Is Permissible Always Wise?

Sh Tonight inshallah We are continuing our journey our M through the summary of Z authored by the esteemed and late scholar of Islam sham we began discussing last week the issue of and the day of J more specifically so we entered into the chapter which deals with the virtues of the day of J Friday we spoke about some of the narrations that introduced to us and this day is a very important day in the week not just in the year as we will get to inshallah but every week this is a type of Celebration that is a weekly Affair before we get into that I'd like to mention something and it's good for us every week you know as a Prelude to what we're going to speak about to discuss a particular issue or topic or to mention an anecdote of times past Etc that we want to discuss the difference between that which is wise and that which is permissible right that which is and it's been said by the scholars of.

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That.

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It's been said that true understanding true wisdom and understanding of the legislation of Allah subhanahu waala is just is not to merely know what is right from what is wrong what is right from what is wrong is pretty clearcut but true F in the on the stage of life is that an individual who has been given wisdom by Allah is able to differentiate between what is good and what is better and to be able to differentiate between what is bad and what is worse this is true F and there is an issue which is that which is that which is permissible that which there is no sin involved in directly doesn't necessarily mean that it is a wise thing to do what does that mean a lot of people can't make that distinction what does it mean when you say that not everything that is permissible is necessarily wise it could even be said that not everything that is preferable preferred in every circumstance and every time and place and is not necessarily as appropriate for every time and place and a very similar example for this is something along the lines of law and common sense right so for example we have certain laws if you're walking down the sidewalk and there is some people on the sidewalk or there's people walking by or whatever it is and these individuals are in public and you are V videotaping them for instance or take pictures of them this may be this may be lawful you may have not broken the law by doing this let's say a a police officer is is standing on the sidewalk and you run up and you shove a a video camera in his face or whatever it is you may not have committed a crime per se but is that behavior necessarily productive is it something which is of wisdom right likewise for instance the bare minimum for a man to wear in making Salah or in public is the knee to the to the naval and to make Salah the co the shoulders have to be covered with something this is the bare minimum this is the bare minimum of what a man must wear when he's in public or especially if he's going to pray but is it necessarily wise for a person to go to the mid or go out in public dress this with just a pair of long pants or shorts from his navl to his knees and then just go outside and walk around this is permissible the person hasn't committed any crime they have not done anything Haram they have not done anything sinful per se but is that necessarily appropriate the answer is no that's not appropriate or let's say you know instead of me wearing a regular thob and a regular hat I wear hat with feathers coming out of it right and I wear a thob that is leopard print thob it's I haven't imitated any disbelievers I haven't initated animals I haven't worn anything that is particular to other religions so it may be permissible in itself and then I go to the Masjid to lead Sal that but is that appropriate no that is not appropriate right certain behavior is permissible but it may not be appropriate right it may not be wise such as for example a person who is a person who is has a serious position and they're walking around and you know acting foolish and acting immature Etc there are many examples the point is is that not necessarily everything that is permissible is something that should be done or something that is appropriate and we will give examples of this from the Quran and from the Sunnah but the most important thing that we need to understand is the statement of Allah subhah we need to understand the statement of Allah which is in in which Allah subhanahu waala says we document that which they do and the their actions in one of the meanings of this verse and so is not exist in a vacuum it's going to have effects and ripples and ripple out to the world around you and those effects may be positive or negative if they are positive then you will be rewarded for this and if they are negative then you will be held to account for this this is why we hold people to account for negligence this is why we hold people to account Etc because these actions or lack of actions do have effects if a person is negligent and you know is a zookeeper and is negligent with the locks on the lion's cage they didn't open the cage for the lion to get out and eat the visitors or attack the visitors The Zookeeper didn't intend didn't even want this to happen but the negligence of not keeping this animal locked up properly the effects of that negligence is something that that person will be held to account for likewise everything that we do right everything that we do the things that we do they may themselves be something permissible but the effects that they will have may be negative and this is why the prophet s. was said whoever believes in Allah in the last day then he is to speak with that which is good or remain silent he said subhanahu waala and tell my servants to say that which is best that which is superior right so what does this mean he didn't say s. whoever the last day then let him speak with that which is permissible or speak with that which is truthful though all of these things are prerequisites of