We are three brothers working in the Kingdom, and each of us has his own livelihood and circumstances. We have agreed among ourselves to contribute to the expenses of Hajj for our mother.
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The questioner : We are three brothers working in the Kingdom, and each of us has his own livelihood and circumstances. We have agreed among ourselves to contribute to the expenses of Hajj for our mother. One day, my mother sent me a message asking me to buy her a gold pound. I replied that I would prefer to buy a gold piece with the Name of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) written on it instead of the gold pound, because the gold pound has an image of George on it. She sent me a message saying she wanted the gold pound and added a chain, which made the cost higher, despite her insistence on buying the gold pound. I sent her a message saying that instead of this and that, I would pay the value of the gold to you so that you can perform the obligatory Hajj by contributing with my brothers. I rejected the principle of buying gold, knowing that the cost of my contribution to Hajj is more than buying gold. She did not reply, and about two months have passed. I am now feeling severe psychological distress because she has not sent me any letter. My question is: Did I become undutiful to my mother by acting this way toward her? What should I do? What is your advice?
The Shaykh : The answer is that your action is a good deed and is better for your mother. However, if you had bought her gold that did not have an image of a person on it and did not have the Name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) written on it, that would have been better. Because gold with the Name of Allah written on it may be treated with disrespect by the wearer, and this is not fitting for what has the Name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) written on it. And wearing what has an image on it is not permissible, because wearing what contains an image, whether it is jewelry or clothing, is forbidden and not permissible due to the carrying of the image, about which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4155Sahih (Al-Albani).
And you should not worry about the delay in the reply, but follow up on the matter and write to her again. Advise her and take her opinion after that. But if she chooses something that is forbidden, do not obey her. Convince her that this is forbidden, and that there is something permissible that suffices for it, and by which the doer is safe from sin.
The questioner : At the end of this meeting, we thank His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen.
The Shaykh : The answer is that your action is a good deed and is better for your mother. However, if you had bought her gold that did not have an image of a person on it and did not have the Name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) written on it, that would have been better. Because gold with the Name of Allah written on it may be treated with disrespect by the wearer, and this is not fitting for what has the Name of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) written on it. And wearing what has an image on it is not permissible, because wearing what contains an image, whether it is jewelry or clothing, is forbidden and not permissible due to the carrying of the image, about which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The angels do not enter the house which contains a picture.
إن الملائكة لا تدخل بيتاً فيه صورةAnd you should not worry about the delay in the reply, but follow up on the matter and write to her again. Advise her and take her opinion after that. But if she chooses something that is forbidden, do not obey her. Convince her that this is forbidden, and that there is something permissible that suffices for it, and by which the doer is safe from sin.
The questioner : At the end of this meeting, we thank His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen.