Pages

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Ruling on Mocking and Depicting the Prophet(s) and the Impermissibility of Witnessing it

The Prophets Came with Tawheed and a Message to Instil Fear of Allaah, not Entertainment.

Question: Did the Mushrikeen of Makkah have Shirk in the aspect of fear, despite them admitting and believing that Allaah controls the universe?
Answer: Having fear in something and believing something controls the universe is something else. The Mushrikoon used to fear their idols despite them admitting that they did not control the universe. So because of this, Allaah, the Most High, said;

“And if you (O Muhammad) ask them: ‘Who has created the heavens and the earth,’ they will certainly say: ‘Allah.’” [Luqman 31:25]

Despite this, they still feared their idols. There are many examples of stories from the times of the Prophets, like in Surah Mu’minoon, that the Mushrikoon used to fear punishment from their idols despite them knowing that the universe was controlled by Allaah Alone. Therefore, it is from the fear that is included in Shirk, to fear something that cannot harm you and that it does not control the universe.

[Taken from Questions asked to Shaykh Sa'd bin Naasir bin Abdul-Azeez ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him] after explanation of Kitaab at-Tawheed, 14/05/1433 - 05/04/2012]

Depicting the Prophet(s) or Using Immoral Actors to Portray Them is a Mockery of One of the Pillars of al-Eemaan: Belief in the Prophets.

Question: Recently we have seen a huge number of mockery upon the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] via the means of films, newspapers, cartoons etc. What is the way we should deal with this?

Answer: It’s clear, we should reject and condemn these acts and explain the mistakes that people are spreading.

Question: What is the ruling on watching films or the like which portray the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] in a way?

Answer: This is not permissible, Allaah, the Most High, says:

“And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers all together in Hell.” [an-Nisaa 4:140]

So I say watching these things is Haraam and not necessary.

[Answered by Muftee ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Muhammad bin Ibraaheem aal ash-Shaykh [May Allaah Preserve him], Grand Muftee of Saudi Arabia and the Head of the Permanent Committee of Senior Scholars. Seerah Khulafaa Sayyid al-Mursaleen Conference, Prince Faisal bin Fahad Masjid, Riyadh: 6/11/1433 - 22/9/2012]

Question: What is the Islamic way of reacting to the depiction of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] that we see in the west?

Answer: We should explain to them the Sunnah and challenge what they accuse him of that he is free of, and to refer back to the books and the scholars that have been discussing this. All of this needs sensitivity and the truth, and we should be careful not to transgress the rights of the people, as Allaah, the Most High, says:

“…and let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part).” [al-Maaidah 5:2]

This Aayah has a great lesson; that even if they were physically preventing us (entering al-Masjid al-Haraam) and we had no way of bringing about justice, then it still remains upon us to instil their rights and not transgress them (i.e. by being violent towards them).

[Answered by Shaykh Saaleh bin ‘Abdullah bin Humayd [May Allaah Preserve him], Royal Advisor to the King and Member of Committee of Senior Scholars. Seerah Khulafaa Sayyid al-Mursaleen Conference, Prince Faisal bin Fahad Masjid, Riyadh: 11/11/1433 - 28/9/2012]

Question: Movies that have been made impersonating The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] have been made in a derogatory light and some movies are even being spread, not making fun out of him but to give a wrong impression of Islaam, what is your advice on this?      

Answer: We should help by spreading the authentic Seerah and we can use the media to do so, just as they do, so as long as it is not Haraam. So we need to spread the Seerah and show people how he lived, the Hikmah of Sharee’ah that he came with and to make people aware that these people are spreading lies. Mocking the Prophets [Peace be Upon them all] is nothing new, it’s the way of the people of the past and will continue to be their way until the Last Day.  

Indeed (many) Messengers were mocked before you (O Muhammad), but the scoffers were surrounded by that, whereat they used to mock.” [al-Anbiyaa 21:41]

But Allaah, the Most High, has Protected The Prophets [Peace be Upon them all] and their mocking does not affect their status in the slightest.

Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.” [al-Hijr 15:95]

So those who wish deceive the Muslims in leaving the Sunnah, his Seerah and his religion, then this is exactly what they want and have fear of. However, the Muslim must realise that the Kufr that they are already upon is far worse than mocking the religion.

Also, it is the Universal Sunnah of Allaah, the Most High, that those who try to ridicule the religion and prevent people from entering it,  Allaah actually causes it to increase those who enter the religion, the opposite of what they are trying to achieve.

Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.” [al-Anfaal 8:36]

This is the Sunnah of Allaah but this is not the problem, they want to stop the religion from spreading and want the Muslims to leave their religion. So it is Waajib, not only for the ‘Ulema or the Dua’at, but on everyone to defend the religion.


[Taken from Points taken from the talk ‘How to Honour the Sunnah’ by Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him]. Jaami’ Ameerah Mawdee bint Ahmad as-Sudayree: 9/4/1434 - 20/2/2013]

No comments:

Post a Comment