The ruling on what is called hunger strikes, civil disobedience, standing in mourning, and similar matters
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The questioner : Currently, there are modern methods being employed to draw people's attention to a specific issue, such as hunger strikes, civil disobedience, refusing to work, standing for an hour in mourning, and similar newly invented matters. Some of these are acceptable to logic and general taste, meaning that civil disobedience or displaying the matter is done so that the injustice becomes apparent to the world. Some are palatable, while others are rejected by sound taste. Speaking in general, what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding such actions?
The Shaykh : I do not believe in the legitimacy of any of these actions, for two reasons. The first, and most important, is that these methods are the ways of nations that have no path prepared for them by heavenly revelation; if they had followed it, they would have reached the goal they seek with these newly invented means. Muslims are not like those people, for we have the Shari'ah, which has left nothing out; if we follow it, we will prosper in this world before the Hereafter. The second reason is that, in addition to these means being the custom of disbelievers, they are of no benefit and will never benefit the Muslims, even if they cling to them for their entire lives and do not act upon the legitimate means prescribed in the Shari'ah they believe in. This is my answer to that question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
The questioner : Let us expand slightly on the hunger strike.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
The questioner : This actually leads to the destruction of the body that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) gave to the human being. So, does not the hunger strike itself, for whatever reason, involve destruction?
The Shaykh : The hunger strike is undoubtedly of two types. One type is considered a medical method used to treat certain diseases that people suffer from. Naturally, this type is not what is meant in your question.
The questioner : Indeed, yes.
The Shaykh : Ah, and in that case, the hunger strike intended in the question is one done so that the effect of this strike appears on the exterior of this person's body, thereby seeking to elicit the compassion of the oppressors to release him or alleviate his situation somewhat, or the like. This type of hunger strike and self-starvation falls under the same answer as the previous one, in which I concluded that all these means, including this one, are not legitimate, especially with the added element of exposing oneself to harm, if not to destruction.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
The Shaykh : I do not believe in the legitimacy of any of these actions, for two reasons. The first, and most important, is that these methods are the ways of nations that have no path prepared for them by heavenly revelation; if they had followed it, they would have reached the goal they seek with these newly invented means. Muslims are not like those people, for we have the Shari'ah, which has left nothing out; if we follow it, we will prosper in this world before the Hereafter. The second reason is that, in addition to these means being the custom of disbelievers, they are of no benefit and will never benefit the Muslims, even if they cling to them for their entire lives and do not act upon the legitimate means prescribed in the Shari'ah they believe in. This is my answer to that question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
The questioner : Let us expand slightly on the hunger strike.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
The questioner : This actually leads to the destruction of the body that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) gave to the human being. So, does not the hunger strike itself, for whatever reason, involve destruction?
The Shaykh : The hunger strike is undoubtedly of two types. One type is considered a medical method used to treat certain diseases that people suffer from. Naturally, this type is not what is meant in your question.
The questioner : Indeed, yes.
The Shaykh : Ah, and in that case, the hunger strike intended in the question is one done so that the effect of this strike appears on the exterior of this person's body, thereby seeking to elicit the compassion of the oppressors to release him or alleviate his situation somewhat, or the like. This type of hunger strike and self-starvation falls under the same answer as the previous one, in which I concluded that all these means, including this one, are not legitimate, especially with the added element of exposing oneself to harm, if not to destruction.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.