English Translations of Majmoo’al-Fatawa of late Scholar Ibn Bazz (R) Second Edition By: Sheikh `Abdul `Aziz Bin `Abdullah ibn `AbdulRahman ibn Bazz (May Allah forgive and reward al-Firdouse to him and his parents) He was The Mufti of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Chairman of Department of Scholarly Research and Ifta' This English Translations are collected from http://www.alifta.com Portal of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta' This file is volume No.01 of 30 ( Part No : 1, Page No: 1) ( Part No : 1, Page No: 2) ( Part No : 1, Page No: 3) ( Part No : 1, Page No: 4) ( Part No : 1, Page No: 5) Foreword All praise be to Allah, the Lord of Existence, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, Companions, and those who follow their way and guidance until the Day of Resurrection! His Eminence Shaykh `Abdul `Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz gave permission to collect his Fatwas, articles and lectures in one volume divided into different parts. This permission was granted in response to the requests of many people, hoping that Allah (Exalted be He) extends its great academic benefit to all. We implore Allah (Exalted be He) to add it to the record of his good deeds and make it a disperser of doubts. Many Muslims inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attempted to collect and distribute the works of his Eminence driven by their love and trust in his knowledge. It gives me great pleasure that his Eminence entrusted to me the task of supervising the process of collecting and publishing his abundant works spread everywhere. Ibn Baz (may Allah protect him and bless his life) devoted himself to good works and was accessible to people, extending his knowledge to seekers of knowledge and questioners and sparing no effort to make contributions to every field in Da`wah (calling to Islam) and teaching since he assumed the judiciary in Al­Kharj until 1357 A.H. Shaykh Ibn Baz did not keep any of his works in his office, with the exception of things he produced in the period of his work at the Islamic University in Al­Madinah Al­Munawarrah, and after moving to his last job in Riyadh. Therefore, a large collection of his works has not been preserved, such as his lectures, sessions held in the Masjid (mosque) of Riyadh and other Masjids and his Fatwas and many talks to the papers and radio. Being so large, it is a duty to collect the available works of the Shaykh to review them before committing them to writing and compiling them into books. Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah protect him) refused to publish anything before reading and approving it as a sort of taking precautions in giving Fatwa and to avoid any mistakes or distortions. ( Part No : 1, Page No: 6) Ibn Baz (may Allah forgive him and his parents) suggested to start with the part pertaining to `Aqidah (creed) and categorize its relevant topics. Nonetheless, topics related to Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) may come up in the middle, but he requested to transfer them along with Fiqh­based topics in general to their proper places, since they were mentioned as replies to questions in the papers or the like. Ibn Baz did not approve of dividing them. His Eminence wishes that any person who has Fatwas, articles or talks recorded in the past or recently, delivers them to us so that they will be published after he reviews them. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the Prophet Muhammad, the guide and bringer of glad tidings, his family and Companions! Muhammad ibn Sa`d Al­Shway`ir ( Part No : 1, Page No: 7) Second EditionIntroduction All praise be to Allah Alone! We praise Him and seek His Help! We seek His Forgiveness and in Him we seek refuge from the evils within ourselves and from the evils of our bad deeds! Whoever Allah guides will not be led astray and whoever Allah leads astray will not be guided by anyone! I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger; peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, companions, and all those who follow them rightly until the Day of Recompense. To commence: This work includes Fatwas and articles that I issued at different times in the past. I compiled them here in one book, as I think this will be of great benefit for me and for a big number of Allah's servants whom He wills to receive such benefit. I ask Allah by His Most Beautiful Names and Supreme Attributes to avail me and all His servants through this publication both in this world and in the Hereafter. Truly, Allah is All­Hearing, Ever Near (to all things). There is neither might nor power except with Allah! Allah Alone is Sufficient for me, and He is the Best Disposer of all my affairs. It is worth mentioning that I arranged the Fatwas and essays of this book as scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence would do. I thus, began with issues of `Aqidah (creed) as it is more significant than other topics. Special attention was paid in this edition to avoid the misprints of the previous one. Verily, it is Allah Who is sought for help and upon Him we rely. He alone grants success. Finally, may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions! The Author `Abdul `Aziz Bin `Abdullah ibn `Abdul­Rahman ibn Baz Mufti of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Chairman of Department of Scholarly Research and Ifta' ( Part No : 1, Page No: 8) ( Part No : 1, Page No: 9) Ibn Baz: Concise Biography My name is `Abdul­`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn `Abdul­Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn `Abdullah Al Baz. I was born in Riyadh in Dhul­Hijjah, 1330 A.H. At the beginning of my study, I was able to see. Then I was afflicted with an eye disease in 1346 A.H. At first, my sight weakened and then I lost it completely in the beginning of the month of Muharram 1350 A.H. Praise be to Allah for this. I invoke Allah to compensate me with a deep insight in this life and best reward in the Hereafter, as He (Exalted be He) promised through His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). I ask of Him (Exalted be He) for a blessed end in this world and the Hereafter. I started learning when I was very young and memorized the Qur'an before I reached puberty. I then started learning the religious and Arabic sciences from many of the scholars of Riyadh including the following eminent figures: 1­ Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul­Latif ibn `Abdul­Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Al­Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul­Wahhab (may Allah be merciful with them). 2­ Shaykh Salih ibn `Abdul­Aziz ibn `Abdul­Rahman ibn Hasan ibn Al­Shaykh Muhammad ibn `Abdul­Wahhab, the judge of Riyadh (may Allah be merciful with them). 3­ Shaykh Sa`d ibn Hamad ibn `Atiq, the judge of Riyadh (may Allah be merciful with him). 4­ Shaykh Hamad ibn Faris, the treasurer of Riyadh (may Allah be merciful with him). 5­ Shaykh Sa`d Waqqas Al­Bukhary (a scholar from Makkah Al­Mukarramah [may Allah be merciful with him]). I learnt from him the science of Tajwid (the art of Qur'anic recitation) in 1355 A.H. 6­ His Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn `Abdul­Latif Al Al­Shaykh (may Allah be merciful with him). I attended his class for about ten years and learnt from him all religious sciences from 1347 to 1357 A.H. Then, he proposed me for the position of judge. ( Part No : 1, Page No: 10) May Allah give them the best and highest reward! May He be pleased and merciful with them all! I occupied a number of positions: 1­ Judge of the district of Al­Kharj area for a long time that lasted more than fourteen years from 1357­1371 A.H. I was appointed in the month of Jumada II in 1357 and stayed to the end of 1371 A.H. 2­ Teaching the sciences of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Al­Tawhid (Islamic Creed of Monotheism) and the Hadith in the scientific institute of Riyadh in 1372 A.H., and the faculty of Shari`ah (Islamic Law) in Riyadh after it was established in 1373 A.H. I worked there for nine years until 1380 A.H. 3­ In 1381 A.H., I was appointed as a deputy of the president of the Islamic University in Al­Madinah Al­ Munawwarah. I occupied this post until 1390 A.H. 4­ I occupied the post of the president of the Islamic university in 1390 A.H., after the death of the former president Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al Al­Shaykh (may Allah be merciful with Him) in the month of Ramadan, 1390. I remained in this position until 1395 A.H. 5­ In 14/10/1395 A.H., a royal decree was issued assigning me in the position of General Chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta', Da`wah, and Guidance. I stayed in this position until 1414 A.H. 6­ In 20/1/1414 A.H., a royal decree was issued appointing me as the General Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the President of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research and Ifta'.