Articles

Enemies Tarnished the Pure Image of Islam
Author : The Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies
Date Added : 11-05-2023

Enemies Tarnished the Pure Image of Islam

 

Islam is a universal divine religion sent by Almighty Allah through Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as mercy to all creatures, and to save humanity from going astray. He (PBUH) managed to deliver the magnanimous message of Islam through wisdom and fair preaching following the command of Allah Who said {What means}: "God commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." {An-Nahl, 90}.

Islam has played its role in establishing noble human values spreading justice, tolerance and mercy. Similarly, Muslims played their role in building human civilization throughout history. However, nowadays, there is a vicious attack on Islam, by enemies: foreign and domestic, aiming to break Islam and tarnish its pure image. 

Enemies used the extremist groups to portray Islam as a foe and persisted in distorting its image and abusing its Prophet (PBUH). Jordan was the first to warn against this evil act through launching the Message of Amman, the Message of the magnanimous Islam, in 2004, and condemned terrorism regardless of its source and form manifested in taking innocent lives and intimidating peaceful people. 

If some has gone astray, this doesn`t justify pinning terrorism and extremism on Islam and Muslims. It is the duty of the scholars and thinkers to explain to the people the true nature of Islam and its great principles, refute the suspicious accusations of the extremists and expose the true nature of extremism and methods of tackling wi it. This is since a true Muslim is one who invites to the way of Allah with wisdom and fair preaching. Allah says {what means}: "Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance." {An-Nahl, 125}.

The Iftaa` Council emphasizes a set of constants that can`t be tampered with no matter what the case may be. The most important of these is the inviolability of people`s lives, property and honor since preserving these is amongst the higher objectives of Islamic Law. This is in addition to maintaining social peace and security. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whosoever begins the day feeling family security and good health; and possessing provision for his day is as though he possessed the whole world." Another constant is highlighting the luminous image of moderate Islam that is far from all manifestations of terrorism, extremism and transgression.

For this, we call on all citizens to unite against calls for violence, extremism; bloodshed and avoid circulating malicious rumors without considering the repercussions and evils resulting from that, which could destroy society.

We, Iftaa` Council, call on media to portray the correct image of Islam, not follow rumors, and be keen on solidifying the correct values of Islam. Media shoulders a huge responsibility and will be called to account for that and it is also the conscience of the nation and society. Therefore, journalists must depict the truth without any perversion, falsification or exaggeration since a word is a dangerous and double-edged weapon. If the word is true and honest then it is good and constructive. If false and corrupt, it leads to evil and destruction.

We ask Allah to bless our beloved country, Jordan. Indeed, He is close and answers the prayer of the suppliant. And all perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.  

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on bypassing a nearby mosque for a distant one?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If a distant mosque has a larger congregation (Jama‘ah) while the congregation in the nearby mosque is smaller, and the congregation in the nearby mosque is not adversely affected by the worshiper's absence, then it is better for him to pray in the distant mosque with the larger congregation. However, if the congregation in the nearby mosque would be affected by his absence—such as if he is its Imam, or if his presence encourages others to attend—then praying in the nearby mosque is better. This ensures that the congregation is established in two different locations within the community. This is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: 'A man's prayer offered with another man is purer than his prayer which he offers alone, and his prayer with two men is purer than his prayer with one and if they are more (in number), it is more beloved to Allah, the Mighty the Majestic' (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and An-Nasa'i). And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on the Friday bath (ghusl al-Jumu'ah)?

The Friday bath is a confirmed Sunnah, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever performs ablution on Friday, it is good for him, and whoever takes a bath, bathing is better." (Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi who said it is a hasan hadith). It is recommended for everyone who wants to attend the Friday prayer, even if they are not from its usual attendees, like a woman or a boy.
If a person is in a state of major impurity (junub) and intends by his bath both lifting the major impurity and the Friday bath, he achieves both. If he intends only one of them, he achieves only what he intended. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on a Friday sermon in which the khaṭīb did not explicitly exhort the congregation to be conscious of Allah (taqwā) in both sermons, but sufficed with commanding them to obey Allah and refrain from disobeying Him?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
For the Friday sermon (khuṭbat al-Jumʿah) to be valid, certain essential pillars (arkān) must be fulfilled. Among these is the exhortation to be conscious of Allah (waṣiyyah bi-taqwā Allāh), which must be present in both sermons. Alongside this pillar, the praising of Allah (ḥamdallah) and the sending of blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are equally required.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "These three are pillars in each of the two sermons, because each sermon is independent and separate from the other." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj,Vol.4/P.447]
It is not a condition that the exhortation be expressed in any specific wording, nor is it required that the word "taqwā" itself be used — such as saying "I exhort you to be conscious of Allah." Rather, this pillar is fulfilled by any expression that contains a command to obey Allah the Almighty and to abstain from what He has prohibited.
Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Sharbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "The third pillar is the exhortation to taqwā... The specific wording of this exhortation is not required, according to the most correct view, because the purpose is admonition and the urging of obedience to Allah the Almighty. Therefore, any expression that conveys admonition suffices — whether long or short — such as: 'Obey Allah and be ever mindful of Him.'" [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj,Vol.1/P.550]
Accordingly, what the khaṭīb has done — by commanding obedience to Allah and forbidding disobedience to Him in both sermons — is valid and sufficient. And Allah the Almighty knows best.