What they Call 'April Fools' Day' or 'All Fools' Day'

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Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [May Allaah have Mercy on him and grant him the highest station in Jannah] said:

Caution my Muslim brothers! Some of the foolish people have this day, ‘April fools’[1], I think this day is coming soon.

This form of permitted lying is from the ways of the Jews, Christians and the Zoroastrians and others from the people of Kufr.

Some of the reservations we have of this day:

1) They lie, and lying in our Shar’eeah is Haraam.

2) It involves imitating the Kuffaar and imitating the Kuffaar is Haraam. The Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “Whoever imitates a nation then he is from them.” [Narrated by Aboo Dawood (4031); classified as Saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Aboo Dawood (3401)]

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “It’s authenticity is acceptable. The ruling on imitation based on this Hadeeth is that it is Haraam but if we look at the apparent wording, imitation would mean one has done an act of Kufr (disbelief) as they are behaving like those who disbelieve.” [‘Iqtidaa as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/042)]

Added to these are two are other major reservations:

3) The Muslims are succumbing to the ways of their enemies, because it is known by human nature, that the one who follows is impacted by the one whom he is following. If someone takes another to follow, then he believes that the one he is following is better than him. 

Based on this, following them in their practices (i.e. religious, acts of worship, festivals etc.) causes weakness for this nation and causes the believers to be downgraded in their status, causing inferiority of the Muslims to the Kuffaar. 

4) The fourth reservation is that most often, meaning the lies that spread, lead to people's wealth being lost. It also leads to another Muslim being frightened. Because of these lies, sometimes families are also affected. For example, a person may lie to another person by saying, “You are invited to eat at our house and many people will gather and we will prepare a huge banquet" but he is lying, and examples similar to this are all impermissible.

So it is obligatory upon the Muslim, to fear Allaah, the Glorified and the High, and that you uphold His Religion, be proud and pleased with it.

 
I have a guarantee to every Muslim, those who seek honour in the Religion of Allaah, that if they uphold their religion then they will be honoured with the people and their enemies will become inferior to them.

Do not think - oh Muslim – that following the Kuffaar, their manners and habits, causes one to be honoured and given superiority! Rather it causes one to be debased!

You are aware that if someone was to copy you in one of your deeds or actions, then you will experience these people following you will humble themselves towards you. To the extent that some of them will even imitate you in (everything that you do), and this is again something known by human nature.

So everyone who looks at our enemies, they will soon realise that we are actually stronger than them. We have more honour than them through our religion. We are not affected by their plotting against us. We are given guidelines on how to interact with them according to our Shar’eeah. The One Who Has Legislated (i.e. Allaah) for us has given us a solution for every time and every place (through being steadfast upon the religion). After He Sent the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] to mankind, the following Aayah was revealed:

“Say (O Muhammad): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah”  [A’raaf 7:158]

It is also narrated that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] said, “By the One Whose Hands is in my soul, there is not a Jew or a Christian, that doesn’t believe in what I have come with, except he will be from the people of the fire.” [Narrated by Muslim (153)]

If this is the affair of the People of the Book, then what about those lesser than them from the Kuffaar?

Everyone who hears of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] and does not follow him will be in the fire.

So if this is the reality of the situation, then what is wrong with us - oh Muslims – that we have made ourselves inferior and follow the way of those who are against us!?

We all know that what happened in the incident with Hercules, the great ruler of the Romans, and Abee Sufyaan. Aboo Sufyaan went to Hercules (to complain against the Prophet) yet he was not able to lie against him [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]. He was careful in not saying anything that is not true about the Messenger of Allaah [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].

So if this how the Kaafir (at that time Aboo Sufyaan was not a Muslim) dealt with the honour of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him], then what is wrong with you – Oh Muslim – that you need to lie?

And all Strength is from Allaah.

