Warning Against Issuing Rulings to Soldiers Without Knowledge
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The honorable Shaykh! One of the young men says: He is in the military service and twenty young men live with us. The mosque is located—approximately—one kilometer or a little more away from us, so only a few of them pray in this mosque, while the rest pray in their rooms. We advised them and directed them, but they excused themselves by citing the distance. This person suggested establishing a prayer hall in this residence, which is this far from the mosque. What is your opinion?
Our opinion is that he should return to the authority responsible for this unit and let them decide what they consider best, or he should direct a question to the Department of Ifta regarding the matter, or to me. The important thing is that the question comes from the head of this unit; because in a matter like this, I say this about myself and advise my brothers with it: if there is a unit in a job, and a question comes from one of those who work under his supervision, do not answer it; because you will cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). If this worker issues a ruling to you based on what he sees as the truth, he will go on to argue with the responsible authority, and division and disagreement will occur. But if the question comes from the one who has authority and command in this unit, and who can rule on what becomes clear to him from the Shari'ah, then at that time you must answer. This is a matter to pay attention to; because we have experienced it. A soldier, for example, comes and asks:One of the soldiers says: What do you say about such and such? You issue a ruling to him out of a sound heart that it is haram (forbidden). What does he do? He goes to oppose his superior in this matter.He says: You say, do such and such.
And this is so-and-so's fatwa (a scholarly legal ruling), so a greater and more severe fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occurs in this. It is rare for any of the superiors to be free from the dislike of those under his command, or some of them, except by the will of Allah. You find that if he dislikes his superior, he goes looking for errors on his part in religious matters so that he can ask about them, then he brings the answer from the scholar respected by everyone, and he rebuffs him in that. So the important thing is that I advise you, especially the students of knowledge, to pay attention to such matters.
The questioner: This person will return to the religious affairs department and consult them, but he wants a religious ruling?Answer: He returns to them and consults them, and informs them about the matter.
We ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds for us and for you.
Our opinion is that he should return to the authority responsible for this unit and let them decide what they consider best, or he should direct a question to the Department of Ifta regarding the matter, or to me. The important thing is that the question comes from the head of this unit; because in a matter like this, I say this about myself and advise my brothers with it: if there is a unit in a job, and a question comes from one of those who work under his supervision, do not answer it; because you will cause fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). If this worker issues a ruling to you based on what he sees as the truth, he will go on to argue with the responsible authority, and division and disagreement will occur. But if the question comes from the one who has authority and command in this unit, and who can rule on what becomes clear to him from the Shari'ah, then at that time you must answer. This is a matter to pay attention to; because we have experienced it. A soldier, for example, comes and asks:One of the soldiers says: What do you say about such and such? You issue a ruling to him out of a sound heart that it is haram (forbidden). What does he do? He goes to oppose his superior in this matter.He says: You say, do such and such.
And this is so-and-so's fatwa (a scholarly legal ruling), so a greater and more severe fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) occurs in this. It is rare for any of the superiors to be free from the dislike of those under his command, or some of them, except by the will of Allah. You find that if he dislikes his superior, he goes looking for errors on his part in religious matters so that he can ask about them, then he brings the answer from the scholar respected by everyone, and he rebuffs him in that. So the important thing is that I advise you, especially the students of knowledge, to pay attention to such matters.
The questioner: This person will return to the religious affairs department and consult them, but he wants a religious ruling?Answer: He returns to them and consults them, and informs them about the matter.
We ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds for us and for you.