Fitnah al-Maal: Disobedience in Wealth - Corruption (Part 22)

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From the greatest cautions we must take heed to in connection to wealth is being wary of falling into Haraam wealth. From the greatest forms of Haraam wealth is bribery.

“And eat up not one another's property unjustly (in any illegal way e.g. stealing, robbing, deceiving, etc.), nor give bribery to the rulers (judges before presenting your cases) that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully.” [al-Baqarah 2:188]

And,

“Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent” [an-Nisaa 4:29]

And,

“Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!” [an-Nisaa 4:10]

Ibn Hajar Reforming Attitude Towards Worship

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Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani [Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

Continually leaving off optional acts of worship and being sufficed with the obligatory ones will only lead to negative characteristics.  He will eventually lose zeal for all acts of worship.

Fath al-Baari, 11/317

Ruling on Praying al-Jumu'ah at Work is Permissible Out of Necessity

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Question: Is it permissible for us in the west to pray Salaat al-Jumu’ah at work?

Answer: No, they pray Dhuhr. Salaat al-Jumu’ah is established in the Maasjid that are specified for it and the Muslim ruler calls them to pray in these specified Masaajid.

Questioner: But they have no Muslim ruler there, Oh Shaykh?

Shaykh Saaleh: In the lands of the Kuffaar, then they can pray at work.

Questioner: Meaning, it is not a condition for Salaat al-Jumu’ah to be held in a Masjid?

Shaykh Saaleh: No, it’s not a condition. 

Questions 43 with Shaykh Saaleh bin Ghaanim as-Sadlaan, Allah Preserve him. 

http://ahledhikr.blogspot.com/2013/03/questions-43.html

How to Make at-Tayammum - Nullifiers of at-Tayammum (Part 22)

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at-Tayammum is nullified with what nullifies Wudhoo. Al-‘Uthaymeen explains that the rulings of Wudhoo in this regard apply to at-Tayammum. Therefore, going to the bathroom or passing wind etc. will nullfiy the Tayammum.

[ash-Sharh al-Mumti' 1/403]

And Allaah Knows Best

Chapter: The Command to Fight the People Until They Say....

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It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) breathed his last and Abu Bakr was appointed as his successor (Caliph), those amongst the Arabs who wanted to become apostates became apostates. 'Umar b. Khattab said to Abu Bakr:

Why would you fight against the people, when the Messenger of Allah declared: I have been directed to fight against people so long as they do not say: There is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was granted full protection of his property and life on my behalf except for a right? His (other) affairs rest with Allah. Upon this Abu Bakr said: By Allah, I would definitely fight against him who severed prayer from Zakat, for it is the obligation upon the rich. By Allah, I would fight against them even to secure the cord (used for hobbling the feet of a camel) which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah (as zakat) but now they have withheld it. Umar b. Khattab remarked: By Allah, I found nothing but the fact that Allah had opened the heart of Abu Bakr for (perceiving the justification of) fighting (against those who refused to pay Zakat) and I fully recognized that the (stand of Abu Bakr) was right.

Benefits from Imaam Abu Zakriyyah Yahyaa an-Nawawi:

-al-Khattabi said that apostasy after the Prophet was of two types: those who left Islam altogether and joined the likes of Musaylimah from Banee Haneefah and Aswad al-Ansi from Yemen.

Another group claimed to be Muslim but wanted or did change the laws of Islam. This was rampant to the extent that Islam was only in three places, Makkah, al-Madeenah and the village of Abd al-Qays in Bahrain called Joo'aatha

-Abu Bakr fought those didn't give Zakaat but from their progeny arose those who revolted against ‘Ali.

Nawawi says the Bughaat started with not giving Zakaat and were the people of Riddah in origin.

-From the tribes that didn't give Zakaat were Banu Yarbu'.

-Banoo Haneefah apostated, some following Musaylimah and the Companions supported Aboo Bakr in this from this came Khawlah, the concubine of Alee and the mother of Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah 

-The Rawafid accuse Abu Bakr for fighting against those who withheld Zakaat as being oppressive. This conflicts the Ijmaa of the Companions.

-If people withhold Zakaat then they are Kuffar once the Hujjah is placed on them, this was the nature of the debate between Abu Bakr and Umar.

-Kufr can be in denying Tawheed but knowingly denying any aspect of Islam also.

-We take the apparent state of the Muslim, including if he repents from sinning or hiding Kufr with the Jamhoor, but Malik and Ahmad said the Tawbah of the Zindeeq (the renegade or the innovator) is not accepted.

Nawawi states that the correct view is that it is accepted as long as he sincerely repents and leaves it, he doesn't return to it, he doesn't call to it and he isn't under duress and repents willingly. 

-In this is proof for the Shafi'ees that it's permitted to take assets as part of Zakaat on trade, if the one paying Zakaat doesn't give money, "If they prevent a rope..."

Others said what this means is that the rope refers to the animal as a simile.

Usoolee Benefits 

-In this is proof for Qiyaas as Abu Bakr made Qiyaas between as-Salaat and az-Zakaat, and there is Ijmaa in its validity.

-In it is proof for Ijmaa.

-In it is proof for making Takhsees through Qiyaas, as the prohibition to kill Muslims is general but the command to pay Zakaat is specific.

-In it is proof that Ahkaam are bound by Shuroot and Istihnaa.

-Khitaab is of three types: to Ummah, to the Prophet and to Ummah via the Prophet.

-Every action present at the time of the Prophet remains valid until today, including that which relate to leadership.

-The narration of Abu Hurayrah is abridged whereas Anas and Ibn Umar narrated longer narrations which mention “facing the same Qiblah as us”, “Paying the Zakaat” and “Eating our slaughtered meat”.

-It's not permitted for a Mujtahid to make Taqleed of another Mujtahid as Umar didn't blindly follow Abu Bakr. 

-The virtue of having scholars who are able to derive and be grave like Abu Bakr was. 

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim, 1/274-290]

And Allaah Knows Best

Fitnah al-Maal: The True Reality of Passing Beauty (Part 21)

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Allaah, the Glorified and the Most High, has given us similes and parables in this regard in His Book in regards to the reality of wealth and treasures. If you have a wall, not matter how much you beautify it, it remains to be a wall. It is made of mud and clay, and this reality does not change. Just by placing on it treasures and wealth doesn’t make it any greater in its true status and value.

“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment (for the disbelievers, evil-doers), and (there is) Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the believers, good-doers), whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” [al-Hadeed 57:20]

Contemplate on this Aayah and you will have the greatest of understandings of the true reality of wealth. You could amass a lot of wealth, but its simile is that of spring. Wealth comes and it is bound to decay. The parable given here is like a lush farm, its greenery is pleasing to the eye but when the season comes, it is bound to rot and become brown and yellow until it is carried away by the wind.

Ibn Taymiyyah on Religious Zealots

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Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

Whoever loves his Shaykh to the extent that he will contradict the Sharee’ah then they are as guilty as each other.

So if the Shaykh enters the fire, he will enter it with him.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (18/315)

Ruling on Sending Peace and Blessings of Allaah Upon the Prophet

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

The scholars differed on the ruling of sending Peace and Blessings of Allaah upon the Messenger of Allaah when hearing his name.

Aboo Ja’far at-Tahaawee al-Hanafee was of the opinion that it is Waajib to supplicate by sending peace and blessings of Allaah upon him every time his name is mentioned. 

Others were of the opinion that sending peace and blessings of Allaah upon him when hearing his name was not an obligation, but something Mustahab (recommended), thus one is not sinning if he doesn’t do it. 

Others were of the opinion that it is obligatory to do it at least once in their lifetime because the command is an unrestricted command (الْأَمر الْمُطلق) which doesn’t necessitate repetition. So fulfilling the obligation to do it is is sufficed if one does it just once in their lifetime. This final opinion is the opinion of the majority; from them is Aboo Haneefah, Maalik, at-Thawree, al-Awzaa’ee and others. 

Qaadee ‘Iyyaad and Ibn Abdul-Barr also narrated this to be the opinion of the majority (and the correct opinion). 

Ash-Shaafi’ee and Ahmad both opined that it was an obligation every time his name is mentioned; the final opinion they held before they passed away.

[Jalaa al-Afhaam (Pg. 382)] 

TN: This article has been translated for the purpose of benefit and doesn’t promote laziness in sending peace and blessings of Allaah upon him.

How to Make at-Tayammum - Time for at-Tayammum (Part 22)

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A-If a person makes at-Tayammum for an obligatory prayer then he may perform optional prayers up until the time of that prayer runs out. This is the opinion of the Hanablees and the one favoured by al-Uthaymeen.

This includes combining prayers, and making up missed prayers. He is also permitted to pray Raaitbah and Nafl, as long as its not a prohibited time to pray in.

