ESSENTIAL INFORMATION (II)

One should begin with self-discipline in the matter of emr-i-ma’rûf. An unlearned person should not attempt doing an emr-i-ma’rûf to a learned one. A person who has made it a habit to commit a certain sin should (just the same) perform an emr-i-ma’rûf when they see a person commit that sin. A person who cannot do an emr-i-ma’rûf to a sinner should tell that person’s father or (at least) write to his father about his son’s sinning. If his

father is reluctant or unable to do an emr-i-ma’rûf, the former person should not inform the sinner’s father. The same rule applies to informing the woman’s husband (if the sinner is a married woman) or the government, (i.e. authorities.) If a sinner (repents for his or her sin and) makes tawba, then others should not be informed about the sinful event. A person who sees a thief (in the act) should inform against the thief unless there is some fear felt.

If a sinful wife is unwilling to make tawba despite admonitory advice, it is (still) not wâjib to divorce her. It is makrûh to keep musical instruments in your house even if you do not play them. An Islamic scholar’s rights on an unlearned person are the same as a teacher’s rights on their disciples. A husband’s rights on his wife are even more. She has to obey him as long as his orders are mubâh, (i.e. unless he orders something contrary to Islam’s commandments,) and to protect his property. It is permissible to walk through someone else’s territory if there is not another way. You cannot do so if the owner declines to give you permission.

It is farz to acquire knowledge pertaining to worship and earning. It is commendable to learn even more. It is symptomatic of iflâs (ruin) to learn (sciences termed) hadîth and tafsîr instead of learning Fiqh. It is permissible to learn astronomy enough to determine the direction of Qibla and/or the times of (the five daily prayers termed) namâz and/or for the purpose of making jihâd. It is harâm to learn astrology to exploit it for future-telling. It is makrûh to learn science of Kelâm (or Kalâm) to utilize it in contentions and discussions. It is not permissible for unlearned people to talk on groups of bid’at or on Madhhabs. It is not permissible to read religious books written by ancient Greek philosophers or by (heretics called) holders of bid’at or by people who do not belong to any of the rightly-guided four Madhhabs or to keep such books in your domestic library. Such books are destructive of people’s i’tiqâd and îmân. It is not permissible to study knowledge pertaining to science and philosophy before having learned knowledge pertaining to Islam and îmân from books written by scholars of Ahl as-sunnat. Each and every Muslim should first teach their children how to read Islamic letters and the Qur’ân al-kerîm, how to perform namâz, and tenets of Islam’s ethics; thereafter, only, should they send their children out for schooling in science and arts and their other essential and useful subsections.