What is the stance toward shops that sell tobacco and obscene magazines when advising them? They say it is permissible, and if it were forbidden, it would have been prohibited. Likewise with songs?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh, and forgive you. When we advise some shop owners about the prohibition of selling tobacco—as you have ruled—and some obscene magazines, they argue that it is permissible, and if it were forbidden, it would have been prohibited. How should one respond to these people and many like them, considering also the obscene serials and lewd songs? They also say: if it were forbidden, it would have been prohibited. How should one respond to these people? May Allah forgive you. O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The response to these people is easy. What is the source of legislation? The practice of people, or the Book and the Sunnah?
The questioner : The Book and the Sunnah, without doubt. I ask you!
The questioner : The Book and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : The Book and the Sunnah. So if the Book and the Sunnah indicate the prohibition of something, the practice of people is of no account, and that is not a valid argument. No one can refute Allah’s argument against him on the Day of Resurrection with such a claim, absolutely not. As Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Qasas 28:65] He did not say: What did you agree with the society? Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Qasas 28:66] Their news became obscure to them. One cannot answer, nor can he ask another.
It is said: We have established the argument against you. If you are guided, it is for your own soul; if you are not guided, Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger: meaning: but whoever turns away and disbelieves, [Al-Ghashiyah 88:24]. Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No one is
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh
The Shaykh : Come on... who is next?
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes, and what about them?
The Shaykh : The response to these people is easy. What is the source of legislation? The practice of people, or the Book and the Sunnah?
The questioner : The Book and the Sunnah, without doubt. I ask you!
The questioner : The Book and the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : The Book and the Sunnah. So if the Book and the Sunnah indicate the prohibition of something, the practice of people is of no account, and that is not a valid argument. No one can refute Allah’s argument against him on the Day of Resurrection with such a claim, absolutely not. As Allah the Exalted said:
And [mention] the Day He will call them and say, "What did you answer the messengers?"
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أَجَبْتُمُ الْمُرْسَلِينَBut the information will be unapparent to them that Day, so they will not [be able to] ask one another.
فَعَمِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَنْبَاءُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَهُمْ لا يَتَسَاءَلُونَIt is said: We have established the argument against you. If you are guided, it is for your own soul; if you are not guided, Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger:
You are not a controller over them, except for whoever turns away and disbelieves.
لَسْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُسَيْطِرٍ * إِلَّا مَنْ تَوَلَّى وَكَفَرَThen Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No one is
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh
The Shaykh : Come on... who is next?
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh
The Shaykh : Yes, and what about them?