Questions & Answers

What distance is considered as Travelling
The strongest opinion which I believe is correct is what by custom is known as travelling, it is obvious when you travel, you get your bags together, things together, and go to a certain place which you travel. There is no specific figure, some Sahabah when used to travel 10-20 km, they used to be considered as travellers, it used to take days to travel that much. Some of the Ulema said 100km or 90km, but for this mathematical analysis there is no evidence, this is their customary judgment as to what travelling is, but this customary definition will change from time to time due to transportation methods etc.

Fatwa of Mufti
It is very important that a mufti before he makes Fataawa he must have understanding of two things, the first being the reality and the second being the evidences from Quran and Sunnah that are implemented on that reality. If he do not comprehend these two issues he will make mistake in his Fataawa, if he has understanding of the reality but not the evidences he will make mistake and if he as understanding of the evidences but not the reality he will make a mistake.

Tahakum to Taghut
Praise be to Allah. Know that the majority of Muslims live in countries and situations where other than Islamic law is implemented on them, whether they like it or not, and whether they accept this or not, and this is the reality that one cannot deny. And we cannot rule on those hundreds of millions with Kufr and expulsion from Islam because they live in those conditions... (Nor) can we ask them to give up their rights...And to become an easy target to those greedy and those oppressors!

If you realise this, then I say: If one can repel the oppression or gain his right by other than going to those courts...then that is the obligation...If that becomes difficult...He should look to those Muslims who may be able to help him in retrieving his rights...If that happens (then good)...Otherwise, there is no harm in going to the courts of the people...To retrieve his rights...And to not ask for more than his rights...At the same time within himself hating and dislike for them, and their laws and their lords...and Allah knows best.

If he abstains from his rights instead of going to those courts, it would be better, and he will be thanked and will be rewarded In sha'Allah.

If you say: Isn't this from seeking judgement from a Taghut?

I say: No, for seeking judgement from the Taghut is when you avoid the judgement of Allah...and the courts that judge by His law...and resort to the judgement of the Taghut...and the courts that rule by the judgement of the Taghut...and in this situation we do not have other sources (anyway), and nothing like them.

Seeking judgement from the Taghut means to be pleased by their judgement...and its good...and its virtue...and in this situation, this doesn't exist.

Seeking judgement from the Taghut happens, in addition to what has been mentioned, in matters that challenge and oppose the sharee'ah of Allah...Ending by permitting what Allah has prohibited...And prohibiting what Allah has permitted...And in this case, there isn't any of this... And thus, we cannot implement the ruling on seeking judgement from a taaghoot, and Allah knows best.

For the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa salam, described an-Najashi, the ruler...despite his kufr...as someone who no-one is oppressed in the presence of...i.e. he gives people their rights...and repels oppression from them...And that was one of the reasons why the companions migrated to his lands, al-Habashah...Fleeing from the oppression and persecution of the Qurayshi mushrikeen...and this was not considered seeking judgement from a Taghut!

For more, refer back to our article, "The Ruling on Seeking Political Asylum" and our book "Actions that Expel their Doer from the Religion"

Tahakum To Taghout - 2

Tahakum is when you have choice of referring to Islamic or Kuffr law and you incline towards the kuffr law and the second condition being when you are happy with the that Kuffr verdict. If a person makes Tahakum in light of these two conditions then that is Tahakum to Taghout. Another important thing is that the person is obtaining rights, and not seeking verdict which is against the Deen. The problem arise when you are trying to get a verdict that contradicts the essence of Islam in which case is wrong and I advise you not to do that. Your intention is not for example to get the person into prison and punished according to the Kuffr law for taking your car rather your sole intention is to get your car back.

Question, We are suppose to reject, hate and keep distance from Taghut, not go to court where they force you to bow and respect the Taghut ?

About respecting the judge and in general terms about being respectful in a court, Islam has got nothing about respecting people, despite that bowing to a judge is not allowed, but if you act in polite way and respect people there is no problem with that at all. Obviously Muslims now live in exceptional situation, minority living amongst the Kuffar etc we have opportunity to use this to show that Muslims are people with the best of Islamic manners, and we deal with authorities with Islamic manners, we are living in situation of security and we have to be loyal to that, There are many hadeeth which say that if you’re neighbour is non-Muslim we have to respect them and treat them justly, these type hadeeth we apply those type of rules which are related to living in a situation of security. 

