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Fatwa CenterWhat may and may not be mentioned of ethnic cultures
Question
Salam.I wish to build an application that will be a quiz type on my native culture. But there are aspects of my culture that do not comform with Islamic cultural practices. Is it permissible for me include these aspects as part of the questions (e.g traditional belief, music, drums, Dance etc.)? Please note that this application is not encouraging anyone to practice the culture, it only asks questions and the users will provide the answer. Jazakallahu Khairan.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible to mention in the quiz the aspects of the culture of your people that go against the Islamic religion, unless you will explain its ruling according to Islam and warn people against it; otherwise, you must not mention it. May Allaah have mercy upon our righteous predecessors who said: “Revive truth and kill falsehood by neglecting it.”
As for what does not go against the Islamic religion from the matters of your people, there is no harm in it because it is included in what is good and in the traditions that are allowed in Islam. Allaah The Almighty says (what means): {Take what is given freely, enjoin what is good…} [Quran 7:199] Ibn As-Sam‘aani said: “It means what people know and are familiar with among themselves.”
Ibn ‘Atiyyah said: “It means all what people know of things that are not prohibited in Islam. As for the term “Al-Ma‘roof” that is often repeated in the Quran such as the saying of Allaah The Almighty: {And live with them bil-Ma'roof (in kindness)} [Quran 4:19], it means what people know to be good like this matter.”
For more benefit, kindly refer to the Fataawa 81604, 81545 and 81239 about the ruling on songs, music and dancing.
Allaah Knows best.
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