Questions about Muslims' dress and behavior
Fatwa No: 90300

Question

1) Many of the Imaams that I have seen in Saudi channel wear a red and white mixture of scarf on their head but as red is Haraam on Muslims how come they wear it?
2) Many people in my country Pakistan say Ya Rasoolallah or Ya Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. I hate this because we need not say anything except Ya Allaah so I think praying behind them is not right so I go to another mosque. Am I right? Definitely I have no right to say they are not Muslims but that is what I feel.
3) I read a Hadeeth in one of the Saheeh about the lizard being allowed. I wonder how Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, allowed it or am I wrong?

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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

There are a number of Ahadeeth that prove the permissibility of wearing red garments for men. The following Hadeeth is a clear proof that it is lawful for men to wear red. Al-Baraa' describing the Prophet reported that "The Prophet was medium-sized in height. I saw him wearing a red garment." Al-Bukhari classified this Hadeeth within a chapter entitled, "The red garment", whereas At-Tirmithi put it under the title, "The Chapter indicating the permissibility of wearing red garments for men."

On the other hand, there are other Ahadeeth that prohibit men from wearing red clothes. One of these Ahadeeth was narrated by Ibn 'Abbaas that the Prophet said, "I was prevented from wearing red clothes." [An-Nasaa'i]

Some Muslim scholars interpreted the latter Hadeeth that it means that it is dislikeable and not forbidden, for men to wear red clothes. Some other scholars said that this refers to a garment which is purely red that is forbidden. Yet, there are other opinions on reconciling between the above Ahadeeth.

As for your second question, it is not permissible to be led in prayer by an Imaam who seeks the help of someone other than Allaah, especially in fulfilling tasks that only Allaah can do. Seeking help in this way is an innovation that leads to disbelief, i.e. that takes a person out of the fold of Islam. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 82989.

With regard to your third question, it is permissible to eat a big wild lizard as we were told by Prophet Muhammad . Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that when the Prophet was asked whether it is lawful to eat it, and he replied, "I do not like eating it. Yet, I do not prohibit you from eating it."

The reason the Prophet did not eat it is quite clear in the following narration. When the Prophet was asked about the ruling on eating it, He said: "I did not use to see it in my home country so I cannot stand eating it", so the reason was that big wild lizards were not available in the local society; that is why the Prophet did not eat it.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 89478.

We see no reason for your being amazed at the lawfulness of eating it as long as there is a sound Hadeeth that permits it.

We think that you might have mistaken the lizard mentioned above for another animal.

Allaah Knows best.

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