Cafes where adolescents gather and which contain harms
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Fatwa number ( 21655 )
Q: It is what has become widespread and prevalent in recent times in many cities and villages, namely what is called the coffee house, or (cafe), where large groups of young people gather, with numbers exceeding thousands in some of them. They have been prepared and arranged to receive these young people, and various types of shisha, or what is called: nargile, have been provided, as well as various types of cigarettes. They also contain air-conditioned seating arranged in an attractive and enticing manner, and television sets connected to satellite reception devices (dishes) have been installed. It is not hidden from Your Eminence the danger of these cafes, and that they are among the greatest means of the youth’s deviation and loss, especially since they open their doors throughout the day and night, and the youth are present in a striking manner in
every time. And what necessitates clarifying the danger of these cafes is: the negligence of many young people in entering them, and their argument that they exist and are officially licensed, and that there is no objection from the scholars against them. Also, some young people argue that the sin is upon their owners and proprietors. Some of them enter these places under the pretext of entertainment and relaxation, or with the intention of drinking coffee and tea, watching television and satellite channels, and the like. Also, some owners of these cafes argue that the sin is upon those who frequent them, since he entered them of his own will and desire, and no one forced him to do so. Some of them do not care whether it is halal or haram as much as they care about how much money it brings them. We ask Allah for safety and well-being. Also, recently the sale of (shisha), its repair, and its filling has spread in independent shops and stores, which obtain a license from the municipalities and serve the owners of cafes and the general users of shisha. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for them. Your Eminence: The evil of these cafes has grown, and its danger has increased, and it has become a meeting place for people of corruption; which has led to the loss of many young people and their deviation from their families and schools, and their going to these cafes morning and evening. I hope from Your Eminence that you will look into this overwhelming matter and great affair, and issue a statement that satisfies the need regarding the ruling on establishing these cafes and the ruling on frequenting them, and who sins by this action, and what is your advice to the youth
of Islam?
A : Shisha, nargile, and smoking are among the harmful things, and they are forbidden; because of the harm they cause to the body and wealth. Allah the Exalted said in describing His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-A'raf 7:157] , and it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2340Da'if (Darussalam) Therefore, it is not permissible to use these things, nor to sell them, nor to promote them. It is also not permissible to open these cafes, nor to attend these cafes and gatherings where they are displayed, except for one who is strong enough to give advice and change the evil; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:140] , and His saying (Mighty and Majestic): [Al-An'am 6:68] , and included in the generality of these two verses is attending gatherings of sins and open sinfulness in which the commands and prohibitions of Allah are disregarded. So whoever attends and does not denounce them will be equal to them in the burden of sin. Ibn al-Arabi said in (Ahkam al-Quran), in his discussion
on the previous verse from Surah al-An'am: (And this is evidence that sitting with people of evil is not permissible) end of quote. And reality is a witness that the mentioned cafes are dominated by evil and corruption, and the sitting of many fools in them. So it is obligatory for the Muslim who is sincere to himself to stay away from them so that his religion and his character may be safe.
Q: It is what has become widespread and prevalent in recent times in many cities and villages, namely what is called the coffee house, or (cafe), where large groups of young people gather, with numbers exceeding thousands in some of them. They have been prepared and arranged to receive these young people, and various types of shisha, or what is called: nargile, have been provided, as well as various types of cigarettes. They also contain air-conditioned seating arranged in an attractive and enticing manner, and television sets connected to satellite reception devices (dishes) have been installed. It is not hidden from Your Eminence the danger of these cafes, and that they are among the greatest means of the youth’s deviation and loss, especially since they open their doors throughout the day and night, and the youth are present in a striking manner in
every time. And what necessitates clarifying the danger of these cafes is: the negligence of many young people in entering them, and their argument that they exist and are officially licensed, and that there is no objection from the scholars against them. Also, some young people argue that the sin is upon their owners and proprietors. Some of them enter these places under the pretext of entertainment and relaxation, or with the intention of drinking coffee and tea, watching television and satellite channels, and the like. Also, some owners of these cafes argue that the sin is upon those who frequent them, since he entered them of his own will and desire, and no one forced him to do so. Some of them do not care whether it is halal or haram as much as they care about how much money it brings them. We ask Allah for safety and well-being. Also, recently the sale of (shisha), its repair, and its filling has spread in independent shops and stores, which obtain a license from the municipalities and serve the owners of cafes and the general users of shisha. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for them. Your Eminence: The evil of these cafes has grown, and its danger has increased, and it has become a meeting place for people of corruption; which has led to the loss of many young people and their deviation from their families and schools, and their going to these cafes morning and evening. I hope from Your Eminence that you will look into this overwhelming matter and great affair, and issue a statement that satisfies the need regarding the ruling on establishing these cafes and the ruling on frequenting them, and who sins by this action, and what is your advice to the youth
of Islam?
A : Shisha, nargile, and smoking are among the harmful things, and they are forbidden; because of the harm they cause to the body and wealth. Allah the Exalted said in describing His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):
makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil
وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَIt was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
لا ضرر ولا ضرارAnd it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them
وَقَدْ نَـزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِثْلُهُمْAnd when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِon the previous verse from Surah al-An'am: (And this is evidence that sitting with people of evil is not permissible) end of quote. And reality is a witness that the mentioned cafes are dominated by evil and corruption, and the sitting of many fools in them. So it is obligatory for the Muslim who is sincere to himself to stay away from them so that his religion and his character may be safe.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.