Shaikh Ibn ul-‘Uthaymeen rahimahullah said:
“I repeat, especially to the students of knowledge, (that) it is necessary for the student of knowledge’s mind to be spacious, and his understanding to be deep, and that he does not take the affairs by its apparent affairs and superficially. (I also stress that it is important that) he looks at the Shariah and what it aims for of rectifying the creation, and not prevent what is good or what prevents a greater harm except if it the legislation reported a prohibition”
[Liqaa Bab al-Maftooh no. 21]
So it is important to take the means which are beneficial. A caller must be careful to employ the means that will reach the goal, but are not haram. If it is haram, it is not allowed for us to use.
Shaikh Mubqil rahimahullah was asked the following question:
Question:
Is it allowed to display film and video in the masaajid as form of dawah to the Non-Muslims to Islam?
Answer:
It is not allowed. This action is that of those who are void of the Book and Sunnah. Otherwise, the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam said:
إن الملائكة لا تدخل بيتاً فيه كلب ولا صورة
The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture
[Agreed upon]
From the Hadith of Abu Talha. The Messenger sallahu alayhi wa salam also said:
كل مصور في النار
Every picture taker will go to Hell,
[Reported by al-Bukhari]
The Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam refused to enter the room of Aisha when he found in it pictures. He even tore the curtain which had pictures. She said ‘I repent to Allah, the Exalted oh Messenger of Allah.’ So a picture is considered a preventative for the Angels of mercy. Next, it is considered an evil that is obligatory to change. The Messenger sallahu alayhi wa salam said:
من رأى منكم منكراً فليغيره بيده ، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه ، فإن لم يستطع فبقله وذلك أضعف الإيمان
Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith
Reported by Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Said al-Khudri.
Those people have used this [means]. Do they not have the ability to convey: Allah said and the Messenger said sallahu alayhi wa salam? Dawah is not committed by unlawful things. For verily Allah told his Prophet Muhammad sallahu alayhi wa salam:
فاستقم كما أمرت
So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Muhammad ) firm and straight (on the religion of Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded
[11:112]
And He said to His servants:
فاستقيموا إليه
Therefore take Straight Path to Him (with true Faith Islamic Monotheism) and obedience to Him,
[41:6]
So we are ordered with steadfastness and victory, support, and guidance is in the hand of Allah.
ليس عليك هداهم ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء
Not upon you (Muhammad ) is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.
[2:272]
The Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam and the caller likewise, do not have a decision. He said to His Prophet:
إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء
Verily! You (O Muhammad ) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.
[28:56]
So disobedience is not a means to victory and not a means of guidance for others”.
So from the above fatwa, it becomes clear (that) taking pictures of the Haram as a means to guide the Non-Muslims is incorrect. If taking pictures is haram, then it is not a means of guidance for others.
That leads to the next point, which is what about using a means of daw’ah which there may be differing between the Scholars, such as using social media? The best is to leave off the differing and not use such a means.
Shaikh Salih ala Shaikh hafidhuhallah said:
“The third type [of the means of dawah] is the one that is a problem. It is a means which the one examining it will differ over. Some of the scholars see it as bringing good and others see it not bringing good. So these means which are differed over are returned to the People of Knowledge. So if the People of Knowledge differ over a means from the means of dawah, I mean the People of Knowledge who are grounded in Knowledge, then it is a means of itjihaad. So if it is like that, there is no harm in the one who takes one of the two statements in the itjihaad. However, that which is chosen is to leave off the differed means and leave off what some of the People of Knowledge said is not allowed as a precaution because dawah is only blessed if it is based upon ‘ittibaa’ [following the Messenger sallahu alayhi wa salam]. If it is an issue where the People of Knowledge said it is not allowed to use as a means of dawah, then leaving it off is closer to the truth because leaving it off purifies the dawah upon ‘ittibaa'”
So avoiding those means which may be differed upon is the correct view because our dawah is the dawah of the Prophets and Messengers, may peace be upon them, and the righteous who followed after them. So it is a must upon us that (we) employ only the means that are permissible based on the Quran and Sunnah and what the Scholars have deemed as acceptable.
And Allah Knows Best
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
