Fatwa ID: 08624

 

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim

 

 

Question:

 

 

My school is making a theatrical production for mental health purposes. They are asking students to anonymously submit their stories regarding mental health issues and recovery so that they can make this production as a way to help advise and/or inspire other students who are going through similar problems. I do have a story I could submit, but it involves describing the sins of a number of people, including myself. I wanted to submit my story with the recovery process including my becoming more religious, with the intention of inspiring other people to be better Muslims or to develop an interest in Islam. So, I want to know if being involved in this is permissible, since I am exposing people’s sins (anonymously). I don’t know any of the details of the production, but it is likely to include music – however, this will be the case regardless of my submission, because other people are submitting their stories anyway.

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

 

Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

 

 

Because the stories submitted are anonymous such that the school or those involved in the theatrical production are unaware of who is submitting the stories and who was involved in them, there is scope for you to share your story anonymously to possibly inspire other people.[1]

 

With that said, you should stick to your personal story and not mention the sins and stories of other people that you are able to narrate. It is our belief that you can still inspire through your own personal story and recovery process whilst leaving out the sins and stories of others.

 

As for the likelihood of music being included in the production—because you are unsure along with no indications suggestive of the fact—it remains a speculation and hence dismissed.[2]

 

If you share your story, having followed the suggested guidelines, and music happens to appear in the production, then it will be overlooked.[3]

 

I hope this helps.

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

 

References:

 

1.

 

الضرر يزال

 

[القواعد الفقهية مع الشرح الموجَز، صفحة ٣١، دار الترمذي]

 

2.

 

لا عبرة للتوهم

 

[القواعد الفقهية مع الشرح الموجَز، صفحة ٢٥، دار الترمذي]

 

3.

 

الضرر الأشد يزال بالضرر الأخف

 

يختار أهون الشرين

 

[القواعد الفقهية مع الشرح الموجَز، صفحة ٣٢، دار الترمذي]

 

 

يحتمل الضرر الخاص لدفع الضرر العام

 

[القواعد الفقهية مع الشرح الموجَز، صفحة ٣٤، دار الترمذي]