Articles

Islam Prohibits Violence and Transgression
Author : The General Iftaa` Department
Date Added : 14-02-2023

 

One of the objectives of Sharia for which the Master of mankind, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), was sent and without which societies and civilizations would go astray is spreading love and mercy among people as well as combating all forms of transgression and vandalism from which Islam is innocent. These cowardly acts tarnish the beautiful image of Islam, twist its objectives and tie violence and vandalism to its compassionate principles.

Pondering upon the evidences from the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah shows the magnitude of the texts that indicate that a human being is honored, forbidden to oppress or violate his faith, life, honor and wealth. Almighty Allah Says {What means}: "We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation." {Al-Isra`/70}.

According to Islam, it is unlawful to frighten a Muslim and spread discord amongst members of society. Narrated Abdur Rahman Ibn Abu Layla:

The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) told us that they were travelling with the Prophet (PBUH). A man of them slept, and one of them went to the rope, which he had with him. He took it, by which he was frightened. The Prophet (PBUH) said: It is not lawful for a Muslim that he frightens a Muslim." {Abu Dawud}. Abu Huraira reported: Abu'l-Qasim (the kunya of Allah's Messenger, may peace be upon him), said: He who pointed a weapon towards his brother the angels invoke curse upon him even if he is his real brother so long as he does not abandon it (the pointing of weapon towards one's brother Muslim)." {Muslim}. Narrated `Abdullah:

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (evil doing) and killing him is Kufr (disbelief)." {Bukhari}.

The duty of advising others dictates that we raise the awareness of Muslims everywhere and explain to them the dangers and repercussions of violence in the sense that it breeds hatred and enmity amongst the members of society, sows the seeds of sin and transgression, and prevents achieving security and safety for humanity. Allah The Almighty Says {What means}: "Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment." {Al-Ma`idah/2}.

We affirm that violence occurring at the family, university or community levels is an intrusion on our Jordanian Muslim society and Arab-Islamic culture and values stemming from authenticity, compassion and mercy. The only fruit for this violence is damaging and corrupting public and private property, thereby causing harm to citizens and their interests. This is mischief in the land and Allah doesn`t love those who do mischief. He, The Almighty Says {What means}: "But seek, with the (wealth) which God has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as God has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for God loves not those who do mischief." {Al-Qasas/77}. If Allah The Exalted Forbade transgressing against the property of others and prescribed penalties for that in this life and the next, He also Forbade violating properties and public funds, which belong to all members of society, and considered this as an unjust act for society and self since Allah Loves not the unjust.

In this regard, there is a Sharia maxim that states: "There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm." What is the use behind killing, beating or abusing someone? What is the use behind destroying property and disrupting schooling other than spreading evil and corruption in the land? The escalation of violence leads to increasing human and material losses. This is destroying the crops and the cattle and a sinful transgression against the right of society, and the doer of this along with whoever assisted him/her will be held accountable for that on the Day of Resurrection.

Undoubtedly, acts of violence increase tribal dissension about which the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Leave it. For it is something disgusting."{Bukhari}.

We all know that violence spreads discord and boosts rumors, thereby spreading fear, terror and dismay among people leading to the elimination of security, peace and stability. This is in addition to extinguishing the flame of knowledge that our universities, institutions and families spread; consequently, losing our leading role, which Allah Praised us for when He Said (What means): "Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors." {Al-Imran/110}. " 

This is a call for our blessed society to resort to reason in all its affairs and adhere to the guidance of Islam concerning kindness, mercy and tolerance. It is also a call for all researchers, scholars and preachers to work on remedying this extraneous phenomenon to spread the culture of compassion and tolerance and eliminate all forms of violence.

Oh Allah! Bless this country and the other Muslim countries with safety and security. And all perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on obtaining financing from Islamic banks by bringing invoices in prior arrangement with the seller, then taking the cash after the financing is approved — with the purpose of settling debts and buying a car?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It appears from the transaction described that its underlying purpose is to obtain cash through resorting to a legal artifice (ḥīlah/tawarruq-style trick), and it is not permissible to engage in such trickery or to coordinate with the various parties merely to obtain liquidity. This is because such artifices bring the sale closer in reality to a ribā-based (usurious) transaction, even if it outwardly appears otherwise.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not commit what the Jews committed, thereby making lawful what Allah has made unlawful through the flimsiest of tricks." This was related by Ibn Baṭṭah in his book Ibṭāl al-Ḥiyal (p. 47), and many scholars have graded it as ḥasan (sound/acceptable).
We have already explained the impermissibility of engaging in such deceptive dealings with Islamic banks in Fatwa No. 516, so please refer to it. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I work overtime after regular working hours and may become occupied with my phone or the work computer for personal matters — what is the ruling on this?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is obligatory upon an employee to abide by the instructions and regulations governing overtime hours, and equally obligatory to uphold honesty and avoid all forms of deception and dishonesty. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "O you who have believed, be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful." [Al-Tawbah/ 119]
Whoever is assigned to work overtime must be present at his workplace — even if he has no specific tasks to carry out at that time. In such a case, he should strive as best he can to spend that time in a manner that benefits the institution he works for. If there is genuinely no work for him to do, there is no objection to occupying his time with something beneficial — such as reciting the Holy Qurʾān, reading, or listening to educational lessons — provided he has already completed all the responsibilities assigned to him.
If, however, he does have work to complete, he must spend that time fulfilling it. He may attend to phone calls or other personal matters to the extent that is customarily acceptable, as long as this does not result in delaying or postponing his work. If he delays his work on account of personal preoccupations, the wages he received for that wasted time are not lawfully his to keep, and he is obliged to return the equivalent amount to the institution by whatever means available to him. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

My brother works in a conventional bank and gave me one of the gifts distributed to bank employees — what is the ruling on accepting it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no objection to accepting such gifts, because the physical gift itself does not carry any inherent prohibition — unlike stolen property. Sin does not transfer or extend to the one who receives the gift, for Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." [Al-Anʿām/164]
The evidence for this is that the Prophet ﷺ himself ate from the food of the Jews, conducted transactions with them, and purchased from them — and it is well known that their wealth was intermingled with ribā. Similarly, the wealth of conventional ribā-based banks is a mixture of the lawful and the unlawful.
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "It is not forbidden to transact with one whose wealth is predominantly unlawful, nor to eat from it — as al-Nawawī affirmed in al-Majmūʿ." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol. 9/P.389] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the meaning of the Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Udhiyah (Sacrificial Offering) refers to the livestock (An'am) that is slaughtered as an act of drawing closer to Allah the Almighty. This takes place on the day of Eid al-Adha (the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah) and during the three days of Tashreeq that follow the day of Eid. And Allah the Exalted knows best.