I was recently involved in consultations over the most difficult decision I have ever been part of in my life. I attempted to keep to the command of Allah, to return matters back to the most knowledgeable and capable scholars, who know best about the application of Islamic rulings to specific situations:
وإذا جاءهم أمر من الأمن أو الخوف أذاعوا به ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم ولولا فضل الله عليكم ورحمته لاتبعتم الشيطان إلا قليلا
“When a matter of [public] safety or fear reaches them, they openly spread it. Yet, had they only returned it back to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those who extract and apply rulings would have known about it. And had it not been for the Bounty of Allah upon you and His Mercy, you would have all followed the Shaytaan, save a few.” (Quran 4:83)
I feared that the wrong decision from myself, independently, could lead to severe harm and lives lost. I did not want to be among those whom our Messenger (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) referred to, after they issued a ruling that a man with wounds had to take a bath, and no concession applied to his case, which led to his death:
قتلوه قتلهم الله
“They killed him, may Allah destroy them!”
(Abu Dawud, authentic by way of its numerous routes)
I had to place my trust in Allah fully, and in His Words:
إنما يخشى الله من عباده العلماء
“Those who truly fear Allah among His worshipers are the scholars.” (Quran 35:28)
I placed my trust in Allah, and then I looked to those whom He commanded me to trust and return to, and I made the same decision that they made, to close masjids. I can only have good thoughts about those whom Allah has raised and entrusted with such a highly impacting verdict, those known for lifetimes of facilitating knowledge and worship, those who have more love and care for the Muslims and their safety than me, with lives of 50, 60, 70 years of work proving that. I firmly trust that they would not support the closing of masjids unless it were an absolute emergency, to avoid serious losses and protect the Muslims and the world from serious harm. I hold that to be the case, and I do not believe that I love this Ummah more than my scholars, great men of knowledge and piety. I thank Allah that He has not made me in a position to make decisions on the level they are responsible for. I know my place, and I prayed istikhaarah to close our local masjid for a time, and to support communities in the temporary closing of their masjids. I would never, ever support such an idea, except that I believe that this is better with my Lord, and better for His worshipers. I beg Allah to forgive me and my brothers and sisters, and to guide us to acts of piety and sincerity, and to allow us to regain His Favor that we have lost!
I further believe that, in general, Muslims who do not agree about the closing of masjids only feel that way out of love and honor for their religion. I do not accuse anyone of being impractical or not looking at the bigger picture, acting upon emotion, or not following the scholars, or anything of the sort. My brothers are concerned, I fully understand their pain and hurt, and I ask Allah to reward them for their concern, and to guide me and all of them to what He loves most. This is a time of confusion for many, yet Muslims can be comforted to know that those in positions to make such decisions are NOT US, and we do not have to face Allah accountable for decisions that affected the health and religion of millions of people! (Khawaarij, who always look for ways to blame and speak ill of the scholars and rulers, are outside of that discussion.)
I only hope that, moving forward, those who do not agree will humbly realize that decisions have been made, and hopefully they will pray for the guidance and correctness of those who have made such decisions.
Optimistically, I hope that all Muslims will deeply miss their local masjid and beg for guidance and forgiveness. I believe that losing a blessing for a time will make us appreciate it much more. I believe that we may come out of this trial with more sincere love for our masjids than we ever had, and this, on the Day of Judgment, would lead us to being under the peaceful shade of our Lord, on a day when there is no shade except His. (a man whose heart is attached to the masjid)
And optimistically, I believe that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that we may come together after these trials with more genuine love for each other, not reckless whimsical love, but true Religious love for the sake of our Lord, one that strengthens our global brotherhood more than ever, and leads to goodness and rectification everywhere, along with the purification of the pristine Religion of Islam from all innovations and false interpretations!
