Are Terms 'Tasowwuf' and 'Mureed' Bid'ah?

Q: Are the terms ‘tasowwuf’ and ‘mureed’ etc. not Bid’ah, because they are not mentioned in the hadith of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam? I have heard some Arabs say this.

A: These are technical terms devised by the masters in this subject. Every science of Islam has its own technical terms, which have absolutely no origin in Quran or Sunnah, but have been used by Ulema throughout the centuries without any objection whatsoever. In hadith we have terms such as Saheeh, Hasan, Dha’eef, Mu’dhal, Mursal, Musnad, Muttasil, Munqati’ etc. These terms are not found even in the times of the Sahaaba, but were instead created by the masters in the Science of Hadith. No one terms these words as a ‘bid’ah’. There are numerous similar examples in the other branches of Islamic learning, like Fiqah, Tafseer, Nahu, Sarf, Balaaghah, etc. These technical phrases have become accepted as part of Islam.

Cigarettes and Khabaa-ith

Q: In The Quran Shareef Allah Ta’ala declares khabaa-ith haraam, i.e. substances that are dirty, filthy. Don’t cigarettes fall under khabaa-th?

A: The definition of khabaa’ith varies according to different Ulema. It is, therefore, not so easy to apply the definition of khabaa-ith to cigarettes. In the first place, cigarettes are made from tobacco which is a plant. That in itself is not something filthy or dirty. Tea is also made from plants, and we drink this in abundance. No one has ever considered tea as a filthy or dirty substance. In fact cigarettes are not consumed as tea; instead the smoke of the burnt plant is inhaled. Per se, it cannot be placed under khabaaith. Yes, once it is smoked cigarettes leave behind a terrible odour, but that too, is not sufficient reason to call it khabaa-ith. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited people who ate raw onions and garlic from coming to the Musjid without removing the smell. Yet, the two vegetables are halaal and pure and are even mentioned in the Holy Quran. Yes, smoking will definitely be makrooh because of the harm it causes to the body. But one may not classify it as haraam. And Allah Knows Best.

Income from Cigarettes

Q: Is the selling of cigarettes haraam?

A: No, selling of cigarettes is not haraam. Such an income is lawful.

Reading Qur'aan in Menstruation

Q: If a female is in the state of haidh or nifaas, can she read Quran without touching it?

A: It is haraam for a woman in haidh or nifaas to recite the Holy Quran from memory, even if she does not touch or hold the Quran. (Al-Majmoo’)

Zikr with Guidance of a Shaikh

Q: Is it necessary to make zhikr under the guidance of a Shaikh?

A: This is not necessary but preferable, for in most cases a qualified and experienced Shaikh will prescribe thikr that is beneficial for the Mureed’s spiritual progress.

Abdaals, Qutub and Ghowth

Q: Do we the Ahlus-Sunnah believe in Abdaals, Qutub, and Ghowth, or are these titles just fairy tales?

A: The titles Abdaal, Qutub, Ghowth, etc are genuine titles for different categories of Auliyaa (Saints) which appear in authentic hadith. When Sayyiduna Ali radhiallahu anhu was in Iraq then one day someone asked him to curse the people of Syria. Hazrat Ali radhiallahu anhu refused to do so, and remarked: “I heard Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam say: ‘The Abdaal are in Asia minor (Shaam or Syria are its environs). They are forty in number. Every time one of them dies, Allah sends another in his place. Through them people receive rain, and through them victory is granted over enemies. They are also the cause of punishment being warded off from the people of Shaam.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad, and declared Saheeh by Allama Suyooti).
Many Scholars of Hadith have mentioned different versions of this hadith but with the same meaning. Some hadith mention words such as Autaad, Nujabaa, and Nuqabaa for different levels of Saints.

Money from Gambling

Q: If someone gives you money that you know is from gambling, can one accept it?

A: If you are certain that the money has been acquired through gambling, it is not permissible to accept such money. If one has already taken the money, it is necessary to give that amount in sadqa without any intention of thawaab.

Shafi Following Hanafi Imam in Eid Salaah

Q: If a Shaafi makes Eid Salah behind a Hanafi Imam, how shall he read his takbeers seeing that the Shaafi says seven takbeers in the first rakaat and five in the second?

A: The Hanafi Imam utters three takbeers in each rakaat, but the Shaafi muqtadee should say the extra takbeers on his own. This is mentioned in most of the books of Fiqah.

Using Sex Aids

Q: Is it permissible for married couple to use sex-aid like a vibrator?

A: It is not permissible in Islam for a female to insert anything into her private organ, and more so if this is done for sexual pleasure. Masturbation is haraam for both male and female. However one spouse may do this to the other and vice-verse but without the use of these aids.

Zikr with Drums

Q: Can zikr be made with the accompaniment of drums?

A: We have established from a previous answer that drums are not allowed in any forum except as permitted by the Hadith of Our Beloved Rasool sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. People who claim to be followers of tasawwuf and adopt this form of zikr have actually deviated from the Siraat-e-Mustaqeem. It is haraam to join such gatherings of zikr.

Iddat and Talaaq

Q: If a woman was given one talaaq and then sits in iddat, do the other two talaaq fall automatically? If the iddat finishes, have the other two talaaq fallen?

A: In the above cases the remaining two talaaq do not fall automatically. The husband has to issue these talaaq in order for them to take effect. Once the iddat is over after having given one talaaq, the couple may remarry if they both agree.

Sunnat Shower in I'tikaaf

Q: Is it permissible to have a sunnat bath or to shower during I’tikaaf?

A: Leaving the place of I’tikaaf for a shower or sunnat bath will nullify the I’tikaaf. If one needs to freshen up during i’tikaaf then when going to make wudhu one may quickly wash the body with a face cloth or rag, in about the same time that it takes to make wudhu.

Women Streaking Hair

Q: Is streaking the hair permissible for a woman?

A: Streaking the hair is a form of dyeing, and this is not permissible. However, using mehndi (henna) to dye the hair is allowed, but not the multi-coloured dyes that have become the fashion of the spiritually mad West.

Duff or Drum in Nasheeds/Nazams

Q: What is the Islamic ruling on the duff or drum that is played in nazams and qaseedas? We hear conflicting views among the Ulema.

A: I came across an interesting article by one Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Saheem of Reyadh, in which he proved the following points through valid and authentic references:

1. That the duff or drum is permissible on only two occasions: Nikah and the circumcision of a boy;
2. That use of the duff on the above two occasions are permissible for little girls only, and not men or young women.
3. That men are prohibited from using the duff under any circumstances;
4.
That use of the duff for songs and other entertainment is not permissible.
We fully endorse this fatwa of Shaikh Abdur Rahman Saheem. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of this Arabic article is welcome to write to us providing postal details.