How to decide permissibility?

[SisterJennifer]

Asalaamu alikum


What I want to ask about is if there is some kind of methodology in deciding the permissibility of things which do not have a specific clarification from Quran or Sunnah.


For example, how do you arrive at the conclusion that smoking is haram? I am no doubting that it is, just I want to know how does the ruling happen? Is there a specified process?


I keep hearing conflicting things from everything from using a camera to take pictures to what goes on in our bedrooms. How can I differentiate between what is opinion and what is real?


Jazak Allah khairn.

[Dan]

Bismillah


As Salam alaikum


My one word answer is with Knowledge. Only by knowing our deen can falsehood and truth be determined. For me, I accept answers from known authorities (scholars) who do not innovate or give opinions without evidence.


If there is a difference in opinion amongst these scholars then I do the best I can with what I know and what has been presented to me. Allah Knows that I am trying to follow what He would want. I must also keep flexible. If I hear an authority say something and I follow that opinion, I must be able to accept another opinion if stronger evidence is present. I must accept when I am incorrect or shown to be incorrect. I have been tested in this a couple of times. I was doing things that I thought were good or had an opinion about the deen that I thought was correct and was later shown I was wrong by proofs brought to me. Do I then take the strongest opinion or stick with what I am already doing? There IS an opinion by a scholar that supports me but am I holding to it bc I feel it is correct or am I just staying a creature of habit?


Did that rambling help? :huh:


As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

[radiyah]

Bismillah


Alsalam a'laykom, good question sister jenn and good answer brother dan, but the issue is bigger than that, In Islamic fiiqh there is something called Qiyas, (which means juristic reasoning), that Jamhoor (which means most Ulama or scholars) agree upon according to rules from Quran and Sunna, and according to that they build their judgement.


Now about cigarettes, it is waste of money, harms your health, harm people around you, so we search for a rule that is similar with other products, alcohol, is a waste of money, harms your health, harm people around u when u r drunk, so it is haram, according to that cigarettes are also haram. You got now how Ulamas decide on things if it is halal or haram. I tried to put it here as simple as possible, but this issue is a wide and vast knowledge that needs more research and studies by Scholars, that is why if we have questions we go to trusted scholars, just as if u r sick u go to a trusted doctor. Hope things are more clear for u now :)


Salam

[SisterJennifer]

Asalaamu alikum


I didnt think you are rambling brother Dan, and yes, I understand your point. However, I was trying to address how do we arrive at 'evidence' once we find nothing from Quran or Sunnah. That's why I was asking about the process, I mean are there guidelines that must be used to arrive at the final conclusion. Jazak Allah khairn sister Radiyah for the information. It brings me to my second question:


Does the body of scholars one is consulting vary by location? For example: if I want to know about buying meat from the local supermarket, or buying a home with mortgage, and I live in the USA, I should ask a scholar in the USA, or it will be the same to ask from any other place overseas or whatever?


And to be more specific what actually classifies one as a scholar? I think alot of people understand any Sheikh to be a scholar. Is it correct, or there should be formal training?


I know its alot of questions and we are all busy, I can be patient insha Allah. Jazak Allah khairn to all for your help.

[radiyah]

Bismillah

Does the body of scholars one is consulting vary by location? For example: if I want to know about buying meat from the local supermarket, or buying a home with mortgage, and I live in the USA, I should ask a scholar in the USA, or it will be the same to ask from any other place overseas or whatever?
And to be more specific what actually classifies one as a scholar? I think alot of people understand any Sheikh to be a scholar. Is it correct, or there should be formal training?

For the first part, it does not make any difference since you are asking the correct well known scholar.


Now to be more specific, I opened a subject before in a different thread but I don't remember, and it was about Ulom Al-Quran (The sciences of Quran), Prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him) came with The Quran and Sunnah, The Sunnah is to translate the word of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'la which is not clear to us, the Sunnah and Ahadeeth can be put in many categories:




<ol type="1">[*]Ahadeeth concerning Fiqh(subjects concerning our daily needs)
[*]Ahadeeth concerning Tafseer(translation of Quran)
[*]Ahadeeth concerning Tajweed(how to read Quran correctley)
</ol>
And from these then comes specialization regarding type of Fiqh, then study of Arabic language, grammar, eloquence and rhetoric, and why this specific word was put in such a place and not another, all this needs special studies, so u can find scholars who are specialized in Tafseer, others in Hadeeth, others in Fiqh, others in Tajweed, and others in Qiraat( and this is also derived from Tajweed) and this needs special study, so if u want to know meanings of ayahs u go to scholars specified in tafseer, how to read Quran we go to a tajweed scholar, and so on, just like medical doctors, one is a heart doctor, the other is meternity doctor, dental doctor and so on. So in summury we take what is clear for us from Quran and which is not clear we go to search for it from Sunnah, and of course this needs specialized scholars.


So in your case dear Jenn, try to search for a scholar in your place who is specialized in Fiqh, if you did not find tell me what type of question u want and I will ask our scholars here and return the answer for you.


I hoped I helped, please if you have any other questions do not hesitate Jenn and I am ready to help.


And Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'la knows best


Wasalam alaykom

[SisterJennifer]

Jazak Allah khairn sister for being so thorough in your reply and for your very kind offer of help :) I will do as you suggested insha Allah and find the one in my area specializing in fiqh and go from there.


Allah bless you and guide us all to the right path, Ameen.


Love, Jennifer

[radiyah]

Bismillah


Jazzana wa iyakee sister the blessings of dunya and hereafter, and bless u and your family Ameeen.


I love you for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, and I pray that he will rejoin us under His shade when there is no shade but his, Ameeeeeeeeeen.


Wasalam 'alaykom wa rahmat Allah