Many questions often arise regarding those who take interest, whether it be a father or brother or friend, and whether it is permissible to accept gifts or money from them, the following is the answer of Shaikh Rabee’ حفظه الله to this issue taken from his explanation of “Sharh as-Sunnah of al-Imam al-Barbahaary”:
Q: “What is the ruling on taking gifts from a man who has wealth from interest?”
A: “Do not take it, [and actually] the scholars have mentioned details regarding haraam [unlawful and impermissible] wealth generally, interest based or otherwise. If the majority of his wealth is halaal [lawful and permissible] then take from him…they [the scholars] said the ruling is upon the majority. If the majority is halaal, then take it [gifts etc] from him, and you can seek to take a loan from him, and you can deal with him in his wealth on affairs of this nature. However, if the majority of his wealth is haraam then it is not permissible for you to take anything from him, neither gifts nor food nor anything”.
(عون الباري ببيان ما تضمنه شرح السنة للإمام البربهاري ص784)
Questions often arise regarding taxation and payment of it; the following is a question posed to Shaikh al-Fawzan on the issue:
Q: “I live in a country that takes taxes from us, and unfairly, so is it allowed for me to pay them using interest money?”
A: “Why are you involved in interest in the first place?! Are you engaged in taking interest so you can pay the taxes! This is not permissable, this is haraam. If they compel you to pay taxes then pay them – and return your affair and complaint to Allah – and the sin is upon them, you need to free yourself from punishment [i.e additional fines etc in the case of non-payment], you are compelled to pay the taxes. As for involving yourself in interest and then saying you wish to pay the taxes with it!?… [then this is] cleaning an impurity with another impurity! This is not permissible”.
Indeed Nad’dhaam, Abu Hudhayl and other than them amongst the enemies of the Sunnah have passed and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu alayhi-wasallam) has remained white and pure, and their mockery of it has not harmed it (i.e. the Sunnah). And the contemporary enemies of the Sunnah will die and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi- wa-alaa aalihee wasallam,) will remain; because Allaah has guaranteed its preservation. So He (The Most High) said:إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ— Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)’’ [15:9]
The following is paraphrased from the speech of Shaikh Mohammad Amaan al-Jaamy رحمه الله تعالى regarding the issue of Mount Rahma and the common belief that the mountain must be climbed on the day of ‘Arafah.
“So it is upon the Pilgrims to avoid climbing the mountain and crowding around it so their precious time is not wasted in that which does not benefit them, rather in it is harm [i.e. wasted time in attempting to get to it and climb it as well as the crowding etc when that time should be used in supplication], instead it is correct for the Pilgrims to spread out across ‘Arafah as they please without specifying a particular location”.
The Shaikh then goes on to mention the names of Mount Rahma:
“They have mentioned several names for this mountain:
1- “Mount Rahma” [Mount Mercy] and this is the most famous of the names and possibly the most recent one.
2- “Mount Supplication” [Mount Du’a]
3- “Al-Qurain” as some of the commoners refer to it as.
4- “Ilaal” and that is from one of the oldest names of it.
I have attempted to discover the reasoning behind it being called “Mount Rahma” and I checked various resources and asked various People of Knowledge, however I did not find a sufficiently satisfying answer, and so I leave the issue as a matter of research. However, I do feel some discomfort with this name, since mercy is not restricted to the mountain and the one who claims that must bring forth his evidence. Similarly, supplication on that day is not specific to the mountain, rather Mount Rahma is like any other part of ‘Arafah in that regard. The mercy of Allah and His freeing of slaves from the Fire is general to all individuals wherever they stand within ‘Arafah on that day.
The reason why I researched this issue is because of what we have witnessed ourselves from some Pilgrims in terms of actions that are resembling the acts of Jaahiliyyah [ignorance]…in fact for many Pilgrims the idea amongst them has become that the point of ‘Arafah is actually to have to climb the mountain. That is since many have mistakenly understood that the name “Mount Rahma” must indicate that the mercy of Allah only descends upon the Mount on that day.”
Translator’s note: A fine example of why success lies within the Sunnah and not in opposing it, consider how many hours of the blessed day of ‘Arafah are put to waste pushing through crowds and making an attempt to climb the mountain, as well as the fatigue that arises from such activity possibly impacting upon the remainder of the Hajj rites, all of which diverts the servant from supplication and indeed vastly reduces the available time on that Day before sunset, Allahul Musta’an.
It is a common practice for Charity Organisations to advertise and offer “sacrifices” to be done abroad and distributed to the poor in exchange for a fee to cover the costs of the slaughtering. Many individuals who desire to sacrifice engage in this activity and perhaps find a greater degree of ease in simply buying a “sacrifice” from a Charity who will slaughter on their behalf abroad for the poor.
The following is the fatwa of Shaikh al-Fawzan on this issue:
Q: “A fatwa has spread from you in recent times that paying money to Charity Organisations for the slaughtering [to be done on your behalf] is against the Sunnah? What’s your opinion on this oh Shaikh?”
A: “Yes I say this now, The legislated sacrifice is done in the household [i.e. by the by person himself in his country], the household of the one slaughtering, amongst his children, and amongst his neighbours, the one slaughtering eats from it, him and his children, and they give it in charity [distribute it] and give it as a gift…so they are to be slaughtered in the houses, in the houses of the muslims [i.e. done yourselves and not abroad] so that the household obtains its benefits, apparent and concealed.
However if it slaughtered in some other place [abroad] then these distinctions that the slaughtering was prescribed for are lost; as for an individual who wishes to give it in charity [i.e. those who may claim that the poor will benefit from the sacrifice abroad more than us, which may be true] then give in charity generally [i.e. send money abroad to them in any case any time] – as for the specific acts of worship then they are to remain as they have been prescribed. Indeed the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would sacrifice in his household, and the companions would sacrifice in their households and they never sent money outside or abroad for animals to be bought and slaughtered there, since that causes the benefits of slaughtering to be forfitted, so indeed it is a rite of Islam [prescribed in a particular way to be done].
[vis Sahab]
This should clarify the affair; for indeed many are always confused as to why it is better to do it yourselves in your locations rather than send to the poor abroad, the Shaikh clarifies it is an Islamic Rite prescribed to be done yourselves and not abroad, as for the poor abroad then no-one has prevented you from aiding them and being charitable since you are free to send whatever amount of money and food as you wish abroad at whatever time – ‘Eid or otherwise -, however the rite of islam in terms of the slaughtering is not to be specified, that is to be done yourselves and distributed within family and neighbours etc.
Indeed, it is the common practice of the business men of the world not to miss the big (trading) seasons; rather they make perfect preparations to bring goods, display merchandize, spend time and make great efforts. And this (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and the pilgrimage season) is a lucrative season for the trading of the afterlife and a perfect turning to Allaah [The Most High) in (obedience, submission, performance of good deeds, keeping away from sin, repentance etc.)