If you go to court to get your right, you can show the minimum amount of respect as you are able, you have permit to do that. Muqabalaa is mutual respect, Ibn Abbas stated if Firawn said to me Barakallah-Feek, he would say to him wa-feek, and that is Firawn who is the biggest Taghee, so mutual respect does exist, there is statement of Sahaaba, which  says that it is permissible to smile at the non-Muslim, but in your heart you want to pulverise him, why because of his bad manners and the fact he is non-Muslim, there is  a famous hadeeth there was a man who came to the Prophet but shouted at him (saw) from far away, ‘Ya Mohammed’, the Prophet (saw) said, what a disgraceful person he has got no manners, shouting etc, but when he came close to the Prophet (saw) he (saw) was nice to him, and showed respect to him, this concept does exist in Islam, The verse in the Quran, Do not take disbelievers as Awliyah, except when you are living under their protection, with two conditions, that you hate them in your heart, in brief the whole purpose of mentioning all this, there is no problem if you go to court and behave nicely, Islam is a Deen which deals with all situations, the kuffar how often do they smile at you but really they hate you, so treat them as they treat you. There is one important distinguishing factor, when you smile at them there is a certain reason, i.e. so that they may be inclined towards Islam, that is why Allah says in the Quran, when disbeliever asks for your protection give him protection, so that he my hear the word of Allah, there has to be a balanced approach, we hate Taghout and keep distance to it etc, Islam deals with it and has its rules in relation to that, and in dealing with kuffar while under security that is a separate realm and that has its rules. There are a lot of people do not distinguish between Kuffr bit-Taghout, and acquiring your rights, did not the Sahabah when they went to Najashi, when Quraish where putting pressure, they went to Najashee, and where polite with him and laid there case in plain manner. The Sahaabah went their out of their own accord, and when Quraish caused problems for them they found themselves forced to act and speak, our situation is the same, how many Muslims come form Middle east fleeing from oppression to the UK they cannot go back else they would be killed and tortured, in Islam there is some flexibility in these issues and there is openness and any one who makes his life difficult when he is able not to he does not harm any one but himself, there are some people, adopt really strict opinions that they cant swallow, and then begin to suffocate themselves, there are many solutions in the deen of al-Islam.

Which Ibadah is best to do on Laylatul Qadr ?
Some of the Sahabah where complaining that the age of this Ummah is short, Allah (swt) revealed that the night of Laylatul Qadr is better then a thousand nights. The night needs to be spent in Salaat, and recitation of the Quran, and making Dua and remembrance of Allah (swt), all of them are extremely important, and all should be done, the other important point is among these point, among these four whichever one strengthens your relationship with Allah (swt), that is the one you should concentrate on. By way of contrast if you are getting khushooh in Salat that the one you need to concentrate on.

Quran
The Quran in Arabic even if you look at it or listen to it is Ibadah and for that you get reward even reading letter. The Prophet (saw) said whoever says alif laam meem gets reward, and each of the three letters are separate. The Quran in Arabic is the message of Allah (swt) sent from the heavens, the Quran is a miracle in every way and the Kuffar cannot destroy it intellectually, therefore they resort to abusing it physically, this indicates their inability to defeat the miracle of the Quran. If you listen to recitation on tape (i.e. recorded) do you get reward for it ? of course you do, regardless if it is live or through the tape. Allah (swt) says in the Quran, When the Quran is being recited, and you listen to it attentively Allah (swt) will ascend his mercy upon you. We therefore advise, to learn the Arabic language, and this is continuous advice, if it is said to you a king writes a message to you how you going to understand it, if you do not understand the language he writes it in ? Then what about the words of Allah (swt) ? The Governments of the world want to destroy the Arabic language, and the language they speak in Arab lands is slang street Arabic, it is not the original Fushaa Arabic. In Iraqi constitution, they put that the national language will be Kurdish, what is the value of Kurdish language in comparison to Arabic? Science has not been recorded in that language, what good is it ? what can you obtain from it? In the constitution of Iraq, each minority community has the right to have freedom to have their own language, further evidence they want to destroy the language. To learn Arabic language is fard al-ayn, which each person has to make effort to learn.

Knowledge
Every scholar makes mistakes, and you take from him some things and leave from him some things, every book apart from the Quran is imperfect, what is required to take opinions which are based upon Daleel, and leave that which is not, use intelligence when you read a book, in this day and age Islamic publishing houses publish so many books you have to use intelligence and prioritise the most important issues. The first thing a Muslim has to learn is Tawheed, the Kalima and his conditions, any books which cover that area, on the Nahjus Salaf (path of the Salaf) those are the books which you should read and I have written on the subject of Shurootul Laa ila’ha Illallah (The Conditions of Declaration of Faith) in some depth which is available on the internet for all.

