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 SPENDENT THURSDAY WHOLE NIGHT IN SHARJAH TABLEEGI MARKARZ..WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MANY BROTHERS,ONE OF IMPORTANT QUISTION(NO BODY COULD REPLY 100% SURE )IS...

**IS THE WORD*jaahel* ONLY CAN BE USE FOR NON MUSLIMS?? CAN IT BE USED FOR SOME MUSLIMS WHO ARE REALLY JAHELS AND LIVING NOT ON THE EARTH BUT IN UNRIAL LIFE??

IS IT SINN TO SAY SOME MUSLIM THIS WORD,IF HE DESERVE??

PLEASE HELP ME AS OUR DISCUSSION ENDET ON THIS WORD...

MAY BE IT WAS A shaitan rajeem WHO CAME IN BETWEEN AND DEVIDED US...

YOUR WELL WISHER AND BROTHER IN DEEN.

(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:

Call a muslim ignorant

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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 11:

11 O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame, nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘Jaahil’ is ignorant or illiterate, but is normally used to describe stupidity, foolishness, idocy, etc. There is no harm if this word is used to describe one’s own ignorance, or one’s state or lack of knowledge; but to use this word as a derogatory term or a ‘bad-word’ to address an individual or even a group of people would be inappropriate in Islam, for it would in its statement connote that the person who claims the other is a ‘jaahil’ is claiming himself to be knowledgeable and intelligent! Any such statements or acts of self-superiority or pride or arrogance are absolutely abhorred in Islam.

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 and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan