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Positive Human Participation
Author : Dr. Fadi Rabab`ah
Date Added : 16-01-2024

Positive Human Participation

 

From the beginning of its call, Islamic Sharia has called for adhering to values, extending beyond its initial call in Mecca, reaching far and spreading its goodness to the entire world. This is exemplified by the stance of the Islamic ambassador, Jafar ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of the Prophet (PBUH) and a noble companion. He was sent as an ambassador to the Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, who followed the Christian faith.

 

This is reflected in the statement of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, found in [Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 1699] and [Sahih Ibn Khuzayma, No. 2073], when he addressed the Negus about their state during the era of ignorance, highlighting their immoral practices and their transformation after the Prophet was sent to them. Ja'far said: "O King, we were a people in the era of ignorance, worshipping idols, consuming carrion, engaging in immoral deeds, severing family ties, and mistreating neighbors. The strong among us would oppress the weak." He continued, "We persisted in this state until Allah sent to us a Messenger whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and chastity we knew."

 

Ja'far ibn Abi Talib then explained the values to which the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) invited them. He said: "He invited us to worship Allah alone and abandon what we and our ancestors used to worship besides Him, such as stones and idols. He commanded us to speak the truth, fulfill trusts, maintain family ties, show kindness to neighbors, refrain from unlawful acts and shedding blood. He forbade us from committing immoral deeds, lying, consuming the wealth of orphans, slandering chaste women, and ordered us to worship Allah alone, associating nothing with Him. He commanded us to perform prayers, give zakat, and observe fasting."

 

Then Ja'far described the believers' response to this call, saying: "So we believed in him, affirmed the truth of his message, and followed him in what he brought. We worshiped Allah alone, associating nothing with Him, prohibited what He forbade, and allowed what He made permissible."

He continued, "Our people then transgressed against us, tortured and tempted us to forsake our religion and return to the worship of idols instead of Allah, and to resume the permissibility of what Allah had made forbidden for us."

 

He concluded his speech with wisdom, indicating the reason they sought refuge in Abyssinia, saying, "When they oppressed us, treated us unjustly, made life difficult for us, and stood between us and our religion, we left for your country, choosing you above all others, seeking your protection, and hoping not to be wronged under your rule, O king."

 

So, the Negus turned to the delegation from the Quraysh who came to take back the companions and said, "Go away, by Allah, I will never surrender them to you."

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) requested his companions to migrate from their land due to the persecution and harm they were facing, ensuring their safety and freedom to choose their beliefs. This underscores the positive and humanitarian engagement of Islam, and its openness to other societies, especially those where justice is upheld. The Prophet (peace be upon him) praised the just rule of the Negus, emphasizing the universal value of justice that respects human beings, their freedom, lives, and ensures fairness. Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) acknowledged the justice of the Negus and commended him for it.

 

What confirms the profound positive human engagement of Islam is the Prophet Mohammad`s (peace be upon him) participation in an alliance known as the "Hilf al-Fudul" in Mecca, even before his prophethood and the call to Islam. Its purpose was to support the oppressed, resist injustice, and the Prophet praised this alliance, saying, "I participated with my uncles in a pact at the house of Abdullah ibn Jada'an, which I would not exchange for the choicest camels." (Narrated by Imam Ahmad).

 

The "Hilf al-Fudul" alliance was formed four months after the Sacrilegious wars (Harb-ul-Fijar). The reason behind it was that a man from Zubaid (a town in Yemen) came to Mecca with merchandise, which Al-As ibn Wa'il purchased from him. However, Al-As denied him his rightful due, and the Zubaidi sought justice against him. The nobles of Quraysh did not support him due to the high status of Al-As among them. The Zubaidi sought help at the Kaaba, and appealed to the Banu Fihr and other honorable people. Al-Zubair ibn Abd al-Muttalib asked why this man was left helpless. The Banu Hashim, Zuhra, and Banu Taym ibn Murah gathered at the house of Abdullah ibn Jada'an and prepared a meal for them. They formed an alliance and pledged by Allah to stand as one hand with the oppressed against the oppressor until his right was restored. Then they went to Al-As ibn Wa'il, took back the goods from him, and returned them to the Zubaidi, establishing this alliance known as "Hilf al-Fudul." It was named so because those who participated in it were named Fadl, such as Fadl ibn al-Harith, Fadl ibn Wada'a, and Fadl ibn Fadala.

