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]
