10/6/2024–|Last updated: 10/6/202404:48 PM (Mecca time)
The Palestine Scholars Association issued fatwas saying that providing relief to the needy comes before Umrah and voluntary Hajj, and that spending the money allocated for sacrifices and offering them to the afflicted in the Gaza Strip and other Muslim countries is greater in reward and much better than performing voluntary rituals.
In an exclusive interview with Tel Aviv Tribune Net, the head of the Palestinian Scholars Association, Nawaf Takruri, said that spending in areas of urgent need, as well as areas of jihad, is considered an obligation and not an obligation, and this is definitely more beloved to God Almighty than the voluntary Hajj and sacrifice and all the voluntary giving.
He added that if the comparison is between the voluntary Hajj and performing the obligation of saving lives from death by starvation and helping the Mujahideen fight an enemy who wants to undermine this nation’s dignity and pride, “I do not think that the scholars disagree about that because it is a comparison between an obligation and a voluntary Hajj.”
Hajj or saving lives?
When asked about the priority between the obligatory Hajj and saving the lives of afflicted Muslims, the head of the Palestine Scholars Association answered that the obligatory Hajj is subject to disagreement, as “Shafi’i jurists see that Hajj is obligatory with relaxation and is not obligatory immediately, and hence if there is an urgent and present need, it is preferable.” Of the Hajj that can be delayed.” He added that “the majority of scholars believe that Hajj is obligatory immediately.”
He explains the details of this by saying, “If we miss a necessary Hajj this year, it will be replaced next year, or the next year, or the next year, while if we miss a human being’s life, it will be missed, and if we leave a human being to die of hunger, then he has died, and we bear responsibility for him.”
Ahmad Al-Raysouni, a professor at the College of Sharia at Qatar University, agrees with this, and says, “The obligations and duties take precedence over voluntary acts of obedience. Whenever there is a conflict between an obligation and a voluntary act, prioritizing the obligation is better and more correct, and it is correct jurisprudence, and it is sound religiosity.”
Raissouni added that this fully applies to our issue these days, which is the comparison between Hajj and voluntary Umrah. The priority is the needs of our people in Gaza, and he attributed this to several reasons, including:
- Firstly – There is a real and legitimate jihad in Gaza that is obligatory in kind, because we are facing an occupation, and this jihad is one of the most obligatory duties.
- Secondly – The needs of our people in Palestine have reached an amount that is unparalleled in terms of necessity, need, and sustenance.
- Third – Any dirham directed to Gaza – and Palestine in general – whether it is zakat or any other money is the fulfillment of an urgent duty, or it is the fulfillment of a temporary duty, as the jurists say.
Two parallel duties
Regarding the obligatory Hajj, the professor at the College of Sharia at Qatar University explains, “We will be faced with the two obligations of jihad and Hajj. The two matters are parallel or equal in principle. Therefore, whoever performs the obligatory Hajj has the right to do so and is on guidance, and whoever performs the obligation of jihad is also on guidance.” .
He set an important condition in order to balance the two obligations, saying, “Whoever now offers the obligation of jihad and relief for souls means that he postpones his Hajj for a year or two, but if someone considers it more likely and it appears to him that he has an opportunity to perform Hajj that may not be repeated, then it is preferable for him to advance his Hajj.”
Sacrifices
Regarding the provisions of the sacrifice and sending it to afflicted areas, the head of the Palestine Scholars Association said that there is no disagreement among scholars regarding the necessity of transporting large portions of our sacrifices to countries in which there is a compelling circumstance, such as Gaza and Sudan, and the like, according to degrees, to achieve the fulfillment of the people’s need.
Dr. Takruri added that the sacrifice involves jihad with money. “Whoever sends money to Gaza in order to slaughter a sacrifice there has obtained two rewards, God willing: the reward of the sacrifice and the reward of jihad with money.”
When asked about the ways in which the sacrifices reach the Gaza Strip in light of the siege and aggression launched by the Israeli occupation against it for more than 8 months, he stated, “The sacrifice can be slaughtered in the West Bank and transported to Gaza, for half the amount.”
As for Dr. Al-Raysuni, he believes that whoever of the Muslims is able to offer the price of his sacrifice to relieve the afflicted people who are dying of hunger in Gaza, or to empower the mujahideen and their families, “this person has performed a great obligation, and it is one of the obligations of the time. Rather, it is the obligation of the time, and his work will be righteous and acceptable, if He wills.” God is much greater in reward than the sacrifice.”
It is noteworthy that Israel has continued its aggression against the Gaza Strip for more than 8 months, resulting in the death of more than 37 thousand people and the injury of about 85 thousand people, in addition to countless numbers buried under the rubble of their homes that were demolished as a result of the continuous Israeli bombing since the 7th of October. Last October.