We often perform qunut regarding the situation in Yugoslavia, so what is the ruling on this qunut? Is it considered from the category of nasikh?

The Shaykh : Something else.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : What Allah willed.

The questioner : Shaykh, we often perform qunut regarding the situation in Yugoslavia, so what is the ruling on this qunut? Is it considered from the category of nasikh?

The Shaykh : There is no doubt that it is a calamity, but in my view, this qunut resembles exactly the behavior of some weak believers who do not attend the mosques but go to the cafes and spend their free time there. However, Satan whispers to them; for example, they are smoking shisha, playing backgammon, dice, chess, or perhaps cards. One of them hears the mu'adhdhin saying, "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar," and he stands up in reverence for Allah (Mighty and Majestic), but he does not go to the mosque. No, Satan whispers to him. I say that the summary of the Muslims today is aiding the Muslims through supplication in the qunut. This resembles that situation. And although, as we say, "Zayd is a lion" does not mean he has a sin, it is an approximation of the issue. It is also supposed for the Muslims, as we always hear on the Saudi radio, to encourage spending and collecting money from the people. And they divide the people into two categories: citizens, and what is the second category?

The questioner : Resident.

The Shaykh : Residents. Yes, I see. But they emphasize the good of the citizens and do not say "foreigners," meaning foreigners. Yes, they encourage these two groups to give charity and do not rely on the aid provided by the state. And, praise be to Allah, the state has not fallen short and has fulfilled its duty. What remains is for the people, whether they are citizens or residents, to give a percentage. They have satisfied the people with such words. The Saudi state, like any rich person, reminds me of a fatwa I read in the biography of one of the scholars; I forgot his name. He incurred an expiation. Do you know the expiation for an oath? Fasting for three days is the last resort, or feeding ten poor people, or freeing a slave. So, one of the kings asked him about an oath, and he ordered him to fast for three days, whereas this contradicts the text. It is necessary to free a slave or what? To feed ten poor people. It was said to him, "You have contradicted the verse." He said, "Yes, I have contradicted the verse, but I intended the spirit of the verse. The verse means by this to discipline those who swear and then break their oaths. This king would free dozens of slaves and would not feel the effect of breaking his oath. Likewise, feeding hundreds of people is the same. But if he fasts for three days, he feels the consequence of one who rushes to swear, and so on. The state now, praise be to Allah, with the wealth it has, does not feel what it is providing, even as reported to us, and I hope the news is false, even to the disbelievers. It provides aid in the name of what? Humanity. Praise be to Allah, we have adopted the traditions of the West until we have forgotten our Islamic customs. In any case, the state does not feel, no matter how much it spends, and no matter how much it strives in the path of Allah, the aid and relief for these afflicted people, whether now in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or previously in Afghanistan, or later in Eritrea, or other afflicted countries, and Somalia, and what do you know about Somalia, and so on. Relief through supplication and relief through money is not sufficient. There must be preparation, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: And neglecting this duty that states can fulfill today, if their rulers were ruling by what Allah has revealed, without doubt, you would find in these states a power whose dominance is feared, America, let alone those below it. But the world has made us forget; wealth has made us forget, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And neglecting this duty is what has entangled Saudi Arabia and others, so they sought the help of the disbelievers to fight the Muslims, even if it was under the Ba'athists. And now, let us look at the results of this seeking of help. This is a matter of patience, and Allah is the One to be sought for help. In summary, this qunut is a prescribed matter, but it is not permissible to rely on it alone. The Muslims must be prepared in all Islamic countries, each according to its capacity. That is, they are called to rule by what Allah has revealed. And there is no state on the face of the earth that boasts on its radio, and so on, that it applies the rulings of the Shari'ah except Saudi Arabia. But Saudi Arabia, now, we are hearing the soft voice of the woman who is participating in humanitarian matters, charities, and justifications. I think, and unfortunately, I say that if the Saudi state does not return to what its fathers were before, or even better than what they were, without doubt, it will be afflicted with what afflicted Iraq. This division is inevitable unless they return to the Lord of the Worlds. And that is what we hope for all Muslims in the lands of the world.
Perhaps this extent is sufficient, and praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : May you be well, and may you be well.