Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I really appreciate the fast response and that you take these matter seriously. Indeed they are serious. However I would like to know who said the following: "Thus if muslims are inhabited in places where there are six months of light or darkness at a stretch,  the scholars in Islam are of the opinion that the muslims there should either follow the timings of Makkah, or the timings of the closest country where the sunrise and sunset is normal.  " Is this comming from Holy Quran or sunnah. Or is it just what you have to say about this. Because if this is your saying, I believe it would be innovation and it is wrong.

Thanks.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Ijtehad for prayers in places where there are 6 months of light or darkness

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

"Thus if muslims are inhabited in places where there are six months of light or darkness at a stretch,  the scholars in Islam are of the opinion that the muslims there should either follow the timings of Makkah, or the timings of the closest country where the sunrise and sunset is normal.  "

Your Question: Is this comming from Holy Quran or sunnah. Or is it just what you have to say about this.

Brother, the above statement which I have made is not my personal opinion. It is the unanimous opinion of the jurists and scholars of Islam.

The Glorious Quran and the Sunnah give commands as a general rule, rather than for the exceptions. The above ruling is from the ‘Istisnah’ of the scholars and jurists in Islam.

When a situation arises, where there is no direct judgment given in either the Quran or the Sunnah (especially for things which arise from new sciences or technology, etc.) , the jurists and scholars do ‘Ijtehaad’, and try to make a ruling for that particular question in light of the guidance and teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. Almost all the scholars and jurists in Islam are unanimous on the above decision.

Your Comment: Because if this is your saying, I believe it would be innovation and it is wrong.

Firstly, brother, I would like to assure you that this is not my saying, nor did I make this ruling up myself. This is the unanimous decision of the scholars and jurists who did ‘Ijtehaad’ and came up with this decision.

Secondly, brother, an innovation is something which is invented in the deen of Islam which is not from Islam. There is a huge difference between ‘bidah’ (innovation) and ‘Ijtehaad’. An ‘Ijtehaad’ is something where the scholars and jurists try to come to a decision in light of the Quran and Sunnah on something which does not have a direct ruling in the Quran or Sunnah.

Yes, it is permissible for one to say that he does not agree with the ‘Ijtehaad’, or he thinks the ruling of one scholar is closer to the Quran and Sunnah, than the other. But all ‘innovations’ are wrong, and thus a sin.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan