Saying: “We Don’t Know What the Ruling Is”

Question

The wedding procession of Zayd’s son went to ‘Umar’s house. As is the custom, the jewellery and clothes for the bride are displayed. When the time for the display came, a certain hafiz forbade it, saying it was contrary to the Sacred Law. After that one man said: “Oh, we don’t know what the ruling is — just show us the clothes!” Some people then doubted whether by denying a Sacred ruling one leaves Islam. What is the ruling on this?

Answer

To utter such a sentence is a very serious matter. If — God forbid — the meaning was “we do not believe in the Sacred rulings and are not convinced of them,” then it is hard for iman to remain intact. If that was not the meaning, it is still great ignorance. In any case, repentance and istighfar are obligatory upon the one who said it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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