as the Prophetﷺ said: "Exaggerate inhaling water during ablution, except when you are fasting." [Narrated by the Four Imams]
Transgression (Ta‘addi) refers to rinsing the mouth more than three times, while exaggeration (Mubalaghah) includes gargling, drawing water deep into the nasal passages, or filling the mouth with water in an unusual manner.

What is the ruling on shaving the head of the newborn?

It is desirable to shave the head of the newborn on the seventh day from delivery, and the weight of his/her hair is given in gold , or silver as charity.