Who is a Faasiq and what is his Status in the Shari'ah?

Q: Imaan-54 : What is the definition of a Faasiq and what is his status in the Shari?ah? The commission of which sins renders a person a Faasiq?

Answer: A person who commits a major sin or who habitually commits a minor sin is called a Faasiq. The testimony of a Faasiq is not accepted. Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Shafee RAH. has written a detailed treatise on what the major and minor sins are in his book Gunaa be Lazzah. Refer to this book for more details. Some of the major sins include:

* Not performing salaah
* Performing salaah before or after its time
* Not paying zakaah
* Stealing
* Playing music
* Exposeing the Satr in front of others (as is common on the beaches and at swimming pools)
* Allowing the garments to fall below the ankles out os pride
* Backbiting
* Carrying tales
* Giving false evidence
* Taking false oaths
* Usurping people's wealth
* Taking interest on loans
* Accepting bribes
* Disobeying parents
* Devouring the wealth of orphans
* Severing family ties
* Speaking ill of the Sahabah RADI. (as the Rawaafidh, Khawaarij and followers of Maududi do)
* Speaking ill of and searching for the faults of Ulema and Huffaadh
* Failure to enjoin good and forbid evil when able to do so
* Gambling (practised in the name of lotteries nowadays)
* Assisting another person in acts of sin or encouraging another to sin
* For an Aalim not to practise on the knowledge he possesses
* Peering into the homes of others
* Entering another person's home without permission
* Consuming alcohol
* To mock at people's lineage
* Dancing

As stated earlier, habitually committing minor sins will also render one a Faasiq. Some examples of minor sins are:

* Intentionally looking at non-Mahram women
* Mocking at another Muslim, even though by signs or insinuations and even though the truth is spoken
*Keeping the company of a Faasiq
*Taking impurities into the Masjid
*Stockpiling essential goods so that the price may escalate
*Engaging in trade after the Jumu'ah Adhaan has been called out
*Keeping dogs as pets just for the love of it
*Keeping alcohol in the house
*Urinating while standing
*Looking up and to the sides while performing salaah
*Using inferior wealth when paying zakaah
*Issuing more than one divorce
*Divorcing one s wife while she is menstruating
*Failing to give one's children equally (there is. however, no harm in giving more to any child on account of their capabilities, knowledge or efforts)
*Having gold slits inserted between the teeth
*Waiting at home for the lqaamah atter already having heard the Adhaan
*Greeting with Salaam by only waving the hand
*Entertaining ill thoughts of a fellow Muslim
*Listening to music
*For a person to insist on leading the people in salaah when they are unhappy with him on some reasonable account
*Discarding one s dirt on the street
And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah (Vol.1)

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