I trimmed my fingernails on the eighth day while I was in Mina and in a state of ihram, because I believed that the only prohibited act was cutting the hair, and while I was trimming them
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The questioner : I trimmed my fingernails on the eighth day while I was in Mina and in a state of ihram, because I believed that the only prohibited act was cutting the hair. While I was trimming them, one of the people sitting with me in the tent said that this is forbidden and that my ihram has become invalid, and that I must return to my place in Makkah and enter ihram again. When I learned from him that my ihram was invalid, I finished trimming my nails. Then I asked a person, and he told me that my ihram was not invalid, but that I have a sacrifice to offer. I did not know what the sacrifice was, and I was embarrassed, so I did not ask him. I ask for your guidance on the following: First, what is the ruling on trimming the nails? Second, what is the ruling on continuing and finishing them? Third, what is obligatory for me?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. Trimming the fingernails while in a state of ihram: the scholars have mentioned that it is not permissible, by analogy to shaving the head, because both involve adornment and the removal of something unpleasant. As for what happened to you, you owe nothing, and your ihram is valid. You owe nothing because you were ignorant and did not know that trimming is forbidden in this state. Whoever does any of the prohibited acts of ihram while ignorant, not knowing, or forgetful, not remembering, owes nothing: no sacrifice, no charity, and no fasting. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] and His saying: [Al-Ahzab 33:5] and His saying specifically regarding hunting: [Al-Ma'idah 5:95].
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : His saying "intentionally" indicates that one who is not intentional owes no penalty. As for the one who issued a fatwa to you that your ihram is invalid and that you must return and enter ihram from your location, this fatwa is an error. I direct this advice to this bold mufti and to those like him who are bold in issuing rulings and fatwas to people without knowledge. I advise them to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to beware of His punishment, for Allah the Exalted says in His noble Book:[Al-A'raf 7:33].
The questioner : I seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : To say about Allah what one does not know includes speaking about His Shari'ah with what one does not know. It is not permissible for anyone to issue a fatwa to another about anything except based on knowledge, with knowledge that the ruling of this thing is such and such. As for issuing a fatwa out of ignorance, that is forbidden for him. Let these ignorant people who issue fatwas to people without knowledge, thereby going astray and leading others astray, fear Allah. It is obligatory for the Muslim, when something is unclear to him, to ask the people of knowledge who are known for knowledge, scrupulousness, and uprightness. It is not the case that everyone who is known as a mufti is qualified for issuing fatwas. We see many common people relying on those who have no knowledge for their inquiries, merely because they have advanced, for example, to leading the prayer in a mosque or the like, and they assumed that they have knowledge, so they began to ask them for fatwas.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These people, by virtue of their position and their leading of prayer, become shy to say "I do not know." This is undoubtedly also part of their ignorance. It is obligatory for one who is asked about knowledge and does not know it to say "I do not know." Some of those who spoke about the life of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), the Imam of the City of Migration, mentioned that a man came to him from a distant country with a question that the people of his country had sent him to ask Imam Malik. He stayed with Malik as long as Allah willed, then asked him about this question. Malik said to him, "I do not know." The man said, "The people of my country sent me to you, and how can I tell them 'I do not know' when you are the Imam of the City of Migration?" Malik said, "Go to them and say: I asked Malik, and he said, 'I do not know.'" This is despite the knowledge and leadership in religion that Allah the Exalted granted him. So how about those below him?
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sometimes asked about something and did not answer it, and Allah answered for him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Look at what is in the Qur'an, where it often says "They ask you about such and such," and Allah answers for him:[Al-Baqarah 2:189] [Al-Baqarah 2:222] [Al-Ma'idah 5:4]. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) refrained from answering in matters where he did not know the ruling of Allah, how much more so for other people?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, my advice to my Muslim brothers is to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and not to be bold in issuing fatwas without knowledge, for that is misguidance and leading others astray. I ask Allah the Exalted to grant us all steadfastness and uprightness, and to make us guides and guided.
The questioner : Amen.
This letter is from Sayyid Khadr al-Khalifa al... from the Syrian Arab Republic, Deir al-Zor Governorate. He has several questions.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. Trimming the fingernails while in a state of ihram: the scholars have mentioned that it is not permissible, by analogy to shaving the head, because both involve adornment and the removal of something unpleasant. As for what happened to you, you owe nothing, and your ihram is valid. You owe nothing because you were ignorant and did not know that trimming is forbidden in this state. Whoever does any of the prohibited acts of ihram while ignorant, not knowing, or forgetful, not remembering, owes nothing: no sacrifice, no charity, and no fasting. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
ربنا لا تؤاخذنا إن نسينا أو أخطأناAnd there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended
وليس عليكم جناح فيما أخطاتم به ولكن ما تعمدت قلوبكمAnd whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed
ومن قتله منكم متعمدا فجزاء مثل ما قتل من النعمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : His saying "intentionally" indicates that one who is not intentional owes no penalty. As for the one who issued a fatwa to you that your ihram is invalid and that you must return and enter ihram from your location, this fatwa is an error. I direct this advice to this bold mufti and to those like him who are bold in issuing rulings and fatwas to people without knowledge. I advise them to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to beware of His punishment, for Allah the Exalted says in His noble Book:
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنزلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَThe questioner : I seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : To say about Allah what one does not know includes speaking about His Shari'ah with what one does not know. It is not permissible for anyone to issue a fatwa to another about anything except based on knowledge, with knowledge that the ruling of this thing is such and such. As for issuing a fatwa out of ignorance, that is forbidden for him. Let these ignorant people who issue fatwas to people without knowledge, thereby going astray and leading others astray, fear Allah. It is obligatory for the Muslim, when something is unclear to him, to ask the people of knowledge who are known for knowledge, scrupulousness, and uprightness. It is not the case that everyone who is known as a mufti is qualified for issuing fatwas. We see many common people relying on those who have no knowledge for their inquiries, merely because they have advanced, for example, to leading the prayer in a mosque or the like, and they assumed that they have knowledge, so they began to ask them for fatwas.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These people, by virtue of their position and their leading of prayer, become shy to say "I do not know." This is undoubtedly also part of their ignorance. It is obligatory for one who is asked about knowledge and does not know it to say "I do not know." Some of those who spoke about the life of Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), the Imam of the City of Migration, mentioned that a man came to him from a distant country with a question that the people of his country had sent him to ask Imam Malik. He stayed with Malik as long as Allah willed, then asked him about this question. Malik said to him, "I do not know." The man said, "The people of my country sent me to you, and how can I tell them 'I do not know' when you are the Imam of the City of Migration?" Malik said, "Go to them and say: I asked Malik, and he said, 'I do not know.'" This is despite the knowledge and leadership in religion that Allah the Exalted granted him. So how about those below him?
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sometimes asked about something and did not answer it, and Allah answered for him.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Look at what is in the Qur'an, where it often says "They ask you about such and such," and Allah answers for him:
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the new moons. Say, "They are measurements of time for the people and for Hajj."
يسألونك عن الأهلة قل هي مواقيت للناس والحجAnd they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm
ويسألونك عن المحيض قل هو أذىThey ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods
يسألونك ماذا أحل لهم قل أحل لكم الطيباتThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, my advice to my Muslim brothers is to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and not to be bold in issuing fatwas without knowledge, for that is misguidance and leading others astray. I ask Allah the Exalted to grant us all steadfastness and uprightness, and to make us guides and guided.
The questioner : Amen.
This letter is from Sayyid Khadr al-Khalifa al... from the Syrian Arab Republic, Deir al-Zor Governorate. He has several questions.