[Noor ‘ala al-Darb (Tape 17, 7:39 mins)]

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[1] Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on him]:

‘Alee bin Abee Taalib (May Allaah be Pleased with him) merely forbade the Muslims from using the same names (i.e. that it is not permissible to use names like Christmas, Boxing Day, Mother’s Day, April Fool’s Day etc.) that the Kuffaar do for their religious festivals (and special occasions), so how about those who participate on these days as they do?

[Iqtidaa’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/516)]

The Closest To Me on The Day of Judgement...

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It is narrated on the authority of Aws bin Aws [may Allaah be Pleased with him] that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said:

“Increase in sending peace and blessings of Allaah upon me on the Day of Jumu’ah, because these salutations reach me on Friday. And the closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who send Peace and Blessings upon me the most.”

Reported by Aboo Dawood (1047), an-Nasaa’ee (1085), Ahmad (4/8) and others.

Ibn Hibbaan also reported this Hadeeth (2/190) and stated, “In this Hadeeth there is proof that the closest to the Prophet on the Day of Judgement are the People of Hadeeth because there isn’t a people who send Peace and Blessings of Allaah upon him more than them.”

This narration is classed as Hasan by many of the scholars including Shaykh Rabee’ bin Haadee in his editing of al-Qaa’idah al-Jaliyyah of Ibn Taymiyyah (Pg. 143-144).

Bringing Children to the Masjid on the Day of Jumu’ah

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Question: What is your advice to those who bring their children to the Masjid on the day of Jumu’ah. These children destract those who pray by talking aloud and playing around whilst the Imaam is delivering the Khateeb.

Answer: 

Children under the age of seven must stay with their mothers so that they don’t destract the people. It is incumbent that they stay with their families so that they don’t harm people. If the child has reached the age of seven years old, or above, then he must pray with the people because the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] ordered children to pray and ordered their guardians to obligate them to pray at the age of seven years old, “Command your children to pray as-Salaah at the age of seven years old and hit them at the age of ten years old (if they don’t pray).” So it is upon their fathers and their elder brothers (i.e. gaurdians) to bring them to prayers and to teach them and if they destract or harm others, then they must be prevented until they come can come to the Masjid in the correct fashion, so that they pray without harming others.

 http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/16434

The Scholar is Rewarded for His Mistake, but the Layman is Punished for His Gheebah

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Ibn al-Qayyim [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

The one who is in touch with reality, and has even a little bit of intellect, will realise that there might be an honourable person - someone who is extremely pious and has a goodly impact on others, however it may be that he makes a mistake. He is not sinful for this and his status does not diminish in the slightest. Rather he is rewarded because he has tried to make Ijtihaad.

However, it not permissible for one to follow his mistakes and it is certainly not permissible, whatsoever, to defame him or seek to downgrade his status or to create enmity or resentment in the hearts of the Muslims towards him.

Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted Said:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. ” [an-Nisaa’ 4: 59]

From the Salaf, Mujaahid, Hakam bin ‘Utaybah, Maalik and others [May Allaah have Mercy upon them all] all have been reported to say, “There is no one except that his statement is accepted or rejected, except for the Messenger of Allaah.” End quote.

[Summarised from ‘Ilaam al-Muwaq’ieen (3/206-221)]

 

Eclipse: "If You See A Natural Disaster, then Prostrate" [Aboo Dawood (1198)]

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1. I swear by the Day of Resurrection;

2. And I swear by the self-reproaching person (a believer).

3. Does man (a disbeliever) think that We shall not assemble his bones?

4. Yes, We are Able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.

5. Nay! (Man denies Resurrection and Reckoning. So) he desires to continue committing sins.

6. He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection?" they ask whilst actually belying in it.

7. So, when the sight shall be dazed: Qataadah and Muqaatil said this means that the sight of man on that Day will not believe what they see, something which they disbelieved would happen.  

8. And the moon will be eclipsed: its light will be dispelled.

9. And the sun and moon will be joined together: they will be folded up together and their lights disappeared. Once they have been destroyed, they both will be pelted into the sea and then set alight, becoming two huge masses of fire.

