Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam`alekum

 

Regarding ayat no.30 of surah Bakr somebody has asked me following question and it would be great if you could answer it. Like why did the angels (pbut) react in that way. Why did they assume that the humans will destroy on earth? Also why did they mention what they do ( tasbeeh and taqdees), did they think that the humans will take over their place?

One more question, what does our religion say about consulting an Imam over the internet? The reason till why I’m asking is because this girl I know did something that I consider as wrong and she said that she had asked an Imam over the net who gave her the right to do what she did.

 

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Answer:

 

Consulting a scholar

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: Regarding ayat no.30 of surah Bakr somebody has asked me following question and it would be great if you could answer it. Like why did the angels (pbut) react in that way. Why did they assume that the humans will destroy on earth? Also why did they mention what they do ( tasbeeh and taqdees), did they think that the humans will take over their place?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 30-35: Behold thy Lord said to the Angels: "I will create a Vicegerent on earth."  They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?  Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy Holy (Name)?"  He said: "I know what ye know not."

 

The Angels very well understood the connotations and the implications of the term ‘Khalifah’, whereby they understood that the created being was going to be bestowed with some powers of doing good or evil, obedience or disobedience, etc.; but they could not fully comprehend how an autonomous creature with a free will to do good or evil could fit in the totalitarian and absolutely submissive system of the universe.  One must also understand that the Angels did not put forth this question, Allah forbid, as a challenge or to raise an objection to the Will of Allah Subhanah; they merely and humbly meant to clarify and seek more information about the matter.

 

Their seeking clarification and more information about the matter does in no way mean that they had any knowledge of the ‘unseen’; for indeed, the knowledge of the unseen is known to none save Allah Subhanah Alone.  Through their comprehension of the term ‘Khalifah’, they simply assumed the worst aspect of what would happen if one was given the autonomy and power to choose of his own free will.

 

Allow us to relate a simple example which would clarify the matter.  Suppose a loving and doting father gives his son more money than his needs, a sincere friend and well-wisher of the family would immediately assume the worst and tell the father that the son will get spoilt!  This does not in any way mean that the friend or well-wisher has any knowledge of the unseen; but it is a manifestation of his concern of the powers that the extra money would bring in the hands of an inexperienced child. 

 

Similarly, the Angels meant nothing but concern that the vicegerent who would be given the power and free will to choose, would transgress the boundaries of Allah Subhanah; and thus they humbly sought clarification from the Lord of the Worlds.

 

Some scholars who pondered over the wisdom of the statements of the Angels have said that maybe the Angels had prior knowledge from their experience of what happened with the community of the Jinns (who were created before mankind), when they were entrusted with similar powers, and a free will to choose between the good and the evil.  It may be that the community of Jinns might have misused their bestowed powers, created mischief and caused blood-shed amongst themselves; and thus the Angels humbly declared their concern.  Because nothing has been mentioned regarding the lives and events of the Jinn community before the creation of man in the Quran and Sunnah, one cannot say with conviction what exactly did transpire in the Jinn communities.  Allah Alone Knows Best.

 

Your Question: why did they mention what they do ( tasbeeh and taqdees), did they think that the humans will take over their place?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 44: The seven heavens and the earth and all beings therein declare His glory: there not a thing but celebrates His praise; and yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft- Forbearing, Most Forgiving!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 64 Surah Taghabun verse 1: Whatever is in the heavens and on earth doth declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: to Him belongs Dominion and to Him belongs Praise: and He has power over all things.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Nur verses 41-46:

41      Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise.  And Allah knows well all that they do.

42      Yea to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah is the final goal (of all).

43      Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently then joins them together then makes them into a heap? then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst.  And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases.  The vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight.

44      It is Allah Who alternates the Night and the Day: verily in these things is an instructive example for those who have vision!

45      And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four.  Allah creates what He wills: for verily Allah has power over all things.

46      We have indeed sent down Signs that make things manifest: and Allah guides whom He wills to a way that is straight.

 

Except for the creations of the Jinn and the humans whom Allah Subhanah bestowed with a ‘free will’ to choose between obedience and disobedience as a test, every other creation including the Angels praise and glorify their Lord and Creator, without exception. The Angels could not fully comprehend how an autonomous creature with a free will to choose between good or evil could fit into the totalitarian and absolutely submissive system of the universe, and they humbly wished to only clarify the matter. 

 

Your Question: what does our religion say about consulting an Imam over the internet? The reason till why I’m asking is because this girl I know did something that I consider as wrong and she said that she had asked an Imam over the net who gave her the right to do what she did.

If a person does not have proper knowledge and wishes to clarify or seek a judgment on a particular aspect of Shariah, there is absolutely no harm if one seeks to consult or get a decision from a knowledgeable person or scholar, whether in person or through other mediums of correspondence like phone, fax, letters, internet, etc. 

 

If the heart of the person, who sincerely fears Allah and wishes to obey the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws), is not content with the decision of the scholar…he is well within his rights to ask the scholar to provide the proof and evidence from the Quran and Sunnah which formed the basis of the scholar’s decision.   If the scholar provides the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, then the person should accept and obey the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws); and if the scholar is unable to provide the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, it would be best to take a second opinion from another good knowledgeable and pious scholar.  Thus what is of supreme importance here is not whether one obeys the decision of the scholar, but whether or not one intends to follow the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

 

The scholar thus holds an extremely great and heavy responsibility, and must strive to the best of his ability to determine the best decision in light of the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah.  If the scholar fears Allah, and strives to the best of his ability to deliver the correct decision, he will receive a double reward from Allah Subhanah; and if the scholar fears Allah and strives to the best of his ability but gives a wrong decision, he will still receive a reward from the Lord Most Merciful. 

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.450         Narrated by Amr bin Al As

That he heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "If a judge gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct (i.e. agrees with Allah and His Prophet’s (saws) verdict) he will receive a double reward, and if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong, (i.e. against that of Allah and His Prophet (saws)) even then he will get a reward ."

 

The believer who sincerely fears Allah and sought the advice of the scholar with the solemn intention to obey the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah subsequently acts on the decision (whether right or wrong) given by a God-fearing pious scholar, he will be excused in the Court of Allah Subhanah.  But if the person does not fear Allah and wishes or intends to circumvent or find a loop-hole in the laws of Shariah, and presents the case to the scholar in such a way that he gets the decision in his favor; such a person will be himself responsible for his intentions and actions in the Just and Supreme Court of Allah Subhanah on an Inevitable Day.

 

For example: a person knows it is obligatory to fast in Ramadan but does not desire to perform his fasts, and subsequently tells a lie to the scholar that he is not keeping good health and informs the scholar that the keeping of fasts would further deteriorate his health, etc.; and gets a ‘fatwa’ from the scholar to leave the fasts and perform the atonement or ‘kaffarah’ of missed fasts….such a person will be held responsible for his missed fasts in the Court of Allah Subhanah.

 

Your Statement: this girl I know did something that I consider as wrong and she said that she had asked an Imam over the net who gave her the right to do what she did.

Beloved brother, if you could relate to us the incident or conditions of your friend and the decision given to her by the scholar, we would, if Allah Wills and Helps us, be better able to determine in light of the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah if your fears regarding the actions of your friend are well-founded or not.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan