Fatwas / Principles of Jurisprudence / The difference between the words prohibited and not permissible
Question
Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Is there a difference between the word prohibited (muharram) and it is not permissible (laa yajoozu) with regards to different sins? Some people are of the view that the statement: "it is not permissible" is less severe than the word "prohibited."
ما الفرق بين محرم ولا يجوز
Answer
All praise is due to Allah. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and companions.
To proceed:
I have followed up the usage of scholars of different mathabs of the terms "it is not permissible" and "prohibited" and I have found that they do not differentiate between these words in usage. Sometimes they use these two words to explain the ruling of prohibition. They say, "This is prohibited and not permissible." At times they suffice with one of these terms, and sometimes they mention the other term directly or indirectly. And Allah knows best.
All praise is due to Allah. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and companions.
To proceed:
I have followed up the usage of scholars of different mathabs of the terms "it is not permissible" and "prohibited" and I have found that they do not differentiate between these words in usage. Sometimes they use these two words to explain the ruling of prohibition. They say, "This is prohibited and not permissible." At times they suffice with one of these terms, and sometimes they mention the other term directly or indirectly. And Allah knows best.
