Question & Answer

Question: What is the ruling about the man who prevents his wife from going to her parent's house if they cause problems and interfere in their married life? What is the least that is required for the wife to maintain her family ties? Is it enough to write (letters) and call (telephone) only?

Response: Yes, the man has the right to prevent his wife from going to her parent's house if doing so results in badly affecting her religion or the rights of her husband. This is because preventing her from going to them in these circumstances is prevention against (these) bad effects. It is possible for the women to contact her parents without going to them in these circumstances, such as by way of (writing) letters or calling them by telephone, if by doing so does not result in any danger. As He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala) said:

{So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can}
(Glorious Qur'aan: Surah At-Taghaabun, 64: v16)

And Allah knows Best.

There is a severe warning to the one who interferes in the wife's upholding of her husband's rights and turns her against him. It is mentioned in a hadeeth:

«Cursed are those who turn the women against her husband» (Abu Dawood)

...and it's meaning is badly affecting her behaviour towards him and causing disobedience towards him.

And it is obligatory for the family of the wife to take care and encourage the good relations between her and her husband because that is in her interests and their interests.

Shaykh Ibn al-Fowzaan
Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Fadheelatush-Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume 3, Page 246, Fatwa No. 372
Published: 13th May 2000

Is that the Emblem of the Cross on a Mercedes and Chevrolet?

By: Shaykh Abu Abdul Mu’iz Muhammad Ali Ferkous Al-Jaaza’iree(May Allah Preserve him)

Questioner: Is the emblem on the front and back of a Mercedes and a Chevrolet considered a cross? Is it an obligation for me to remove it, even if this resulted in a decrease in the car’s value? May Allah give you the success to explain the legal ruling for this issue. May Allah reward you abundantly.

Answer: Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, the Mercy for Man and Jinn. We ask that peace and blessings be upon the Prophet’s household, his companions and all the other Prophets until the Day of Judgement?

Every emblem that resembles a cross isn’t prohibited and forbidden. The cross is known. The Christians sanctify and extol this emblem, and take it as a sign for worship. In most cases this symbol appears on right angles. The bottom is lager than the top. The Christians consider the cross a distinguished symbol of following ‘Essa ibn Maryam. There are various types of crosses;

1. The cross of  St. George
2. The cross of  St. Andrew
3. The cross of Laruen
4. The of  Malta
5. The cross of the Catholic Church
6. The cross of Anthony and others. The Red Cross is also included in this category.

 Crosses were placed on the flags of some European countries such as Switzerland, England, Finland and others which are recognized by all the people residing in those lands

Now in reference to raising the price of an item that carries this image then it is not permissible for a Muslim to increase the price, due to this symbol of Shirk. The cross symbolizes worship to other than Allah. Whoever resembles a people in their practices is just like them. This comes from the Hadeeth where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ…

“Whoever imitates a people is like them”(Abu Dawud 4033,Ahmed 5232)Al-Albani graded this hadeeth as being authentic in Irwa Al-Ghalil 1269

 Whenever this kind of cross is sold on an item or on a piece of equipment that a Muslim possesses, it must be defaced, blotted, something glued on it, or any other way to censure this symbol. At the same time the price of this merchandise remains the same and everything that is connected to this symbol is hidden. This is based on the Hadeeth from’Aisha(may Allah be pleased with her )who said that,”

لَمْ يَكُنْ يَتْرُكُ فِي بَيْتِهِ شَيْئًا فِيهِ تَصَالِيبُ إِلاَّ نَقَضَهُ

“Everything that carried a cross or image in the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) house was destroyed.” (Al-Bukhari 5608)

Ibn Hajr said,” Since destroying images and crosses is intended in this hadeeth, then defacing, scratching off, and spoiling them as well is included.  This is the act that should be done to all images, including images engraved in a wall.” (Fathul Bari 10/ 385-386).

If the person doesn’t have the ability to change it with his hands then he must use any other means at his disposal. This is taken from the hadeeth where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)said,

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ

“Whoever witnesses something evil must change it with his hands if he has the ability, otherwise he must speak against it. If he isn’t able to speak against it, he must hate it in his heart. Hating this evil in the heart is the weakest of faith.”(Muslim 177)

 This ruling is carried out once it becomes clear that this is the cross which the Christians extol. This isn’t the type of image which is found on the front and back of Chevrolet and Mercedes ,and require defacing.

The Knowledge is with Allah the Most High. Finally we ask Praise Allah , Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Messenger Muhammad, his family, companions and prophets until the Day of Resurrection.

