Fatwa ID: 06840
Answered by: Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Question:
I read this fatwa online:
https://islamqa.org/hanafi/muftionline/129473/muslim-students-writing-about-evolution/
I also read a lot of fatwa on this website saying that intentionally writing, or believing kufr is kufr. In England, we Muslims sometimes have to write essays in English and are taught books which have a lot of Kufr in them. We are also taught evolution and have to write about all these. Could you advise what we should do? Some of the questions in the exams may be:
1) What is evolution
2) What are some proofs for evolution?
3) In English, they might say the following: How does the writer use this character/language to describe the society and how would the modern-day audience and audience react?
By modern day, they tend to mean but not restricted to a secular society but if someone writes “modern-day audience does not believe in witches and so they would find the concept to be very strange” (whilst studying Shakespeare’s Macbeth) (Astaghfirullah).
Is all this Kufr? What should we do in this situation?
If it turns out that there is a difference of opinion, what if it turns out that the person (who wrote the article above) turns out to be right on the day of judgment? Will the people following the other opinion be punished as disbelievers?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Writing about the theory of evolution does not amount to kufr unless one is writing it with the belief that it is true or is trying to prove that it is. This is because the Prophet SAW has said “Verily actions are according to intentions” [1]
Otherwise, discussing the theory of evolution from an objective standpoint or analysing its scientific arguments does not contradict one’s faith.
Thus, for instance, if someone is asked, “What is evolution?” or “What are some proofs for evolution?” They can present and evaluate the evidence that has been put forth by other scientists who support evolution and state why those scientists believe it is true.
A difference of opinion does not necessarily mean that one is wrong and the other is right. Alhamdulillah, fiqh is a dynamic field of Islamic jurisprudence that allows for multiple interpretations and perspectives as long as it is backed by clear proof from the Quran and Sunnah.
This is why, although there are many issues that the ulama of the four madhabs have debated and disagreed upon throughout history, it cannot be said that one madhhab is completely correct and the others are completely wrong.
Each madhhab has its methodology and approach to interpreting and applying Islamic law, which leads to differences in rulings. These differences should be seen as a blessing rather than a source of confusion, as they allow for flexibility and adaptability in addressing the diverse needs and circumstances of Muslims around the world.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Jannatun Nessa
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1-[Sahih al-Bukhari, 54]
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّةِ، وَلِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا، أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ ”.
Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “verily actions are according to their intention and every person will get rewarded according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for Allah and His Messanger, then his emigration was for Allah and His Messanger. And whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”
