Fatwaa: Multiple ‘Eid Prayers in One Place During the Covid-19 Restrictions

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

On Saturday, the 26th of Ramadhaan, 1442 (May 8, 2021), the leading scholarly authority for Islamic verdicts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Mufti, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh (may Allah preserve him), was asked about the permissibility of establishing multiple ‘Eid prayers [1] in lands where the Muslims are a minority, and there are not enough masjids to accommodate all the Muslims, given the safety protocols in place to restrict the spread of Covid-19, by the Permission of Allah. [2]

He replied:

لا يجوز تكرار إقامة صلاة العيد في مصلى واحد من جماعة بعد أخرى؛ من غير ضرورة ولا حاجة ماسة لأن هذا عمل محدث، وقد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

It is not allowed to hold multiple ‘Eid Prayers in one place of prayer, having one congregation after another, without any emergency or urgent need for that, because this is a newly invented matter. The Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, “Whoever introduces into our affair what is not from it, it is rejected.” [3]

وأجازها بعض أهل العلم عند الحاجة وبحسبها، وفي حالنا هذه الأيام مع جائحة كورونا والإجراءات الاحترازية، وحيث أن حفظ النفوس وصيانتها من مقاصد الشريعة الكبرى، وقد ثبت عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنَّه قال: لا ضَرَرَ ولا ضِرارَ واجتماع المصلين بأعداد كبيرة مظنة العدوى وانتشار المرض

Some of the people of knowledge have allowed this, at the time of a need, and according to the level of that need. During our current situation these days, with the Coronavirus pandemic and the safety procedures [in place], the protection and preservation of human life is from the major overall objectives of the Sharee’ah (Islamic Legislation). [4] It has been authentically established that the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said, “There is to be no harm, nor any reciprocation of harm.” [5] And the gathering of people for prayer in large numbers is a concern related to the contagion and the spread of illness.

ولعدم تفويت هذا الفضل على المسلمين، خصوصا في دول الأقليات المسلمة ولعدم القدرة على وجود مصلى خارج المدينة يجتمع فيه الناس للصلاة فنرى والله أعلم بجواز ذلك، في مثل هذه الظروف

So to prevent the Muslims from missing out on this great virtue (i.e. the ‘Eid Prayer), especially in lands where Muslims are a minority, without the ability to have a musallaa (outdoor prayer area) outside of the city big enough to accommodate all the people for the prayer, we hold that this (i.e. multiple ‘Eid Prayers in one place) [1] would be permissible during the likes of these circumstances.

هذا ما تيسر إيراده والله أعلم بالصواب وإليه المرجع والمآب, وبالله التوفيق وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد

This is what has been made easy to mention at this time, and Allah knows best about what is correct. Unto Him [alone] is the return and the final end, and through Allah [alone] is success. May Allah raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace.

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Questions From the West About Covid-19 Answered by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

From Moosaa at-Taweel al-Amreekee to the Grand Mufti, the virtuous Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh: As-Salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. As for what follows:

In these days -the days of the Coronavirus Pandemic- Allah has indeed blessed us with good leadership, governmental leaders and scholars who love the Muslims, and the Muslims love them. They lead the people to safety and well-being, by the Permission of their Lord. Their cooperation in establishing safety protocols in the land of Tawheed, the land of the two sacred and honored mosques, the respected Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -may Allah protect it from every evil- is an exemplary thing, a role model for the entire world, and the praise is for Allah. People of all different religions and various languages notice this, so may Allah compensate you for your hard work and reward you with the best reward for what you do for your Ummah!

A matter that causes fear has indeed come to us, a very serious matter, and [about it] the people have differed in their views. And our Lord, the All-Knowing, the Ever Informed, has indeed guided us to what is befitting for us in these types of issues, with His Statement [which means]:

And when there comes to them a matter of safety or fear, they spread it openly. Yet had they only referred it back to the Messenger and those in authority among them, those of them capable of extracting its ruling would have done so. [4:83]

So in order to implement this Noble Verse, and with due concern for unity, I present some important questions. I do believe that your answers to them will –by Allah’s Permission- save your children of Ahlus-Sunnah in foreign lands from the differing that has befallen them, as you hold a position of trust with everyone. It is from Allah that I hope that we could benefit from your noble instructions.

The First Question: How do we know exactly what the nawaazil (pending issues in need of verdicts) are, those which must be deferred to the senior scholars Continue reading

Qassim University Accepts 149 International Students (2014-2015)

In the Name of Allaah…

The Admissions Department of Qassim University in Unayzah, Saudi Arabia, has recently published a list of 149 accepted international students for the upcoming academic year: 1435-1436 (2014-2New students 4015).

 

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Links to 25 Universities in Saudi Arabia

The following is a list of websites that represent a number of universities in Saudi Arabia:

Arabic Language Scholarships Available at King Saud University in Riyadh (2015-2016)

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The Arabic Linguistics Institute at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has recently announced the dates for scholarship courses for the next academic year (2015-2016). Interested candidates should apply online before October 24, 2014.

The scholarships available are:

  • Master of Arts in teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers (only for male students at the Department of Applied Linguistics)
  • Higher diploma in education in teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers (only for male students at the Department of Applied Linguistics
  • Higher diploma of Arabic language training for non-native speakers (only for male students during their service at the Teacher Training Department).
  • Diploma in Arabic language for non-native speakers for this diploma (for males and females, through the Department of Language and Culture).

The application must be submitted through the following Continue reading

List of Accepted Students at the Islamic University of Al-Madeenah 1435-1436 [2014-2015]

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

The Islamic University of al-Madeenah in Saudi Arabia has just announced its latest list of accepted students. The following link shows (a large updated list of) the names which have been nominated for acceptance for the academic year of 1435-1436 (2014-2015):

http://admission.iu.edu.sa/IuAbroadInquery.aspx

NOTE: The list has since been updated to include many new names and countries, wal-hamdulillaah.

The University’s official website also offers the following message to students who Continue reading

Nutmeg, the Well Known Spice, is an Intoxicant (Khamr)

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Compassionate, the All- Merciful…

Nutmeg ( جوزة الطيب ) is widely known to have intoxicating properties.

 …Nutmeg’s intoxicating properties have long been known in Europe… it has been a substitute for other substances that for one reason or another were unavailable or unaffordable. Thus prisoners, soldiers, seamen and struggling musicians were among its users… In 1946, before his conversion to Islam, Malcolm X used nutmeg whilst in jail when his supplies of marijuana ran out. In his autobiography he wrote: ‘I first got high in Charlestown [prison] on nutmeg. My cellmate was among at least a hundred nutmeg men who, for money or cigarettes, bought from kitchen worker inmates penny matchboxes full of stolen nutmeg. I grabbed a box as though it were a pound of heavy drugs. Stirred into a glass of cold water, a penny matchbox full of nutmeg had the kick of three or four reefers.’ When the authorities became aware of such uses of nutmeg it was removed from many prison kitchens.

Source: http://www.moodfoods.com/nutmeg/index.html (Accessed Dec. 25, 2008)

Ahmad ibn Hajr al-Haytamee (d.974), the soofee ash’aree, however an authority on the Fiqh (legal rulings) of ash-Shaafi’ee according to his later followers, seems to have the most detailed information on the topic. Thus, his words and research on the matter are important, and our scholars have Continue reading

Scholarship Students in Saudi Arabia Should Reflect

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful…

As a recipient of a Saudi government scholarship to study at Umm al-Qura University, I thank Allaah and ask Him to forgive me and my brothers and sisters who study here on full scholarships for not realizing how many blessings from Allaah we have overlooked and/or not properly thanked Him for.

Have we thanked Allaah for granting us years of peaceful and secure living in a land of Towheed and Sunnah? Some Muslims are living in fear for their lives and property right now. Some live in countries that do not allow them to practice Islaam. Some live in countries that openly promote polytheism and acts of blasphemy. By Allaah, we are spoiled in this land. By Allaah, we have not shown enough gratitude for our blessings!

Have we thanked Allaah for the ability to pray at the two greatest masjids in the world? Muslims around the world save for years to make one trip. Many of them never make it. Many of them beg Allaah in the depths of the nights to make one prayer at one of the two sacred Harams one day. By Allaah, we are spoiled and ungrateful.

Have we thanked Allaah for the ability to visit and study from a number of today’s greatest scholars? Our brothers in Islaam dream of the chance to meet a scholar one day. Muslims huddle together secretly Continue reading