Can we apply the rule to the situation we are living in in Algeria—of killing and imprisoning committed youth—

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh: And upon you peace.

The questioner : Is this the home of Shaykh Al-Albani?

The Shaykh : Yes, you Algerian, this is Al-Albani’s home.

The questioner: May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : May Allah keep you safe.

The questioner : I am speaking to you from Algeria, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Welcome.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.

The questioner : May Allah prolong your life and benefit us with your knowledge.

The Shaykh : May Allah accept from you.

The questioner : I ask Allah—Mighty and Majestic—that you be patient with me until I explain to you in the briefest possible terms.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : Hmm.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, if Allah wills. The situation we are living in recently in Algeria: in the recent past, the government would raid the committed youth who wear the dress of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), subject them to a kind of torture, then shave their beards and tear their shirts, and then release them. Most of this youth have no connection to political work, near or far. But in these last days... they are arresting the known brothers... in the call, or sending them summonses, then throwing them into prisons and subjecting them to various kinds of torture. Some of them have been killed and thrown into the streets at night, and some are in hospitals. This phenomenon has appeared in several provinces of Algeria. Therefore, the first question asks: Can we apply the rule that says “necessities permit the prohibited” to this situation we are living in? That is, by shaving the beard and removing the shirt, and Shaykh...

The Shaykh : No, take the answer to your first question.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : Do you think that shaving the beard is a legitimate reason for escaping the torture of the disbelievers or the hypocrites?

The questioner : O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : O Shaykh, answer.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Say yes or no.

The questioner : There are some brothers, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Say yes or no.

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : Then the answer is in your hand.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : It is not a legitimate reason; therefore, it is not permissible to take the disobedience of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—as a means of escaping the torture of the disbelievers or the hypocrites. Then where are you from His saying—Blessed and Exalted is He: The Muslims today are being tested in their religion and their faith. So whoever is truly a believer does not care about imprisonment or does not care about killing. All that is the case is that it is permissible for him to be lenient with some matters in which leniency is permissible for him, even if he were not subjected to such torture, as we always and forever say, for example, to be lenient with the shirt and wear trousers instead of the shirt. But for him to shave his beard with his own hand, disobey his Lord, and contradict the command of his Prophet, this is not permissible and is not a reason for escaping from sin. This is completely different from a man who is exposed to death by hunger and eats what was forbidden because it is a decisive cause for saving him from death by hunger or thirst. As for such reasons that you are being afflicted with questions about today, they are not a legitimate or natural reason for escaping the torture of the hypocrites and the disbelievers. And I recall for you a story with a lesson for whoever takes heed. There was a young man who attended my lessons, and when he heard that the beard is obligatory for the Muslim to let grow, he let it grow and let it hang down. His mother was always advising him, showing compassion for him, and saying, “My son, do not grow and let down your beard; we fear that the intelligence will arrest you when they see you bearded.” And I was aware of this because the father of this young man belonged to one of the parties and was clean-shaven. So I told him, “Tell your mother: This is my father, and they have arrested him while he is clean-shaven. So the beard is not a cause for torture, but rather it is a cause for salvation from the Fire on the Day when wealth and children will not benefit, except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart. And it is not possible for a Muslim to escape the troubles of this worldly life except at the expense of his religion. And so the previous verse came: And it came in “Sahih al-Bukhari”: So where is this torture that you are lenient with today, and where is that torture? The important thing is that what is upon the Muslims in all parts of the world is only to be patient or to emigrate, and that is better for them if they are able to emigrate. This is the answer to your first question. So what is your second question?