It Is Not Permissable For A Muslim To Dislike That Which Allaah Does Not Dislike
Question:
Is abandonment of the permissible [affairs] as a means of nearness to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic considered from the polytheistic innovations or not? Since there are people who practice that and see it to be from abstention (al-Warr') and consider to be prohibited (Haraam) or disliked (Makrooh) some of the permissible things without any evidence or proof and due to that they refrain from that and therefore they have much enmity and debate for that reason. I hope for some clarity, baarakAllaahu feehim.
Answer:
It is not allowed for the Muslim to hold prohibited (Haraam) that which Allaah has made lawful nor to hold it to be disliked (Makrooh) that which Allaah does not dislike or to make permissible (Halaal) that which Allaah has prohibited (Haraam) due to the statement of Allaah the One free from all imperfections:
And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: "This is lawful and this is forbidden," so as to invent lies against Allaah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allaah will never prosper. (An-Nahl 16:116)
And He the One free from all imperfections said:
Say (O Muhammad): "(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawaahish (great evil sins, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge." (Al-A'raaf 7:33).
So He - the One free from all imperfections - has made in this noble Aayah speaking about Him without knowledge (worse than) Shirk (polytheism) due to that which ensues from it from the immense corruption.
Whilst He - the One free from all imperfections - has informed in another Aayah in Suratul-Baqarah that it is from the command of the devil where He - the One free from all imperfections - said:
O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy. [Shaytaan (Satan)] commands you only what is evil and Fahshaa (sinful), and that you should say against Allaah what you know not. (Al-Baqarah 2:168-169).
As for leaving off the Mubaahaat (the allowable) as a means of nearness to Allaah - the One free from all imperfections - in order to aid in the obedience to Allaah and His messenger without making that unlawful (Haraam) upon oneself or upon the people, like sometimes leaving off the wearing of fine exquisite garments as (a means to) humbleness and humility and as a safeguard against al-Kibr (haughtiness and false pride) and as a dejection/reproach of the soul from that which is feared for it from having boastful pride, conceitedness and haughtiness over the people; then this thing there is no problem with it and he will be rewarded for it Inshaa'Allaah.
________________________________________
.
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Majmoo'Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwa'ah, Page 155, Vol.4,
Translated by Abu 'Abdillaah Al-Kashmiree
