Caution against using modern terms that do not conform to the Shari'ah and are intended to mitigate and trivialize the sin of transgressions and to disparage good

The Shaykh : Therefore, one should not adopt the terminology of Jewish politics, because the truth is that this usage stems from Jewish political discourse. It is sufficient for the Muslim world, whether its people are righteous or wicked, that they are Muslims. As soon as one mentions the name "Jew," it is a fallen people. But Israel is a new thing.
The student : 'Abd al-Rabb.

The Shaykh : As you know, Israel is the name of a revered and honored prophet. They hide behind this honored name. Therefore, we should not use these recent, modern expressions, especially if they are, as the Syrian expression goes, "landmines." For example, as is clear to everyone, using the word "interest" instead of riba (usury or interest), and "fine arts" instead of, for example, dancing, and the like. We must be alert to these innovated usages.
The student : My Shaykh, you reminded me of the "fine arts" of the Soviet Union. When we arrived in Russia, which is Moscow, we had a program, and among the items in the program was attending a ballet performance and watching a circus show. The Russian circus is considered one of the most skilled circuses in the world, and their ballet is considered the pinnacle of world art, meaning all countries learn from them.

The Shaykh : Misguidance.
The student : I was with a minister, meaning there was no minister at that time... he was the director of the minister's office.
Another student: Did you go at their invitation?
The student : Yes, it was an official invitation, not from the Mufti, but from the Mufti of Uzbekistan. When I saw the program, I said to the minister, "This is not good and is not permissible in the Shari'ah, especially since we represent the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments). What will they say about this? I came to them." Yes, he said, "By Allah, in any case, let's go and visit Lenin's grave."

The Shaykh : And recite al-Fatihah (Surat al-Fatihah).
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Indeed, the group that went from Damascus recited al-Fatihah (Surat al-Fatihah).
The student : Yes, of course, a reformer, heh.

The Shaykh: Allahu Akbar.
The student : So, of course, I mentioned this to him and said, "Honestly, if you do not want to refrain, I will not go. Excuse me." So the poor man went to the ballet performance, he and the office director. They went, and as they were leaving, it appears he hit the door with his hand and broke his finger, or... he said, "By Allah."

The Shaykh : This was the first punishment.
The student : Because I did not listen to my father's words, heh. Yes, so he did not go to the circus performance afterwards; he refrained, and we did not visit Lenin's grave.

The Shaykh : ... Sometimes a harm brings a benefit.
The student : Sometimes a harm brings a benefit. So he scolded me. The point in this matter is that the director of the minister's office had previously been the director of another minister's office. They invited a group of scholars and Shaykhs, including Shaykh 'Abd al-Hamid al-Sa'ih and Mustafa al-Zarqa. They went there, and of course they went to the circus. I told him, "This director of the office told Shaykh al-Zarqa, 'My master, is this not haram (forbidden)?' He said, 'My son, they are amazed by the shows, the circus shows, because this circus was truly something crazy, so they are amazed.' So I told him, 'I will go out and see... well, what is it to me? Where am I going? The sea is rough with waves, let me imitate them.' So, what did al-Zarqa say to him? He said, 'My son, this is art, art that one must know, one must see it.' Yes, so I said, 'Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), this is the knowledge of the jurists, the Hanafi jurists of this time."

The Shaykh : ... .
The student : Yes, there is no power or strength except with Allah.

The questioner : Shaykh, can we discuss the changed names? Instead of saying "Christian" or "Christian era," they say "AD" (Anno Domini)?
The student : No, we must adopt the new calendar that Qaddafi established. He established the new calendar based on the death of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The point is that it is different and replaced, meaning you have news.
Another student: By Allah, we have...
The student : Do you not have news that Qaddafi established this calendar?