بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Circumstances in which Conversation is
Offensive
Offensive, when used without further qualification by Hanafis ( in their
books on the lawful and unlawful (al-hazr wa al-ibaha)) means unlawful
offensive( makruh tahriman), and its ruling is the same as the unlawful
(is in the Shafi'i school ).
Interrupting oneself or others
(Nahlawi:) It is offensive to interrupt someone else's words with one's
own when the former consist of teaching Sacred Knowledge. Some
scholars hold that to greet a group with ''as-Salamu 'alaykum'' is a sin.
It is also offensive to interrupt one's own words with speech of a diff-
erent kind when reciting Qur'an, teaching hadith, or addressing people,
and while doing this, for example, one turns to someone and tells him to
go buy some things needed at home.
Conversation is offensive for anyone seated listening to a pious exhortation,
or instruction, or in the presence of someone above his own level. It is also
offensive for such a person merely to turn to look at something else, or to stir
when there is no need, all of which is poor manners, levity, precipitateness,
and thoughtlessness.
Rather, the one speaking should set forth what he means to say without
irrelevant asides until finished, and the person addressed should heed the
speaker, paying attention to him and listening until he finishes, without
looking around, stirring, or talking; especially if the speaker is explaining
the words of Allah Ta'ala or His messengerصلى الله عليه وسلم . But one is
excused if a pressing physical or religious need arises that there is no
alternative but to fulfill, since necessity excuses one from any rule what-
ever ( but only to the degree demanded by necessity).
Disrespect to those with Authority over one
It is offensive to contend against the words of anyone with authority over
one ( countenanced by Sacred Law), or talk back, oppose, rebut, or dis-
obey such a person in anything lawful (meaning not unlawful or offensive),
the prohibition applying to such people as a follower with his leader, son
with his parents, student with his teacher, wife with her husband, or
unlearned person with a scholar. All of this is ugly behavior and deserves
disciplinary action, since each of these is obliged to obey the one over them.
This-Worldly words in a Masjid
It is offensive to speak about this-worldly matters, meaning words that would
otherwise be permissible, in a masjid when there is no excuse (if one makes a
habit of it).(The more reliable position is that it is not offensive, but merely
better not to (khilaf al-awla).)
Speaking during the sermon of the Friday prayer
It is offensive to speak during the sermon of Friday, whether it be to say ''Subhan
Allah,'' the Blessings on the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم, or to command the right or
forbid the wrong, the reason for the prohibition being that listening to the Friday
prayer sermon is obligatory, as it takes the place of two rak'as of the noon prayer,
so that things offensive during the prayer are offensive while listening to the sermon.
Speaking When the Qur'an is being recited
It is offensive to speak when the Qur'an is being recited, for listening to it and
heeding it are absolutely obligatory, whether one is performing the prayer or not,
and whether one comprehends it or not (but only if its words are distinctly audible
to one) Allah Most High says,
Speaking without need to a member
of the opposite sex
It is offensive for a male to speak without need to a young woman who is not a
member of his unmarriageable kin . He should not say '' Arhamkum Allah'' (Allah
have mercy on you) if she sneezes, greet her with ''as-Salamu 'alaykum'' (which is
unlawful in the Shafi'i school) nor return her Salams if she says them (which is
offensive for Shafi'is). He should not say these aloud, but to himself, all of which
likewise holds for a young woman's speaking to a man who is not a member of her
unmarriageable kin . The prohibition of these is due to the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم 's
Speaking after the coming of dawn before
performing the dawn prayer
It is offensive to speak of this-worldly things between dawn and performing
the dawn prayer (subh). Some hold this extends until sunrise(al-Durar al-mubaha
(y99),145-49).
Conversation after performing
The nightfall prayer('Isha)
(Nawawi:) It is offensive for someone who has prayed the nightfall prayer ('Isha)
to converse about things permitted at other times, meaning permissible words
which would otherwise be the same to say or not to. Discourse that is unlawful
or offensive at other times is even more sternly prohibited or offensive at this time.
As for conversation about what is good, such as teaching Sacred Knowledge,
relating the words of the pious, describing noble qualities, or speaking to one's
guest, none of these is offensive, but rather they are commendable (al-Adhkar
(y102),504).
Extracts from
Ahmad ibn Naqib al- Misri
Reliance of the Traveller
Tran .. Nuh Ha mim Keller
In the Name of Allah,
the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Circumstances in which Conversation is
Offensive
Offensive, when used without further qualification by Hanafis ( in their
books on the lawful and unlawful (al-hazr wa al-ibaha)) means unlawful
offensive( makruh tahriman), and its ruling is the same as the unlawful
(is in the Shafi'i school ).
