Articles

The Social Function of Writing and Authorship
Author : Dr. Hassan Abu_Arqoub
Date Added : 07-08-2024

Writing and authorship serve several functions that authors need to consider, such as compiling scattered information, clarifying ambiguities, or solving problems, among others. However, a group of Muslim scholars viewed a completely different function: the social function. This means that the purpose of authorship is to provide a service to the community and the nation, not just to students of knowledge. These services vary depending on the issues the scholar views as requiring solutions. Following are three examples to illustrate and explain this point:


First: Imam Abu al-Maali al-Juwayni (d. 478 AH), known as Imam al-Haramain, authored his famous book "Ghayath al-Ummam fi al-Tiyas al-Zulm" based on a premise: What should be done if a time is devoid of scholars and jurists? He addresses the concerns of the nation and provides solutions to this problem that a community might face. This demonstrates a thoughtful approach that serves the community by identifying a problem and proposing a solution. He states: "Let it be clear that the basis for the Sharia is its transmitted sources, and those who bear its burdens are those capable of ijtihad, who embody the highest virtues of piety and righteousness. They are the pillars and supports. If a time were to be devoid of such pillars and supports, then I would adhere to the principle of patience and caution. I wonder what will the devoted do when the sea of corruption swells? When people substitute extremism and negligence for the path of moderation, and Muslims are afflicted with scholars who are unreliable due to their corruption and ascetics who are not to be followed due to their laxity! Will there remain any path to guidance, or will people be lost in chaos, neglecting their direction, and rushing towards ruin?"


Second: The "Hujjat al-Islam" Imam al-Ghazali (d. 505 AH), the student of Imam al-Haramain, who follows the same path. It is likely that this concern for the nation and society was transmitted to him from his teacher. Imam al-Ghazali, when he observed that most people had turned away from the path of the Hereafter and followed their whims and desires, and that their time had deprived them of true inheritors of the prophets, leaving the era devoid of those who guide to Allah, except for whom Allah wills, sought to address this gap. He aimed to correct the course of the nation and Muslim societies through his valuable book "Ihya' Ulum al-Din". The "Hujjat al-Islam" says: "The guides on the path are the scholars who are the heirs of the prophets. The time has been devoid of them, leaving only those who are merely pretenders. Most of them have been overtaken by Satan and misled by tyranny. Each one has become engrossed in his own immediate gains, seeing good as evil and evil as good. Thus, the knowledge of religion has become obscured, and the beacon of guidance on the earth has become dim... As for the knowledge of the Hereafter and what the righteous predecessors practiced, which Allah has described in His Book as understanding, wisdom, knowledge, light, and guidance, it has become forgotten and neglected among the people. Given that this is a serious breach and an alarming issue in religion, I saw it necessary to engage in compiling this book, aiming to revive the sciences of religion, reveal the methods of the early imams, and clarify the benefits of useful knowledge as understood by the righteous predecessors."


Third: Shaykh al-Islam, Imam Taj al-Din al-Subki (d. 771 AH), to address a question that resonates with people and impacts their lives: How can one return blessings after losing them? He discusses the responsibilities of craftsmen, officials, and merchants, and what pertains to each of them. He summarizes this in the introduction to his book "Mua'id al-Ni'am wa Mubiid al-Niqam", saying: "Is there a way for someone who has lost a religious or worldly blessing to regain it? I hope that anyone who has experienced a blessing from Allah in their religion or worldly life and has lost it, if they read this book with belief, understand it, and act upon its teachings after believing in them, will have that blessing or something better returned to them. Their worries will be entirely removed, and they will be transformed into a state of joy and happiness."

 

هذا المقال يعبر عن رأي كاتبه، ولا يعبر بالضرورة عن رأي دائرة الإفتاء العام

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Summarized Fatawaa

I am pregnant with more four twins since two months although I didn't have childbearing potential during the last four years. In addition, the doctor specialized in reprusccusions, already has notified me about the possible reprusccusions as a result of being pregnant with four twins as follows: abortion, Metrorrhagia, Premature birth, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and the like. What is the ruling on aborting some of the aforementioned embryos? A medical report was attached in which the status of my question is clarified.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
If the existence of the four embryos leads to critical reprusccusions on mother's health, pose a threat over her life or abort all of her embryos, then aborting some of them is permissible to ward off some of those risks stipulated that the ages of the embryos don't exceed four months. And Allah Knows Best.
             

 

Does the deceased hear the supplications or recitations of those visiting his/her grave? And does making constant supplications for the deceased who didn`t adhere to performing the prescribed prayers ameliorate his/her affliction?

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

In principle, the dead hear the living since it has been rigorously authenticated that the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the bodies of the idolaters slain in the Battle of Badr to be buried. He then approached them and called them one by one and said: "Have you found what your Lord promised to be true for we have found what our Lord promised us to be true." Umar asked him: "O messenger of God! Why do you speak to lifeless bodies?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied: "By the One Who has sent me with the truth! You do not hear my words better than they do except that they cannot respond." [Agreed upon].

However, not all the deceased are in the same situation because Allah The Almighty Knows: "Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up." [Al-Mu`minun/100]. Moreover, supplication reaches the deceased. And Allah Knows Best..

 

I`m a university student. While I was sitting for an exam, the professor caught my fellow student cheating. I heard him telling her to hide the dossier. After the exam, he asked me to testify that I saw her cheating although I heard him telling her to hide the dossier but didn`t see her cheating. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

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.
It was narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said to a man: "Do you see the sun?" He replied: "Yes." He said: "Give witness in a similar case [which is as clear as the sun], or leave it." [Reported by Al-Baihaqhi in "Sho`ab Al-Eman" pp.10964]. Therefore, it is not permissible to testify about something that you haven`t actually seen. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

A woman died at the age of ninety. Her living children are nine: two sons and two daughters. The youngest of her grandchildren, from her son who passed away one year before her, is aged thirty-two. Are these grandchildren entitled to the obligatory bequest although they are aged thirty-two and above?

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.
A Muslim isn`t obligated to leave a bequest to his grandchildren whose father had passed away; rather, this act is recommended. Therefore, if he left a bequest whereby they get less than one third of the estate then Allah will reward him for that. However, if he left no bequest for them then they get nothing because their paternal uncles are alive and they are closer to the deceased and more entitled to inherit him. This is the position of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence. However, the Personal Status Law didn`t adopt this position; rather, it gave them the same amount to which their father is entitled when alive but his father or mother are dead; provided that it doesn`t exceed one third of the estate. Therefore, we advise them (Grandchildren) to relinquish this share of the inheritance. If not, then we advise their paternal uncles to overlook the amounts taken from their shares and given to their paternal nephews. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.