MUHARAMAT

PROHIBITIONS THAT ARE TAKEN TOO

LIGHTLY
English Translation
Book by Shikh M!ha""# Salih Al$M!na%%i#
&ontnts
1. Intro#!'tion
2. Shirk( asso'iating )artnrs in *orshi) *ith Allaah
3. Gra+$*orshi)
,- Sa'ri.'ing to anything othr than Allaah
5. Allo*ing *hat Allaah has /orbi##n an# /orbi##ing *hat
Allaah has allo*#
6. Magi'0 /ort!n$tlling an# #i+ination
7. Astrology0 or bli+ing that th stars an# )lants ha+ an
in1!n' on )o)l2s li+s an# +nts
8. Bli+ing that 'rtain things 'an bring bn.t *hn th
&rator has not "a# th" so
9. Sho*ing o3 in *orshi)
10. S!)rstitio!s bli/ in o"ns
11. S*aring by so"thing othr than Allaah
12. Sitting *ith hy)o'rits an# *rong#ors to n%oy thir 'o")any
or to k) th" 'o")any
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13. La'k o/ 'o")os!r in )rayr
14. 4i#gting an# "aking !nn'ssary "o+"nts in )rayr
15. 5libratly anti'i)ating th "o+"nts o/ th i"aa" 6*hn
)raying in 'ongrgation7
16. &o"ing to th "os8! a/tr ating onions or garli'0 or
anything that has an o3nsi+ s"ll
17. 9inaa $ /orni'ation an# a#!ltry
18. So#o"y 6ho"os:!ality7
19. Not allo*ing on2s h!sban# to ha+ "arital rlations /or no
lgiti"at rason
20. Asking on2s h!sban# /or a #i+or' /or no lgiti"at rason
21. al$9ihaar
22. Ha+ing intr'o!rs *ith on2s *i/ #!ring hr )rio#
23. Ha+ing intr'o!rs *ith on;s *i/ in hr r't!"
24. Not trating 'o$*i+s /airly
25. Bing alon *ith a non$"ahra" *o"an
26. Shaking han#s *ith a non$"ahra" *o"an
27. A *o"an *aring )r/!" *hn going o!t or )assing by non$
"ahra" "n
28. A *o"an tra+lling *itho!t a "ahra"
29. 5libratly looking at a non$"ahra" *o"an
30. Sing on2s *o"n/olk bha+ing in an i""oral /ashion an#
k)ing silnt
31. Making /als 'lai"s abo!t a 'hil#2s linag0 or #nying on2s
o*n 'hil#
32. &ons!"ing riba 6!s!ry or intrst7
33. &on'aling a )ro#!'t2s /a!lts at th ti" o/ sal
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34. Arti.'ially in1ating )ri's
35. Tra#ing a/tr th s'on# 'all to )rayr on 4ri#ay
36. Ga"bling
37. Th/t
38. O3ring or a'')ting bribs
39. Si<ing lan# by /or'
40. A'')ting a gi/t in rt!rn /or intr'#ing
41. Hiring so"on an# bn.tting /ro" his labo!r0 thn not
)aying hi" his *ags
42. Not gi+ing gi/ts 8!ally to on2s 'hil#rn
43. Asking )o)l /or "ony *hn on is not in n#
44. Sking a loan *ith no intntion o/ r)aying it
45. &ons!"ing haraa" *alth
46. 5rinking kha"r $ +n a singl #ro)
47. Using +ssls o/ gol# an# sil+r0 or ating or #rinking /ro"
th"
48. Baring /als *itnss
49. Listning to "!si' an# "!si'al instr!"nts
50. Gossi) an# ba'kbiting
51. Slan#r
52. Looking into )o)l2s ho!ss *itho!t thir )r"ission
53. T*o )o)l 'on+rsing )ri+atly to th :'l!sion o/ a thir#
54. Isbaal $ *aring 'loths that 'o" #o*n blo* th ankls
55. Mn *aring gol# in any sha) or /or"
56. =o"n *aring short0 tight or s$thro!gh 'loths
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57. =aring *igs an# hair)i's0 *hthr "a# /ro" nat!ral or
arti.'ial hair0 /or "n an# *o"n
58. Mn rs"bling *o"n an# *o"n rs"bling "n0 in #rss0
s)'h an# a))aran'
59. 5ying on2s hair bla'k
60. Ha+ing )i't!rs o/ ani"at bings on 'lothing0 *alls or )a)r0
t'-
61. Lying abo!t on2s #ra"s
62. Sitting or *alking on gra+s0 or ans*ring th 'all o/ nat!r in
a gra+yar#
63. Not 'laning onsl/ )ro)rly a/tr )assing *atr
64. Ea+s#ro))ing on )o)l *ho #o not *ant to b har#
65. Bing a ba# nighbor
66. =riting a *ill /or th )!r)os o/ har"ing on o/ th hirs
67. Playing ba'kga""on
68. &!rsing a bli+r or so"on *ho #os not #sr+ to b
'!rs#
69. =ailing 6at ti" o/ bra+"nt7
70. Striking or bran#ing th /a'
71. Aban#oning a M!sli" brothr /or "or than thr #ays *ith no
lgiti"at rason
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Introduction:
Praise be to Allaah; we praise Him and seek His help and fori!eness" #e
seek refue with Allaah from the e!il of our own souls and from our e!il
deeds" #home!er Allaah uides will ne!er be led astra$% and whome!er
Allaah lea!es astra$% no&one will uide" I bear witness that there is no od
but Allaah Alone% with no partners or associates% and I bear witness that
'uhammad is His (la!e and 'essener"
Allaah% ma$ He be lori)ed and e*alted% has laid down obliations which
