Mufti Abu Layth Archive: fiqh/public-law-and-governanceAnswers on fiqh/public-law-and-governance, newest recording first.https://muftiabulayth.org/feeds/topics/fiqh-public-law-and-governance.atom.xml2021-04-26T00:00:00ZMufti Abu Layth Archivepipeline/feeds.pyWhy does China try to control who becomes the Dalai Lama?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/2021-04-26T00:00:00Z2021-04-26T00:00:00ZWhy does China try to control who becomes the Dalai Lama?
The guest says China's attempt to control the Dalai Lama's reincarnation shows a state using religion, something he sees in pieces in Muslim countries and elsewhere.
Answer from 26 April 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Lupe Fiasco | Stardom, Semiotics & Soul-searching | MindTrap#56 | Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki MALM (at 52:34)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 53:12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYiiPEhuiHA&t=3192s<p><b>Why does China try to control who becomes the Dalai Lama?</b></p>
<p>The guest says China's attempt to control the Dalai Lama's reincarnation shows a state using religion, something he sees in pieces in Muslim countries and elsewhere.</p>
<p>Answer from 26 April 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Lupe Fiasco | Stardom, Semiotics & Soul-searching | MindTrap#56 | Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki MALM (at 52:34)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYiiPEhuiHA&t=3192s">Watch on YouTube at 53:12</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/">Open the segment</a></p>Abdul Rahman Hassan's clip: the first Khariji, protest, and never criticising rulershttps://muftiabulayth.org/r/krigi3omjd4/s/1/2021-02-22T00:00:00Z2021-02-22T00:00:00ZAbdul Rahman Hassan's clip: the first Khariji, protest, and never criticising rulers
Mufti Abu Layth plays and mocks a clip in which Abdul Rahman Hassan presents protest against rulers as the mentality of the first Khariji, reading it as a defence of the Saudi rulers.
Answer from 22 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Ustadh Abdul Rahman Hassan Misquoting Hadith & Invite Challenge | Mufti Abu Layth (at 0:02)
A more recent answer on belief/sectarianism-and-takfir exists (22 February 2023): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 0:02: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrIGi3OmJD4&t=2s<p><b>Abdul Rahman Hassan's clip: the first Khariji, protest, and never criticising rulers</b></p>
<p>Mufti Abu Layth plays and mocks a clip in which Abdul Rahman Hassan presents protest against rulers as the mentality of the first Khariji, reading it as a defence of the Saudi rulers.</p>
<p>Answer from 22 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Ustadh Abdul Rahman Hassan Misquoting Hadith & Invite Challenge | Mufti Abu Layth (at 0:02)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on belief/sectarianism-and-takfir exists</b> (22 February 2023): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/7/">Should Sunnis preach to Shia Muslims about what they get wrong?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrIGi3OmJD4&t=2s">Watch on YouTube at 0:02</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/krigi3omjd4/s/1/">Open the segment</a></p>Does an Islamic judge always give the maximum punishment for theft?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/49/2021-02-16T00:00:00Z2021-02-16T00:00:00ZDoes an Islamic judge always give the maximum punishment for theft?
Mufti Abu Layth says a qadi would weigh the circumstances, much as courts in England do today, and that this is how the Sharia would work; the hudud would be different now. Mufti Abu Layth says a qadi's judgement would be not unlike how the courts work in England today, and that is how the Sharia would work, more or less.
Answer from 16 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #202| Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:39:59)
A more recent answer on fiqh/public-law-and-governance exists (26 April 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/
Watch on YouTube at 2:39:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=9599s<p><b>Does an Islamic judge always give the maximum punishment for theft?</b></p>
<p>Mufti Abu Layth says a qadi would weigh the circumstances, much as courts in England do today, and that this is how the Sharia would work; the hudud would be different now. Mufti Abu Layth says a qadi's judgement would be not unlike how the courts work in England today, and that is how the Sharia would work, more or less.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #202| Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:39:59)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/public-law-and-governance exists</b> (26 April 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/">Why does China try to control who becomes the Dalai Lama?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=9599s">Watch on YouTube at 2:39:59</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/49/">Open the segment</a></p>Did the Prophet say he would kill the first Khariji's descendants?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/38/2021-02-16T00:00:00Z2021-02-16T00:00:00ZDid the Prophet say he would kill the first Khariji's descendants?
Mufti Abu Layth says the Prophet never said 'I will kill his lineage'; in the Bukhari report he stopped Umar from killing the man, so the clip misrepresents the Prophet to defend rulers.