And optimistically, I look forward to delivering food and supplies to the neighbors I do not know (shamefully), in shaa’ Allah, and to the weak and elderly in my community whom I have neglected far too long. Our Lord has opened up doors and directed our attention to our neglect, so there is guidance in our trial! We can and will earn the Grace of our Lord, in shaa’ Allah, so He would restore our masjids. It is not done by waiting for a cure in disobedience and neglect, nor by isolation without rectification. The affair is in the Hand of our Lord, and He alone, and no one else, will restore His Favor, OR NOT. We are weak and in need, and He is the Owner of all bounties. He honors whomsoever He wills, and He disgraces whomsoever He wills!
قل اللهم مالك الملك تؤتي الملك من تشاء وتنزع الملك ممن تشاء وتعز من تشاء وتذل من تشاء بيدك الخير إنك على كل شيء قدير
“Say: O Allah! Owner of the Dominion! You give [of Your] Dominion to whomever You will, and you take away [Your] Dominion from whomever You will. You honor whomever You will; You disgrace whomever You will! In Your Hand [Alone] lies all good. You are over all things, Fully Capable.” (Quran 3:26)
Optimistically, our humility to our Lord may peak. Our supplications may become more genuine and earnest than ever. Our worship may be full of hope like it has never been. We are worshipers, created for worship. Our worship may transform from robotic and lethargic into what we have been created for – worship full of real humility, awe and exaltation of the Great Owner of creation, with devout presence of the heart. This trial may very well bring the best out of us, and these may be the best days of our lives!
And optimistically, I hope that this trial will guide the Muslims to look critically, inwardly, at our homes and families, and re-establish neglected piety. I believe the path to being granted honor and the ability to openly practice our Religion (like prayers in the masjids) is only attained and maintained through pure Islamic monotheism and by shunning all manifestations of polytheism, big and small. This requires serious commitment to diligent, ongoing studies and sincere practice. This plan of action is precisely what our Lord has outlined for us in His Divine guidelines for attaining honor and empowerment:
وعد الله الذين آمنوا منكم وعملوا الصالحات ليستخلفنهم في الأرض كما استخلف الذين من قبلهم وليمكنن لهم دينهم الذي ارتضى لهم وليبدلنهم من بعد خوفهم أمنا يعبدونني لا يشركون بي شيئا
“Allah promises those who believe and do righteous deeds among you that He shall certainly grant them succession on earth, just as He did for those who came before them. Also, He shall certainly grant them the ability to practice the Religion He is pleased with for them (Islam), as He shall certainly change them, from a state of fear to one of security. They worship Me, and they do not ascribe any partners at all in their worship of Me.” (Quran 24:55)
There are so many hidden blessings within this tragedy, and these are just a few of them, resulting from only a few moments of pondering.
We are a nation of Tafaa’ul (optimism), patience, repentance, and rectification in shaa’ Allah! May Allah guide us and forgive us.
And Allah knows best.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson (1441-07-24)
Assalaamu ’alaykum Shaykh-
In this message, I have a question for you related to Jumuah prayers in Muslim lands during plague. Particularly during the Plague of Emmaus as the companions, e.g. Abu Ubayda Ibne Jarra and Muad Ibne Jabal (peace be upon them both) held Jumuah prayers and Friday sermons in affected Sham, what is your opinion on fully restricting Jumuah prayers in Muslim lands during this current fitna of Coronavirus?
JazaakAllaahu Khayran. Baarak Allaahu feek.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. As if we don’t have scholars, and we all need to find events in history and make our own qiyaas!! This matter is of such serious concern, it is not for other than the senior scholars and the leaders to deal with. Let’s know our places and get behind them, and follow Allah’s Command for serious matters that affect the lives and safety of millions of people like this:
وإذا جاءهم أمر من الأمن أو الخوف أذاعوا به ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولي الأمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم
“When a matter of public concern or safety reaches them, they spread it. Yet had they only returned it back to the Messenger and those in authority among them, those capable of extracting and applying its correct ruling would have known it.” [Meaning of 4:83]
Baarak Allaahu feek Shaykh for the reminder and vital clarification on this matter. JazaakAllaahu Khayran. May Allaah help attach our hearts to our beloved Mosques irrespective of our distances. Just a small point of clarification in this regard: Optimistically enough, can we hope and intend that even if we are away from our Mosques, we can still get the reward in full at home and all alone? May Allaah reward you immensely.
