Fatwa #4220319 September 2023India
Can one use diplomacy/tactfulness/sensitivity is responding to an issue?
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;
{يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا } [البقرة: 269]
“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;
فَمَنْ أُوتِيَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِي خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
حلية الأولياء وطبقات الأصفياء (8/ 92)
“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)