Answer from 16 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #202| Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:06:20)
A more recent answer on belief/sectarianism-and-takfir exists (22 February 2023): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 2:13:51: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=8031s<p><b>Did the Prophet say he would kill the first Khariji's descendants?</b></p>
<p>Mufti Abu Layth says the Prophet never said 'I will kill his lineage'; in the Bukhari report he stopped Umar from killing the man, so the clip misrepresents the Prophet to defend rulers.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 February 2021 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #202| Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:06:20)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on belief/sectarianism-and-takfir exists</b> (22 February 2023): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/mofs_0ugn4e/s/7/">Should Sunnis preach to Shia Muslims about what they get wrong?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=8031s">Watch on YouTube at 2:13:51</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/38/">Open the segment</a></p>Does the Quran treat every human life as sacred, even in war?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zasz48lx_wi/s/27/2020-12-11T00:00:00Z2020-12-11T00:00:00ZDoes the Quran treat every human life as sacred, even in war?
The guest says the Quran holds every human soul sacred, which classical exegetes on jihad missed; Mufti Abu Layth says Muslim scholarship must shift from outdated fiqh to ethics.
Answer from 11 December 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Dr Javad T. Hashmi | Axis of Morality & Archetypal Myths in the Quran | MindTrap 46 |Mufti Abu Layth (at 1:52:45)
A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/
Watch on YouTube at 1:52:45: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAsz48lX_WI&t=6765s<p><b>Does the Quran treat every human life as sacred, even in war?</b></p>
<p>The guest says the Quran holds every human soul sacred, which classical exegetes on jihad missed; Mufti Abu Layth says Muslim scholarship must shift from outdated fiqh to ethics.</p>
<p>Answer from 11 December 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Dr Javad T. Hashmi | Axis of Morality & Archetypal Myths in the Quran | MindTrap 46 |Mufti Abu Layth (at 1:52:45)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/">If reason helps us understand the Quran, does the reasoning of earlier scholars matter too?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAsz48lX_WI&t=6765s">Watch on YouTube at 1:52:45</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zasz48lx_wi/s/27/">Open the segment</a></p>Can a waqf never be overturned, as the argument for the Hagia Sophia claims?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/8/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZCan a waqf never be overturned, as the argument for the Hagia Sophia claims?
Mufti Abu Layth says the waqf argument fails because Abu Hanifa himself held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis abandon when it does not serve the powerful or the clergy. He calls the reconversion part of a rising right-wing fascism that includes Muslims. Mufti Abu Layth says the reconversion is part of a rising right-wing fascism that includes Muslims, and that the waqf argument fails because Abu Hanifa himself held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis abandon when it does not serve the powerful or the clergy.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 22:22)
A more recent answer on fiqh/madhhabs-and-following/hanafi-school exists (10 December 2022): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/12/
Watch on YouTube at 22:22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=1342s<p><b>Can a waqf never be overturned, as the argument for the Hagia Sophia claims?</b></p>
<p>Mufti Abu Layth says the waqf argument fails because Abu Hanifa himself held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis abandon when it does not serve the powerful or the clergy. He calls the reconversion part of a rising right-wing fascism that includes Muslims. Mufti Abu Layth says the reconversion is part of a rising right-wing fascism that includes Muslims, and that the waqf argument fails because Abu Hanifa himself held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis abandon when it does not serve the powerful or the clergy.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 22:22)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/madhhabs-and-following/hanafi-school exists</b> (10 December 2022): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/12/">What did Abu Hanifa say about Imam Malik?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=1342s">Watch on YouTube at 22:22</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/8/">Open the segment</a></p>Does Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/6/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZDoes Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?
No: the Blue Mosque, with room for at least ten thousand, is a four-minute walk away and hundreds of Istanbul mosques already call the adhan, so the emotional reaction to hearing the adhan there is misplaced. Mufti Abu Layth says there is no need for the Hagia Sophia as a mosque, since the Blue Mosque, with room for at least ten thousand, is a four-minute walk away and hundreds of Istanbul mosques already call the adhan.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 15:48)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 15:48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=948s<p><b>Does Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?</b></p>
<p>No: the Blue Mosque, with room for at least ten thousand, is a four-minute walk away and hundreds of Istanbul mosques already call the adhan, so the emotional reaction to hearing the adhan there is misplaced. Mufti Abu Layth says there is no need for the Hagia Sophia as a mosque, since the Blue Mosque, with room for at least ten thousand, is a four-minute walk away and hundreds of Istanbul mosques already call the adhan.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 15:48)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=948s">Watch on YouTube at 15:48</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/6/">Open the segment</a></p>Is it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/4/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZIs it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?
Yes, he says: not as a matter of halal and haram, since Turkey may do what it wants with its property, but it is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, driven by the regime's bid to lead the Islamic world. Mufti Abu Layth says converting the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque is not a matter of halal and haram, since Turkey may legally do what it wants with its property, but is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, driven in his view by the regime's wish to lead the Islamic world.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 10:35)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 10:35: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=635s<p><b>Is it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?</b></p>
<p>Yes, he says: not as a matter of halal and haram, since Turkey may do what it wants with its property, but it is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, driven by the regime's bid to lead the Islamic world. Mufti Abu Layth says converting the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque is not a matter of halal and haram, since Turkey may legally do what it wants with its property, but is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, driven in his view by the regime's wish to lead the Islamic world.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 10:35)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=635s">Watch on YouTube at 10:35</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/4/">Open the segment</a></p>Was it haram for Muslims to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the conquest?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/3/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZWas it haram for Muslims to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the conquest?
