Friday, July 11, 2008

Dealing in alcohol, supplies for Christian holidays, condoms and cosmetic creams

Q) I have a retail bussiness,,which during there holiday i carry there goods,,like christmas decoration,,mothers day,,easter,, holloween,,ect,,is this harram,, i use to own a supermarket once i sold it and i didnt want to get in to that again cause sold beer and pork..
also brother i hope you dont mind mentioning some of the iteams i sale,,tell me if its harram condoms,,ceramic figurs,cigarettes,lottery ,, medcine some containe alchole,,or the gel tablets,,candy that may or my not have any harram in it, toothpaste,,some of these items are harram for us to use but can it be sold to the kafir since they the only customers?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

You have done well not to sell things that Allaah has forbidden such as beer and pork. We ask Allaah to bless you with a halaal provision and to compensate you with good.

With regard to the things you asked about, the details are as follows:

1 – It is not permissible for a Muslim to take part in the festivals of the kuffaar, such as Christmas and Easter, or to sell the things that will help them in that, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression”

[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

The same applies to innovated festivals such as Mother’s Day. It is not permissible to sell anything that may help them to celebrate it.

2 – The basic ruling is that it is permissible to use and sell condoms, unless the vendor knows or thinks it most likely that they will be used for haraam purposes, in which case it is not permissible to sell them.

The basic principle concerning that – as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said – is: “Every garment which one thinks will most likely be used for sinful purposes, it is not permissible to sell it or sew it for one who will use it for sinful and wrongful purposes.” (Sharh al-‘Umdah, 4/386)

This does not apply only to clothes, rather it is general and applies to everything that may be bought or sold.

3 – It is haraam to sell tobacco and lottery tickets, and every product which is known to involve something that is haraam.

It says in a fatwa issued by the Standing Committee (13/55): “It is not permissible to deal in tobacco or any haraam things, because they are khabaa’ith (evil and filthy things), and because of the physical, spiritual and financial harm they cause.”

With regard to the lottery, it is the essence of gambling. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “This method which the questioner mentions, whereby a person buys a ticket and if he is lucky, as he says, he will win a large amount, in included under the heading of gambling of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al‑Ansaab (stone altars for offering sacrifices to idols, the jinn, etc), and Al‑Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan’s (Satan’s) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.

Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allaah and from As‑Salaah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?

And obey Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad), and beware (of even coming near to drinking or gambling or Al‑Ansaab, or Al‑Azlaam) and fear Allaah. Then if you turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger’s duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest way”

[al-Maa'idah 5:90-92]

This gambling – which includes every transaction in which the person will end up either losing and winning, but he does not know whether he will be a winner or a loser – is all haraam; indeed it is one of the major sins. It is obvious that it is something abhorrent when we realize that Allaah has mentioned it in conjunction with idol-worship, alcohol and al-azlaam (arrows used for seeking luck or decision – a kind of fortune-telling).

(Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/441).

We should note that everything which it is forbidden to do or to use, it is also forbidden to sell, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “May Allaah curse the Jews; animal fat was forbidden to them, so they sold it and consumed its price. When Allaah forbids a thing He also forbids its price.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawood, 3026; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 5107).

4 – It is not permissible to make images of animate beings, whether humans, birds or animals. If that is a three-dimensional image it is even more forbidden.

On this basis, it is not permissible to sell any of these figures made of ceramic etc., if they are of this nature. But if they are images of inanimate things such as mountains and other natural scenes, there is nothing wrong with making them and selling them.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 13/73: “Buying and selling images of animate beings is haraam because it was narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead meat, pork and idols.’ (Agreed upon). That is because it may lead to exaggeration concerning the people depicted, as happened among the people of Nooh… and because of many other texts which also state that it is haraam to make images and to use images of animate beings.”

5 – With regard to medicines that contain alcohol, if the amount of alcohol contained is large and may cause intoxication if a person drinks a large amount of the medication, then this medication counts as alcohol and it is haraam to use it or sell it. But if the amount of alcohol is little and will not cause intoxication no matter how much is drunk, then it is permissible to use it and sell it.

It says in a fatwa issued by the Standing Committee concerning the sale of perfumes that contain alcohol: “If the amount of alcohol in the perfume reaches the level where it will cause intoxication if a lot of that perfume is drunk, then drinking that perfume is haraam, dealing in it is haraam, and that applies to all kinds of uses, because it is alcohol, whether it is a lot or a little. But if the thing with which the perfume is mixed, such as alcohol, does not reach the level where drinking a lot of it will cause intoxication, then it is permissible to use it and deal in it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whatever causes intoxication in large amounts, a little of it is haraam.’”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 13/54)

6 – Whatever it is haraam for a Muslim to use, it is also haraam for him to sell it to either Muslims or kaafirs, because the kaafirs are also addressed by the rulings of sharee’ah, including rulings on minor issues, according to the view of the majority of scholars, and what is forbidden for Muslims is also forbidden for them. So it is not permissible to sell them alcohol or pork, or anything else which is proven to be forbidden in our religion, even if we assume that it is permitted to them in their religion, because the sharee’ah of Islam abrogates and corrects the laws that came before it.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah 13/49:

Question: Is it permissible to deal in alcohol and pork if one does not sell them to a Muslim?

Answer: It is not permissible to deal in that which Allaah has forbidden, whether that is food or other things, such as alcohol and pork, even if one is dealing with kaafirs, because it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Allaah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price.” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 2564; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5107). And because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed alcohol and the one who drinks it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who consumes its price, the one who squeezes out the juice and the one for whom it is squeezed out.” (narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1295; Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1041).



Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Teacher accepting a gift from the students

Q) A teacher working in a Qur’aan memorization school which belongs to al-Jamaa’ah al-Khayriyyah li Tahfeez al-Qur’aan il-Kareem (Charitable organization for memorization of the Qur’aan) does not receive any payment for her teaching. At the end of the school year, after the certificates have been given to the students, they may give her a gift of gold or something similar. What is the ruling on her accepting this gift? Refusing the gift would break her students’ hearts and upset them, especially since she has given gifts to them?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

If a student has completed her studies and will be leaving the school, there is no bribery in this case. But if the teacher-student relationship will continue, there is the fear that this gift may cause the teacher to be biased in favour of that student, so that she may overlook her mistakes and not be fair to her and the other students.



Shaykh Ibn Jibreen

Nike™

Q) The sign of NIKE (tick) or a word NIKE printed on T-Shits & Caps. Should muslims avoid purchasing & wearing the types of Stuffs. As if listen from many people that "It is Shirk" & it means I obey any other GOD (than Allah) (Nauzubillah) Please provide me brief answer & the history of Nike (if it is Truth)?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

This well known registered trademark, Nike, which may be the most well known of sporting brands in the world, bears the name of the Greek goddess of victory. The founders of this company who chose this name were Philip Knight and Bill Bowerman. They chose this name as a symbol of good luck and hope of victory for sportsmen who wore this brand and propagate the symbol of this god.

This is something well known that is stated in encyclopaedias. See Wikipedia.org on the internet. In an article on this topic in the well-known al-Mawrid dictionary it says:

Nike was the god of victory among the ancient Greeks, who was usually presented in the form of a winged maiden, carrying a crown in one hand and a palm branch in the other. End quote.

Al-Mawrid Qamoos Ingleezi ‘Arabi (p. 613)

We find the same information in a book called al-Mu’taqadaat al-Deeniyyah ‘inda al-Shu’oob, ed. by Geoffrey Barrinder, which was published in Arabic in Silsilat ‘Aalam al-Ma’rifah, no. 173, p. 409.

Thus it is clear that it is not permissible for the Muslim to wear this symbol or to imitate those who wear it. The Muslim believes in the Oneness of Allaah (Tawheed) and believes that victory, help and strength come from Him alone. Wearing this symbol is contrary to his belief and faith. If he has no option but to buy the products of this company, then at least he should erase their symbol and name so that it is not on his chest, foot or neck. Thus his religious commitment will be safe as will his belief (‘aqeedah).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to images, such as images which appear on clothes for adults and children, they are the same: it is not permissible for a person to wear anything with pictures on it, or to dress his children, boys and girls alike, in anything that has pictures on it.

With regard to words written on garments, such as “I am a Christian” on a sweater, or “I am a Jew” or “Christian” or “sexual fluid” or “the gushing water of man” or writing the symbol for Venus, which is a symbol for immoral actions, and also writing “the ancient Greek god of love” or “alcoholic drink” or the name of a man and woman, or “Christmas” – all of these are unacceptable.

What matters is that we are a Muslim people, and what we must do is boycott these clothes. We should also write to the Ministry of Trade, reminding them to fear Allaah, and tell them: You must be very careful about such things that are imported to our market.

Subhan Allaah, a Muslim boy or girl with the words “I am a Christian” or “I am a Jew” written on their clothes! Don’t we understand? Are we sheep? Subhaan Allaah, we should be one ummah. If the people in charge are heedless of this and are unaware of it, we should write to them and point it out and send examples of these clothes. That has to do with those who are in charge. As for the rest of us, we should advise them and explain this matter to them. If we do that we will have discharged our duty, and they will be responsible before Allaah.

“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,

89. Except him who brings to Allaah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaaq (hypocrisy)]”

[al-Shu’ara’ 26:88-89]

Woe to them, for they have betrayed the trust and fallen short in taking care of their flock, so the ummah will be their opponents on the Day of Resurrection.

As for us, what we must do is boycott these things, and not spend our money on that which is bad for us, because at the very least a boy may start accept accepting these words that say that he is a Jew or a Christian, when we know that the Jews and Christians have been our enemies since ancient times.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust).

52. And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease (of hypocrisy), they hurry to their friendship, saying: ‘We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us’”

[al-Maa’idah 5:51-52]

i.e., we are afraid that some misfortune may befall us, but if we make friends with them, they will be with us. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Perhaps Allaah may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will. Then they will become regretful for what they have been keeping as a secret in themselves”

[al-Maa’idah 5:42]

What we must do is boycott these things completely, and if we see that a shopkeeper is selling them, we should advise him and tell him to fear Allaah, and draw his attention to it, because some shopkeepers do not know English and do not know what the writing says. But we should tell them. Allaah is sufficient against those who wrote it and deceived the people with it.

Even the names of singers and soccer (football) stars and others who are not Muslim – all of that is not permissible, because it will lead to the Muslim venerating these people, who are kaafirs.

With regard to images (pictures), we have stated that they are haraam on sweaters, shirts and pants. End quote.

Liqa’ al-Baab il-Maftooh (4/question no. 14)

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

Is it permissible to say “Except the Messenger of Allaah”?

Q) What is the ruling on saying the phrase “Except the Messenger of Allaah” ?

A) Praise be to Allaah.

Many people have started to use this phrase in defence of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and they have made it a slogan of their boycott on countries which supported those who impugned our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

There is no doubt about the good intention behind the use of this phrase, but there is a problem with regard to its meaning, which is that it mentions an exception but it does not mention from what the exception is.

No matter what the exception is from, the meaning of the phrase is still not acceptable. The apparent meaning is that we may accept or remain silent about the insults of anything except the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and this meaning is false (invalid)., because we do not should not remain silent about insults to Allaah or the Qur’aan or Islam or any of the Prophets and Messengers or the angels or the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) or the Mothers of the Believers (may Allaah be pleased with them) or our fellow believers. Thus it is clear that the meaning of this phrase is not correct, and this is what has made some of our scholars issue fatwas stating that is it not permissible.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allaah preserve him) was asked: Recently it has become popular to write the words “Except the Messenger of Allaah”. Do you think it is permissible to use this phrase?

He replied:

I do not think it is permissible to use this phrase, because it does not convey a proper meaning. In my view it is akin to the Sufis saying “Allaah, Allaah.” But we know that what is meant by what they write is “Anything except the Messenger of Allaah, so do not even come near his status and sanctity. This is what is meant by those who write it, but if we look at the implication of the phrase “except the Messenger of Allaah”, the meaning becomes, “Revile everything except the Messenger of Allaah”! Is this correct? Are these proper words?

Revile everything except the Messenger of Allaah – this is wrong.

End quote from Sharh Muqaddimat Usool al-Tafseer – fourth lesson, first question.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-‘Abbaad (may Allaah preserve him) was asked to comment on this phrase.

He replied: As for the phrase “except the Messenger of Allaah”, this is an incorrect phrase, and the exception should be mentioned. No doubt insulting Allaah is worse than insulting the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so this phrase is not proper and is not valid. End quote.

Sharh Sunan Ibn Majaah

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A