Euphemism by saying “after Ramadan” or “after tomorrow”
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : And if he was able to make up the fasts but did not do so until another Ramadan arrived, he must make them up and feed one poor person for every day, because this is reported from Ibn 'Umar.
The Shaykh : How can you say “another Ramadan” when Allah the Exalted says “the month of Ramadan,” which is not indefinite?
The questioner : Yes, indeed, because here “Ramadan” is not a proper name for a specific month, but rather a general term, so it does not have the quality of being a proper name that would prevent it from being declined.
The Shaykh : Did you hear his answer? “Ramadan” is among the words in which alif and nun are added, and for words in which alif and nun are added, whether they are proper names or adjectives, the condition is that they be either a proper name or an adjective; it is not merely the addition of alif and nun that prevents declension, unless the quality of being a proper name or an adjective is added to it. For this reason, if a person came to you at the end of Sha'ban and said, “I am inviting you to visit me,” and you said, “If Allah wills, after Ramadan,” he would say, “If Allah wills, on which day will we break the fast?” You would say, “On the day we break the fast. We break the fast from where? From Ramadan.” He would go to thank you, “May Allah reward you with good.” The matter, if Allah wills, is close, about thirty days. Then he came after the festival and said, “Come on, keep your promise.” I would say to him:
The questioner : And it was.
The Shaykh : I did not specify a date; I said “after Ramadan,” but this is a matter of euphemism, especially when addressing the common people. Your oath is based on what your companion believes to be true. Is this kind of euphemism permissible?
The questioner : No, you did not break your oath.
The Shaykh : If he is not being unjust, it is permissible according to the opinion of some scholars, and likewise if it is for a benefit. Yes. And similarly, if he asks, “When will you visit me?” and you say, “After tomorrow.” “After tomorrow” is understood to mean Tuesday from the night of the day before, but you said “after tomorrow,” and “after tomorrow” extends until the Day of Resurrection. Yes, indeed. A person can get out of such situations by using these phrases, because some people repeat and insist, and this is a way to satisfy them later. You would say, “My brother, I told you ‘after tomorrow,’” and at the same time, “after tomorrow” means until the Day of Resurrection, so that what is in his heart—that you deceived him and tricked him or something similar—would be removed.
The questioner : But may Allah reward you. The observation is that the use of such euphemism by people who are trusted, I mean people who are in a position of trust with the people, causes people to lose trust. Yes.
The Shaykh : There is doubt, and for this reason we discussed this issue, but if the matter is clarified to them immediately, there is no doubt.
The Shaykh : How can you say “another Ramadan” when Allah the Exalted says “the month of Ramadan,” which is not indefinite?
The questioner : Yes, indeed, because here “Ramadan” is not a proper name for a specific month, but rather a general term, so it does not have the quality of being a proper name that would prevent it from being declined.
The Shaykh : Did you hear his answer? “Ramadan” is among the words in which alif and nun are added, and for words in which alif and nun are added, whether they are proper names or adjectives, the condition is that they be either a proper name or an adjective; it is not merely the addition of alif and nun that prevents declension, unless the quality of being a proper name or an adjective is added to it. For this reason, if a person came to you at the end of Sha'ban and said, “I am inviting you to visit me,” and you said, “If Allah wills, after Ramadan,” he would say, “If Allah wills, on which day will we break the fast?” You would say, “On the day we break the fast. We break the fast from where? From Ramadan.” He would go to thank you, “May Allah reward you with good.” The matter, if Allah wills, is close, about thirty days. Then he came after the festival and said, “Come on, keep your promise.” I would say to him:
The questioner : And it was.
The Shaykh : I did not specify a date; I said “after Ramadan,” but this is a matter of euphemism, especially when addressing the common people. Your oath is based on what your companion believes to be true. Is this kind of euphemism permissible?
The questioner : No, you did not break your oath.
The Shaykh : If he is not being unjust, it is permissible according to the opinion of some scholars, and likewise if it is for a benefit. Yes. And similarly, if he asks, “When will you visit me?” and you say, “After tomorrow.” “After tomorrow” is understood to mean Tuesday from the night of the day before, but you said “after tomorrow,” and “after tomorrow” extends until the Day of Resurrection. Yes, indeed. A person can get out of such situations by using these phrases, because some people repeat and insist, and this is a way to satisfy them later. You would say, “My brother, I told you ‘after tomorrow,’” and at the same time, “after tomorrow” means until the Day of Resurrection, so that what is in his heart—that you deceived him and tricked him or something similar—would be removed.
The questioner : But may Allah reward you. The observation is that the use of such euphemism by people who are trusted, I mean people who are in a position of trust with the people, causes people to lose trust. Yes.
The Shaykh : There is doubt, and for this reason we discussed this issue, but if the matter is clarified to them immediately, there is no doubt.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 2191 - التورية بقول “بعد رمضانٍ أو بعد غدٍ” - الكافي في فقه الإمام أحمد بن حنبل - ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.