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A Statement on the Grave Sin and Crime of Mixing the Quran with Music
Author : The General Iftaa' Department
Date Added : 17-09-2024

A Statement on the Grave Sin and Crime of Mixing the Quran with Music

 

The General Iftaa` Department clarifies that mixing the recitation of the Quran with melodies, music, and rhythmic beats accompanied by musical instruments, singing, and dancing is one of the greatest sins and is strictly prohibited. This is a grave mockery and a contemptuous act towards the Quran. It is a futile attempt to distort the meanings of the Quranic verses and to diminish its significance in the hearts of believers. Allah Says (What means): "And when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked, do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hellfire altogether." [An-Nisa'/140].   

Muslims are obligated to believe in the Quran, to honor it, and to hold it in the highest esteem, whether in speech, writing, or calligraphy. Allah Says (What means): "And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts." [Al-Hajj/32]. Muslims must avoid any word, action, or belief that contradicts the respect and reverence due to the Quran.

Allah, The Exalted, has clearly stated in His Book, addressing the Prophet and his nation, the importance of preserving the recitation of the Quran as it was revealed. Allah Says (What means): "Do not move your tongue with it to hasten through it. Indeed, upon Us is its collection and [the responsibility for] its recitation. So when We have recited it, then follow its recitation. Then it is upon Us to explain it." [Al-Qiyamah/16-19]. These verses clearly indicate that the Quran is to be recited as it was revealed, and no deviation is permissible, even due to haste in recitation.

The recitation of the Quran is a fixed and continuous Islamic tradition that has been transmitted from generation to generation, from our time to the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them; from them to the Prophet, peace be upon him; from him to Gabriel, peace be upon him, and from him to the Almighty Lord. Exactly as Allah intended for this great Book to be recited.

Therefore, it is forbidden for any believer in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book to spread anything that is unbecoming of the Quran or to contribute to its promotion, preparation, presentation, or financing. This is because it is a deviation from the path of Allah, a disregard for sacred things, and a violation of prohibitions. Rather, every Muslim must preserve the Quran, teach it to others as it was revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and as it has been transmitted by the nation. Our enemies will not succeed in their plots and their evil intentions, for Allah, The Exalted, Says (What means): "Indeed, it is We who have sent down the reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian." [Al-Hijr/9].

We ask Allah, the Exalted, to enable us to fulfill this great honor by honoring His Book, preserving it, reciting it, and acting upon it in the correct manner. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

A group of about thirty young men will go to a farm on Friday. Is it permissible for one of us to deliver the sermon (*khuṭbah*) and lead us in the Friday prayer, or is it necessary to go to the nearest mosque?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The Friday prayer (Jumuʿah) is not obligatory upon a traveler, whether his journey is long or short, if he leaves his place of residence before the time of Fajr begins, according to the Shāfiʿī school. If, however, he sets out on his journey after the Fajr adhān, then he is obliged to perform the Friday prayer, whether in his own town or in any town where the Friday prayer is held.
It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm (Vol.1/p.383), one of the books of the Shāfiʿī school: “[The Friday prayer] is not obligatory upon a traveler on a permissible journey, whether long or short, if he departs from his place of residence before dawn.” End quote.
Accordingly, if you set out on your journey after Fajr, you are obliged to perform the Friday prayer in the mosque. The same applies if you set out after that, since you would not have fulfilled the conditions for the validity of the Friday prayer, among them: that it be attended by forty men who are free, adult (bāligh), sane, and settled residents of the place where Friday is held. It must be held within a cluster of connected buildings, whether a city, a village, or a district (liwāʾ), for what counts is the gathering of the buildings. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on waiving a debt owed by a debtor and counting it toward zakāh?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Waiving a debt owed by a debtor, with the intention of counting it toward zakāh, does not fulfill the zakāh obligation. Rather, it constitutes an ordinary act of charity, for which Allah rewards the giver generously — since one of the conditions for the validity of zakāh is that the person paying it must form the intention of zakāh at the actual moment the wealth is paid out. In this case, the debt has already been established as a standing obligation upon the borrower, so it is not valid to simply redirect the intention toward zakāh after the fact.
It is preferable, instead, for the creditor to first collect the debt from the debtor, and then return to him the amount of money he is required to pay as zakāh — or a portion of it — if the debtor happens to fall under one of the eight categories that Allah, the Exalted, has commanded be given from zakāh.
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik, from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "If someone gives [money] to a poor person, stipulating that the recipient return it to him in payment of a debt owed to him, or says, 'I am making what you owe me into zakāh, so take it [as such]' — this is not valid. But if he gives it to him with the [unstated] intention that the recipient will use it to repay him, or says, 'Repay what you owe me, so that I may [then separately] give it to you as zakāh,' or the debtor himself says, 'Give it to me, so that I may [then] repay you with it' — this is valid, and there is no binding obligation for the recipient to actually fulfill this [informal understanding]." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

I wish to purchase an online account (a gaming account), and its ownership will be transferred to me. However, my friend will purchase it on my behalf, and I will repay him in deferred installments with an added profit margin to account for the installment sale. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on this transaction?

 
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The ruling on selling electronic games depends on the ruling of the game itself: if the game is permissible, then selling it is likewise permissible. However, if the game contains Sharia violations that render playing it impermissible, then selling it in that case is neither valid nor permissible. Therefore, we advise the necessity of reviewing the Sharia guidelines for electronic games set forth in Fatwa No. (3369).
 
Accordingly, if the game is permissible, a person may purchase it, take legal possession of it, and subsequently sell it in deferred installments for a price higher than its purchase price. The General Iftaa' Department has permitted dealing through Murabaha, while emphasizing the necessity of observing the Sharia conditions required for this transaction; please refer to Fatwa No. (2861). And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.