Q: I am in an Islamic institution and students were given a task to write an essay in the first point of view of a captive of Badr and the Sahaabahs treatment to them and the captives feelings and thoughts regarding the Sahaabah. Students were given creative freedom and encouraged to use their imagination, as accuracy was not the main focus of the task. However, a few concerns were brought to attention.
Students were concerned that as they had to write in the point of view of a Kaafir, they would have to write unpleasant things about the Sahaabah and Islam. Another point of contention was that since it was purely fictional, they could make up stories about the Sahaabah and their treatment towards the captives, as well as the inaccurate living situations of the captives. Is this task permissible?
A: At the outset, it should be understood that our deen is not a deen of entertainment, nor is it a thing to experiment with. Rather, it is an amaanat from Allah Ta'ala which we are commanded to protect, preserve in our lives, and fulfil the rights we owe it with respect and honour.
Giving the students this type of essay to prepare, where some will act as kaafirs and others as Sahaabah, and share their imaginary thoughts about the situation, is haraam and certainly against the right of this amaanat that we have been blessed with.
The occasion of the Battle of Badr was one of the greatest events of Islam - an event that differentiated between haqq and baatil, kufr and Islam.
How can a believer, for worldly educational purposes, make this great event of Islam a thing of mere entertainment and for sharing their thoughts and imagination of how both parties would have responded?
Islam strongly advocates obedience and loyalty to Allah Ta'ala at all times, and this was the hallmark of those Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) who participated in this battle.
When the command of Allah Ta'ala came to them, they were unprepared and unequipped, yet they showed the highest levels of obedience and loyalty to Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) on that occasion. The outcome of such obedience and loyalty was that Allah Ta'ala showed them the highest success and made them the greatest of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum).
When one views this type of essay given to the students, one finds that there are many things in it that are haraam and go against shariah:
1) Making Deen an Entertainment
For the sake of education, we are making our deen an entertainment. This is haraam and against the Quraan. In fact, this is the way of the kuffaar, that they have made their deen an entertainment. Therefore, Allah Ta'ala commands the believers in the Qur'aan Majeed to refrain from adopting the ways of the kuffaar in making their deen a thing of entertainment. Allah Ta'ala says, "Leave those people (kuffaar) who have made their deen a thing of amusement (entertainment) and play."
2) Acting Like the Kuffaar and Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum)
In this essay, one group will act like the kuffaar captives and the other group will act like the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum). This is not permissible in deen. It is impermissible for a mu'min to regard himself as a kaafir. How can a believer mentally consider himself as a kaafir captive and try to express the feelings of the kaafir captive at that time? Hence, to write on behalf of a kaafir and express his thoughts is against Islam.
Similarly, regarding oneself as a Sahaabi and trying to express the feelings, thoughts and sentiments of a Sahaabi is not right, as one cannot say precisely how the Sahaabi had felt on that occasion.
3) Fabrication in Deen
In this type of essay, many things will be included based on imaginary thoughts and feelings which will not conform to reality. When thoughts and facts will be expressed regarding both sides that are not true, then this will amount to fabricating things in deen and attributing to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) that which is false and a lie. Fabricating things in deen and attributing them to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) is a major sin in Islam.
4) Compromising the Respect of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum)
The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) were the greatest people who walked on the surface of the earth after the Ambiyaa ('alaihimus salaam). Our entire deen rests upon the Sahabaah (radhiyallahu 'anhum). They are our main link to Rasulullah (salallahu 'alaihi wasallam) and the Qur'aan. Therefore, we are commanded in deen to uphold the respect, sanctity and honour of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) at all times. Showing any disrespect to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) is treated as a major sin in Islam.
In these types of essays, the sanctity and honour of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) will definitely be compromised, and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) will be equated to normal people. Just as essays of this type are written about other personalities, where imaginary thoughts are expressed, essays will begin to be written about the Sahabaah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) in the same way.
5) Fear of One's Imaan being Lost through Making Deen an Entertainment
The kitaabs of Aqaaid have recorded that if people enact a play for entertainment purposes, where one person assumes the position of a great Aalim or Mufti, and people refer deeni issues to him, and during the course of the discussion, they laugh at him, then on account of showing disrespect to deen, all the people present will come out of the fold of Islam.
This ruling of the Fuqaha relates to the case where disrespect is shown to deen. This will render one a kaafir and take one out from the fold of Islam. When one views these types of essays where one group acts like the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) and the other group acts like the kuffaar captives, then during the course of the discussion or both parties presenting their thoughts and opinions, if any disrespect is shown to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum), this can endanger one's imaan.
In conclusion, we make dua that Allah Ta'ala bless us with the true understanding of deen and keep us firm upon the sunnah.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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