No, he says: it was the politics of conquest in medieval times, done by Muslims and Christians alike and neither encouraged nor prohibited by Islam, but it was not a good thing. The building later became a museum, and the argument now is only that it was once a mosque. Mufti Abu Layth says the medieval conversion of churches into mosques and of mosques into cathedrals was the politics of men, neither encouraged nor prohibited by Islam, so the original conversion of the Hagia Sophia was not haram but was not a good thing.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 7:58)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 7:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=478s<p><b>Was it haram for Muslims to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the conquest?</b></p>
<p>No, he says: it was the politics of conquest in medieval times, done by Muslims and Christians alike and neither encouraged nor prohibited by Islam, but it was not a good thing. The building later became a museum, and the argument now is only that it was once a mosque. Mufti Abu Layth says the medieval conversion of churches into mosques and of mosques into cathedrals was the politics of men, neither encouraged nor prohibited by Islam, so the original conversion of the Hagia Sophia was not haram but was not a good thing.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 7:58)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=478s">Watch on YouTube at 7:58</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/3/">Open the segment</a></p>Does Islam allow converting churches and other places of worship into mosques?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/2/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZDoes Islam allow converting churches and other places of worship into mosques?
Islam never set out to convert other religions' holy sites: Umar left Jerusalem's churches alone, and Quran 22:40 counts monasteries, churches and synagogues among places where Allah's name is glorified and which He protects. The Hagia Sophia's conversion happened, but it was not what Islam encourages. Mufti Abu Layth says Islam never set out to convert other religions' holy sites into mosques: Umar did not convert Jerusalem's churches, and Quran 22:40 counts monasteries, churches and synagogues among the places where Allah's name is glorified and which He protects.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:43)
A more recent answer on quran/tafsir exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/30/
Watch on YouTube at 2:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=163s<p><b>Does Islam allow converting churches and other places of worship into mosques?</b></p>
<p>Islam never set out to convert other religions' holy sites: Umar left Jerusalem's churches alone, and Quran 22:40 counts monasteries, churches and synagogues among places where Allah's name is glorified and which He protects. The Hagia Sophia's conversion happened, but it was not what Islam encourages. Mufti Abu Layth says Islam never set out to convert other religions' holy sites into mosques: Umar did not convert Jerusalem's churches, and Quran 22:40 counts monasteries, churches and synagogues among the places where Allah's name is glorified and which He protects.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 2:43)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on quran/tafsir exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/30/">Why are two of the daily prayers recited silently when 17:110 says not to be silent?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=163s">Watch on YouTube at 2:43</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/2/">Open the segment</a></p>What is the Hagia Sophia and what did Turkey decide about it?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/1/2020-07-16T00:00:00Z2020-07-16T00:00:00ZWhat is the Hagia Sophia and what did Turkey decide about it?
Turkey's courts under Erdogan ruled that the Hagia Sophia be converted back into a mosque, prompting celebration and mockery of objectors online. The building was built by Justinian I as a cathedral, once the largest in the eastern Christian world.
Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 0:00)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 0:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=0s<p><b>What is the Hagia Sophia and what did Turkey decide about it?</b></p>
<p>Turkey's courts under Erdogan ruled that the Hagia Sophia be converted back into a mosque, prompting celebration and mockery of objectors online. The building was built by Justinian I as a cathedral, once the largest in the eastern Christian world.</p>
<p>Answer from 16 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Why converting the Hagia Sophia to a mosque is a mistake | Mufti Abu Layth (at 0:00)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgsfy-UmSA4&t=0s">Watch on YouTube at 0:00</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/bgsfy-umsa4/s/1/">Open the segment</a></p>Isn't the Prophet clearing the Kaaba of idols a precedent for the Hagia Sophia?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/30/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZIsn't the Prophet clearing the Kaaba of idols a precedent for the Hagia Sophia?