Shia
The Shia in Iran helped destroy Taliban state in Afghanistan, and the same people helping destroy Iraq, in the constitution all the prohibited groups are from Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamma’ah but the crusaders are permitted, the Shia are very dangerous we  know them very well, if you open the books of the Shia, you find in there lies and filthy things, and in my book on the Shia (Shia Rafidhaa, Group of Shirk & Apostasy) I bring all the reasons of Kuffr (disbelief), they believe the Quran is distorted and they make Takfeer (apostasy) on the companions of the Prophet (saw), they believe the status of their Imams is higher then the Messenger of Allah and reject the narrations of the Prophet (saw) which are authentic, in addition to that Shirkiaat of worshipping graves, you will never find any group that worships the graves like the Shia’s, their whole Deen is based upon worshiping the graves, and if they are in a area where there are no graves, then they will get a dead donkey or the like and all the graveyards which they consider so sacred in Iraq there is not even no evidence that Hussain or anyone is buried, if you say to them provide some historical evidence that Hussain is there, they cannot respond, despite that they still revere them. There is no evidence where any pious people are buried apart from the Messenger of Allah and his two companions. As for the grave of Khomeinee in Qum, they make Tawaf around it and revere the place, they believe it is more holier then the Ka’bah. Despite all this we make Takfeer al-ayn (Specific Apostasy) on all their leaders and all their scholars, and as for the common people they may not have knowledge or believe in what is being said. Their Deen is based upon destruction, they want to destroy Islam, if you look to what they say in detail they attack the Prophet (saw) as they say his wife was an adulteress, they have principle to lie i.e. to have Tuqya, this is the foundation of their Deen. That is why we say their Deen is based upon the destruction of Islam and many of the people of Iran they know that, that is why many of them become apostates in the fact they have no Deen at all and have become atheists. Shia’s are like a thorn in the Muslim Ummah, they are supporting the invaders against the Ummah in Iraq and if you look into the history this is not the first time they have done this, they have a really bad history they even revolted against the Abbassid Caliphate, their Deen is based on three things, ignorance, lies, and hatred.

Taifatul Mansourah
The Messenger of Allaah said, "There will not cease to be an assembly (Taa'ifah), from my nation (Ummah), establishing the order of Allaah. They are unharmed by those who betray them or oppose them, until the matter of Allaah arrives while they are dominant over the people." - narrated by Muslim. At-Taifatul Mansourah, has many attributes, two of them are more important then the others, the first is adherence, and the second is Jihad for the sake of Allah (swt). Any group which claims to be Taifatul Mansourah but does not have these attributes is not of them, if not is very far away from it. Other characteristics are Knowledge and al-Walaa wal-Baraa and there take all aspects of Islam not parts, so those are some of the additional ones but the most important ones are the first two mentioned, and Ibn Tamiyyah said one does not get closeness to Allah (swt) except that he follows Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw) and he engages in Jihad Feesabeelillah.

Al-Mujadid
The Mujaddid is one of two, the first type is the one who is the reviver of the Deen in all types of sciences he is Mujtahid Mutlaq, like Shaykhul Islam Ibn Tamiyyah and the second type of Mujaddid is the one who revives partial elements of the Deen, for example in the area of Jihad he may revive certain issues and we know who that is, the science of Hadeeth and Sunnah, Shaykh Naasir ad-deen Albani in this element, in fiqh Shaykh Uthaimeen. In all different branches of the Deen will be different and the Mujadideen will also be different types, some types of Mujaddid they make Tajdeed (reform) internationally, some just locally for example Mawdudi in Pakistan, Hassan al-Banna in Egypt, obviously there maybe some things we disagree with them, but generally they made Tajdeed and revived. So there are people who make Tajdeed (revival) in local areas and there are people who make Tajdeed on international levels and we ask Allah (swt) to grant us a Mujaddid to make Tajdeed for the whole ummah.

Habbashies
This is a extremely corrupt group and if you said this group is Taifatul Shirk you would not be incorrect. From their politics they support all the leaders especially the Syrian authorities, and they get a lot of support from them so they can spread all of their corruption, even in this country they get so much support so they can fight against the Wahabies, whichever country you go to they support fighting the Wahabies, there is always coalition against the Wahabies. In the Attributes of Allah (swt) they are Jahimiyyah, they have a lot of Shirki’aat, they believe you can worship graves and get close to Allah (swt) via Awliyah and Tawassul. They are friends and associates of the leading party in Syria and the government uses them to attack all types of people of the Sunnah, they hate the ulema of Salaf and make Takfeer on Shaykhul Islam Ibn Tamiyyah and Shaykh Abdul Wahab and Syed Qutb, they know these are the three pillars of Islamic revolution so if they know they are able to confuse people regarding these three personalities then they will do as much as they can, We know them very well, and their corruption is so much i.e. in their relationship with women they believe everything is allowed, they can shake hands, kiss women and that is why many women in the Muslim world have gone astray because of this despicable group. They have been exposed to such a extent that people when know someone Habbashie say A’audobillahi Mini’Shataa Niraajeem. They do not have the courage to admit who they are that is why they come here in west to spread their corruption and this is a type of Zandaqaa, he looks at different schools thought and gathers corrupt opinions and they gather all of them together and they have their own school of corruption. Their methodology is false and people who have fear of Allah (swt) will not look at these people, our advice is not to sit with them not talk with them, they are Baatil dogs. 

