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

Fatwaa on Valentine's Day

After studying this issue, the Permanent Committee for Fataawa, in the light of the clear evidences found in the Kitaab and Sunnah and 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 Kitaab and 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 was Haraam. 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

The Person Calling the Other on the Telephone Must be the one to Initiate the Salaam

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The person who is calling is the one who is putting himself forward, so if the person decides to call another then he must begin with the greeting of Islaam, ‘As-Salaamu Alaaykum’, this from the symbols of Islaam. This greeting is a supplication for security and peace and it is from the virtues of the Ummah of Muhammad [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]. 

The person who lifts the receiver and is greeted in this way must reply to this greeting, this is what has been narrated in the noble Sunnah.

On the authority of Rabee’ [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said, a man from Banee ‘Aaamir told me that he went to the Prophet’s [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] house and sought permission to enter. So when he arrived he asked, “Can I come in”?

So when the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] heard this, he told his custodian to go out and teach this man on how to seek permission. So he went to him and told him to say; “As-Salaamu Alaykum, may I enter?” So the man sought to enter again but this time he asked, “As-Salaamu Alaykum, may I enter?” So the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] permitted him to come. [Narrated by Aboo Dawood]

This hadeeth proves that the one who wants to enter, then it is upon him to begin with the Salaam. Therefore, if a person is trying to ring another, he must be the one begins with the Salaam and he should be quiet until he is spoken to.

It is also important to know that leaving the blessed greeting of Islaam is not permissible. Some people have changed this greeting to things such as ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Illuminated Morning’. Specific to the way people on the telephone, we hear people using greetings like, ‘Hello’. This greeting in its origin comes from France and it is being incorporated in the Arabic language, as people are persisting in using it.

It is also important to note that it is not permissible for the caller, once the call has connected, to remain silent. This is contrary to the Islamic etiquettes from various viewpoints;

·        It contradicts the Sunnah as he person who is seeking to gain the other persons attention is the one who should begin with the Salaam.

·        It is bad manners, as it seems by the caller being silent that he is testing the person he is calling. So the person who has received this call will lift the receiver and enquire about this silence by asking, ‘Hello? Anybody there?’ These are bad manners that have been prohibited by Allaah.

If the receiver responds to your call and lifts the receivers and asks, ‘Who’s speaking?’ Then the caller must answer clearly and avoid being obscure. 

It is narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said;

“I sought permission to enter the house of the Prophet.” The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] then asked, “Who is it?” I replied by saying, “It me.” He rebuked me by saying, “Me!? Me!?” [Narrated by Muslim]

Aboo Dawood has a similar narration where he adds the wording, “It is as if he disliked it.”

Similarly, it is also unclear if one is asked to name himself and he replies with his Kunya, by saying it is Aboo Fulaan, for example. This is being obscure as well and this is not known from the way of the Salaf. In contrary to this, the Salaf would have a Kunya that wold be suited to a special characteristic that they may possess or the Kunya itself would help define the person. Kunya wasn’t something known before Islaam but when Islaam came, the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with them] were keen to use them; Aboo Bakr, Aboo Dharr, Umm Haani [May Allaah be Pleased with them all]

The point is, one should be wary of using Kunya that will disguise the person and it will have nothing connected to his name or a characteristic of his. If you go to someone’s house and he isn’t there then don’t bother the inhabitant, this is bad manners and etiquette. This distracts the people in the house and may even cause them discomfort, so why does the one who does this think he is so special?

The Manners and Characteristics when Talking on the Phone
Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd [May Allaah have Mercy on him] Pg. 12-13

Questions 21

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Questions asked to Shaykh Saleh ibn Muhammad al-Luhaydaan [May Allaah Preserve him] in his Masjid; Explanation of Chapter 20 of Kitaab at-Tawheed

11/3/1433 - 4/2/2012

Question: I owe a Syrian man money and he went back to Syria three months ago and he was due to return but hasn’t, shall I give the money away in charity on his behalf?