No: removing the idols from the Kaaba was about ending superstition, and cannot justify converting a museum in a secular country, which he calls a political stunt. Mufti Abu Layth says the Prophet's removal of the idols from the Kaaba, which were tied to superstition, cannot be linked to converting a museum in a secular country today.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:47:58)
A more recent answer on history/sirah exists (9 May 2023): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oag-f3hxcdy/s/3/
Watch on YouTube at 1:47:58: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=6478s<p><b>Isn't the Prophet clearing the Kaaba of idols a precedent for the Hagia Sophia?</b></p>
<p>No: removing the idols from the Kaaba was about ending superstition, and cannot justify converting a museum in a secular country, which he calls a political stunt. Mufti Abu Layth says the Prophet's removal of the idols from the Kaaba, which were tied to superstition, cannot be linked to converting a museum in a secular country today.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:47:58)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on history/sirah exists</b> (9 May 2023): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oag-f3hxcdy/s/3/">How did the Prophet balance gentleness and strength?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=6478s">Watch on YouTube at 1:47:58</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/30/">Open the segment</a></p>Can a mosque that was once a waqf never be anything else?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/25/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZCan a mosque that was once a waqf never be anything else?
The waqf argument fails, he says, because Abu Hanifa held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis drop when it does not serve power. Mufti Abu Layth says Abu Hanifa himself held that a waqf is not perpetual and can be overturned.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:37:09)
A more recent answer on fiqh/madhhabs-and-following/hanafi-school exists (10 December 2022): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/12/
Watch on YouTube at 1:37:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5829s<p><b>Can a mosque that was once a waqf never be anything else?</b></p>
<p>The waqf argument fails, he says, because Abu Hanifa held that an endowment can be overturned, a view Hanafis drop when it does not serve power. Mufti Abu Layth says Abu Hanifa himself held that a waqf is not perpetual and can be overturned.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:37:09)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/madhhabs-and-following/hanafi-school exists</b> (10 December 2022): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/12/">What did Abu Hanifa say about Imam Malik?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5829s">Watch on YouTube at 1:37:09</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/25/">Open the segment</a></p>Does Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/23/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZDoes Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?
There is no need: the Blue Mosque, holding ten thousand, is four minutes away and hundreds of mosques in Istanbul already call the adhan. Mufti Abu Layth says there is no need for the Hagia Sophia as a mosque, since the Blue Mosque, holding at least ten thousand people, is a four-minute walk away.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:30:06)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 1:30:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5406s<p><b>Does Istanbul need the Hagia Sophia as a mosque?</b></p>
<p>There is no need: the Blue Mosque, holding ten thousand, is four minutes away and hundreds of mosques in Istanbul already call the adhan. Mufti Abu Layth says there is no need for the Hagia Sophia as a mosque, since the Blue Mosque, holding at least ten thousand people, is a four-minute walk away.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:30:06)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5406s">Watch on YouTube at 1:30:06</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/23/">Open the segment</a></p>Is it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/21/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZIs it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?
It is not haram, since Turkey may do as it likes with its property, but it is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, done for political standing. Mufti Abu Layth says converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque is absolutely wrong and a great mistake.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:25:00)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 1:25:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5100s<p><b>Is it wrong to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque?</b></p>
<p>It is not haram, since Turkey may do as it likes with its property, but it is absolutely wrong and a great mistake, done for political standing. Mufti Abu Layth says converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque is absolutely wrong and a great mistake.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:25:00)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=5100s">Watch on YouTube at 1:25:00</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/21/">Open the segment</a></p>Was it haram for the Ottomans to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/20/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZWas it haram for the Ottomans to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque?
The original conversion was not haram but the politics of conquest, practised by Muslims and Christians alike, and he does not think it was good. Mufti Abu Layth says the medieval conversion of churches into mosques was not haram but the politics of the time, though he does not think it was a good thing.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:22:25)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 1:22:25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4945s<p><b>Was it haram for the Ottomans to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque?</b></p>
<p>The original conversion was not haram but the politics of conquest, practised by Muslims and Christians alike, and he does not think it was good. Mufti Abu Layth says the medieval conversion of churches into mosques was not haram but the politics of the time, though he does not think it was a good thing.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:22:25)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4945s">Watch on YouTube at 1:22:25</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/20/">Open the segment</a></p>Does Islam allow turning churches into mosques?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/19/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZDoes Islam allow turning churches into mosques?
Islam never set out to convert other faiths' holy sites: Umar left Jerusalem's churches alone, and Quran 22:40 names them among places where Allah's name is glorified. Mufti Abu Layth says Islam never set out to convert other faiths' holy sites into mosques.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:17:16)
A more recent answer on quran/tafsir exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/30/
Watch on YouTube at 1:17:16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4636s<p><b>Does Islam allow turning churches into mosques?</b></p>
<p>Islam never set out to convert other faiths' holy sites: Umar left Jerusalem's churches alone, and Quran 22:40 names them among places where Allah's name is glorified. Mufti Abu Layth says Islam never set out to convert other faiths' holy sites into mosques.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:17:16)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on quran/tafsir exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/30/">Why are two of the daily prayers recited silently when 17:110 says not to be silent?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4636s">Watch on YouTube at 1:17:16</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/19/">Open the segment</a></p>What happened with the Hagia Sophia?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/18/2020-07-14T00:00:00Z2020-07-14T00:00:00ZWhat happened with the Hagia Sophia?
