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Statement from the Iftaa` Council regarding the Brutal Aggression on Gaza
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 05-07-2023

Statement from the Iftaa` Council regarding the Brutal Aggression on Gaza

 

Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged;- and verily, God is most powerful for their aid;-" {Al-Haj, 39}. Indeed, Allah the Exalted tests His believing servants in order to reveal the truth of their reliance on Him, their great care for their religion, and their patience when meeting their enemy. Allah says {What means}: "but if it had been God’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others." {Mohammad, 4}.

 

O Islamic Ummah!, the day of Gaza is not a secret. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: "And they will not cease to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they can." {Al-Baqarah, 217}. And here is our enemy attacking our brothers in Gaza, destroying mosques, taking lives, and killing children and women. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his Satan or to his self which is inclined to evil)." (Transmitted by Bukhari & Muslim). This means that he does not leave him alone in the face of the enemy. Our brothers in Gaza are steadfast heroes and we salute their steadfastness. We are proud of their perseverance in the way of Allah, we magnify their contempt for the Zionist military machine, and we pray with sincerity that Allah bless them with victory over the infidels. This remind of the words of Allah the Almighty Who says {what means}: "Those who were told by the people: Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them. So it increased them in faith, and they said: 'Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.'" (Al-Imran, 173). However, it is not permissible for us to leave them alone in the heat of battle.

 

We declare to everyone that the aggression of the Zionists against our brothers in Gaza represents an aggression against all Muslims. Muslims are one nation, even if their schools of thought, sects, and languages differed. Undoubtedly, every Muslim is feeling pain for what is happening to his brothers in Gaza and considers that a personal aggression against himself. 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 Al-Bukhari & Muslim}. Moreover, what has happened in Gaza worries us all and stirs anger in our souls.

 

Today, we are in dire need for unity, not exchanging blame or levelling accusations. We must rise above our differences and rally around the word of Tawheed: "There is none worthy of worship save Allah, and Mohammad is His Messenger." Every Muslim must support his brothers who are doing Jihad and help them by whatever means he can. This is our duty before Allah and His Messenger and we will be held accountable for it. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, "Whoever equips a Mujahid in the way of Allah has indeed fought, and whoever takes care of the family of a Mujahid in his absence has indeed fought." (Bukhari & Muslim).

 

Anger must be turned into effective action; each from their position and according to their ability: (Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity) {Al-Baqarah, 286}.

 

 In this blessed country, we are supporters and immigrants, united by the support of justice, the support of the Mujahideen, and the brotherhood of Islam for more than sixty years. We will continue in this path, Allah willing. We are proud of the sincere gesture that the people of this steadfast country made yesterday to support our brothers in Gaza. The leadership, the government, and the citizens support the people of Gaza and this is not the first gesture through which they have shown support for the people of lawful right. 

 

His Majesty, may Allah protect him, donating his blood and money, and showing support for our brothers, along with his influence on the international arena, is also a source of pride for us. Likewise, we also appreciate the Prime Minister's gesture for reassessing relations with this country. Moreover, all citizens were inspired by His Majesty`s attitude, so they followed his example through donating their blood and money as an expression of sincere brotherhood and unity of destiny. May Allah reward them well for what they have done and are doing.

 

The relief convoys that depart from this country to Gaza are tantamount to an artery that provides our brothers there with the necessities of life and the requirements of steadfastness. This aid must continue since the situation still needs support. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: (The believers, men and women, are protectors of each other.) {At-Tawbah, 71}.

 

These are the right days to express the sincerity of faith, pride in Islam, and in belonging to the nation of the master of creation, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). It is an Islamic obligation that this support (money, words, supplication) continues. Allah the Almighty says {What means}: "O you who have believed, be patient and persevere, and remain steadfast, and fear Allah that you may be successful.) {Al-`Imran, 200}.

 

Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all.

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on swearing an oath by the Prophet ﷺ, and does such an oath take effect according to Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, requiring expiation upon its breach?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Swearing an oath by a created being is disliked (makrūh) in our Shāfiʿī school. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Swearing by a created being is disliked — such as swearing by the Prophet, the Kaʿbah, Jibrīl, the Companions, or the Prophet's family. Al-Shāfiʿī, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 'I fear that swearing by other than Allah the Almighty may constitute an act of disobedience.' The scholars of the school explained this to mean: that is, something forbidden and sinful — indicating that he had some hesitation in the matter. Al-Imām stated: the established position of the school is that it is categorically not forbidden, but rather disliked. Furthermore, whoever swears by a created being, his oath does not take effect and no expiation (kaffārah) is required if he breaks it." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn wa ʿUmdat al-Muftīn, Vol. 11/P.6]
According to the Ḥanbalī school, however, expiation becomes obligatory upon one who swears by our master the Prophet ﷺ and then breaks his oath. Imām al-Bahūtī al-Ḥanbalī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "No expiation is required for swearing by other than Allah the Almighty, even if the oath is broken — because expiation was made obligatory for swearing by Allah and His attributes, out of reverence for His names, and nothing else is equal to Him in this regard... except in the case of swearing by our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, for expiation becomes obligatory when one swears by him and then breaks the oath. This was explicitly stated in the narration of Abū Ṭālib, because he is one of the two conditions of the two testimonies of faith by which a disbeliever becomes a Muslim. Ibn ʿAqīl held the view that swearing by any of the other prophets, peace and blessings be upon them all, carries the same ruling." [Sharḥ Muntahā al-Irādāt, Vol. 3/P.441]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to combine and shorten prayers at home before traveling?

It is impermissible to combine and shorten prayers at home before traveling because a person is called a traveler once he/she departs the borders of his/her country, and offering prayer that way was originally intended to exempt a traveler. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on forgiving a tenant next month's rent, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh al-māl?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It does not fulfill the obligation to count the rent owed on a house, or a portion of it, in lieu of zakāh. Rather, it is necessary to first transfer ownership of the zakāh amount to the poor person directly; only afterward may he be asked to pay the rent [from that money].
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik (p. 112): "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]."
We would also remind [the reader] of the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ: "The Muslim is the brother of the Muslim: he does not wrong him, nor does he abandon him [to harm]. Whoever attends to the needs of his brother, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will attend to his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever conceals [the faults of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal him on the Day of Resurrection." (Agreed upon). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Does sacrificing one sheep avail for the entire household?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is a communal Sunnah (Sunnah Kifayah) for members of the same household, provided that their financial maintenance is undertaken by a single provider. By "communal Sunnah," we mean that when one person performs it, the religious recommendation is fulfilled on behalf of the entire household, though the spiritual reward itself belongs uniquely to the one who offered it.
 
Therefore, if any member of the household performs the sacrifice—even if it is someone who is not legally responsible for the household's expenses, such as the wife or one of the children—the recommendation is fulfilled for everyone in that home. However, the reward does not automatically extend to the other members unless the person offering the sacrifice explicitly intends to share the reward with them—similar to how performing a funeral prayer (Janazah) fulfills the communal obligation for everyone, yet the specific reward is earned by those who actually prayed.
 
Additionally, a single sacrifice is sufficient for a man who is married to more than one wife. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.