something being good but it is a level higher than that and that is that it has to be good or remain silent he said commenting on this narration this narration is an evidence that when a person goes to say something they should first think about what it is they are about to say if they are positive that what they are about to say is good and will have positive effects then they may speak if they are sure that what they are going to say is bad or will have a bad effect then they are to remain silent and if they are then they are to remain silent we have only been given permission to speak with that which we are certain is good good in itself and will have good effects and so if we understand this concept we will come to understand that only one for something to be permissible in Islam that is one part of the equation it also has to be appropriate and a person could say that not everything that is appropriate not everything that is permissible is appropriate for every time and place when we go to speak about certain issues certain issues maybe historical events that happened amongst the companions or issues that you know the the people that are unlearned or not well versed in the meanings of the Quran and Sunnah should we go and unveil these issues to them in public no of course not just we wouldn't feed our newborn a piece of steak right because a newborn it's good it tastes good it's fine it's healthy it's Hal it's all of that but it's not appropriate for a child of that age this is something that we in large understand but a lot of times people to play games with words because they want to do something or don't want to do it and so it's very important important for us to understand that not everything that is truthful or everything that is necessarily permissible is necessarily appropriate for every time and place I think this is something that most of us understand it is pretty Common Sense the prophet s. wasam said to and now if we look at the Kaa the way that it's built it's a it's almost exactly a cube but actually it was not supposed to be that shape the original CA which ibraim and built was actually it was rectangular in shape so it was a rectangle and then it was built up it wasn't exactly a cube and so qur when they built this CA on the original foundations of ibraim they did not have enough money Halal money or money that is pure because they their condition was we will only put funds into the building or the rebuilding of the Kaaba that is definitely pure so no money earned through RBA no money earned through prostit no money that has been swindled or stolen or the property of another will be used toward rebuilding the Caba well they didn't have enough of this pure money to rebuild the Caba exactly as ibraim had rebuilt it so they built it as it is today and then they placed markings which is what is referred to as which is that kind of Crescent shaped area there in front of the Kaa this was to Mark the original foundations of ibim and this is why we don't make only around the KA we make around the KA and because that's the original Foundation well when the prophet s. wasam returned to Mecca in the conquest of Mecca when he returned and the Kaa was now under his control and Mecca was now as well under the control of the Muslims people of Mecca had accepted Islam Etc he said to he said had it not been that your people referring to had it not been that qur are new to Islam and have just left a time of ignorance I would have demolished the Caba and rebuilt it upon the original foundations of ibraim and I would have put two doors into it a door for people to enter and a door from which people to exit right so he didn't do that why not why didn't he do it this was obviously permissible it was actually it was encouraged to rebuild it as the way that ibraim had originally constructed it however the effects of this on qur would be negative and this these ill effects this negativity would outweigh any benefit to be had or achieved by these people had just accepted Islam and the Kaa they grew up they all came together they all collectively believed that the Kaa was the most holiest of SES and the most holiest of places and buildings in the world not even 50 some years or actually about 60 years earlier the elders amongst them still remembered watching when Allah subhanahu.

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Destroyed ABA and his army that came to demolish the Kaa there were still people amongst them who remembered this that Allah subhanahu wa taala divinely defended the Kaa and so the the position and the status that the Kaa held in the hearts of these people was was something that was well deeply rooted and so they've been at war with the prophet Sall alai wasallam for all of these all of these years and then suddenly as soon as they accept Islam and the prophet comes and conquers Mecca the first thing he does is destroy the Caba this will cause Mass confusion this will cause people to misunderstand they have not learned exalting the prophet s. wasam they have not learned the true position of the Kaa and Islam etc etc so whilst this is something lawful was lawful for him something that he wished he could do he ultimately did not do that why because this would be something that would have negative effects this is something that we need to understand this doesn't happen in obligation and prohibition though can but this is something that occurs in differentiating between that which is good and that which is better that which is permissible and that which is appropriate right and so if we understand this we will start to use common sense and understand how to employ the principles and the oblig and the statements of Allah subhanahu waala and his Prophet Sall alai in our lives he said the great he said when you address the people address them with that which they understand don't go above their heads don't speak to them of something that is too foreign for them to understand at that time he said would you desire meaning lest Allah and his messenger be be lied right he.

