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Q: May Allah (may He be Exalted) reward you for your concern about Islam and Muslims! In a previous letter, I stated that I began practicing Islam after a state in which I used to commit sins regularly. Later on, many things stood as barriers in my way and I was surprised that my father, who is supposed to help me give up sins, opposed me. My father does not like my state of practicing Islam or that of committing sins. When I asked him how I could please him, he ordered me to shave off my beard and forsake the Multazim (practicing Muslim) brothers in our country. He gave me that order on the pretext that the society rejects and does not welcome them.
I told him that we should overlook the society since we seek only the reward in the Hereafter in which every believing slave will be honored and we seek only to lead our life in a way that pleases Allah (may He be Exalted). He told me that even though he is sure that both they and I follow the right way, the society still looks at them suspiciously and does not approve of them. He does not prevent me from sitting in the nearby Masjid (mosque); yet the main problem lies in my beard. He forbids me from attending their lectures or mixing with them. He even permits me to observe I`tikaf (seclusion for worship in a Masjid) throughout the rest of my life on the condition that I shave off my beard. My father says that I may take all my books and remain in the nearby Masjid forever. In this case he will be pleased with me. If I keep my beard, he will not because he considers this beard a source of shame for my brothers who insist on abandoning Salah (Prayer). I wonder how growing my beard could be a source of shame for people who do not obey Allah (may He be Exalted) or enter Masjids. I have the option to choose between obeying my father and obeying the Messenger (peace be upon him). I said that no one is to be obeyed in defiance to Allah (may He be Exalted) and requested my father to give me fifteen days respite to consult about the matter, though I am fully convinced that I must not obey anybody in defiance of Allah (may He be Exalted). Please advise.
A: We thank Allah (may He be Exalted) that He has guided you and we implore Him to make you steadfast and consistently observant of Islam - indeed He is All Hearer and All Responsive. It is obligatory for you to be dutiful to your parents and treat them kindly and you should avoid speaking harshly to them. You must try your best to fulfill their needs. However, it is not permissible for you to obey the order of your father to shave off your beard because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Trim closely the moustache, and let the beard grow." (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "It is obligatory for a Muslim to listen and obey (the appointed authority) whether they like it or not, except when they are ordered to do a sinful thing; in such a case, there is no obligation to listen or to obey." (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Your father fears that people may talk ill of you or despise you due to your adherence to Islam and sitting with righteous people, but you may tolerate this fact by telling him that Allah (may He be Exalted) has made Islam a test for people so that the one who adheres patiently to it will gain the pleasure of Allah (may He be Exalted) and enter His Jannah (Paradise). People hurt Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who is the premier of people and most loved person to Allah (may He be Exalted). They depicted him as a mad man and a sorcerer, put the abdominal contents of a slaughtered she-camel between his shoulders, cast stones at him, and severely beat and tortured his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) until some of them died. Nonetheless, they patiently adhered to Islam and as a result a new person used to embrace Islam every day until the Muslims became stronger and glorious as Islam prevailed. Similarly, these days Islam has become strange and Multazim persons are pursued and displaced and false accusations are made against them. However, Allah (may He be Exalted) will make Islam reign supreme by their persistent adherence to it and patience in spite of the harm, insults, and mockery they experience.
Many Muslims at all levels have started practicing Islam and are returning to it every day. Allah (may He be Exalted) says:(Surah Hud, 11: 49) So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for Al-Muttaqýn (the pious). He (may He be Exalted) also says: |  | Aali Imran (3):200 |
íóÇ ÃóíøõåóÇ ÇáøóÐöíäó ÂãóäõæÇú ÇÕúÈöÑõæÇú æóÕóÇÈöÑõæÇú æóÑóÇÈöØõæÇú æóÇÊøóÞõæÇú Çááøåó áóÚóáøóßõãú ÊõÝúáöÍõæäó O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allâh, so that you may be successful. |
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May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'
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sajid_chauhan_81
22-04-2009 @ 11:55 PM