 Rabee’ Thani 18^th, 1428 /May 5^th,2007 Algeria.

حـكم تعليق آيات القرآن على الجدران  

The Verdict on Hanging Quran Verses on the Wall

By the Noble Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen(May Allah enter him in Jannah)

Questioner: What is the verdict for hanging verses from the Quran on the wall?

The Shaykh: What is the reason for hanging these verses?

Questioner: for decoration or…!!

The Shaykh: For decoration!! If that’s the only reason, then Allah’s verses have been taken as an object of ridicule. How can the noble Quran that was revealed as a cure for the sick heart and admonition be placed on a wall for decoration?!!

Another female questioner: Then what about hanging those seeking blessings?

The Shaykh: Has anything been reported that the Salaf used to hang the ayat seeking blessing (in that action for that place)??

Questioner: No nothing has been reported. We are successors. Whatever was sufficient for our predecessors is sufficient for us.

The Shaykh : Give me another reason

Questioner: Can we hang it up as a reminder then?

The Shaykh: The people who will sit in that place will they remind each other of Allah by reading those verses!! The answer is no, except a few, if any.

The Shaykh: Give me another reason.

Questioner: Then how about as protection from the Jinn?

The Shaykh : Is there a text that mentions the Salaf used to hang verses on the wall for protection from the jinn?!! No. And if the salaf didn’t travel this road are we going to travel this path?!!

The fact of the matter is that this action is an innovation. And apart from that it is a kind of improper treatment and disrespect of the Quran. For example one of the verses hung reads” Don’t back bite each other” then in that gathering there are people eating the flesh of their brothers!! This is mockery.

And for that reason I advise every one that finds somebody hanging verses on his/her wall , or other places to advise them saying, “ My brother the Quran hasn’t be appointed for that reason.”  And another example is when we hear the Quran playing on the telephone while we are on hold. “There is absolutely no deity worthy of worship, but Allah.” is read and then a disbeliever or hypocrite hears that becomes irritated while waiting. Hence you become the reason for his dislike for the Quran. Furthermore for that reason as well, I recommend the person while on hold on the telephone and hears the Quran to advise that person to remove it. Finally, sometimes a column from Quran is read where a person should stop, and a person might read from that column cutting the verse’s meaning, unsure if it is the beginning or the connection to another verse before it.

Silsilatu leeqah Babul Maftuh tape 198

The Shaykh(May Allah have mercy on him) was asked a similar question again.

Questioner: What is the ruling on writing verses from the Quran on walls of the Masjids?

Answer: Writing verses from Quran whether on Masjids’ walls or other places is an innovation. The companions didn’t paint or engrave any verses of the Quran on their walls. Additionally, engraving Allah’s verses on walls is a type of disrespect for His speech. For example we find some verses written in way for a castle, minaret, or masjid. In other words they write these ayat like they are decorating a palace! And no doubt this is mockery of Allah’s book. And even if these words were painted on the walls were the people could understand them, then know that this action isn’t one from the Salaf.

What are the benefits of writing Allah’s verses on the wall?!!

Some people say they serve as a reminder for the people!!

We say: A reminder is verbally, not written. Sometimes you find the verse on a wall that says, “ Don’t backbite each other.” And underneath there are backbiters talking. Hence this is taking Allah’s words as a joke. In conclusion writing verses from the Quran on a wall of a masjid or any other wall is an unknown practice of the salaf, so it’s an innovation. 

Silsilatu leeqah Babul Maftuh tape 719

Question: Our question is about celebrating the Mawlid (the Prophet's birthday), is it Bid`ah (innovation in Islam)? I heard in some places and from some scholars that it is a good Bid`ah and Allah knows best, may Allah bless you

Answer: Celebrating the birth of the Prophetﷺ and righteous people is Bid`ah which began in recent centuries, after the best three centuries of Islam: the first, the second and the third centuries after Hijrah. It is one of the Bid`ahs which some people have introduced into Islam out of love for such celebrations, thinking that it is a good thing to do. The correct opinion, according to verifying scholars, is that such celebrations are Bid`ah. All birthday celebrations, including but not limited to celebrating the birthday of the Prophetﷺ, are Bid`ah. Why is this so? Because the Prophetﷺ, his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet), the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and the early generations of Islam did not do it. Certainly, goodness lies in following their steps and not following the invented practices which succeeding generations introduced into Islam. It is authentically reported that the Prophetﷺ said: