Which is the Greater Sin, Fornication or Abandoning the Prayer?

Which is the greater sin, fornication or abandoning the prayer?

Question: Allaah has forbidden us from commiting illegal sexual intercourse just as He has prohibited us from abandoning the prayer, so which of the two sins is greater than the other?

Answer: Abandoning the prayer is the greatest sin over the one who commits illegal sexual intercourse. That is because abandoning the prayer is Kufr Akbar (major disbelief) that expels one from Islaam. As for the one who commits adultery, then this is considered from the major sins that does not make one a disbeliever unless that individual says it is permissible to do this act, but the legislated punishment is obligatory (to be established upon him) when the matter is raised to the Muslim ruler.

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee

Fataawa al-Lajnatud Da'imah: Volume 6, Page 5, Number 10618

Newly Invented Matters (in Religion)

Newly Invented Matters (in Religion)

Question: What are newly invented matters and what is the meaning of this?

Answer: This comes from the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam): Beware of newly invented matters. [1] This refers to every innovation people do in the religion of Islam, whether that innovation is in belief or worship etc. All of which is neither from the Book (of Allaah) nor an established Sunnah from the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). Yet they take these things as religious practice and beliefs, worshipping Allaah with them, claiming that they are lawful when they are not. On the contrary, such acts are prohibited innovations. Examples include calling upon the righteous, be they the dead or the living who are not present. This includes taking graves as places of worship, making Tawaf [2] around them, and seeking help from their inhabitants, or the belief that they can intercede for them with Allaah, or lobby Him on their behalf in order to have their requests granted or to relieve them of their troubles. Honouring the birthdays of Prophets and righteous people as holidays and celebrating on them. They perform deeds they claim will bring them closer to Allaah - especially in the day or the night of the birthday or even in that month. There are many other such things, too numerous to mention, be they innovations or superstitions for which Allaah has revealed no sanction and which have not been confirmed by the Sunnah of Allaahs Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam). Thus, it is clear from what we have said that some of the newly invented matters are Shirk, like seeking help from the dead and swearing oaths to them. Others are simply innovations and do not reach the level of Shirk, such as building over graves and making places of worship over them, so long as excess therein does not lead to actions which would be considered Shirk. [1] Ahmad 4:125 [2] Tawaf: Circumambulation

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts

Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 1 Page 110

Who is the dajjaal and is he really one eyed?

Who is the dajjaal and is he really one eyed?

Question: There occurs in the ahadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam, the hadeeth of the dajjaal. What is the meaning of ‘ad dajjaal’ and is he present in the current time or not? And where is his home and what is the meaning of his being one eyed as the Prophet sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam informed of? Is his being one eyed (taken) as a reality or metaphorically? Explain for us the true state of affairs, from the knowledge which you have, may Allaah grant you jannat ul firdaus as your resting place.

Answer: Ad Dajjaal – this is taken from dajala dajlan (to deceive), so therefore he tells lies and he lies in wait because he claims ruboobeyah (lordship) – and this is from the greatest of lies. And he is present (in this time). As for his being one eyed, then it is taken as a reality because the basic principle regarding speech is that it is taken as a reality. The emergence of the maseeh ud dajjaal is from those matters which are established from the Prophet sal Allaahu alaiyhi wa sallam in the authentic Ahadeeth which are mutawaatir (which have multiple narrators at each step of the chain of narration). And with Allaah is the tawfeeq. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan Shaykh `Abdullaah bin Qu`ood Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee

Question 3 from fatwa no 7114 P147 Volume 3 fatawa of the Permanent Committee

Translated by Abu Abdir Rahmaan ibn Najam