Turkey's courts ruled that the Hagia Sophia, originally Justinian's cathedral, be turned back into a mosque, to celebration and mockery online.
Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:13:29)
A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists (17 May 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/
Watch on YouTube at 1:14:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4449s<p><b>What happened with the Hagia Sophia?</b></p>
<p>Turkey's courts ruled that the Hagia Sophia, originally Justinian's cathedral, be turned back into a mosque, to celebration and mockery online.</p>
<p>Answer from 14 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti Abu Layth 173 (at 1:13:29)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events/middle-east-and-world exists</b> (17 May 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/m6r6pnmtg0w/s/7/">What does Mufti Abu Layth think the solution for Kashmir is?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6H5lYE4MN8&t=4449s">Watch on YouTube at 1:14:09</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/a6h5lye4mn8/s/18/">Open the segment</a></p>Is an Islamic economic system realistic or utopian?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/wce73zqci_i/s/34/2020-07-10T00:00:00Z2020-07-10T00:00:00ZIs an Islamic economic system realistic or utopian?
The guest argues that Islam offers a complete welfare-minded social order; Mufti Abu Layth presses him on whether it is utopian.
Answer from 10 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Shaykh Omar Baloch | Cynicism, Consumerism & the Catch 22 of Riba | Mindtrap with Mufti #30 (at 2:12:33)
A more recent answer on fiqh/finance exists (4 July 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/umpepyisc_g/s/1/
Watch on YouTube at 2:12:33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCe73zqCi_I&t=7953s<p><b>Is an Islamic economic system realistic or utopian?</b></p>
<p>The guest argues that Islam offers a complete welfare-minded social order; Mufti Abu Layth presses him on whether it is utopian.</p>
<p>Answer from 10 July 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Shaykh Omar Baloch | Cynicism, Consumerism & the Catch 22 of Riba | Mindtrap with Mufti #30 (at 2:12:33)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/finance exists</b> (4 July 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/umpepyisc_g/s/1/">Is it wrong to want to be rich?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCe73zqCi_I&t=7953s">Watch on YouTube at 2:12:33</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/wce73zqci_i/s/34/">Open the segment</a></p>Were the Prophet's judgements meant to bind Muslims after his death?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zmirskjob4o/s/6/2020-06-26T00:00:00Z2020-06-26T00:00:00ZWere the Prophet's judgements meant to bind Muslims after his death?
The guest says the Prophet's authority as judge and leader was for his lifetime only, that his bay'ah was a reciprocal social contract in which women voted, and that his messengership ended once the Quran was delivered, so obeying the messenger cannot mean obeying Bukhari.
Answer from 26 June 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Prof. Edip Yuksel | Rejecting Hadith, Rashad Khalifa & Realizing '19' | MindTrap with Mufti #27 (at 31:53)
A more recent answer on hadith/quran-only-movement exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/
Watch on YouTube at 31:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmIrskjob4o&t=1913s<p><b>Were the Prophet's judgements meant to bind Muslims after his death?</b></p>
<p>The guest says the Prophet's authority as judge and leader was for his lifetime only, that his bay'ah was a reciprocal social contract in which women voted, and that his messengership ended once the Quran was delivered, so obeying the messenger cannot mean obeying Bukhari.</p>
<p>Answer from 26 June 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Prof. Edip Yuksel | Rejecting Hadith, Rashad Khalifa & Realizing '19' | MindTrap with Mufti #27 (at 31:53)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on hadith/quran-only-movement exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/">How should Muslims engage people with very different views of the religion?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmIrskjob4o&t=1913s">Watch on YouTube at 31:53</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zmirskjob4o/s/6/">Open the segment</a></p>How clearly was zakah defined in the Prophet's lifetime?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/housirokbvu/s/9/2020-04-19T00:00:00Z2020-04-19T00:00:00ZHow clearly was zakah defined in the Prophet's lifetime?
The guest says some salaf and Ibn Taymiyya counted taxes paid to the authorities as zakah; Mufti Abu Layth says zakah was not clearly defined in the Prophet's time and its later rules were a pragmatic tax decision.
Answer from 19 April 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Shaykh Kashif Khan | Policing thought, Pornography & Pandora's box | MindTrap with Mufti #15 (at 42:21)
A more recent answer on dialogue/guest-conversations exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/
Watch on YouTube at 42:21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOusirOkBVU&t=2541s<p><b>How clearly was zakah defined in the Prophet's lifetime?</b></p>
<p>The guest says some salaf and Ibn Taymiyya counted taxes paid to the authorities as zakah; Mufti Abu Layth says zakah was not clearly defined in the Prophet's time and its later rules were a pragmatic tax decision.</p>
<p>Answer from 19 April 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Shaykh Kashif Khan | Policing thought, Pornography & Pandora's box | MindTrap with Mufti #15 (at 42:21)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on dialogue/guest-conversations exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/">How should Muslims engage people with very different views of the religion?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOusirOkBVU&t=2541s">Watch on YouTube at 42:21</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/housirokbvu/s/9/">Open the segment</a></p>Should election campaigns only be publicly funded?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/51qevhjqnt4/s/10/2020-02-28T00:00:00Z2020-02-28T00:00:00ZShould election campaigns only be publicly funded?
