Writing Verses on the Dalil Watch
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Fatwa No. ( 1683 ):
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed the question submitted to His Eminence the President General by His Highness Prince Mishari ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz , in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Sa'adah Trading and Contracting Company Limited, regarding the Dalil watches intended for import into the Kingdom, as they see in them a religious service and a means for some Muslims to identify the correct direction toward the Sacred Ka'bah
After the Committee examined the Dalil watch, the verse "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" and the Verse of the Throne written on it, and the words written inside it: (Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), it wrote the following answer: Allah sent down the Qur'an so that people would worship Him by reciting it and reflecting on its meanings, thereby knowing its rulings and disciplining themselves to act upon them. In this way, it becomes a lesson for them, a reminder that makes their skins shiver and their hearts soften, a healing for the ignorance and misguidance in their chests, and a purification of their souls from the filth of doubts and the sins and transgressions they have committed. He, the Exalted, made it a guidance and mercy for whoever opens his heart to it or lends his ear to it while being a witness. Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus 10:57]
And He said:[Az-Zumar 39:23] the verse, and He said: [Qaf 50:37] , and Allah the Exalted made the Qur'an a miracle for His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and a striking sign that he is a messenger from Allah to all people, a mercy for them and an establishment of the argument against them. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-'Ankabut 29:50-51] , and He said: [Yusuf 12:1] , and He said: [Yunus 10:1] , among other verses. Thus, the Qur'an is a book of guidance, legislation, lessons, examples, and clarification of rulings, a supreme sign, a striking miracle, and a compelling argument by which Allah supported His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He, the Exalted, did not send it down to be written as a word or a verse on
Dalil watches to adorn them, to promote them, or to entice people to buy them, nor for the wearer to take it as a talisman alongside using it to know directions. Writing a verse from the Qur'an or more on Dalil watches or similar items is a deviation of the Qur'an from the purpose for which it was sent down and its use in a manner that belittles and insults it by exposing it to unworthy things such as dirt and filth, and carrying it into the place of relief, among other things. Furthermore, this is an action contrary to the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the guidance of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and the practice of the righteous predecessors. Therefore, whoever believes in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and desires good for himself should seek blessing and the rectification of his affairs in his religion and worldly life from Allah the Exalted by reciting His Noble Book and acting upon it in his worship and transactions; so that He, the Exalted, may shower him with His blessings, magnify his reward, preserve him in all his circumstances, and facilitate all his affairs. The same ruling applies to writing the words (Allahu Akbar, and La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)) which are placed inside the frame of the Dalil watch. These were established in the Shari'ah to magnify and glorify Allah and to praise Him, as a key to entering Islam, and as a sign of faith, by which the blood and property of the one who says them are protected. They were not established to be designs on devices, watches, or machines used to identify directions. Using them in writing as mentioned takes them out of the purposes for which they were legislated and makes them a means of belittling them.
It is well known that Dalil watches and others fulfill the purpose for which they were made without that depending on writing verses or these dhikr on or in them. The intention behind writing them is to encourage their purchase for the promotion of trade. Then the matter may end up with people seeking blessing from them and taking them as a talisman to carry for protection from something disliked or a calamity. Based on what we have mentioned, we see that their import should be prohibited as long as they contain the aforementioned writing. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed the question submitted to His Eminence the President General by His Highness Prince Mishari ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz , in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Sa'adah Trading and Contracting Company Limited, regarding the Dalil watches intended for import into the Kingdom, as they see in them a religious service and a means for some Muslims to identify the correct direction toward the Sacred Ka'bah
After the Committee examined the Dalil watch, the verse "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" and the Verse of the Throne written on it, and the words written inside it: (Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), it wrote the following answer: Allah sent down the Qur'an so that people would worship Him by reciting it and reflecting on its meanings, thereby knowing its rulings and disciplining themselves to act upon them. In this way, it becomes a lesson for them, a reminder that makes their skins shiver and their hearts soften, a healing for the ignorance and misguidance in their chests, and a purification of their souls from the filth of doubts and the sins and transgressions they have committed. He, the Exalted, made it a guidance and mercy for whoever opens his heart to it or lends his ear to it while being a witness. Allah the Exalted said:
O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَAnd He said:
Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills
اللَّهُ نَـزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُIndeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ(50) But they say, "Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner." (51) And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe.
وَقَالُوا لَوْلا أُنْـزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الآيَاتُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ (50) أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّا أَنْـزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَى لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَThese are the verses of the clear Book.
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِThese are the verses of the wise Book
تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْحَكِيمِDalil watches to adorn them, to promote them, or to entice people to buy them, nor for the wearer to take it as a talisman alongside using it to know directions. Writing a verse from the Qur'an or more on Dalil watches or similar items is a deviation of the Qur'an from the purpose for which it was sent down and its use in a manner that belittles and insults it by exposing it to unworthy things such as dirt and filth, and carrying it into the place of relief, among other things. Furthermore, this is an action contrary to the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the guidance of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and the practice of the righteous predecessors. Therefore, whoever believes in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and desires good for himself should seek blessing and the rectification of his affairs in his religion and worldly life from Allah the Exalted by reciting His Noble Book and acting upon it in his worship and transactions; so that He, the Exalted, may shower him with His blessings, magnify his reward, preserve him in all his circumstances, and facilitate all his affairs. The same ruling applies to writing the words (Allahu Akbar, and La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)) which are placed inside the frame of the Dalil watch. These were established in the Shari'ah to magnify and glorify Allah and to praise Him, as a key to entering Islam, and as a sign of faith, by which the blood and property of the one who says them are protected. They were not established to be designs on devices, watches, or machines used to identify directions. Using them in writing as mentioned takes them out of the purposes for which they were legislated and makes them a means of belittling them.
It is well known that Dalil watches and others fulfill the purpose for which they were made without that depending on writing verses or these dhikr on or in them. The intention behind writing them is to encourage their purchase for the promotion of trade. Then the matter may end up with people seeking blessing from them and taking them as a talisman to carry for protection from something disliked or a calamity. Based on what we have mentioned, we see that their import should be prohibited as long as they contain the aforementioned writing. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.