Answer: Wait! Keep the money with you as he may return. Have a written account of how much you owe such and such person money. If you need to leave and will not return, then give it charity and Inshallah you will be rewarded for that, but there is a chance he may return to wait.  

Question: Will I be punished to pray near an idol?

Answer: Yes, even if you are praying to Allaah, it is not permissible to pray near a statue. There was a man who wanted to slaughter a camel for the sake of Allaah and the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] asked him if this was a place where idols were kept or religious duties towards these idols were carried out. Meaning if the man had said yes, the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] would have prohibited him from doing so. Therefore, it is not permissible to pray, even if it is to Allaah, near statues or idols.

Question: May Allaah grant you with good, was Laat a Muslim?

Answer: Laat came before Islaam but he was a righteous man upon the religion of Ibraheem [Peace be upon him]. Therefore, if anyone worships Allaah, without making partners with Him, then he is a Muslim. The word 'Islaam' was used even before the coming of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] to refer to someone who has submitted to Allaah and worshipped Him alone. Therefore, if we look at the story of Loot [Peace be upon him], when the Angels came to his village, they said;

"And We found not within them other than a [single] house of Muslims"

[Dhaariyaat 51:36]

So even at the time of Loot [Peace be upon him], those who submitted and worshipped Him alone were considered as Muslims.

Question: My grandmother, who is a Christian, has left behind in her will some money for me. Is it permissible for me to accept this money? If not, what can I do with it?

Answer: There is a difference between a will and inheritance. It is true that those who have different religions can't inherit from each other; however this is part of her will. So this exact amount is part of the will and not inheritance, so it is permissible for you to accept it.

Question: There is a brother whose father's grave is abroad and this grave has been raised high, should he lower it? If he does, it will create a huge problem with the family, so what should he do?

Answer: If he is able to lower the grave without causing problems then he should, however if a greater problem is going to arise then he shouldn’t do so.

Question: Is it an exception from the prohibition of women visiting the graves, for the grave of the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]?   

Answer: No, there is no exception; women are not allowed to visit his grave. The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "Send Peace and Blessings upon me from wherever you are as it will reach me wherever you are." Therefore, we should send Peace and Blessings upon him wherever we are. Likewise the woman in her Salaat says 'Peace and Blessings be upon you, Oh Prophet' and this reaches him, so she should not visit his grave.

Question: I heard from a different explanation of Kitaab at-Tawheed, that the name Laat came from the feminine version of the name of Allaah and that the Mushrikeen of Makkah use to mock this name; is this true?

Answer: No, this isn’t the case. Laat was a righteous man and the Mushrikeen used to respect and even named a place of worship after him. 

Question: I work outside Riyadh about 80-90 KM, is it permissible for me to combine and shorten my prayers on a daily basis, is it better to pray in full?

Answer: Shortening prayers is permissible for the traveller and it is better for the traveller not to pray in full. However, in regards to combining then this shouldn’t be done regularly, as the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] did this rarely and only did it with a need. He did it on few situations such as combining n 'Arafah between Dhuhr and 'Asr and in Muzdalifah between Maghrib and 'Ishaa. But the majority of his journeys, he would shortened and pray the five daily prayers in their prescribed times.

Question: What is the ruling on this new type of Salaat that they have created, calling it Salaat al-Fujaa’ah [The Sudden Prayer]. In explaining what it is, some of the Muslims in the UK have called other Muslims to gather in their cities in well-known areas like the market place, and they all pray a well-known Salaah, like ‘Asr prayer for example, at the same time in their respective cities. They chose New Years’ Day 2012 to do this. They state that the reasons for doing this are four;

1)     They are calling to Allaah

2)     They are uniting the Ummah

3)     They are starting the year with prayer so it will be a year of prayer

4) It can be a recreational act for the youth

What is the ruling on such an event?

Answer: If the Salaat that they are praying is prayed in its true and proper time and they gather to pray in congregation in its proper time then in principle this is permitted. However, if they specify a particular place to pray, time and congregate then this is an innovation. 

Question: Based on the hadeeth of the pen being lifted from three, will children be rewarded for the good deeds they do?

Answer: Yes, they will. If they do good deeds they will be rewarded but if they do bad deeds, from the Mercy of Allaah, they will not be punished. However, just because they are not being punished they should still be taught and corrected if they make mistakes. The proof of this is when the women came to the Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and asked, "Is there reward for this (and she lifted the child) if he does Hajj with me?" The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] replied, "Yes".

Question: The Prophet [May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] cursed the women who continually visit the graves, do this mean she is cursed if she goes to the grave just once?

Answer: Whenever there is curse on someone, then this means it is a major sin. But the curse is upon the person if they repeat in doing this sin, thus if she went once and she repented then there is no curse upon her.

Question: Is it permissible to smear the cat so it can't reproduce because he fears that he won't be able to look after the kittens.

Answer:  Cats are from the creation of Allaah and they come with their own provision;

"And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register."

[Hood 11:]

If the cat has kittens, it doesn’t mean you have to look after them, they can be left outside so that they can find mice or the likes to eat, but one should not prevent the cat from reproducing.

Questions 20

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Questions asked to Shaykh Sa’d ibn Naasir ibn Abdul-Azeez ash-Shithree [May Allaah Preserve him] in his Masjid after Salaat al-Dhuhr

1/3/1433 - 25/1/2012

Question: This has happened in Britain recently; some of the Muslim youth in England were drunk and they attacked some non-Muslim youths and now a racist party, calling itself the English Defence League [EDL], are coming to fight with the Muslims in their areas to seek revenge. Some of the youth, some of them Salafees, are overeager to defend themselves and the Muslims and they are willing to go and meet them and fight. What should the Muslims do in this situation?

Answer: It is upon the Muslims to do four things;

Firstly, it is upon the Muslims there to explain that this act of the Muslim youth has nothing to do with Islaam. This is because Islaam prohibits drinking alcohol and the reason for this incident was because of them contradicting the rules set in Islaam. Therefore it is necessary for us to explain this matter to them, that what they did has nothing to do with Islaam and its teachings.

Secondly, it is also equally important to firmly establish to the non-Muslims that Islaam prohibits its followers from harming others. It is also against the teachings of Islaam to go against the laws and regulations that the country has set out for you to follow. Those people who enter the country with a visa or they live there, then it is necessary that they abide by the rules of the country.

Questioner: Shaykh, most the Muslims living there are citizens and they don’t have visa.

Shaykh Sa’d: even those who are citizens. If you live in a country then it is binding that you live by the laws of that country because these are the regulations that the government has set out, such as a highway code etc. for the betterment its citizens so it necessary that we follow these rules in for this goal to be achieved.

Thirdly, fighting or going to war with other citizens that live in the UK is not allowed for us to do. Calling for fighting is a sole right for the leaders of countries and it is not left to the decision of individuals. This is due to the statement of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, “The leader is a shield for his community, you follow his commands and he protects you from harm.” Based on this, it is not correct for an individual to decide that he is going to fight with others, even if he had a group and got permission from the government to fight with these people and to call to it.

Fourthly, the last piece of advice I give to the Muslims there is to be sincere and try do good deeds to others, seeking to get closer to Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified. Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified, gives the believers who do for other people a great reward in the Dunya and in the Aakhira , this is to compensate them for good deeds that they did. So I call on the Muslims in the UK to be like the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] as their situation is similar to his when he was getting oppressed and faced hardships in Makkah before Hijrah. So it is upon them to study the Seerah or the biography of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and to learn how he dealt with harm that was afflicted upon him and how he dealt with those who tried to stop his Da’wah and how he dealt with all the different types of hardships and difficulties and despite this being the reality he was still merciful towards. 

