We are in our country where we have two years of national service, and we want the ruling on joining the army. Of course, joining the army involves shaving the beard, letting the garment hang below the ankles, and so on.

The questioner : The question, O Shaykh, is that we are in our country. Do you hear me, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : O Shaykh, speak.

The questioner : We are in our country where we have a law for two years of national service, and we want the ruling on joining the army. Naturally, joining the army involves shaving the beard, letting the garment hang below the ankles, and other disobedience to Allah and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). So what is the ruling, I mean, on joining the army?

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Say, "Ameen."

The questioner: Amen.

The Shaykh : Let me ask you: can you not join the army?

The questioner : No, it is compulsory in this country.

The Shaykh : Then this question is not applicable. May Allah guide you.

The questioner : O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : O Shaykh.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : This question is not applicable. Does a person ask about something he cannot do? Is it correct for a person to say, "By Allah, I cannot perform Hajj, should I perform it?" Is this question correct, O Shaykh?

The questioner: Our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : O Shaykh, O Shaykh, I am asking you: is it permissible for any of you to say, "I cannot perform Hajj, is it obligatory for me to perform it?"

The questioner : It is not permissible.

The Shaykh : So your question is like this.

The questioner : As long as there is ability, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : You said: there is no ability. May Allah guide you.

The questioner : In another country.

The Shaykh : You said: there is no ability.

The questioner : There is the ability to pay a substitute.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Did I say there is no ability, or did you?

The questioner : The Libyan brother is asking a question specific to him, but now it is a question specific to me.

The Shaykh : I am speaking with the Libyan. Give him to me.

The questioner : With you, O Shaykh. I am the Libyan. Please, O Shaykh. If we do not perform the national service in the country, for example...

The Shaykh : O Shaykh, May Allah guide you. Can you not serve?

The questioner : We go out of the country.

The Shaykh : I do not care about the details. May Allah guide you. Do you go out or not? Can you not serve?

The questioner : No, no, I cannot, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Huh? What did you gain from repeating the words? May Allah guide you. What do we say to one who cannot do anything? "Do it"? What strange minds these are.

The questioner : O our Shaykh, remind me. They taught him the first time, the second time, and the third time, but he did not grasp it. He said to him, "I want to test you." He said to him, "Cut this house for me:"
"If you cannot do something, leave it, *** And pass on to what you can do."
He said to him, "By Allah, I understood. Peace be upon you." And he did not return to it. So, glory be to Allah, these people: "If you cannot do something, leave it."

The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah. Urwah.

The questioner : Urwah and others. But my point is that most people today do not know this.

The Shaykh : No, we are not talking about the majority!