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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

A person owns sheep or goats and occasionally feeds them from the grass in other people's orchards without the owners’ permission. Is it permissible to eat the meat of these animals if invited to do so? Is it permissible to purchase from these sheep whose owner feed them from people's orchards without their permission, and can one accept gifts from them, such as meat or milk?

 

 

 

Yes, it is permissible because the one who is accountable is their owner, and the cost of the grass on his accountability. In addition, in order to be on the safe side you should abstain from eating his products, because his sheep case is as if they were fed on impurities. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling on paying a sum of money to Saudi citizen in return of having Saudi residence? It is worth noting that this transation is labelled as a "worker's visa" but I am not going to work as such only to facilitate having it? 

 
Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with the truthful" [At-Tawbah/119]. False statements contradict truthfulness, and it is not permissible to write them. A Muslim has the right to live in any Islamic country, and those who prevent him will be accountable before Allah about their action and the justification for the prohibition. And Allah Knows Best.
 

My mother inherited a share from my late father`s and brother`s property; however, the inheritance, a piece of land, wasn`t divided amongst the eligible heirs because it was hard to sell. While alive, she used say that she wanted these shares to be distributed amongst the poor and needy. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

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.
This is a will, so we have to consider the estate she had left behind. If the piece of land, which she had willed, equals one third and less of her estate, then the will must be executed. But, if it is more than one third, then one third must be executed and the rest of the estate, if the heirs agreed, is to be executed  as part of her will as well. However, if the heirs haven`t approved of that, then what remains, excluding that one third, must be divided amongst them according to the Islamic rules of inheritance. Moreover, we recommend that you pay a visit to the Iftaa` Department to make things clearer for you. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

I work at a company that provides cash advances of 800 dinars, 1000 dinars, or 1200 dinars, depending on the employee’s years of service. An administrative fee of 40 dinars is deducted from the amount in the first month, and the remaining amount is repaid in installments. What is the ruling on this, knowing that the deducted amount (40 dinars) is fixed?

We fear that the deducted amount may be a means of circumventing interest (Riba). If the deducted amount is equal to or less than the actual administrative expenses, then there is no issue, as some scholars permit the borrower to bear the costs of documenting and managing the loan. However, piety suggests refraining from taking this loan under these conditions, as dealing with private individuals and companies is not the same as dealing with the state, which spends from the public treasury. And Allah Knows Best.

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