Question:-
Will a person be responsible for any words or actions uttered in the state of a trance, or, when not being in the right frame of mind due to being affected by Sihr, Jinn or Jadu?
Will one fall out of the fold of Islam for uttering words of Kufr or Nifaaq in a state of insanity?
Will one be punishable for incorrect utterances in a state of insanity?
Are the gifts of an insane person valid in terms of Shariah?
Answer:-
Ibn Hajar Rahimahullah has written that Sihr (Jadu) has an effect on people in different ways. It could either cause a person to become ill, or they experience pain in the body etc. However, some forms of Sihr have an effect on the heart such as, creating love or hatred amongst individuals, as well as good and evil inspiration etc.
قال والحق أن لبعض أصناف السحر تأثيرا في القلوب كالحب والبغض وإلقاء الخير والشر وفي الأبدان بالألم والسقم وإنما المنكور أن الجماد ينقلب حيوانا أو عكسه بسحر الساحر ونحو ذلك ) فتح الباري ص222/223 ج10)
If the Sihr is of such a level that it has caused one to become insane to such an extent that he is totally unaware of his utterances and actions, then his utterances (whether words of Irtidaad, Talaaq, gifting of items etc.) will not be considered.
How would we know that one has lost his sanity? This is determined by looking at his other actions. If they are acts of insanity, then he will be considered as an insane person. If they are not acts of insanity, rather he portrays himself to be insane only in the matter of Talaaq, then his insanity will not be considered (and his Talaaq and other statements will be valid). [Re:- Fataaawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.134 Vol.18] People around the mentally ill person will be in a position to confirm whether one made such statements in a state of insanity or not.
وأما شرائط صحتها فأنواع، منها العقل، فلا تصح ردة المجنون والصبي الذي لا يعقل؛ لأن العقل من شرائط الأهلية خصوصا في الاعتقادات، ولو كان الرجل ممن يجن ويفيق فإن ارتد في حال جنونه لم يصح، وإن ارتد في حال إفاقته صحت (بدائع الصنائع ص117 ج6)
وشرائط صحتها في الواهب العقل والبلوغ والملك فلا تصح هبة المجنون (البحر الرائق ص284 ج7)
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 04 Dhul Hijjah 1443 / 04 July 2022