we are not permitted to inore% and has set limits which we are not
permitted to transress% and has set out prohibitions which we are not
allowed to !iolate"
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hate!er
Allaah has permitted in His /ook is allowed% and whate!er He has
prohibited is forbidden; whate!er He has remained silent about is a
concession% so accept the concession of Allaah% for Allaah is ne!er
foretful"0 +hen he recited the aa$ah: ." " " and $our 1ord is ne!er
foretful0 2'ar$am 13:445" ,6eported b$ al&Haakim% 27389; classi)ed as
hasan b$ al&Albaani in Ghaayat al-Maraam% p" 14-
+he thins which ha!e been prohibited are the boundaries or limits set b$
Allaah: ." " " And whosoe!er transresses the set limits of Allaah% then
indeed he has wroned himself " " "0 2al&+alaa: 49:15
Allaah has issued a threat to the one who transresses His set limits and
!iolates His prohibitions% as He sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And
whosoe!er disobe$s Allaah and His 'essener% and transresses His
limits% He will cast him into the ;ire% to abide therein; and he shall ha!e a
disraceful torment"0 2al&<isaa= 4:145
A!oidin that which has been forbidden is a dut$% because the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hate!er $ou ha!e
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been prohibited to do% a!oid it% and whate!er $ou ha!e been commanded
to do% do as much of it as $ou can"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% Kitaab al-
fadaail% hadeeth no" 13>% Abd al&/aa:i edition-"
It is well&known that some of those who follow their desires% who are weak
at heart and ha!e little knowlede% become irritated when the$ hear lists
of prohibitions" +he$ rumble and mutter% .?!er$thin is haraam% $ou
ha!en=t left us an$thin that is not forbidden@ Aou make our li!es borin
and miserable" Aou don=t talk about an$thin but what is haraam% but
reliion is supposed to eas$% not strict% and Allaah is ;ori!in and
'erciful"0
In response to such remarks% we sa$: Allaah% ma$ He be lori)ed% rules as
He wills and there is none to put back His Budement" He is All&#ise and
Aware% and He allows whate!er He wills and forbids whate!er He wills%
ma$ He be lori)ed" Cne of the basic principles of our bein His sla!es is
that we should accept whate!er He decrees and submit full$ to it" His
rulins stem from His knowlede% wisdom and Bustice% and are not the
matter of fri!olit$ or foolish whims% as He sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: .And the #ord of $our 1ord has been ful)lled in truth and in
Bustice" <one can chane His words" And He is the All&Hearer% the All&
Dnower"0 2al&An=aam 4:1195
Allaah has e*plained to us the o!ernin principle behind the allowin and
prohibitin of !arious thins ,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " He
allows them as lawful al-tayyibaat 2,i"e"% all ood and lawful- as reards
thins% deeds% beliefs% persons% foods% etc"5% and prohibits them as
unlawful al-khabaaith 2,i"e"% all e!il and unlawful- as reards thins%
deeds% beliefs% persons% foods% etc"5 " " "0 2al&A=raaf 8:1985"
(o what is ood and pure is halaal% and what is e!il and unclean is
haraam"
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+he riht to determine what is halaal and what is haraam belons to
Allaah alone" #hoe!er claims this riht or aErms it for someone else is a
kaafr whose e*treme kufr places him be$ond the pale of Islam% as Allaah
sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Cr ha!e the$ partners with Allaah
,false ods- who ha!e instituted for them a reliion which Allaah has not
allowedF " " "0 2al&(hooraa 42:215
;urthermore% no&one is allowed to speak about matters of halaal and
haraam e*cept those who ha!e knowlede of the Gur=aan and (unnah"
Allaah has issued a stern warnin to those who speak about halaal and
haraam with no knowlede ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And sa$ not
concernin that which $our tonues out forth falsel$: H+his is lawful and
this is forbidden%= so as to in!ent lies aainst AllaahI0 2al&<ahl 14:1145
