No prohibition in matters of custom.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : What do you say about a man who races others in running on ice? In snowy countries, they race in running on ice. Do we forbid it or not?
The student: It is not forbidden.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because this is a matter of custom.
The Shaykh : Correct? He says we do not forbid it because it is a matter of custom and not worship. Rest now.
Correct, there is no problem. It is not forbidden because it is a matter of custom and not worship.
Now, if he wrestles with others, meaning he wrestles in a way that causes no harm, but it is contrary to what is known, do we forbid it?
No, we do not forbid it. Why? Because this is a matter of custom and not worship.
However, if it is in a way that causes harm, then there is no doubt that it is not permissible because of the harm, not because it is a religious innovation, because a religious innovation only exists in religious matters. As for non-religious matters, if they involve harm, they are prohibited because of the harm; otherwise, the original ruling for them is permissibility.
Now, if someone wears clothing that is not customary, but he is among people who are accustomed to this clothing, do we forbid it? For example: a person goes to a country and resides there, and the style of their clothing is not like the style of clothing in the country he moved from, so he starts wearing like them, but it is clothing that Islam does not forbid, meaning it is not silk or long, but it is clothing that the Shari'ah permits, except that it is in a style that differs from the style of clothing he wore in the previous country where he was. Is it permissible or not permissible?
It is permissible. Why? Because this is a matter of custom.
Now, if someone starts shaving his head and does not leave his hair, so that whenever the hair grows, he shaves it, and does not leave the hair on his head to reach his shoulders or the lobes of his ears, because people are accustomed to not leaving the hair, what do we say? Is it permissible? It is permissible. Why? Because this is a matter of custom and not a matter of worship.
And for this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a boy who had shaved part of his head, he said:.
And this is evidence that it is not a matter of worship, because if it were a matter of worship, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have guided him to leave the hair. For this reason, the stronger opinion among the scholars is that growing hair is a matter of custom, which is done if people are accustomed to it, and not done otherwise.
The student: It is not forbidden.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because this is a matter of custom.
The Shaykh : Correct? He says we do not forbid it because it is a matter of custom and not worship. Rest now.
Correct, there is no problem. It is not forbidden because it is a matter of custom and not worship.
Now, if he wrestles with others, meaning he wrestles in a way that causes no harm, but it is contrary to what is known, do we forbid it?
No, we do not forbid it. Why? Because this is a matter of custom and not worship.
However, if it is in a way that causes harm, then there is no doubt that it is not permissible because of the harm, not because it is a religious innovation, because a religious innovation only exists in religious matters. As for non-religious matters, if they involve harm, they are prohibited because of the harm; otherwise, the original ruling for them is permissibility.
Now, if someone wears clothing that is not customary, but he is among people who are accustomed to this clothing, do we forbid it? For example: a person goes to a country and resides there, and the style of their clothing is not like the style of clothing in the country he moved from, so he starts wearing like them, but it is clothing that Islam does not forbid, meaning it is not silk or long, but it is clothing that the Shari'ah permits, except that it is in a style that differs from the style of clothing he wore in the previous country where he was. Is it permissible or not permissible?
It is permissible. Why? Because this is a matter of custom.
Now, if someone starts shaving his head and does not leave his hair, so that whenever the hair grows, he shaves it, and does not leave the hair on his head to reach his shoulders or the lobes of his ears, because people are accustomed to not leaving the hair, what do we say? Is it permissible? It is permissible. Why? Because this is a matter of custom and not a matter of worship.
And for this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a boy who had shaved part of his head, he said:
Shave it all or leave it all
احلقه كله أو دعه كلهAnd this is evidence that it is not a matter of worship, because if it were a matter of worship, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have guided him to leave the hair. For this reason, the stronger opinion among the scholars is that growing hair is a matter of custom, which is done if people are accustomed to it, and not done otherwise.