Interrupting oneself or others
(Nahlawi:) It is offensive to interrupt someone else's words with one's
own when the former consist of teaching Sacred Knowledge. Some
scholars hold that to greet a group with ''as-Salamu 'alaykum'' is a sin.
It is also offensive to interrupt one's own words with speech of a diff-
erent kind when reciting Qur'an, teaching hadith, or addressing people,
and while doing this, for example, one turns to someone and tells him to
go buy some things needed at home.
Conversation is offensive for anyone seated listening to a pious exhortation,
or instruction, or in the presence of someone above his own level. It is also
offensive for such a person merely to turn to look at something else, or to stir
when there is no need, all of which is poor manners, levity, precipitateness,
and thoughtlessness.
Rather, the one speaking should set forth what he means to say without
irrelevant asides until finished, and the person addressed should heed the
speaker, paying attention to him and listening until he finishes, without
looking around, stirring, or talking; especially if the speaker is explaining
the words of Allah Ta'ala or His messengerصلى الله عليه وسلم . But one is
excused if a pressing physical or religious need arises that there is no
alternative but to fulfill, since necessity excuses one from any rule what-
ever ( but only to the degree demanded by necessity).
Disrespect to those with Authority over one
It is offensive to contend against the words of anyone with authority over
one ( countenanced by Sacred Law), or talk back, oppose, rebut, or dis-
obey such a person in anything lawful (meaning not unlawful or offensive),
the prohibition applying to such people as a follower with his leader, son
with his parents, student with his teacher, wife with her husband, or
unlearned person with a scholar. All of this is ugly behavior and deserves
disciplinary action, since each of these is obliged to obey the one over them.
This-Worldly words in a Masjid
It is offensive to speak about this-worldly matters, meaning words that would
otherwise be permissible, in a masjid when there is no excuse (if one makes a
habit of it).(The more reliable position is that it is not offensive, but merely
better not to (khilaf al-awla).)
Speaking during the sermon of the Friday prayer
It is offensive to speak during the sermon of Friday, whether it be to say ''Subhan
Allah,'' the Blessings on the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم, or to command the right or
forbid the wrong, the reason for the prohibition being that listening to the Friday
prayer sermon is obligatory, as it takes the place of two rak'as of the noon prayer,
so that things offensive during the prayer are offensive while listening to the sermon.
The Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم said,
''When the imam is giving the sermon on Friday, and you tell your
companion 'Listen,' you have made an impertinent remark.''
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Speaking When the Qur'an is being recited
It is offensive to speak when the Qur'an is being recited, for listening to it and
heeding it are absolutely obligatory, whether one is performing the prayer or not,
and whether one comprehends it or not (but only if its words are distinctly audible
to one) Allah Most High says,
''When the Qur'an is recited,
listen and pay heed to it ''
Qur'an 7 : 204
Speaking without need to a member
of the opposite sex
It is offensive for a male to speak without need to a young woman who is not a
member of his unmarriageable kin . He should not say '' Arhamkum Allah'' (Allah
have mercy on you) if she sneezes, greet her with ''as-Salamu 'alaykum'' (which is
unlawful in the Shafi'i school) nor return her Salams if she says them (which is
offensive for Shafi'is). He should not say these aloud, but to himself, all of which
likewise holds for a young woman's speaking to a man who is not a member of her
unmarriageable kin . The prohibition of these is due to the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم 's
having said,
''The adultery of the tongue is speech.''
( Muslim)
performing the dawn prayer
It is offensive to speak of this-worldly things between dawn and performing
the dawn prayer (subh). Some hold this extends until sunrise(al-Durar al-mubaha
(y99),145-49).
Conversation after performing
The nightfall prayer('Isha)
(Nawawi:) It is offensive for someone who has prayed the nightfall prayer ('Isha)
to converse about things permitted at other times, meaning permissible words
which would otherwise be the same to say or not to. Discourse that is unlawful
or offensive at other times is even more sternly prohibited or offensive at this time.
As for conversation about what is good, such as teaching Sacred Knowledge,
relating the words of the pious, describing noble qualities, or speaking to one's
guest, none of these is offensive, but rather they are commendable (al-Adhkar
(y102),504).
Extracts from
Ahmad ibn Naqib al- Misri
Reliance of the Traveller
Tran .. Nuh Ha mim Keller
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