Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him)
Question:
What is the ruling regarding a person who says that some Islamic rulings need revision and change because they do not meet modern requirements? For instance, the well-known principle of Sharia regarding inheritance, which states that the share of a male is equivalent to that of two females.
Answer:
The rulings that Allah Almighty has legislated for His servants, which have been clearly outlined in the Holy Quran or through the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the blessed Hadiths—such as the rulings of inheritance, prayer, fasting, Hajj, Zakat, and other such Sharia commands upon which there is consensus among the Ummah—no individual has the right to object to or alter these rulings in any way. This is because such Sharia rulings have the status of definitive law from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment.
Among these rulings is the preference given to men over women in matters of inheritance, as explicitly stated in Allah's Book, and there is consensus among the scholars of the Ummah on this matter. Therefore, it is obligatory to adhere to these rulings with full conviction and faith. Anyone who considers contrary rulings to be more appropriate has exited the fold of Islam. Those who deem it permissible to oppose such rulings are also committing an act of disbelief, as they are objecting to Allah Almighty and His noble Messenger (peace be upon him). Consequently, it is the responsibility of those in authority to command the objector, if he is a Muslim, to repent. If he refuses to repent, then due to his disbelief and apostasy, he is liable to the death penalty, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever changes his religion, kill him."
(Sahih Bukhari, Musnad Ahmad 1/2, 5/231, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan An-Nasa’i, and Sunan Ibn Majah)
We pray for ourselves and all Muslims for protection from the misguidance of trials and from opposing the purified Sharia.
Question:
What is the ruling regarding a person who says that some Islamic rulings need revision and change because they do not meet modern requirements? For instance, the well-known principle of Sharia regarding inheritance, which states that the share of a male is equivalent to that of two females.
Answer:
The rulings that Allah Almighty has legislated for His servants, which have been clearly outlined in the Holy Quran or through the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the blessed Hadiths—such as the rulings of inheritance, prayer, fasting, Hajj, Zakat, and other such Sharia commands upon which there is consensus among the Ummah—no individual has the right to object to or alter these rulings in any way. This is because such Sharia rulings have the status of definitive law from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment.
Among these rulings is the preference given to men over women in matters of inheritance, as explicitly stated in Allah's Book, and there is consensus among the scholars of the Ummah on this matter. Therefore, it is obligatory to adhere to these rulings with full conviction and faith. Anyone who considers contrary rulings to be more appropriate has exited the fold of Islam. Those who deem it permissible to oppose such rulings are also committing an act of disbelief, as they are objecting to Allah Almighty and His noble Messenger (peace be upon him). Consequently, it is the responsibility of those in authority to command the objector, if he is a Muslim, to repent. If he refuses to repent, then due to his disbelief and apostasy, he is liable to the death penalty, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever changes his religion, kill him."
(Sahih Bukhari, Musnad Ahmad 1/2, 5/231, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan An-Nasa’i, and Sunan Ibn Majah)
We pray for ourselves and all Muslims for protection from the misguidance of trials and from opposing the purified Sharia.