If a man is able to fast and his shaykh orders him not to fast
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 15617 )
Q: A man’s shaykh told him: “Do not fast,” and he is able to fast, having no valid religious excuse, believing that his shaykh will save him from the punishment of Allah, and that his shaykh is able to expiate this act for him. What is the opinion of the religion in this, and what is the ruling on leaving the obligatory fast? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
A: It is not permissible to obey any created being in disobedience to Allah, whether he is a shaykh or anyone else; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3696 narrated by Ahmad and al-Hakim , and because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 2625Sahih (Al-Albani) agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Fasting Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to leave it except in the case of a valid legal excuse, such as illness or travel, on the condition of making it up; because Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:185], and then it is not permissible for you to follow anyone
Of the shaykhs, unless he is knowledgeable of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and upright in obedience to Allah. As for the shaykhs of misguidance and the foolish among the Sufis and others, one must stay away from them and warn against their evil; for obeying them in making lawful what Allah has forbidden and making forbidden what He has made lawful is taking them as lords besides Allah. And Allah the Exalted said regarding the Jews and the Christians:[At-Tawbah 9:31]. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A man’s shaykh told him: “Do not fast,” and he is able to fast, having no valid religious excuse, believing that his shaykh will save him from the punishment of Allah, and that his shaykh is able to expiate this act for him. What is the opinion of the religion in this, and what is the ruling on leaving the obligatory fast? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
A: It is not permissible to obey any created being in disobedience to Allah, whether he is a shaykh or anyone else; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.”
لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالقObedience is in matters which are good and universally recognized.
إنما الطاعة في المعروفSo whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَOf the shaykhs, unless he is knowledgeable of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and upright in obedience to Allah. As for the shaykhs of misguidance and the foolish among the Sufis and others, one must stay away from them and warn against their evil; for obeying them in making lawful what Allah has forbidden and making forbidden what He has made lawful is taking them as lords besides Allah. And Allah the Exalted said regarding the Jews and the Christians:
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah
اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.