“He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.” (Qur’an 12:5)
﷽
This fatwa is in response to those who have adopted the Ibadi school from other schools (be they Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali, Maliki, Imami Shi’i, etc.)
This particular fatwa is limited in scope to serving the purpose of protecting the sanctity of the lives of those brothers and sisters who adopt the school and if they were to outwardly display this via praying the way the Blessed Prophet (saw) prayed, they could get beaten or attacked.
So let me try and answer some objections that have been put forward by laypeople from our school (not from the scholars).
Objection 1) The people will do bid’ah if they do not pray the way the Blessed Prophet (saw) prayed.
Response: The Shaykhs have taken this into consideration when issuing the fatwa.
Objection 2) Why would you go to a Masjid in which people would potentially beat you up?!
Response: Your intelligence and wisdom are sound. However, there is something perhaps you did not consider.
Objector: What is that?
Response: In our very own school, is it not wajib for the most part for us to perform the fard in the Masjid?
Objector: Normally yes.
So, likewise, in other schools and strains of Islam, in particular, the Deobandi and Hanafi schools performing the prayer in the Masjid is fard. So we informed him. Imagine someone who follows our school, and they go to the Masjid on a regular basis, and suddenly they stopped going. Will the people not inquire?
Thus, this is the case with these people. If they stop going, their people, neighbors, and family will inquire, then what is to be done?
Objector. I see your point.
Objection 3) The people may abuse kitman.
Response: This is a possibility and yet is not our concern. None of us can instill in a person Wara’ nor Taqwa. This is obtained via the efforts of the individual to strive to be close to Allah (swt) and not to take light of the duties and responsibilities as a Muslim who will be accountable to Allah (swt) on the day of reckoning.
Some brothers may be shocked as they reason how it is that some Muslims would attack other Muslims over juristic differences. Al hamdulillah! The brothers in Oman live in a place of peace and stability and may it continue to be so. May Allah (swt) grant the Sultan wisdom.
Let us not forget that the Wahhabis and Madhkahlis always stir up sedition against us. Let us not forget our dear brothers in Libya to whom Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h) stated:
“We thank the Supreme Council of Libyan Elders and Notables for condemning the statement that stirred up sedition in the country, by attacking the Ibadi sect and attempting to confiscate its freedom in its endowments. What we hope from the Libyan government and the notables of society there is to be keen on uniting the ranks and unifying the world; for when the fire of sedition flares up, it leaves nothing behind!
For further reading: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240714-omans-grand-mufti-commends-libyan-elders-for-condemning-anti-ibadi-incitement/
We should not forget there is a good number of ignorant people in our Ummah who believe that we are the Khawarij and they have hadith like the following:
(48)
Chapter: Exhortation to kill the Khawarij باب التَّحْرِيضِ عَلَى قَتْلِ الْخَوَارِجِ
‘Ali said:
Whenever I narrate to you anything from the Messenger of Allah (saw) believe it to be absolutely true as falling from the sky is dearer to me than that of attributing anything to him (the Holy Prophet) which he never said. When I talk to you of anything which is between me and you (there might creep some error in it) for battle is an outwitting. I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) as saying: There would arise at the end of the age a people who would be young in age and immature in thought, but they would talk (in such a manner) as if their words are the best among the creatures. They would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, and they would pass through the religion as an arrow goes through the prey. So when you meet them, kill them, for in their killing you would get a reward with Allah on the Day of Judgement.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:1066a)
So it matters little to some of these people what our position is nor do they care. Not everyone is up for a discussion and many don’t have the mental acumen to have one to begin with. To them, the only thing they know is violence and that they will be rewarded by Allah (swt) for it!
This is not the time for us to be naïve. This is the time for us to be sober-minded, practical and pragmatic. Indeed, these are the trademarks of our school!
The following comes from the noble and learned Shaykh: Abu Al-Arab (Ismail Al-Awfi) — Hafidullah. May Allah (swt) continue to bless him and bless others via his knowledge.
Shaykh Abu Al-Arab (Ismail Al-Awfi)
If they are afraid for themselves, no blame for them for raising their hands and putting their hands on the chest in this situation (only). When you pray alone or by yourself, then you do the prayer of the Blessed Prophet (saw).
Saving yourself is one of the major rules in Islam. Self-preservation is a very basic rule in Islam.
In Islam, we have what is known as : Ad-Darooriyyaat Al-Khams—The Five Necessities that are protected and recognized by the Islamic law (shari’ah).
Protection and sanctity of ones:
- Life
- Religion
- Wealth
- Lineage
- Mind (intellect)
We will also include in this a brief question to Shaykh Massoud bin Mohammed Al Miqbali (h) May Allah (swt) continue to bless him and bless others via his knowledge. As well as his swift and brief reply. We include this because he is known to have more hardline views in our school.
As salam alaikum wr wb Shaykh Massoud,
Shaykh Massoud, how are you?!
May Allah keep you safe and benefit us with what you have taught us.
Shaykh, there are people from outside Oman who have recently followed the madhab and are asking if there is validation for the actual kitman, which is praying as the people of their region follow for fear of sedition.
Do they have validity for this matter?
Reply: walakum assalam waarahmatu allahi wabaraktu, Yes they have.
So dear brothers and sisters, and truth seekers. This fatwa is limited in scope to those of you who may live in places where, if you were to pray the way the Blessed Prophet (saw) prayed, you would get physically attacked or even physically killed.
As mentioned before, many in our Ummah are not educated on some of the differences of views in jurisprudence and other matters. Many of them are not interested in engaging in a discussion with you. We know that the Blessed Prophet (saw) prayed with his arms to the side. In other areas of the world, you can and possibly will be labeled as a Shi’a for praying this way.
As cited above, Muslims of the Ibadi school have been targeted in Libya. Likewise, in Indonesia, the Shi’a have actually had their houses burned down! See below:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-20843259
For us, it is not so much to avoid fitna. For those who want to have a dialogue on the matter, they will find the ibadi school is ever ready!
This fatwa is more for the preservation and sanctity of one’s life. May Allah (swt) grant us good judgement and safety.
You may be interested in reading the following:
May Allah (swt) Guide The Ummah.
May Allah (swt) Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 