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Following the Sunnah: The Importance of Ink Color in Writing

Q: “On one occasion Shaykh Zulfiqar Naqshbandi Saheb (db), while on a journey to Zambia, requested a pen from one of his Khulafa. The Khalifa took out a Blue pen from his pocket and presented it to the Shaikh. On seeing the pen, the Shaikh said, “Subhanallah Mawlana saheb, Are you not aware of the ink colour which is Sunnah?” At this the Respected Khalifah said, that he was set aback by this, and it put his mind and heart to distress. He began thinking, what is the Sunnah ink colour? Then the Shaikh mentioned that “Haven’t you read, the colour of Ink that Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used on the occasion when he wrote letters to Kaiser and Kisra?” And then, the Khalifa remembered that, Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had used black ink.” 

Mufti Saheb, in light of the above, will I be rewarded for using a black pen  instead of another colour if my intention is to gain the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala by following the Sunnah?

I have no problem with Hazrat Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmed Naqshbandi (db), it is just that this the first time I became aware of this particular Sunnah. In addition, I thought Nabi Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) was illiterate and thus unable to write. Therefore, I am uncertain. Please advise.

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A: If it can be established that the ink Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used was black ink, then this is not among the sunnats of deen that we are commanded to emulate. However, if someone on account of his intense love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)  wishes to emulate this action, i.e. using black ink, he will be rewarded.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

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