Some of the Salaf used to make at-Tayammum for every Salaat (i.e. after every Tasleem) but this is weak with al-Uthaymeen. He stated the correct opinion is what has been mentioned above.

B- Once the time for that prayer expires then the Tayammum he performed for that prayer also expires. Meaning, one must make at-Tayammum for each time of prayer, for example, if he made at-Tayammum to pray adh-Dhuhr during the time for adh-Dhuhr, then this Tayammum is nullified as soon as the time for al-‘Asr begins.

The Hanbalees stated at-Tayammum is only permitted out of necessity (i.e. unable to use water), thus every form of necessity has its restricted time. Here, it’s the duration of the time of as-Salaat.

The Hanbalees set some exceptions however:

1-If a person makes at-Tayammum combine prayers then the Tayammum is valid for both periods of time. For example, if a person makes at-Tayammum for adh-Dhuhr and combines it with al-‘Asr, then the Tayammum is valid until the time for al-‘Asr expires.

2-They stated that if a person makes at-Tayammum for al-Jumu’ah but prays one Rak’ah before the time ends, then he can continue and finish the prayer with the same Tayammum.

Al-‘Uthaymeen says but this rule is not consistent, because if we say that the Tayammum expires when the time for prayer expires, then we must say that in this case, he must stop praying, make at-Tayammum again (because the time for prayer has ended and he has invalidated his Tayammum) and then pray adh-Dhuhr (as he has missed al-Jumu’ah).

Al-‘Uthaymeen states that the above is the view of the Hanbalee Madhab however what is correct that at-Tayammum is not nullified when the time for the prayer expires.

This is based on the following:

-Allaah says about water and earth, “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you” [al-Maa’idah 5:6]

Therefore, at-Tayammum is a complete form of purification.

-The Hadeeth, “The earth has been made as a place of praying and purification.” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (307) and Muslim (291)]

This Hadeeth has the that the word purification (طَهور) comes with the Fatha (َ) which shows it’s an object of purifiction. Thus, it is an actual purification and not a temporary form of purification (مبيح).

-The Hadeeth, “The earth is pure and a purification for the Muslim even if you do not find water for ten years, but if you find water then Fear Allaah and wash yourself. For verily, there is a great deal of goodness in this.” [Reported by al-Bazzaar (193) with this wording and Aboo Dawood (332), at-Tirmidhee (124), Ibn Hibbaan (1311) with another wording].

-It takes the same ruling as Wudhoo as it is a replacement for it.

So based on this, at-Tayammum isn’t nullified by the time for prayer expiring, so its possible that a person makes at-Tayammum for adh-Dhuhr and he prays with the same Tayammum until al-’Ishaa, because it’s an actual form of legislated purification.

Ash-Sharh al-Mumti' (1/402-403)

And Allaah Knows best.

Chapter: Calling people to the twin declaration of faith and the laws of Islam

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It is narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Mu'adh towards Yemen (as governor) he said to him:

Verily you would reach a community of the people of the Book, the very first thing to which you should call them is the worship of Allah, may His Glory be Magnificent, and when they become fully aware of Allah, instruct them that He has enjoined five prayers on them during the day and the night, and when they begin observing it, then instruct them that verily Allah has made Zakat obligatory for them which would be collected from the wealthy amongst them and distributed to their needy ones, and when they submit to it, then collect it from them and avoid (the temptation) of selecting the best (items) of their riches.

Benefits from the Hadeeth of Mua'adh going to Yemen

-Tawheed refers to al-‘Ibaadah, as both wordings explain one another

-Those who don't know Allaah must be taught about Him.

-al-Qaadhi said: The Jews and the people of Kalam attribute to Allah which He is free of, even if they claim to worship Him but they belie the Messenger so they end up making Tashbeeh or ascribing to Him partners, or resulting in al-Hulool (that Allaah is everywhere in His creation or that one can become one with Him, may be He be Glorified), or Attributes that don't befit Him...They don't actually know Allaah, pay attention to this point very carefully. 

-Tawheed is the first to thing we need to know and call to.

-A nation cant be fought without them being called to Islaam beforehand.

-A person becomes a Muslim by pronouncing the Sahahadatayn.

(TN: this is a refutation of the Murji’ah who say it’s not a condition to pronounce it).

-Witr and other Salwaat are not Waajib, except for the five daily ones.

-al-Khattaabee said in this is proof that az-Zakaat must be disseminated in the very land it was collected from.

