فتاوى بالانجليزية من دار الافتاء المصرية ( متجدد بإذن الله )

[abomokhtar]

What does the good innovation (bid’ah) in religion means and does it exist?
Answer
Before answering, we have to clarify the meaning of bid’ah: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who introduces something that is not in agreement with our matter (religion), will have it rejected” [Bukhari). The Prophet’s words illustrate that acts initiated in Islam that do not conflict with the established principles of Sacred law are accepted. This was exactly what ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) did when he introduced the second Adhan [Eng. call to prayer] before Friday Prayers. And this is how the imams and scholars of the followed schools of jurisprudence understood the concept of bid’ah.
If we do not understand this issue in this way, life will be of difficulties to people and they will have to abandon many matters concerning their livelihood, and the Sharo’a comes with ease to humankind.
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http://www.dar-alifta.gov.eg/Foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx…

[abomokhtar]

Is it acceptable to lie if your purpose is to avoid hurting someone?
Answer
There is a difference between lying—i.e. deliberately contravening the truth—and giving a misleading impression [Ar.ma'areed] which means saying something that ostensibly implies one meaning while intending another. This does not contravene the truth of the message; but the speaker intends a specific referent while the hearer understands something else.
One can resort to this manner of discourse to avert harm.
For instance, it has been narrated that when Muslims sought refuge with the Negus [king of Abyssinia] and he refused to return them to the disbelievers, he was accused by the Christians of renouncing his religion. The Negus wrote on a piece of paper, "There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is His slave and Messenger. Jesus is His slave and Messenger, born of Mary, conceived without a father." He then pinned the paper under his shirt over his heart and went to meet the Abyssinians who accused him of rejecting Christianity. "You abandoned our religion and claim that Jesus is a servant while [our religion teaches us] he is the Son of God." The Negus placed his hand over his heart (and the paper) and said, "I testify that Jesus was no more than this" meaning what he wrote on the paper. The Christians took him at his word and left him.
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http://www.dar-alifta.gov.eg/Foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx…

[abomokhtar]

Is it permissible to fast based on the sighting of the new moon in a country other than the country in which one currently lives?
Answer
Residents of a given country should not begin or end their fast based on a moon sighting that differs from that of their country because this inconsistency divides the unity of Muslims and sows discord and division among them. It is established in Islamic law that the person charged with the affairs of Muslims must resolve any disagreements that occurs between them. Accordingly, if a fatwa is issued stating that the new moon of Ramadan, or of any other month for that matter, has been sighted in a particular country, it is incumbent upon the Muslims residing in that place to follow it and it is not permissible for them to disregard it. This is due to the narration of Karib who said that Um Al-Fadl Bint Al-Harith sent him to Mu’awiyah in the Levant. He said: “Ramadan started when I arrived in the Levant. I saw the new moon on the Friday. Then I arrived in Madina at the end of the month. ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas asked me, “When did you sight the new moon?” I replied, “We saw it Friday night.” He then asked me, “Did you see it?” “Yes,” I replied. “The people sighted it and fasted and Mu’awiyah fasted.” “But we saw it on Saturday night” he said. He added, “And we will continue to fast until we complete thirty days or see the new moon.” I asked him, “Are you not satisfied with the sighting and fasting of Mu’awiyah?” “No,” he said. “This is what the Messenger of God commanded us to do.” So the hadith indicates that every country should follow its own sighting and this is our position when issuing a fatwa on this matter.
And God the Almighty knows best.
http://www.dar-alifta.gov.eg/Foreign/ViewFatwa.aspx…