Assalaamu alaykoem Ustaadh,
[RE:] “the air freshner” issue wherein you advised us to take those from our cars. I do not understand how this can be linked with shirk IF you do not believe it will harm you etc, please provide us Some evidences of the great sholars So that we can benefit from your words and warnings.
Baarakal laahu fiek! [Message slightly truncated by admin]
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. That issue was clarified in detail last Ramadhaan. Please take the time to listen to the two sessions on this topic from last year’s Ramadhaan classes. And avoid scandalous clips put together by unknown people on Youtube, may Allah give us better and grant us success!
CLOSING OFF THE PATHWAYS TO POLYTHEISM
Part 1: https://www.spreaker.com/user/radio1mm/ramadhaan-lessons-28
Part 2: https://www.spreaker.com/user/radio1mm/ramadhaan-lessons-28-b
Assalamu Alaikum I see a blessing in this Ramadhan as we are forced to examine our Islam ourselves our patience our hearts our goodness and evilness. There is always some benefit in what Allah test us with. I am 70 years old and live by myself. I listen to the Ramadhan lesson 1441 everyday and try to benefit and correct myself as I know I will meet Allah soon and I need His forgiveness and mercy and without it I will be destroyed.
Assalaamu ‘alaykum.
I also felt a special blessing in disguise in this context: Having a holistic comparative scenario now – “Ramadan with Mosque” AND “Ramadan without Mosque” – truly, darkness shows us how to cherish the light, the swift passing of Ramadan shows us the meaning of this short life, and a storm shows us how much of unobserved blessings we are inundated with – which we tend to take as granted just like that every sip of water with which we quench our thirst and break our fast. Alhamdulillaah! Which of His blessings will we deny?
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Baarak Allāhu feekum for this benefit. Although unrelated, I would like to get some clarification on a matter: does bar soap such as Dove and the like undergo istihala? As the tallow and stearic acid are, according to the companies themselves, taken from animal sources (some say it may even be of porcine origin). I have read that it does, however I have also looked into the soap making process and it does not seem to undergo significant chemical change. What have the scholars said about this matter?
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
I cannot possibly know about each product and their ingredients. Research it, if it is CLEAR that the pork-based ingredient has undergone istihaalah, then use it. If its not clear, then consider it to remain on its previous ruling, i.e. a pork by-product. The principle in Fiqh is that things remain upon their original rulings until clarity and evidence prove a change and a new ruling. This principle is called ISTIS-HAAB (الاستصحاب). And Allah knows best.
Assalaamu ‘Alaikum Moosaa,
In my area, due to overcrowdedness, the Masjids hold multiple Jumu’ah prayers. So they will have one at 12:30, then another at 1:30, then another at 2:30. And the Muslims can go to the one that suits their schedule the best. What is the ruling regarding this, and is it permissible for us to attend it if we don’t have and Salafee masjids in the area?
There is another thing some of the “Hanafee” Masjids here do, unrelated to my first question. They give a Khutbah in English while sitting the entire time, then take the small break (as is the Sunnah for the Khutbah), then they finish the second Khutbah in English still sitting. But then they call Adhaan and give the same Khutbah in Arabic, this time standing. Then they sit to take the break, as is Sunnah, then stand and finish the second Khutbah in Arabic. This is very common here in the so-called Hanafee masjids. What is the ruling regarding these, and can we attend these Khutbas if there are no Salafee Masjids in the area?