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Said anytime you speak to people with something they cannot understand they're not ready to understand yet then it will always the statement of yours or this information will always act as as a source of FNA for some of these people that can't understand it and so we make sure that we we make sure that we teach people properly that we behave properly with that which is appropriate and this is why Allah subhanahu waala said tell my servants to do to say and do that which is best not only that which is good or that which is permissible or that which is acceptable but they must do that which is best we choose that which is best in any situation so for example if I have guests come over to my house honoring my guest and entertaining my guest is something that I am obligated to do but as well during this time let's say I pray during that time I pray we're not talking about obligatory prayer we're speaking about additional optional prayer is it better for me to spend the time praying or is it better for me to tend to my guests obviously it is the second the latter is it permissible to pray yes sure am I harming anyone of course not it appropriate in that time and place for me to choose that no it is that is inappropriate right so this is an issue that we need to take into consideration and we need to keep it in the Forefront of our minds whenever we do something especially when it comes to interaction with people especially when it comes to interaction with people before we continue on the issue of I also would to mention something that came up during the week and these are just issues that we that may arise and I may find that they are beneficial or of consequence to The Listener because these are common issues one of the issues that came up and was asked throughout last week was a question came up on whether or not it is permissible to use a means of making a decision such as flipping a coin coin right flipping a coin so for example should I go to this restaurant or that restaurant or should I go right or should I go left or should I buy this thing or not buy it so I'm going to flip a coin is this something which is permissible the answer is this is not permissible and this is a type of Islam as Allah subhanahu waala mentioned that which we'll discuss inallah this is something which is as Allah describes a filth from the handiwork of a shaan so stay clear of it and avoid it completely in order that you all may attain success this is what Allah subhanahu wa taala says in the Quran regarding alamam is different than casting lots there is a difference between Alam and and what is the difference that that is that what is more more known is the difference between so what is let's begin with what aream is a type of deciding method that the people of jilah the pagans of jilah used to use in order to make decisions usually it was arrows or it can have other ways we don't care about the exact way that it was done we care about the spirit of it right in the time of the Prophet s. wasam the way that the Islam would work is they would have three piece three sticks or three arrows or three things right could even be rocks or anything that have one one of these arrows has written on it do it or do it as it is Allah's will or something along those lines and then one another would have do not do it and the other and the third would be blank right BL blank or it would have you know something try again or ask again or now what about if it if we have something that has four or five the magic eight ball all of this is the same I don't know if those are around anymore when I was a kid something called the magic eight ball which is a big looks a pool eight Bowl right but it has a little window on it and this window has I don't know there's some kind of liquid inside of it and there's things written on this object that's inside right and so the idea was the magic eightball you ask a question you know should I do this and then you shake it and you look into the window and it will float to the top and give you yes do it or don't do it or probably not or preferably not to or whatever right I don't remember exactly what was set on there there was a number maybe eight or 10 different answers that this magic eightball would have or would present you okay just because in the time of the Prophet sallallah alai wasam it was three doesn't mean if it's four it's permissible or if it's two it's permissible this is all Superstition this is all impermissible so continuing on when a person at that time would wish to do something something should I marry this woman or should I go traveling or should I marry this man or should I whatever it is right they would draw one of these arrows or one of these rocks or one of these pieces and they would look at it and whatever it said they believe that that was guided and inspired by God right we have many examples of this I mentioned one the magic aball another is the tarot cards right people who use tarot cards this is all a type of and this is all a type of a type of sh minor sh in Islam flipping the coin is part of Islam this is different than drawing Lots drawing Lots is mentioned in the Quran twice and it's also mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet s. wasam what is drawing Lots or is when we have right that all have an equal right to something and there is no determining Factor except drawing as we say in America or in English drawing straws right drawing casting lots this is this is in this case permissible this is how we make these decisions so in the Quran Allah subhanahu waala mentions drawing Lots twice he mentions it in the story of Zakaria and inah Al Iman and he mentions it as well in the story of yunus so he mentions with regards to Zacharia when Mariam was born her mother had vowed Mariam a servant in the house of Allah subhanahu waala and so zakar and the other Scholars had all debated as to who should be her caretaker or who should sponsor her and so they use their pens and some of the MU mentioned that they said okay throw his pen into the river or into a small stream or a creek and whoever whomever's pen will float Upstream then this is the person who will get to sponsor and so all of them threw their pens into the stream and zakaria's pen was the one that