 

Regarding this alliance, Al-Zubair ibn Abd al-Muttalib says:

They pledged and allied in unity, 

That in Mecca, oppression should not stand. 

Neighbor and guest, both shall be free,

 An oath upon which they firmly band.

 

Islam promotes the value of positive human participation on a global scale and condemns isolationism without necessity. Its call is a universal mercy to all people, as described by Allah in the Quran: "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." [Quran, 21:107]. Islam encourages participation in international organizations and humanitarian associations that uphold human rights, people's freedom, and work towards establishing justice while respecting human dignity, in alignment with the values and principles of Islamic law.

 

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying behind a disliked Imam?

 

 
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is mildly disliked (Makruh Tanzihan) for a man—other than the permanent designated Imam (Imam Ratib)—to lead people in prayer if the majority of them dislike him due to a religiously blameworthy reason (Amr Madhmum Shar‘an), such as associating with open sinners (Fussaq), for example. As for the followers who dislike him, the prayer behind him is not disliked for them. However, if less than the majority dislike him, or if the majority dislike him for a reason that is not religiously blameworthy, then his leading the prayer is not disliked. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

A man led the people in prayer as imam, and at the end of the prayer he performed a prostration of forgetfulness (*sujūd al-sahw*) because he had omitted a short *sūrah* after al-Fātiḥah. What is the ruling on his prayer and that of those praying behind him?

 

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
According to the Shāfiʿī school, it is sunnah to recite a sūrah after al-Fātiḥah in the prayer. One who omits it has a valid prayer, and no prostration of forgetfulness (sujūd al-sahw) is prescribed for omitting it. If someone performs sujūd al-sahw for its omission while knowing the ruling and remembering it, his prayer is invalidated. But one who is ignorant of the ruling, or who did so out of forgetfulness, his prayer is not invalidated, because this is among the matters that are obscure to people, and ignorance of it is not restricted to those who recently entered Islam.
Shaykh al-Islām al-Shams al-Ramlī said in Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj ilā Sharḥ al-Minhāj (Vol.2/p.70): “The remaining sunnahs are not compensated for by prostration, such as the remembrances (adhkār) of bowing and prostration, that is, the opening supplication (duʿāʾ al-iftitāḥ) and the sūrah, in accordance with the base rule, because they are not of the same nature as what has been reported [as compensable]. If one prostrates for any of them deliberately, his prayer is invalidated, unless he is excused due to ignorance. As for the objection raised that the ignorant person does not know that sujūd al-sahw is prescribed, and whoever knows it knows its place, this is refuted by denying such a necessary connection, for the ignorant person may hear only that sujūd al-sahw is prescribed before the salām, and so assume that it applies to every sunnah and is not restricted to its prescribed place.”
This is among the matters that are obscure, in which the mukallaf is excused for ignorance, as stated by al-Shabrāmallisī in his Ḥāshiyah ʿalā Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.70).
However, if the imam prostrates, and the follower (maʾmūm) presumes that his imam’s prostration is for a reason for which one does not prostrate, it is not permissible to follow him in it, so long as the follower knows the ruling.
Accordingly, the prayer of one who did not recite a sūrah after al-Fātiḥah is valid, and sujūd al-sahw is not prescribed for it. Whoever prostrates out of ignorance or forgetfulness, his prayer is valid, because this is among the issues hidden from the general public. But whoever prostrates while knowing the ruling and remembering it, his prayer is invalidated. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible for a woman to lead other women in prayer?

Yes, it is permissible for a woman to lead other women in prayer. The most knowledgeable among them in the rulings of prayer should act as the imam. She should stand in the middle of the row, slightly ahead of the others.

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

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