Jazaak Allaahu Khayrun.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. The base ruling is that there is only one Jumu’ah prayer for each city (not each masjid). Then, if a city is so large that people need a second masjid for Jumu’ah, then a second masjid offers the prayer. Then a third, a fourth, etc., only as needed. So when all masjids are full, and the people still need more room to offer Jumu’ah, and they do not have and cannot build another masjid, then scholars have given verdicts in this specific situation for a second Jumu’ah to be established in one masjid, and Allah knows best.
As for the specific style of khutbah you have mentioned, I don’t know any basis for four khutbahs on Jumu’ah, two sitting and two standing, in specified languages, as you have specified. There seems to be a heavy reliance on a weak position in Fiqh, that the Jumu’ah khutbah must be in Arabic. What is correct is that the khutbah needs to be an admonition, effective and understood, keeping in mind the greater goal of the Sharee’ah. Therefore, when the people are mostly of a certain language other than Arabic, then the admonition is most effectively accomplished by delivering the khutbah in that language, while citing the evidences in Arabic whenever possible. And Allah knows best.
Ass salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatahu Ustaadh Moosaa, some masjids have reopened. Is it obligatory to attend the jamaah at local masjid, if can’t hear adhan, under these current coronavirus restrictions and safety and what if they are praying 1 metre large gap in between.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. In the USA, federal guideline is 6 feet of distancing. The scholars originally provided this same guideline for congregational prayer, and they have just updated the guidelines through the Saudi Ministry of Information & Health Dept, changing the official guideline from 2 meters to 1.5 meters. Some have misunderstood a specific fatwaa for an event that happened with only 1 meter of distancing, a question about the validity of such a prayer. Of course, prayer with 1m between people is valid, just as prayer with 0m is valid. This is a guideline not related to the validity of the prayer, rather it is a health issue. So a prayer of 1m distancing between people being valid does not mean that 1 meter is the new guideline. Official guidelines are widely available, and there is no need to creatively interpret specific fatwaas into general guidelines. Having said that, our scholars have also told us to follow our local health experts’ guidelines. So if your local health officials are still saying 6 feet or 2 meters, then follow that, and may Allah bless you and keep you safe.
If you are worried about insufficient distance between people, then you are excused from attending, as our scholars have continued to excuse any person from attending congregations prayers during this pandemic whenever there is a legitimate concern. And Allah knows best.
Asalamu alaykum wa rahmat ullahi wa barakatuh, may allah bless you in this life and the next, ustath if one is attempting to seek knowledge do you recommend that they study the basics of each topic at once and advance in each topic simultaneously or should they focus on one topic and get advanced in that one topic for example aqeedah or arabic grammar or hadeeeth? barak allahu feek.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. I recommend that he goes to the most qualified senior shaykh in his area and learn directly from him, including which books to study and how many topics and what priority. Knowledge is learned from those who carry it, not from books independently. May Allah give you success.
(ADMIN: Please keep your questions/comments relevant to the topic of the article.)
if a person praying in masjid after breaking wudhu continues to pray feeling too shy to leave prayer, would it be considered Kufr because he has prayed without wudhu which is considered as mockery of prayer mentioned by scholars ?
This is extremely dangerous, and some scholars consider the prayer of a person who prays knowingly without wudhoo’, without a valid excuse, to be have committed an act of kufr (apostasy). He should fear for himself that he allowed fear of the people and/or shyness of them to be greater to him than his fear and shyness of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. He must repent and strive harder in sincerity to Allah. I don’t see any reason why there would be a difference between someone who begins the prayer without wudhoo’ and someone who continues praying without wudhoo’ knowingly (with certainty). In both cases, we ask: Who is he worshipping? If he claims he is worshipping Allah, then Allah certainly does not accept the prayer of a person without wudhoo’, as His Messenger stated clearly (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace). So is he mocking Allah? Or is he worshipping the people with a kind of fear that is worship? He should be afraid for himself and his religion and he must repent earnestly without delay.