Questioner: May Allaah grant you with good, would it be then permissible for the Muslims to cooperate with the police and the government in general in order to ward off any harm to themselves?

Shaykh Sa’d: Cooperate is of two types, this is taken from the statement of Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified;

“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression”

[Maaidah 5:2]

So if you are cooperating with them in doing acts of righteousness and piety and upon upholding the rights of people and bringing about betterment then this is what the Shariah dictates we should do. In fact, this Ayah was revealed in connection to the Muslims and their cooperation with non-Muslims. For Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified, says:

“O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”

[Maaidah 5:2]

Question: What is the ruling on this new type of Salaat that they have created, calling it Salaat al-Fujaa’ah [The Sudden Prayer]. In explaining what it is, some of the Muslims in the UK have called other Muslims to gather in their cities in well-known areas like the market place, and they all pray a well-known Salaah, like ‘Asr prayer for example, at the same time in their respective cities. They chose New Years’ Day 2012 to do this. They state that the reasons for doing this are four;

1)     They are calling to Allaah

2)     They are uniting the Ummah

3)     They are starting the year with prayer so it will be a year of prayer

4)     It can be a recreational act for the youth

What is the ruling on such an event?

Answer: Whoever seeks to do this then they are trying to do something good and they are trying to benefit the people. However, our religion is based on following the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] and walking on his path, as Allaah, The Exalted and Glorified, says;

“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.’

[Aal Imraan 3:31]

And as He, The Exalted and Glorified, says;

“And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from”

[Hashr 59:7]

And as He, The Exalted and Glorified, says;

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.”

[Ahzaab 33:21]

These Ayaat prove that the way we worship Allaah can only be done in the manner that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] had done and taught us. Based on this, if someone was to look into likes of the Salaah, they will find that they are not following the way of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him]. They are not following him in the aspect of their timing, the place they are gathering and as a result praying Salaah in this manner is not in accordance with the way of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him] or his guidance. Therefore, a prayer such as this is not legislated and it’s not done in the correct way.

If the slave knows that Allaah is the Lord All-Honour and All-Sublime, Knows best for His slaves and He is Glorified, the One Who Knows how to spread this religion in its true reality and its best form, therefore He has ordered us to follow a specific way when it comes to worship and He has told us the best way to attain these goals that have been mentioned in the question, is by following the Shar’.

So I advise the Muslims there to be diligent in following the religion of Islaam in the best and most perfect manner and to make it apparent, and this will be cause for the non-Muslims to enter the religion of Islaam. The way they can follow Islaam and make it apparent can be done in ways:

Firstly, for the Muslims to be united, having one call and negating any forms of splitting, to follow the Kitaab and the Sunnah and use it as a yardstick for them to follow and use it to resolve their problems, whether this be on a larger or an individual scale.

Secondly, the Muslims should seek ways to create ease for each other and to treat people with the best of conduct, and a result this will be a cause of the goodness of Allaah to be placed upon them and for their hearts to be united.

Thirdly, the Muslims, due to their excellent conduct and righteousness, should be a cause for people to be guided to Islaam in their religious and worldly affairs. Therefore, they should seek to resolve problems that they have with non-Muslims and they should be a cause of good deeds spreading so that the hearts of the people will be affected positively.

Fourthly, the Muslims should be strong in having the Akhlaaq that Islaam teaches us to have, whether this is connected to contracts and oaths we have or in the laws and regulations they have or beware of consuming the wealth of others in a wrong manner, or all the manners that the Shariah promotes when it comes to Akhlaaq, that our monotheistic religion has come with.

If the Muslims stick and follows these matters and they stick to following their religion then this will be a cause for people to return to the religion of Allaah and it will be a cause for the non-Muslims to be guided to the religion of Islaam.

I am remembered by all of this of the statement of the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him], “Whoever does a deed that is not in accordance to our religion then it will be rejected” meaning the doer of this deed will find this deed rejected and Allaah, The Glorified and Exalted, will not accept it.