(ii). The Incident of the Bedouin Urinating in the masjid as Anas -may Allāh be pleased with him- narrated that a Bedouin urinated in the mosque, and some of the companions rushed to stop him. However, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not interrupt him.” He then called for a bucket of water and it was poured over the affected area. Al-Bukhārī (6025) and Muslim (284).
This illustrates the Prophet’s ﷺ wisdom in avoiding a greater harm (spreading impurity) by tolerating a lesser harm momentarily.
Thus, it may be said, if the road to the sister’s destination is generally safe and she can travel in a group of trustworthy individuals, with no reasonable fear of harm from them, then it would be permissible for her to travel to a safer environment.
However, if the journey itself presents significant risks and there is no group or individuals she can rely upon, then remaining in her current location with patience and prayer becomes the safer option, despite its challenges.
I conclude with a profound statement of Imām Ibn Taimiyyah -may Allāh have mercy on him-, that encapsulates the wisdom required in such situations:
“An intelligent person is not one who merely distinguishes between good and evil, but one who recognises the better of two goods and the lesser of two evils. Furthermore, the essence of true scholarship is not in issuing strict prohibitions indiscriminately but in finding practical and compassionate solutions. As Imām Sufyān Ath-Thawrī -may Allāh have mercy on him- remarked, as quoted by Imām Nawawī: “True knowledge is in providing concessions based on trustworthiness; anyone can be strict.” (Ādāb al-Fatwā, p. 37).
Majmū‘ Al-Fatāwā (20/54)
والله أعلى وأعلم
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Abū 'Aṭīyah
8/6/1446H.
“Do not interrupt him.” He then called for a bucket of water and it was poured over the affected area. Al-Bukhārī (6025) and Muslim (284).
This illustrates the Prophet’s ﷺ wisdom in avoiding a greater harm (spreading impurity) by tolerating a lesser harm momentarily.
Thus, it may be said, if the road to the sister’s destination is generally safe and she can travel in a group of trustworthy individuals, with no reasonable fear of harm from them, then it would be permissible for her to travel to a safer environment.
However, if the journey itself presents significant risks and there is no group or individuals she can rely upon, then remaining in her current location with patience and prayer becomes the safer option, despite its challenges.
I conclude with a profound statement of Imām Ibn Taimiyyah -may Allāh have mercy on him-, that encapsulates the wisdom required in such situations:
“An intelligent person is not one who merely distinguishes between good and evil, but one who recognises the better of two goods and the lesser of two evils. Furthermore, the essence of true scholarship is not in issuing strict prohibitions indiscriminately but in finding practical and compassionate solutions. As Imām Sufyān Ath-Thawrī -may Allāh have mercy on him- remarked, as quoted by Imām Nawawī: “True knowledge is in providing concessions based on trustworthiness; anyone can be strict.” (Ādāb al-Fatwā, p. 37).
Majmū‘ Al-Fatāwā (20/54)
والله أعلى وأعلم
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Abū 'Aṭīyah
8/6/1446H.