Is it Permissible to...

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Is it permissible to speak about management at work who are Muslims?

Is it permissible to speak bad and look down on Muslims from a different nation to you?

Is it permissible to mock other Muslims, even if they are not as developed?

From questions asked to Shaykh Saleh ibn Ghunam as-Sadlaan [May Allaah preserve him] in his house after Salaat al-Jumu‘ah, ar-Riyadh

12/8/1434 – 21/6/2013

Question: We work in the university, the question is; is it obligatory for us to obey the dean if he orders us to something which in its origin is permissible? 

Answer: There is no doubt that obeying those in authority is necessary[1]. The way the university is ran, the materials that are used etc. are things that are dictated by management. The one who is responsible to carry out these duties is the one who executes them and that is his role. If every single person tried to do what he did and rejected what management had decided then the university will be ruined. They will never be successful. This is the case in the university or anywhere else, one is required to follow those in authority the laws they have set. Rather, one should support them and assist them in it. Also, one should seek to complain as little as possible because usually opinions are not based on profound reasoning, they don’t always know the bigger picture and they themselves could be mistaken in their opinion. On the contrary, it is obligatory for all of them to obey those in authority. It is not proper to say that my opinion is better than the universities and I am absolutely certain that they are wrong, there could be some greater harm in your opinion. Rather, the greater good should be sought.

Questions asked to Shaykh Sa'd bin Naasir bin Abdul-Azeez ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]

Former Member of the Committee of Senior Scholars
Asked in his Masjid after Salaat al-‘Asr
8/11/1434 – 13/9/2013

Question: We hear some people criticising Saudis in a general sense, as in all of them are blamed to be lazy or being unintelligent or lacking in manners. They look down on them as if they are superior in these characteristics. What is the ruling on this all?

Answer: This doesn’t leave one of two scenarios. Either they are falling into Gheebah (backbiting if it is true) or Buhtaan (slander if is not true) and both are major sins.

Answer (on another occasion whilst travelling with the Shaykh he answered): If Allaah wants good for a nation, sometimes he brings about such people to elevate the status of those whom they are backbiting (i.e. one gains good deeds by being oppressed).

TN: The Education Ministry has also officially warned against such practices - http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/861971 

Question: What is the ruling on teachers or other than them mocking low grades that Saudis receive or mocking the wrong answers that students may give during their exams?

Answer: This is not permissible.

“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.).”[2] [al-Hujaraat 49:11]

Question: Is it permissible to openly speak against those who are in charge of the affairs of the Muslims, such as the government or management in the workplace?

Answer: If someone sees a mistake in those in authority then they must speak to those who are responsible for taking complaints or able to bring about change.

Questioner: So he shouldn’t talk about them with the general folk?

Answer: He should not talk about them in front of the general folk; this will only bring about hatred and resentment. There is no benefit in this[3].

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[1] The Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Hear and obey, verily they will be questioned for what they do and you for what you do.” [Muslim (1846)]

Hasan al-Basree [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said about the leaders: Allaah has caused them to be a means of causing betterment for the society, and this is far greater than the harm they may cause. This can only be attained by obeying them. [Adaab Hasan al-Basree by Ibn Jawzee (Pg. 121) and Jaami’ ‘Uloom al-Hikam by Ibn Rajab (2/117)]

[2] Imaam al-Baghawee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] reports that ‘Ikrimah said about this Aayah, “It is when a man says to another man, ‘Oh Sinner! Oh hypocrite! Oh Kaafir’”. It is also reported that ‘Ata said, “It means to say to your (Muslim) brother, ’Oh dog! Oh donkey! Oh swine.’” [Tafseer al-Baghawee Ma’aalim at-Tanzeel (7/344)]

Al-Allaamah Muhammad Ameen ash-Shinqeetee said about this Aayah in his Tafseer: Allaah, The Glorified and The Most High, Prohibited in this noble Aayah, mocking or looking down upon others. This is especially because that the one who is being mocked may be better than the one who is mocking. It is absolutely despicable that a person belittles his own deficiencies and seeks himself to be higher than those who are better and more noble, and then mocking them as well. In another place in the Quraan, Allaah, the Most High, has even explained the punishment for such an act: “Those who defame such of the believers who give charity (in Allah's Cause) voluntarily, and those who could not find to give charity (in Allah's Cause) except what is available to them, so they mock at them (believers), Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and they shall have a painful torment.” [at-Tawbah 9:79] and He also explained that this act was from the acts of the Munaafiqoon and the Kuffaar, as they used to mock the believers and the weakness in them as they perceived it: “Beautified is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe” [al-Baqarah 2:212]. Likewise, it is an absolute must that the Muslim doesn’t expose the mistakes of another Muslim and to mock him in it. [Adapted from Adwaa al-Bayaan (7/413-414)]

[3] Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said: To know who the rulers are and to obey them is from the greatest obligations of the religion. Rather, the religion and the Dunya cannot be established by obeying them. This is because the fact Banee Aadam cannot have solitude and betterment in their affairs except through unity, as they are in need for one another’s assistance. For every affair there is a leader, to the extent that even if one is travelling then they should appoint a leader amongst them as it occurs in the Hadeeth….Therefore if it is obligatory for us to obey someone appointed as a leader even whilst we are travelling then other affairs in our daily lives also need to have the same organization. This is because Allaah, the Most High, has commanded us to enjoin good and forbid evil and this can’t be established except with strength and having a leader. End quote. [Majmoo al-Fataawa (8/390-391)]