Mufti Abu Layth thinks there should be some regulation of election funding, though banning private funding outright would restrict liberties, so it is a tough question. Mufti Abu Layth says there should be some regulation of election funding, while calling it a really tough question.
Answer from 28 February 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Fadak between Fatima (r) & Abu Bakr (r) Detailed Overview | Mufti Abu Layth (at 33:27)
A more recent answer on society/current-events exists (19 August 2022): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/t0phqrnjjby/s/3/
Watch on YouTube at 33:27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Qevhjqnt4&t=2007s<p><b>Should election campaigns only be publicly funded?</b></p>
<p>Mufti Abu Layth thinks there should be some regulation of election funding, though banning private funding outright would restrict liberties, so it is a tough question. Mufti Abu Layth says there should be some regulation of election funding, while calling it a really tough question.</p>
<p>Answer from 28 February 2020 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Fadak between Fatima (r) & Abu Bakr (r) Detailed Overview | Mufti Abu Layth (at 33:27)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/current-events exists</b> (19 August 2022): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/t0phqrnjjby/s/3/">What was Salman Rushdie's family background?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Qevhjqnt4&t=2007s">Watch on YouTube at 33:27</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/51qevhjqnt4/s/10/">Open the segment</a></p>What does the Quran say about kings in the story of Sheba?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zotvtgdumv8/s/5/2019-01-08T00:00:00Z2019-01-08T00:00:00ZWhat does the Quran say about kings in the story of Sheba?
The Queen's saying that kings ruin the towns they enter raises the question of what gives anyone the right to rule others. Mufti Abu Layth says kingship began when some person one day assumed the right to subjugate others, and it became a human legacy.
Answer from 8 January 2019 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: In Depth: Sulaiman (a.s.), the Throne of Sheba, and Miracles in the Quran -Mufti Abu Layth (at 24:54)
A more recent answer on fiqh/public-law-and-governance exists (26 April 2021): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/
Watch on YouTube at 24:54: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTvTgdUMV8&t=1494s<p><b>What does the Quran say about kings in the story of Sheba?</b></p>
<p>The Queen's saying that kings ruin the towns they enter raises the question of what gives anyone the right to rule others. Mufti Abu Layth says kingship began when some person one day assumed the right to subjugate others, and it became a human legacy.</p>
<p>Answer from 8 January 2019 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: In Depth: Sulaiman (a.s.), the Throne of Sheba, and Miracles in the Quran -Mufti Abu Layth (at 24:54)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/public-law-and-governance exists</b> (26 April 2021): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/oyiipehuiha/s/11/">Why does China try to control who becomes the Dalai Lama?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTvTgdUMV8&t=1494s">Watch on YouTube at 24:54</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zotvtgdumv8/s/5/">Open the segment</a></p>Rapid-round replies: steroids, state control and prenuptial agreementshttps://muftiabulayth.org/r/zs1rln2djss/s/6/2018-03-05T00:00:00Z2018-03-05T00:00:00ZRapid-round replies: steroids, state control and prenuptial agreements
Steroids are a matter of legality rather than theology, prenuptial agreements are not legally binding in the UK, and Mufti Abu Layth says he is against state control and favours a hands-off approach to governing.
Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 22:06)
A more recent answer on fiqh/marriage-contracts exists (10 December 2022): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/8/
Watch on YouTube at 22:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs1rLN2Djss&t=1326s<p><b>Rapid-round replies: steroids, state control and prenuptial agreements</b></p>
<p>Steroids are a matter of legality rather than theology, prenuptial agreements are not legally binding in the UK, and Mufti Abu Layth says he is against state control and favours a hands-off approach to governing.</p>
<p>Answer from 5 March 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Recording: Zina, Marriage and Relationships - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 22:06)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/marriage-contracts exists</b> (10 December 2022): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/s-vm6mgbll8/s/8/">How did Abu Hanifa solve the case of two brides sent to the wrong grooms?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs1rLN2Djss&t=1326s">Watch on YouTube at 22:06</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zs1rln2djss/s/6/">Open the segment</a></p>Does a mufti have to be appointed by the government?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/wl7wikke16q/s/4/2018-02-15T00:00:00Z2018-02-15T00:00:00ZDoes a mufti have to be appointed by the government?
No. Being a mufti can be a salaried professional role, as in fatwa institutions, or a voluntary, freelance one. Mufti Abu Layth says a mufti does not have to be appointed by the state and can hold a voluntary or a professional role.
Answer from 15 February 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: The Maulana/Madrassa crisis & Why my views appear to be different? - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 17:50)
A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/
Watch on YouTube at 17:50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl7wIKke16Q&t=1070s<p><b>Does a mufti have to be appointed by the government?</b></p>
<p>No. Being a mufti can be a salaried professional role, as in fatwa institutions, or a voluntary, freelance one. Mufti Abu Layth says a mufti does not have to be appointed by the state and can hold a voluntary or a professional role.</p>
<p>Answer from 15 February 2018 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: The Maulana/Madrassa crisis & Why my views appear to be different? - Mufti Abu Layth al-Maliki (at 17:50)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/">If reason helps us understand the Quran, does the reasoning of earlier scholars matter too?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl7wIKke16Q&t=1070s">Watch on YouTube at 17:50</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/wl7wikke16q/s/4/">Open the segment</a></p>Who has the right to tell other Muslims off for doing something haram?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/6_dmojl-_bi/s/5/2017-09-29T00:00:00Z2017-09-29T00:00:00ZWho has the right to tell other Muslims off for doing something haram?
Hisbah, commanding good and forbidding evil, is for legitimate authority and for qualified scholars, and only in matters that are clearly agreed upon. Imam Malik said one may advise but not argue or dispute. Mufti Abu Layth holds that commanding good and forbidding evil (hisbah) belongs to legitimate authority and to qualified scholars, only in matters that are clearly agreed upon, and not to individuals acting on their own.
Answer from 29 September 2017 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Propaganda against Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan - Mufti Abu Layth (at 13:04)
A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/
Watch on YouTube at 13:04: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dmOJl-_bI&t=784s<p><b>Who has the right to tell other Muslims off for doing something haram?</b></p>
<p>Hisbah, commanding good and forbidding evil, is for legitimate authority and for qualified scholars, and only in matters that are clearly agreed upon. Imam Malik said one may advise but not argue or dispute. Mufti Abu Layth holds that commanding good and forbidding evil (hisbah) belongs to legitimate authority and to qualified scholars, only in matters that are clearly agreed upon, and not to individuals acting on their own.</p>
<p>Answer from 29 September 2017 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Propaganda against Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan - Mufti Abu Layth (at 13:04)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/">If reason helps us understand the Quran, does the reasoning of earlier scholars matter too?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dmOJl-_bI&t=784s">Watch on YouTube at 13:04</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/6_dmojl-_bi/s/5/">Open the segment</a></p>If a religious figure does something wrong, should people expose him online?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/6_dmojl-_bi/s/4/2017-09-29T00:00:00Z2017-09-29T00:00:00ZIf a religious figure does something wrong, should people expose him online?
If a crime was committed it must be reported to the authorities, and vigilante justice is haram. If the act is only haram and not a crime, it is for Allah alone to judge, not for people online. Mufti Abu Layth holds that if a crime has been committed it must be reported to the authorities, that vigilante justice is haram, and that a haram act that is not a crime is for Allah alone to judge.
Answer from 29 September 2017 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Propaganda against Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan - Mufti Abu Layth (at 10:30)
A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/
Watch on YouTube at 10:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dmOJl-_bI&t=630s<p><b>If a religious figure does something wrong, should people expose him online?</b></p>
<p>If a crime was committed it must be reported to the authorities, and vigilante justice is haram. If the act is only haram and not a crime, it is for Allah alone to judge, not for people online. Mufti Abu Layth holds that if a crime has been committed it must be reported to the authorities, that vigilante justice is haram, and that a haram act that is not a crime is for Allah alone to judge.</p>
<p>Answer from 29 September 2017 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Propaganda against Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan - Mufti Abu Layth (at 10:30)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on fiqh/legal-theory exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/">If reason helps us understand the Quran, does the reasoning of earlier scholars matter too?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dmOJl-_bI&t=630s">Watch on YouTube at 10:30</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/6_dmojl-_bi/s/4/">Open the segment</a></p>Apostasy: execution as divine policy, tribal loyalty and treason in wartimehttps://muftiabulayth.org/r/zbya7rqfyru/s/1/2016-03-15T00:00:00Z2016-03-15T00:00:00ZApostasy: execution as divine policy, tribal loyalty and treason in wartime
The speakers present the execution of apostates as tied to wartime treason and tribal loyalty in early Arab society rather than to belief alone, and say the Quran should be the primary reference in the discussion.
Answer from 15 March 2016 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)
Recording: Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan & Mufti Abu Layth - A Discussion on Contemporary Issues (at 0:06)
A more recent answer on dialogue/guest-conversations exists (18 October 2025): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/
Watch on YouTube at 0:06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyA7rqfyRU&t=6s<p><b>Apostasy: execution as divine policy, tribal loyalty and treason in wartime</b></p>
<p>The speakers present the execution of apostates as tied to wartime treason and tribal loyalty in early Arab society rather than to belief alone, and say the Quran should be the primary reference in the discussion.</p>
<p>Answer from 15 March 2016 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: quoted view (stated in order to be discussed, not necessarily held)</p>
<p>Recording: Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan & Mufti Abu Layth - A Discussion on Contemporary Issues (at 0:06)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on dialogue/guest-conversations exists</b> (18 October 2025): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/32/">How should Muslims engage people with very different views of the religion?</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyA7rqfyRU&t=6s">Watch on YouTube at 0:06</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/zbya7rqfyru/s/1/">Open the segment</a></p>Should Muslims deny that jihad exists in Islam to counter extremism?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/9/2015-04-06T00:00:00Z2015-04-06T00:00:00ZShould Muslims deny that jihad exists in Islam to counter extremism?
No: he says denying jihad or reducing it to self-defence feeds extremists, who use it to call scholars sellouts. The answer is to reclaim traditional Islam and own the concept with its context and conditions. Mufti Abu Layth holds that extremism is tackled by reclaiming traditional Islam and owning the concept of jihad, which exists in the Quran and Sunnah with its context and conditions, rather than by denying it, which feeds groups such as ISIS.
Answer from 6 April 2015 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Unanswered Questions- An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (at 31:30)
A more recent answer on society/extremism-crime-and-justice exists (29 September 2024): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/hmurvu2c9yq/s/3/
Watch on YouTube at 31:30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZRrlX3lIVk&t=1890s<p><b>Should Muslims deny that jihad exists in Islam to counter extremism?</b></p>
<p>No: he says denying jihad or reducing it to self-defence feeds extremists, who use it to call scholars sellouts. The answer is to reclaim traditional Islam and own the concept with its context and conditions. Mufti Abu Layth holds that extremism is tackled by reclaiming traditional Islam and owning the concept of jihad, which exists in the Quran and Sunnah with its context and conditions, rather than by denying it, which feeds groups such as ISIS.</p>
<p>Answer from 6 April 2015 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Unanswered Questions- An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (at 31:30)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/extremism-crime-and-justice exists</b> (29 September 2024): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/hmurvu2c9yq/s/3/">How scholars' rhetoric fed Pakistan's blasphemy killings, in Mufti Abu Layth's view</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZRrlX3lIVk&t=1890s">Watch on YouTube at 31:30</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/9/">Open the segment</a></p>Is working with the government or Prevent a form of serving false gods?https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/5/2015-04-06T00:00:00Z2015-04-06T00:00:00ZIs working with the government or Prevent a form of serving false gods?
No: he categorically rejects the view of some political groups that any association with the authorities is serving a false god, calling it unscholarly. He accepts that elements within the programmes, including counter-terrorism officers who he says worked against him, need reviewing. Mufti Abu Layth says the view of politically active groups that any association with the government is serving a false god is not a correct scholarly interpretation, since assisting non-Muslim authorities does not make them gods besides Allah, while accepting that elements within these programmes have worked against Muslims, himself included, and that Prevent needs review.
Answer from 6 April 2015 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors
Kind: general teaching
Recording: Unanswered Questions- An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (at 17:09)
A more recent answer on society/extremism-crime-and-justice exists (29 September 2024): https://muftiabulayth.org/r/hmurvu2c9yq/s/3/
Watch on YouTube at 17:09: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZRrlX3lIVk&t=1029s<p><b>Is working with the government or Prevent a form of serving false gods?</b></p>
<p>No: he categorically rejects the view of some political groups that any association with the authorities is serving a false god, calling it unscholarly. He accepts that elements within the programmes, including counter-terrorism officers who he says worked against him, need reviewing. Mufti Abu Layth says the view of politically active groups that any association with the government is serving a false god is not a correct scholarly interpretation, since assisting non-Muslim authorities does not make them gods besides Allah, while accepting that elements within these programmes have worked against Muslims, himself included, and that Prevent needs review.</p>
<p>Answer from 6 April 2015 · auto-transcribed, may contain errors</p>
<p>Kind: general teaching</p>
<p>Recording: Unanswered Questions- An interview with Mufti Abu Layth (at 17:09)</p>
<p><b>A more recent answer on society/extremism-crime-and-justice exists</b> (29 September 2024): <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/hmurvu2c9yq/s/3/">How scholars' rhetoric fed Pakistan's blasphemy killings, in Mufti Abu Layth's view</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZRrlX3lIVk&t=1029s">Watch on YouTube at 17:09</a> · <a href="https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vzrrlx3livk/s/5/">Open the segment</a></p>