Can any one make Takfeer or is it just for the Ulema?
There are two types of Kuffr (disbelief) different to those discussed previously (i.e. Akbar & Asghar). There is the Kuffr which is Muh’kaam (clear) and there is the Kuffr which is Mutashaabih (ambiguous), the clear cut one all Muslims can take part and say this is Kuffr, and declare Kuffr upon it, i.e. the Jews & Christians, those who worship camels, how can he have al-Walaa wal-Baraa if he cant say these people are not Muslims? As for the Kuffr Mutashaabih, your not sure if this is Kuffr or not, this type of Kuffr requires a bit of detail and insight as to why it is Kuffr, it is imperative to clarify all the ambiguity which caused this Kuffr to take place and to eliminate that ambiguity. This person has said wooden instruments are permissible, but why has he said that, this subject raised mocking Mujahideen is unclear, we cannot give one ruling to all types of people, need to meet that person, and investigate what are you mocking and why, as for the issue of Takfeer on unclear issues, no one is allowed to do that unless he has sound knowledge in principles of Takfeer, and is learned and that requires scholarship.When we talk about Takfeer we have to be very particular so that we go into details and verifications etc and to be very careful so that the Takfeer does not fall back on you. If a person like yourself considers Kuffr on someone, after details and you sincerely believe that after giving excuses, and later on it is established, that he is not guilty of Kuffr you are not sinful. If you however you make illegitimate Takfeer on someone and in that situation it is possible that the Takfeer can fall back on you, those issues of Takfeer which are not Mu'hkaam (clear) these should be left to the experts for Specific Takfeer. The Ulema are not obliged to give Takfeer on every single case, everything that we have said tonight is general, but if you say Ahmed or so and so person is a Kaffir or has done Kuffr we cannot make judgement unless we investigate him, if you accuse him of Zina or stealing we cannot make judgment without witnesses, then what about the issue of Kuffr? That is why we say that even Ulema should not be quick on making Takfeer on people unless there is necessity or force to do it, for example if there is a certain Shaykh from among the evil Scholar and he is misguiding a lot of people then there is no harm, and Allah (swt) knows best.

Making Bayaan To Leaders before Takfeer ?
That is what they (the Madhaakhilah) say about everyone, the only person they have not said that about is Iblees, the reason they say this is because they want to defend the Tawagheet. And this is what we say to them: Do you expect that those leaders are so ignorant and that they do not know the truth and we need to put evidence towards them? Those leaders they know the truth more then the people who putting the evidence against them. Their Kuffr is because of their arrogance and how many Shaykh’s have attempted to put Hujjah against them and they have killed them? Can we say that those scholars are in an environment and they are ignorant people? obviously not. They know the truth more then us, and they deliberately choose not to rule by the Shariah of Allah (swt) but they dismantle it and the only reason is that they only have one mission to fight Islam and prevent it from coming into power, any leader who attempts to break away from this mission they break him away and get someone else. When you establish Hujjah against someone it has to be against someone that has the following attributes, First is that the person you put Hujjah against he has fallen into a mistake and is not able to get out unless you tell him and explain to him his mistake, someone may ask why have you put this inability to get out of this as a condition? because inability to do something takes the Takleef (responsibility) away from you, responsibility is related to your carrying out these obligations, as for the person who has not fallen into a mistake and he deliberately tries to do these actions, then he does not have excuse of ignorance and towards that person you cannot say ‘why do you not establish evidence against him’ he has already rejected it, are you asking me to put evidence against him when already in his reach is that evidence so there is no need to establish Hujjah against these leaders, that is why the Ulema have talked about a situation of person who lives in jungle, those are people who you establish evidence against, not these type of peoples, and Allah (swt) knows best.

Al-Hikmah
Al-Hikmah, is what is in accordance with what the book of Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah says. And the Quran says call people with Hikmah  i.e. call people with the Book and the Sunnah, this does not mean to use your own ideas and make falsehood truth, and truth falsehood and this is not Hikmah this is falsehood. Hikmah is following the book and the Sunnah because the Book and Sunnah and everything correct is contained within that, but the problem is when certain scholars are speaking they do not understand the Hikmah of the book and Sunnah, therefore the mistake is in the individual, and not in the revelation.