An-Nawawee rejects this as “to their poor” refers to the Muslims in general in any land.

Usoolee Benefits

-Some said if they have no Tawheed then we move on and implement the rest of the religion upon them.

An-Nawawi says this is weak, but the Hadeeth means we persist in Tawheed before anything else.

-The Kuffaar are accountable for not following the religion.

Some said they are not.

Others said they are accountable for prohibtions and not commandments.

An-Nawawee says the first one is correct and the view of the majority of the scholars of Usool.

-Proof that Khabr Waahid is accepted and acted upon (if it fulfills the conditions of being Saheeh).

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim (1/271-274)]

Source of Hadeeth: https://sunnah.com/muslim/1 

Fitnah al-Maal: Wealth and a Presumed Self-Importance (Part 20)

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With all of this it is incumbent upon us to give wealth its just estimation. It is upon us to knows it true position in our lives so that we fulfill the rights of Allaah through it. Wealth is a gift from Allaah. It doesn’t actually belong to you. It is not given to you because of your skills, or qualifications or or the degree of your ability or the amount of work you put in to get it. This is like what Qaaroon said:

"This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess." [al-Qassas 28:78]

No matter how intelligent you are, there will always be people who are more intelligent than you. 

No matter what skills you think you possess, there will always be people who have greater skills than you. 

Irrespective of the features you think you have possessed in order to get your wealth, none of those who came before you who had the same mentality were helped by their wealth. 

Their wealth could not save them in the slightest. This is visible and plain for us all to witness. If this is true status of wealth, then the only conclusion is that wealth is not ours because we deserve it, rather it is a gift given to us by Allaah. It has nothing to do with us and our abilities.

“Then We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in man power.

7. (And We said): "If you do good, you do good for your ownselves, and if you do evil (you do it) against yourselves." [al-Israa 17:6-7]

The Ruling on Valentine's Day: Types of Love in Islaam

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The Love for Allaah and His Messenger

Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan bin Abdullah al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve him]

http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/13636

Question: Could you clarify on how we can gain the love of Allaah, the Glorified and the Most High, and the love of the Messenger [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and the ways we can reap its rewards?

Answer: Loving Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, is from the greatest acts of worship of the heart. It is from the greatest acts of the worship that your heart can do. Allaah, the Most High, says;

"But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)"  [Al-Baqarah 2:165]

And the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "You will not believe until nothing is more beloved to you than Allaah and His Messenger and that you love another only for the sake of Allaah." [Muslim (43)]

Therefore, Loving Allaah is from the foundations of worship and it is not permissible to ultimately love other than Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, for the sake of worshipping, submitting and total surrender. This is a sole right for Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted. Likewise, the love of the Messenger [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] is to follow him because of your love of Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted. Likewise, loving righteous people and the believers is also because of this. This is the meaning of the term, 'loving for the sake of Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted'.  Thus all of this follows on from the love of Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, and this is an act of worship in the heart. From the things that strengthen and articulate this for you is to thank Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, for the favours upon you and to ponder on the signs of Allaah, the Most High, as these are causes for us to increase in our love for Allah, the Glorified and Exalted. If you have good given to you and are given from His favours, and from the best of this is to have good health, ample provision and security, then this will affect the love you have for Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted.  End Quote.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, "Oh Messenger of Allaah! After myself, I love you more than anything."

The Messenger of Allaah [May Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "By the One Whose Hands is my soul, until you love me more than yourself."

So 'Umar ibn al-Khattab [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, "Now, by Allaah, I love you more than I love myself."

The Messenger of Allaah [May Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] replied, "Now, Oh 'Umar!" [Bukhaaree (6257)]

Imaam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaanee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

 Al-Khattaabee said, "A person loving himself is imprinted in himself as for loving others, then we love others out of choice or for a reason. So the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] intended the type of love that we have a choice in.

So I say: Therefore, at first, 'Umar attested to having the love of oneself, the imprinted one. However, after the evidence was presented to him by the [May Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] he loved him more than he loved himself because the reasoning was made clear; not loving him more than oneself could leave to destruction in the Dunya and the Akhira. Therefore, he told him you have a choice and once he chose, he replied by saying, 'Now, Oh 'Umar' meaning now you have understood and attested to what is obligatory for you to have."

[Fath al-Baaree (11/528)]

Loving of the Shariah

"But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), for them is destruction, and (Allah) will make their deeds vain. That is because they hate that which Allah has sent down (this Qur'an and Islamic laws, etc.), so He has made their deeds fruitless." [Muhammad 47: 8-9]

Ibn Katheer says in his Tafseer about this Ayah:

"Meaning they don’t want it and they don’t love it."

