Praise
be to Allaah.
When I examined this fabricated chain letter I thought
that it is my duty to comment on the claims made by its author, connecting
benefits and interests to the one who writes it out and distributes
it, and harm to the one who ignores it and does not pass it on. This
is a lie which has no sound basis; rather it is the fabrication of liars
and imposters who want to divert the Muslims from putting their trust
in their Lord alone, with no partner or associate, to bring them benefits
and ward off harm, whilst also taking the means that are prescribed
in sharee’ah and are permissible, and who want to make them put their
trust in and focus on something other than Allaah in seeking to gain
benefits and to ward off harm, and seek false means that are neither
prescribed in Islam nor permissible, and to call people to depend on
and worship something other than Allaah.
Undoubtedly this is one of the plots of the enemies of
the Muslims who want to divert them from the true religion by any means
possible. The Muslims have to beware of these plots and not be deceived
by them. They should not be deceived by this chain letter and similar
letters which surface from time to time. We have previously drawn attention
to a number of them. It is not permissible for a Muslim to write these
chain letters or to distribute them under any circumstances whatsoever.
That is an evil action and the one who does it is sinning. There is
the fear that he may be subjected to punishment in this world or in
the Hereafter, because this is a form of bid’ah (innovation); bid’ah
is a great evil and its consequences are severe.
This kind of chain letter is a form of reprehensible
innovation, and is one of the means that lead to shirk and exaggeration
about the Ahl al-Bayt (members of the Prophet’s household) and others
among the dead, and may lead to people calling upon them besides Allaah
and seeking their help and believing that they may being benefit or
cause harm to those who call upon them and seek their help. It is also
a form of telling lies against Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
“It is only those who believe not in the Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allaah, who
fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars”[al-Nahl 16:105]
And the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates
anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not part of it
will have it rejected.” (Saheeh, agreed upon).
All Muslims who receive this chain letter or similar
letters should tear them up and destroy them, and warn people against
them. They should not pay any attention to promises or threats mentioned
therein, because these are false letters which have no sound basis and
will not result in anything, good or bad. But those who fabricate them,
write them out, distribute them, advocate them and spread them among
the Muslims are committing sin, because all of that is a kind of co-operating
in sin and transgression, which Allaah forbade in His Book when He said
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa
(virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin
and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”[al-Maa’idah
5:2]
We ask Allaah to keep us and the Muslims safe and sound
from all evil. Allaah is Sufficient for us and He is the best disposer
of affairs, the best to deal with those who fabricated this and similar
chain letters and introduced into the religion of Allaah something that
is not part of it. We ask Allaah to deal with them as they deserve,
because they have told lies against Allaah and propagated those lies,
and called the people to the means of shirk and exaggeration about the
dead, and to occupy themselves with something that will cause them harm
and bring them no benefits. These comments have been written out of
sincerity towards Allaah and His slaves.
May Allaah send blessings and peace upon His slave and
Messenger Muhammad, and his family and companions.