Spending Money on What Is Called Relics
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 21064 )
Q: The content is: Some zealous people object to the vast sums of money spent on purchasing what they call the archaeological relics of certain famous or revered individuals, such as clothing and possessions that the famous or revered person owned or used during his lifetime. They pay enormous amounts, which may reach millions, in exchange for obtaining these items.
A: There is no doubt that this is a forbidden act in several respects: The first aspect: This act is a type of polytheism; because it may lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah), seeking blessing from those relics, and attaching oneself to their owners other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Shirk did not occur in previous nations except due to the exaltation of the relics of their great and righteous people, as happened with the people of Noah and others. The second aspect: Spending money to obtain those relics is among
the greatest forms of extravagance and waste, which Allah has forbidden in the clear text of His Book. As He the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:26-27], and He the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:31]. The third aspect: The pure Shari'ah has come with the obligation of placing a legal restriction on the foolish and the wasteful, to prevent them from doing so. He the Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:5]. It is obligatory for the rulers, may Allah guide them, to set a limit on such shameful behavior, and to direct that these sums be spent in the path of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as providing for orphans, feeding the poor and the needy, meeting the needs of those in need, and funding general charitable projects. May Allah guide everyone to what He loves and is pleased with. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: The content is: Some zealous people object to the vast sums of money spent on purchasing what they call the archaeological relics of certain famous or revered individuals, such as clothing and possessions that the famous or revered person owned or used during his lifetime. They pay enormous amounts, which may reach millions, in exchange for obtaining these items.
A: There is no doubt that this is a forbidden act in several respects: The first aspect: This act is a type of polytheism; because it may lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah), seeking blessing from those relics, and attaching oneself to their owners other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Shirk did not occur in previous nations except due to the exaltation of the relics of their great and righteous people, as happened with the people of Noah and others. The second aspect: Spending money to obtain those relics is among
the greatest forms of extravagance and waste, which Allah has forbidden in the clear text of His Book. As He the Exalted said:
and do not spend wastefully. (27) Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
وَلاَ تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا (26) إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًاand eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلاَ تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَAnd do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you
وَلاَ تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.