As-salamualaikum,
i would like to know whether reading “How To Win Friends And Influence People, written By Dale Carnegie” and applying those tactics in our day to day life would cast me out of religion.
I heard an incident when Hazrath Umar Raziallahuunhu came up with few papers that belongs to the deeds of Hazrath Musa alaihis salaam and Hazrat Muhammed Sallallahu alaihe wasallam got angry and said if HAzrath Musa Alaihis salaam happen to come in my time he has no other way than fo follow my path.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Shariah emphasizes on being friendly and sociable.[1] Accordingly, one may read related books to inculcate such skills in him.
We advise against inculcating such skill through non-Muslim sources. Reading has a stealthy effect on a reader who could be influenced by the author through the strong writing effect. There is enough Islamic literature available to inculcate friendly and social skills in a person.
The Hadith in reference[2] is not analogous as it refers to the Towrah which was tampered with. The silence of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) could be taken as an absolute endorsement of the advices of the Towrah. Furthermore, it was disrespectful to refer to the Towrah in the presence of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) who is the greatest Prophet upon whom the Quran, the greatest book was revealed.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saad Haque
Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : خِيَارُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا – ترمذي 1975
Abdullah bin Amr (رضي الله عنه) narrates, “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘The best of you are those best in conduct.’”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الأَخْلاقِ – الادب المفرد ٢٧٣
Abu Hurairah ((رضي الله عنه narrates, “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘I was sent to perfect good character’”
عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: مَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ أَثْقَلُ فِي الْمِيزَانِ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ – ابي داود ٤٧٩٩
Abu Darda ((رضي الله عنه narrates, “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, ‘There is nothing heavier than good character put in the scale of a believer on the Day of Resurrection.’”
[2] حَدَّثَنَا سُرَيْجُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُجَالِدٌ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِكِتَابٍ أَصَابَهُ مِنْ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْكُتُبِ، فَقَرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَغَضِبَ وَقَالَ: «أَمُتَهَوِّكُونَ فِيهَا يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِهَا بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً، لَا تَسْأَلُوهُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَيُخْبِرُوكُمْ بِحَقٍّ فَتُكَذِّبُوا بِهِ، أَوْ بِبَاطِلٍ فَتُصَدِّقُوا بِهِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ حَيًّا، مَا وَسِعَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَّبِعَنِي» – مسند أحمد مخرجا (23/ 349)