flew upstream or against the current this is called casting lots right it's also mentioned that Yus was on a ship and as Allah subhah mentions that they drew Lots because as some of the scholars of T mentioned they were in some bad Waters and they had to lose weight and some people had to be forsaken as well and so they drew Lots as to who should be basically take one for the team and go overboard and so they all Drew lots and it would const constantly come up as yunus but they didn't want to throw eunus overboard they viewed him as being far too important and so he jumped overboard because he realized that no matter how many times they did it his would always come up and so he understood it as something from Allah subhah regardless of how it took place this is called a this is notam right another example is when the prophet s. wasam would travel he would take one of his wives with him which one of his wives would he take well they all have an equal right to go and so he would draw lots have his wives draw lots and whoever whoever won in that drawing then this is the one he would take with him this is for as the scholars of mention this is a determining factor with regards to div dividing people's rights right two people come to make aan or let's say in a Masid where where there's no IM let's say people are going to lead Salah who should lead in Salah the most versed in Quran as the prophet sallallah alai wasallam said if they both know the the two candidates know the Quran equally then the most versed amongst them in the Sunnah if they are both equal in that then the one of them who made hij first if they are equal in that then the eldest let's say they are equal in all of that then we would cast lots we would have them draw straws because they both have equal rights to that this is called casting lots this is drawing straws this is something which is permissible however we do it if you remember at our fundraising dinners for the mosque Foundation we have a raffle right a giveaway and so we have everyone's name in a bucket or in a something that'll mix them up and then we choose random names this is called this is permissible this is actually prophetic however there is a difference between that and flipping a coin to make your decisions this is part of superstition this is something which is impermissible in Islam how is that the decision should be made in two ways when I'm making a decision for myself I need to make that decision and use two things number one I need to use facts and knowledge to give the edge to one of the two options or many options right weigh the factors and that to do with that I am to ask those who are well-versed and knowledgeable in that field what I should do second of all I am to make is a gift from Allah subhanahu wa taala that we were given in order to make our decisions and it took the place of in the time of J and so if I am going to make a decision you know let's get which product am I going to buy let's say am I going to buy well I try to look at things objectively first off and so I do my research on both options or however many options there are and I consult people in that field so that I can get as much proper information on the subject as I can after this I will make if I am still torn I will make and then I will go with one of the two there is a a kind of myth that's going around where if you make you should wait to have a dream about it and do what the dream says that is not correct the you know there may come a dream associated with that issue that may happen but that is not a prerequisite that's not necessarily the deciding factor of a when a person makes a he goes with what he feels is best if he made properly or she and so this is different than Al is is when everything is exactly equal between people and now we draw Lots in order to or a raffle or whatever and I'll give an example of this when we have let's say you know even though I I don't to use this as an example that much but in football American football we have the coin toss at the beginning of the game to decide who going to get the ball first right that coin toss flipping the coin that it's the same action flipping the coin to see which team gets the ball first or flipping the coin to decide which product I'm going to buy it's the same action but in the case coin for the football teams that is permissible that is correct use of and in the other case this is something which is Haram and prohibited takes the place of that and so these are things that I know people may think well what you know what's what's the big issue about just flipping a coin or what's the big issue we are not in a position to make something big or small it is Allah subhanahu wa taala who gives things their worth and their seriousness and their gravity right in the time of the Prophet sallallah alai wasam some people spread some rumors about what were the ramifications of those rumors we're still talking about them for 1500 years that's how serious these it was about five people that's how serious these five or seven or eight people the rumors that they made and a lot of these rumors weren't straight out outright accusations they were just kind of question marks you know I saw this and I saw that wonder what's going on there and yet the ramifications are thus far 1,500 years later and the ramifications were that Allah subhah spoke about the issue and sent a messenger sent to the prophet and it became part of our part of our Quran and and right so the ramifications were very serious but when people were doing it at the time they didn't think it was such a big deal it's just a little rumor right but Allah subhanahu waala says in rebuttal to this mental ality he said you all do this you say these things all the while believing that they are not so serious things that are to be taken lightly yet with Allah and Allah's estimate these things are very heinous and serious so the gauge of this is petty and this is worthy this is of great gravity and this is of little significance that doesn't come from us and what we immediately see here in front of us this comes from Allah subhanahu wa taala this is enough for this evening inshallah we will continue next week in the book of Al we spoke very little about Z tonight but these are very two important topics that to share with the listeners.