[Tafseer Quran al-'Atheem 7/308]

The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "My relaxation has been made in Salaah."

[Narrated by Nasaaee (3939) from the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik (May Allaah be Pleased with him). It was classified Saheeh by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baaree (3/15) and (11/345) al-Haakim (2/174) and adh-Dhahabee agreed with him]

Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan bin Abdullah al-Fawzaan [May Allaah Preserve him] said:

It is obligatory upon the person that he doesn’t obey anything before the obedience to the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]. So if the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] commanded us with something and your parents or anyone else commanded us something that contradicted the command of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] then it would be obligatory for you not to disobey the command of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]. This is a sign that you love the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him], that you don’t give anyone priority or precedence over him and that you don’t obey anyone before you obey him, you don’t practice anything that he hasn’t legislated by innovating in the religion.

[Ai'aanah al-Mustafeed bi Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed (2/41-43)]

Love for your spouse

"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect." [Ar-Room 30: 21]

Imaam al-Bhagawee said in his Tafseer of this Aayah:

"Between man and wife there is affection and mercy so that they may love each other and have mercy with each other. So if there is anything they love, they also love it for the other without there being a lack of mercy for each other."

[Tafseer al-Bhagawee 6/266]

"And live with them honourably." [Nisaa 4:19]

Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in Tafseer of this Ayah:

"Meaning it is obligatory for you, Oh Believers, to live with them in the best of manners as you are their companions and you interact with them, so it's upon you to do this is an honourable manner. Some of the Salaf said this Ayah is referring to the spouses making themselves beautiful for the other and others said it meant that we are beautiful with each other in our actions and statements with each other."

[Adapted from Tafseer al-Manaar 4/374]

A'aishah [May Allaah be Pleased with her] said, as part of a long hadeeth, "The Muslims knew the love of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] for A'aishah"

Bukhaaree (2581) and Muslim (2442)

Fataawaa on Valentine's Day

Fatwa from Committee of Permanent Scholars (21203)

Dated 23/11/1420 AH

After studying this issue, the Permanent Committee for Fataawa, in the light of the clear evidences found in the Kitaab and Sunnahand likewise with the consensus of the scholars of the Salaf, we concluded that the festivals in Islaam are limited to two, the 'Eid of Fitr and the 'Eid of Adha. Beyond this, we have no festivals and there are no other festivals which are connected to particular people or a particular group or any newly invented affairs. Therefore, any type of festivals that is innovated is not permissible for the people of Islaam to act upon, celebrate or give any importance to as these are types of exceeding the limits set by Allaah. The one who transgresses these limits set by Allaah will only oppress himself.  If we attach ourselves to the innovated festivals of the non-Muslims, then this will be a sin because this will be a way of resembling them and it is a type of joining in with them, all of which Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, has prohibited. He has prohibited the believers from imitating them and supporting them in his Noble Book and in the Sunnah of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] as he said, "Whoever imitates a group of people then he is from them" [Reported by Aboo Dawood (4031) and it was classed Hasan Saheeh by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Aboo Dawood (3401)]. 

Valentine's Day is an example of the types of festivals we have mentioned above. This is because it is a festival practiced by the idol-worshippers from the Christians and it is not permissible for a Muslim, someone who believes in Allaah and the Last Day, to do the same acts they do or to approve of it or greet people and congratulate people due to it. Rather, it is obligatory for us to abandon all practices connected to it and to stay away from it, replying to the commands of Allaah and His Messenger and to prevent ourselves from falling into the Anger or Punishment of Allaah.

Likewise, it is also Haraam for a Muslim to give any significance to this festival, or any other festivals that are Haraam for us, such as exchanging food or drink or from buying and selling or making or giving out gifts. The prohibition also includes us sending messages or making announcements or anything similar to this, on the occasion of this festival. This is all because cooperating in sin and transgression of the limits of Allaah is a sin and disobedience to Allaah and His Messenger, as Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, says; 

"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment." [Maaidah 5:2]

Therefore is obligatory upon the Muslim to hold fast to the Kitaaband the Sunnah in all of the aspects in his/her life, especially in the times of trials and tribulations and the spread of corruption has increased. It is also obligatory for him/her to be attentive and protect themselves from falling into the misguidance and gaining the Anger of Allaah themselves or from being misguided by the sinner, those who don’t seek to please Allaah or have dignity and they don’t know anything from Islaam. It is also incumbent upon the Muslim to resort to Allaah, the Most High, in seeking guidance from Him and to be steadfast upon it as there is no guidance except from Allaah and there is no one who can make one form except Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted.

