the way of Allah and cast not yourselves to perdition with your own
hands, and do good (to others); surely Allah loves the doers of good.
I am confused because on this fatwa it refered to not spending in the
cause of Allah The question number 46807 .
but then I read another fatwa where it said refered to it as killing
yourself If I have understood it correctly Sheik. The question number
21589 Can you please clarify Sheik?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The scholars – mufassireen, fuqaha' and others -- are unanimously
agreed that the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):"And spend in the Cause of Allaah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds)
and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your
wealth in the Cause of Allaah), and do good. Truly, Allaah loves
Al-Muhsinoon(the good-doers)" [al-Baqarah 2:195]was revealed in the
context of enjoining spending, and with regard to the reason for the
revelation of this verse it was narrated that some of the Sahaabah
wanted to focus on their farms and trade, and forsake jihad for the
sake of Allaah, and Allaah warned them against doing that in this
verse.
Imam al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) narrated from
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said
concerning this verse: It was revealed concerning spending (in the way
of Allaah). End quote. (al-Bukhaari, no. 4516).
Al-Tirmidhi (2972) narrated that Aslam Abu 'Imraan said: We were in
the city of the Byzantines and there came out to us a large number of
Byzantines. One of the Muslim men charged at the Byzantine ranks until
he penetrated among them, and the people shouted and said: Subhaan
Allaah! He has thrown himself into destruction! Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari
stood up and said: O people, you are misinterpreting this verse.
Rather this verse was revealed concerning us Ansaar, when Allaah
granted victory to Islam and the number of its supporters increased.
We said to one another in private, and not to the Messenger of Allaah
(blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him): Our wealth and property
have diminished. Allaah has granted victory to Islam and the number of
its supporters has increased. We should focus on our wealth and
property and try to take care of them. Then Allaah revealed to His
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) a verse which
refuted what we said:"And spend in the Cause of Allaah (i.e. Jihad of
all kinds) and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not
spending your wealth in the Cause of Allaah)". So destruction here
referred to focusing on wealth and property, and abandoning jihad. Abu
Ayyoob continued to strive in jihad for the sake of Allaah until he
was buried in Constantinople.
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 13.
Despite that, the scholars -- both earlier and later -- also quoted
this verse as evidence to show that it is forbidden to kill oneself or
harm oneself or throw oneself into destruction by any means, based on
the general meaning of the words of the verse and by analogy, and they
affirmed the basic usooli principle which says: what counts is the
general meaning of the words, not the specific reason for revelation.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
As for restricting it to that -- meaning restricting the verse to the
matter of not spending for the sake of Allaah -- that is subject to
further discussion, because what counts is the general meaning of the
wording. End quote.
Fath al-Baari, 8/185
Al-Shawkaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
i.e., do not do that which will bring about your destruction. The
salaf had a number of opinions concerning the meaning of the verse.
The truth is that what matters is the general meaning of the wording
not the specific reason for revelation. Everything that may be called
destruction in religious or worldly terms is included in that. This is
the view of Ibn Jareer al-Tabari. End quote.
Fath al-Qadeer, 1/193
This is also indicated by the various interpretations that the salaf
gave for this verse. It was narrated from al-Bara' ibn 'Aazib (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that he regarded the one who committed a
sin then despaired of the mercy of Allaah as throwing himself into
destruction.
Ibn Hajar said inFath al-Baari(8/33): It was narrated by Ibn Jareer
and Ibn al-Mundhir with a saheeh isnaad.
Thus it becomes clear that the two answers previously given on our
website do not contradict one another. What is mentioned in question
number 46807explains the reason for the revelation of this verse and
the context in which it was revealed.
The answer to question number 21589is quoting as evidence the general
meaning of the wording of the verse, and explaining that it is not
permissible to throw oneself into destruction in any sense, whatever
the form of this destruction or harm.
And Allaah knows best.
