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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Fiqh of Obeying Traffic Laws

Maintaining manners on the Road, this is a Sign of Piety.

“And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain a stature like the mountains in height.” [Israa 17: 37]

And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.” [Furqaan 25:63]
And be moderate in the way you walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the most unpleasing of voices of all voices is the voice (braying) of donkeys.” [Luqman 31:19]

Al-Allaamah Taahir Ibn ‘Aashoor [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:
After Luqmaan advices his son on the manners that he should have, he advises his son to beware of having manners that are blameworthy, blameworthy manners in speech and action. So when we walk, we are commanded here to walk with manners, thus when walking we don’t walk with a swagger or with pride, nor do we walk as if we are lost, creeping instead of walking. Therefore, we are commanded here to walk with humility and a purpose.

[Adapted from Tahreer wa Tanweer 22/168-169]
It is obligatory for drivers to follow the highway or traffic codes

It says in Ashbaah wa al-Nathaa’ir (Pg. 233) by Imaam as-Suyootee [May Allaah have Mercy on him]:
“There is a principle in Sharee’ah, which is; ‘The ruler may legislate new laws in order for the betterment for the people.’” End Quote.

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said,
“It is not permissible for the Muslim to break the laws set by the government in relation to highway codes, because by doing so, one places himself and others in great danger. The country, may Allaah help it, have derived these laws in order for the betterment and the safety of its people, to remove harm from the Muslims, so it is not permissible for any person to contradict or break these laws. Moreover, it is from those in authority to place punishments for those who break these laws.”

[Fataawaa Islaamiyyah 4/536]
Shaykh ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Jibreen [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said,

“It is not permissible for drivers to break the highway code or from them to cover their license plates with things that may obscure it, in order to avoid accidents and harm from the people. Likewise, it is not permissible for them to go through red lights or vandalise road signs…If one knows the purpose behind such laws and the intent behind them, then it is not permissible for him to break these laws because by doing so he is disobeying the ruler, laws that he has set up in order to maintain safety and remove harm and dangers for the people. Whoever breaks these laws is should be faced with punishments and repercussions from the government by the way of fines or sentences.”
[Mujallah ad-Da’wah (1625)]

Ruling on Drifting

Shaykh ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Jibreen [May Allaah have Mercy on him] was asked:

We see, May Allaah Preserve you, that drifting has become widespread. My question is, what is the ruling on drifting and what is ruling on one who dies as a result of drifting, either spectating or whilst drifting?

He answered: There is no doubt that drifting is a dangerous thing and people doing it have killed many and have harmed many others.  So it is not permissible because of these consequences to drift and whoever dies because of drifting or he was the one who was drifting then he has the same ruling as one who commits suicide or one who causes harm to others. Those who support him or praise his drifting are also sinners because of this. And Allaah Knows Best.

[Fatwaa Number 6054]

Ruling on Driving on the Opposite Side of the Road

What is the ruling on driving on the opposite side of the road, whether it is a main road or a side street? And what is the ruling on going through red lights? Benefit us, may Allaah Reward you with good.

Answer: It is not permissible to break the Highway Code because these laws have been introduced in order to benefit the Muslims and by breaking these laws you are disobeying the ruler. And Allaah has ordered us to obey him in goodness as He, the Most High, says:

“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority” [an-Nisaa 4: 59]

And Allaah is the Source of all Strength. May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon our Messenger Muhammad, his family and his companions.

Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars for Research and Fatwaa

Signed:

Chairman: ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin ‘Abdullah bin Baaz
Vice Chairman: ‘Abdur-Razaaq ‘Afeefee
Member: ‘Abdullah bin Ghudayaan
[Fatwaa Number 17362]

Drivers are not allowed to speed limits set by the authorities, rather he must drive with integrity and serenity 
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

In origin, it is obligatory for drivers to abide by the set speed limits that have been set in certain areas, this is because this is part of obeying the ruler as Allaah, the Most High, has said:
“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority” [an-Nisaa 4: 59]

[Fataawaa and Advices for those on Holiday and those Travelling, (Pg. 80)]
To Lower ones voice, sight and to remove any harm from the path

And be moderate in the way you walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the most unpleasing of voices of all voices is the voice (braying) of donkeys.” [Luqman 31:19]
As for the meaning of voice of donkeys, then this refers to the speech of a person, if he is loud and unmannered in the way he talks, then this is the resemblance given to this characteristic, that of a donkey.

[Adapted from Tahreer wa Tanweer 22/168-169]
The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “I have seen a man in Jannah because he removed a piece of a tree from the path which was harming the people.” [Muslim (1914]

It has also been narrated that Aboo Barzah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] asked the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] for advice on a good deed that he can do, and he [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] replied by saying, “Remove things that are harmful from the paths of the Muslims.” [Muslim (654)]
It is narrated that Hudhayfah bin Usayd [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever harms the Muslims in their paths then he becomes deserved of curses upon him.” [Haythamee in al-Majma (1/204) and it was Classed Saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh at-Targheeb (148)]

In another hadeeth on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah [May Allaah be Pleased with him], that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Fear the two curses!” they asked, “What are the two curses?” He replied, “Those who pay no attention to the paths/roads of the Muslims and the shadow they benefit from.” [Muslim (269)]
Roads don’t belong to anyone person rather they are for everyone to benefit from. Therefore, we must be considerate of others.

The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.[Maaidah 5:33]
The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever picks up arms against us then he is not from us.” [al-Bukhaaree (6366)]

Seatbelts must be worn and anything to Prevent Harm must be preserved
Shaykh Saaleh al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve him] said,

“If the seatbelt protects one in the event of an accident then this is something and good and it is obligatory for the Muslim to wear it. This is because it is a cause of prevention and Allaah, the Most High, commands us to take our precautions. Seatbelts are a beneficial prevention so it is Waajib, from the aspect that the ruler has commanded us to wear them then this falls under obeying the ruler and from another aspect, it is a beneficial prevention against possible harm. Yes.”
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gnPSVsvAz8]

General Guidelines set by Majma’ al-Fiqhiyyah
In its eight annual gathering for 1414 AH, the Majma’ al-Fiqhi al-Islaamee, it concluded the following regarding traffic laws and safety:

1)
a) It is not permissible to break the laws set by the government as they are in line with Sharee’ah. Breaking these laws is disobeying the ruler which constitutes punishments on the basis that those who break the law are being dangerous to themselves and others. Therefore, it is obligatory to abide by these laws.

b) Part of maintain safety on the roads the authorities must instill punishments for those who break the set laws. This may include fines and the likes.

2)  
Accidents that may occur on the road fall under the rulings set in Sharee’ah which has rulings on felonies and physical harm caused to others. The driver is responsible for the harm he causes, whether this is physical or monetary harm, whether the accident was done on purpose or was accidental. Harm that he causes doesn’t lift responsibility from the driver except in one of certain situations:

-If the accident occurred due to someone else hitting him with force and he was unable to prevent it

-If there was harm which he was unable to prevent and the accident was a result of it.

-If the accident occurred without him transgressing traffic laws, then the accident was not done on purpose and may be absolved of responsibility or part reasonability.

3)
If one causes harm or hits an animal whilst driving then the driver is responsible and must replace the animal or pay a fee to the owner. This is case if he hadn’t broken any laws or wasn’t negligent. However, the case should be returned to the court and a Qaadee.

4)
If two parties have an accident then both parties must take a proportionate share of the blame. The portion of the blame must equate to financial reimbursement for repair to damages.

[Number 71, Pages 162-164]
[Based on an article written by Dr. Musfar bin ‘Alee al-Qahtaanee (Allaah Preserve Him)] http://www.saaid.net/Doat/msfer/2.htm#[16]

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