10. On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee?"

11. No! There is no refuge!

12. Unto your Lord (Alone) will be the place of rest that Day.

13. On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward (of his evil or good deeds), and what he left behind (of his good or evil traditions).

[Mukhtasar Ma’aalim at-Tanzeel of Imaam al-Baghawee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] (Pg. 989) - Surah al-Qiyaamah]

Issue: If there is an eclipse at the time of a particular prayer (i.e. an obligatory prayer, Jumu’ah,‘Eed etc. ), then the majority stipulate that the eclipse prayer should be given precedence.

However, the correct opinion - the view of the Hanbalees - is that one must pray the obligatory prayer and if there is still an eclipse, begin the eclipse prayer.

Ibn Qudaamah [may Allaah have Mercy on him] stated:

One should begin with the obligatory prayer because if the Imaam was to start with the eclipse prayer this would involve a great deal of hardship for the followers. People have attended the Masjid to pray the obligatory prayer; from them are the elderly and the weak, and the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] has ordered that the Imaam doesn’t create hardship for the followers.

So by starting with the eclipse prayer, which is extensively long prayer, this would create a great deal of hardship.

Furthermore, praying what is obligatory takes precedence over something that is recommended (the eclipse prayer is Sunnah with the majority).

Likewise, due to the length of the eclipse prayer, it is also feared that the time for the obligatory prayer may expire if precedence is given to the eclipse prayer.

[al-Mughnee (2/146)]

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen issed the following Fatwaa:

The obligatory prayer takes precedence over the eclipse prayer, because it is more important.

[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa wa ar-Rasaa’il (16/307)]

And Allaah Knows Best.

Making Ruqyah and Dua’a in English

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Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have Mercy on him and Purify his soul] said:

(In origin) It is disliked (Makrooh) to do Ruqyah in any language other than Arabic, such as Hebrew or Syriac etc.  because there is a fear that wording which are not permissible will be used. End quote.

[Iqtidaa’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (Pg. 203)]

He also said:

Most of what the people possess  from amulets and charms and the Ruqyah they practice is not understood in Arabic. Even worse, most of them involve shirk and worship of Jinn. Based on this, the scholars have prohibited any form of Ruqyah with wording which is not understood in its meaning, regardless if the person using them knowing that the wording involves shirk or not. End quote.

[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (19/13)]

Shaykh Sulaymaan bin ‘Abdullah, the grandson of Shaykh al-Islaam Muhammad bin ‘Abdul Wahaab [may Allaah have Mercy on them both] said:

The scholars hold it as being Makrooh to do Ruqyah from sources other than the Book of Allaah. The meaning of what Shaykh al-Islaam stated (quoted above) is that it is disliked to use supplications (Dua’a) or Ruqyah in a language where one doesn’t know the meaning of the words (or its implications) and languages other than Arabic; this is because they may utter statements which conflict with the foundations of al-Islaam. 

I say: Ibn ‘Abdus-Salaam was asked about supplicating and using the Arabic letters for Ruqyah (such as الم or الر or حم or other letters that appear at the beginning of certain Surahs) and he prohibited it as there is a fear that they will lead to Kufr in their use (TN: what is understood is that people may change the meaning or depend on letters from the alphabet to bring a cure and not Allaah, the Most High). 

As-Suyootee stated that there is scholarly consensus which becomes binding to follow (this is known as Ijmaa’) that an exception is made for those who don’t know Arabic, however this is on three conditions; 

1. That the person is using a correct translation of the  Words of Allaah, or His Names and Attributes

2. That the meaning is clear and not obscure

3. That the one doing Ruqyah or supplicating is seeking to gain a response from Allaah and not that the act of doing Ruqyah itself will bring about the cure. End quote. 

[Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed (Pg. 136)]

Translated from the Editing of Shaykh ‘Aadil ar-Rafaa’ee of Sharh al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah (Pg. 75)