Fatwa ID: 06257

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Question:

Please I need a Hadith related to mimbar as the people over here are claiming only Alim and Mufti can sit on mimbar for bayan. Please help if there are Hadith proving it or not

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

Answer:

There is no explicit Hadith in the traditions of the prophet whereby a certain individual is more entitled to sit over someone else or a certain type of individual isn’t allowed to sit. It only mentions the description of the mimbar and how it looked (the wood used, the amount of steps etc.)

One can’t make the claim that a non-Alim or a non-Mufti is explicitly not allowed to sit on the mimbar. And we mustn’t think that a non-Alim or a non-Mufti is less worthy in the eyes of Allah

Allah SWT mentions in the Qur’an:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

Similarly to men, cattle, or moving creatures, come in a variety of colours. Only those of His servants who are learned (scholars) have respect for Allah. Allah is, without a doubt, All-Powerful and Forgiving. [Surah Fatir verse 28]

But in terms of one being more adequate to be on the mimbar and to give the talk/lecture in the language of the people, it is the one who studied more in the field of Islam who is more adequate. But that being said anyone is still permitted to sit on the mimbar – Alim or not

Our beloved prophet (SAW) has mentioned:

أنْزِلُوا النَّاسَ مَنَازِلَهُمْ

Treat the people according to their ranks. [Abu Dawud Hadeeth no: 4842]

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham