Can one use diplomacy/tactfulness/sensitivity is responding to an issue?

· 4 Rabiʻ I 1445 AH1 min readFatwa 42203English

Question

Asalam alaikum wr wb Mufti sahab

Is "diplomacy/tactfulness/sensitivity" allowed in Islam? To resolve issues, to avoid disputes and clashes or to get out of a difficult situation? If yes, to what extent is allowed?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

As-salaamu `alaykum wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh.

Diplomacy, truthfulness and sensitivity could be interpreted as hikmah.

Allah Ta`ala says in the Holy Quran;

“He (Allah) grants wisdom (hikmah) to whomsoever he wishes, whosoever is granted wisdom (hikmah) has been granted abundant good” (Suratul Baqara, Verse 269).

Rasulullah ﷺ said;

“Whosoever is granted wisdom (hikmah), definitely he has been granted abundant good” (Hilyatul Awliya, 8/92).

Hikmat (wisdom) is to assess a situation and circumstances and respond according to the situation and circumstances within the parameters of the Shariah.

And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best.

Hussein Muhammad.

Student Darul Iftaa

Arusha, Tanzania

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

(2019-04-07)

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

{يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا } [البقرة: 269]

فَمَنْ أُوتِيَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِي خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا

حلية الأولياء وطبقات الأصفياء (8/ 92)

Answered by
Hussein Muhammad
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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