And Allaah is the Source of all Strength and May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon His Messenger.

Permanent Committee for Research and Religious Rulings

President

Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Aal ash-Shaykh

Member

Shaykh Saaleh bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Member

Shaykh Abdullah bin Abdur-Rahmaan al-Ghudayaan

Member

Shaykh Bakr bin Abdullah Aboo Zayd

Fataawaa Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saaleh al-'Uthaymeen [May Allaah Mercy on him] Question: As-Salaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah wa Barakaatuhu To Proceed: Celebrating Valentine's Day has become widespread in our recent times - especially between students - a festival from the festival of the Christians. There is also a particular fashion they use, such as using the colour red for their clothes and shoes and they exchange red roses. We hope from your noble self, an explanation on the ruling of celebrating the likes of this festival and what advice could you give to the Muslims in the likes of these affairs. May Allaah protect you and take care of you. Answer: Wa 'Alaykum Salaam wa Rahmatullah wa Baraaktuhu. Celebrating the likes of Valentine's day is not permissible, for the following reasons: Firstly, this festival has no precedence in our Shariah. Secondly, it calls to people to having love and infatuation (in an impermissible manner) Thirdly, it calls people to have their hearts being occupied with trivial issues which contradicts the guidance of the Salaf as-Saalih [May Allaah be Pleased with them all]. Based on this, it is not permissible for us to assist with this day or any of the symbolisms connected to this festival, whether it is from the food and drinks they share or to resemble them in clothing or to follow anything that will resemble or imitate them. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the Muslim for him to be firm in his religion and for him/her not to be blind and follow the corrupt. I ask Allaah, the Most High, to protect the Muslims from all types of trials and tribulations, that which is apparent or hidden, and that He Assists us in our tests with His Assistance and Guidance. Written by Muhammad Saaleh al-'Uthaymeen 5/11/1420

Fataawaa Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullah ar-Raajihee

[May Allaah Preserve and Take Care of Him]

Fatwa Number: 975

Question: May Allaah grant you with good, what is the ruling with celebrating a day that they call Valentine's day, as many people from the children of the Muslims do on this day?

Answer: There is no doubt that this festival is a prohibited innovation and it is not permissible for to assist the Mushrikeen with this or to collaborate with any of their festivals. This Fatwaa was initially given by the Noble Shaykh Muhammad Saaleh bin 'Uthaymeen and from Shaykh Abdullah bin Jibreen and other than them. Likewise, some pure women, and all of them are good, have expressed its prohibition as well. Therefore, it is binding that we spread this ruling of prohibition to the people and write them in the magazines in order that people may benefit from it.

Fatwa number: 1636

Question: Some shops have begun to store products in order for this to be sold on Valentine's Day such as have cards, red roses and chocolates and the likes. What is the ruling of this?

Answer: All Praise be to Allaah and May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, Our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his companions and all those who follow them in goodness until the Last Day.

To begin:

Verily, this act of some of the businessmen and shop owners is a bad deed as it makes visible the festivals of the non-Muslims. It shows agreement with them and the symbols of their religion in front of the Muslims, and those who don’t know or are ignorant will be led to blindly follow the non-Muslims in this and their festivals.

Giving gifts and chocolates on the days of their festivals is from the major crimes and selling what is connected to these festivals and making it apparent to the people is helping in spreading falsehood and giving assistance to oppression and transgression. Allaah, the Most High, said:

"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment." [Maaidah 5:2]

Therefore is it obligatory for the shop owners, those who do the likes mentioned, to repent to Allaah from the crimes and transgression and the oppression they have committed connected to the greeting cards they are selling and all the things that help make apparent and spread the festivals of the non-Muslims. From their repentance, they must also warn the people from acts that they did before and explain to them that those deeds that they did was a great wronging, it wasn’t permissible and that it wasHaraam. They must increase in doing good deeds because the one who repents and then does good deeds then Allaah will accept his repentance. May Allaah provide all f us with safeguarding from being misguided trials and tribulations and may Allaah make us all firm upon His guidance, His Religion of truth, al-Islaam. Verily He is the Patron over this and He is able to do it.

May the Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family and his Companions