Ittiqa al-Haram wa al-Shubuhat fi Talab al-Rizq
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dar Kunuz Ishbilya lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzi'
Ittiqa al-Haram wa al-Shubuhat fi Talab al-Rizq (Avoiding the Unlawful and Doubtful in Seeking Sustenance) is an Islamic legal and ethical treatise by the Saudi-based scholar Ahmad al-Tawil on earning lawful livelihoods and abstaining from illicit and ambiguous financial transactions .
Author and Publication
The book was authored by Ahmad ibn Ahmad Muhammad 'Abd Allah al-Tawil, a former imam and preacher (khatib) of the Armed Forces Hospital Mosque in Riyadh and an inspector of Qur'anic codices and recitations for the Holy Qur'an Radio station in Saudi Arabia . The work was published by Dar Kunuz Ishbilya in Riyadh .
Purpose and Scope
The treatise addresses the religious principles governing economic pursuits, underscoring that acquiring a lawful livelihood and shunning both clear prohibitions and ambiguous sources of income are foundational to a Muslim's religious conduct and ultimate salvation . The author emphasizes that distinguishing between the lawful (halal) and the unlawful (haram) constitutes an individual religious obligation (fard 'ayn) for every legally accountable believer . The book aims to encourage licit avenues of earnings, warn against forbidden means, and cultivate moral scrupulousness (wara') regarding doubtful matters .
Structure and Contents
The work is organized into three principal parts (abwab):
- Part One: The Clearly Lawful (al-Halal al-Bayyin): Examines the linguistic and legal definitions of halal, the obligation of pursuing lawful income, and the relationship between work, worship, and reliance on God (tawakkul) . It also discusses financial contentment, refraining from begging, the specific circumstances under which asking others for aid is permitted, and the categories of individuals ineligible to receive charity .
- Part Two: The Clearly Unlawful (al-Haram al-Bayyin): Outlines the definition and conceptual background of haram, establishing that declaring matters permissible or forbidden is the exclusive prerogative of God . It details the legal maxim that necessity permits prohibitions (al-darurat tubih al-mahzurat), the divine wisdom behind prohibitive rulings, warnings against illicit gains, and practical forms of unlawful earnings .
- Part Three: Doubtful Matters (al-Mushtabahat): Explores transactions and matters that hover between permissibility and prohibition without explicit, definitive texts . It provides definitions of ambiguous matters (al-mutashabih), investigates the causes of legal ambiguity, explains how doubtful matters are identified, outlines the legal rulings on encountering them, and provides illustrative examples of contested financial issues alongside arguments for exercising caution by abandoning doubtful transactions .
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