+hins which are de)niti!el$ forbidden ha!e been clearl$ stated in the
Gur=aan and (unnah% as Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .(a$:
HJome% I will recite what $our 1ord has prohibited $ou from: Koin not
an$thin in worship with Him; be ood and dutiful to $our parents; kill not
$our children because of po!ert$ & #e pro!ide sustenance for $ou and for
them; come not near to al-fawaahish ,shameful sins% illeal se*ual
intercourse% etc"- whether committed openl$ or secretl$; and kill not
an$one whom Allaah has forbidden% e*cept for a Bust cause ,accordin to
Islamic law-" +his He has commanded $ou that $ou ma$ understand"0 2al&
An=aam 4:1915
+he (unnah also mentions man$ prohibitions; for e*ample% the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .Allaah has forbidden
the sale of wine ,into*icants-% dead meat% pork and idols"0 ,6eported b$
Abu Lawud% 34M4; see also (aheeh Abi Lawud% 388-"
.#hate!er Allaah has forbidden% its price is also forbidden"0 ,6eported b$
al&Laara:utni% 378; it is a saheeh hadeeth-"
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(ome te*ts mention speci)c t$pes or roups of prohibitions% such as when
Allaah forbids certain t$pes of food ,interpretation of the meanin-:
.;orbidden to $ou ,for food- are: al-maytatah ,the dead animals & cattle&
beast not slauhtered-% blood% the Nesh of swine% and the meat of that
which has been slauhtered as a sacri)ce for others than Allaah% or has
been slauhtered for idols% etc"% or on which Allaah=s name has not been
mentioned while slauhterin% and that which has been killed b$
stranlin% or b$ a !iolent blow% or b$ a headlon fall% or b$ the orin of
horns & and that which has been ,partl$- eaten b$ a wild animal & unless
$ou are able to slauhter it ,before its death- & and that which is sacri)ced
,slauhtered- on al-nusub ,stone altars-" ;orbidden- also is to use arrows
seekin luck or decision " " "0 2al&'aa=idah 9:35
Allaah has also mentioned that which is forbidden with reard to marriae%
as He sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .;orbidden to $ou ,for
marriae- are: $our mothers% $our dauhters% $our sisters% $our father=s
sisters% $our mother=s sisters% $our brother=s dauhters% $our sister=s
dauhters% $our foster mother who a!e $ou suck% $our foster milk
sucklin sisters% $our wi!es= mothers " " "02al&<isaa= 4:235
Allaah also mentions what kind of earnins are forbidden% as He sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " Allaah has permitted tradin and
forbidden riba ,usur$- " " "0 2al&/a:arah 2:2895
Allaah% #ho is 'erciful towards His sla!es% has permitted innumerable
ood thins% of man$ kinds" He has not described the permitted thins in
detail because the$ are so man$; in contrast% He has described the
prohibitions in detail because the$ are limited% so that we will be aware of
them and can a!oid them" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-:
." " " He has e*plained to $ou in detail what is forbidden to $ou% e*cept
under compulsion of necessit$ " " "0 2al&An=aam 4:1135
~ M ~
/ut what is halaal is permitted as a eneral principle: as lon as
somethin is ood and pure% it is permitted: .C mankind@ ?at of that which
is lawful and ood on the earth " " "0 2al&/a:arah 2:14M5
It is a part of His 'erc$ that He has made all thins halaal in principle%
e*cept where there is proof ,daleel- that the$ are haraam" +his is part of
His enerosit$ and bount$ towards His sla!es% for which we must obe$
him% and i!e praise and thanks"
#hen some people hear a detailed list of the thins that are haraam% the$
become alarmed about the rules of (haree=ah" +his is due to their weak
faith and poor understandin of Islaam" Cne cannot help wonderin
whether these people reall$ want to be i!en a list of e!er$ t$pe of thin
that is halaal% so that the$ can be con!inced that Islam is eas$@ Lo the$
need for us to enumerate e!er$ t$pe of ood thin so that the$ can rest
assured that Islam will not make their li!es drear$F
Lo the$ want to be told that the meats of camels% cattle% sheep% rabbits%
deer% oats% chickens% pieons% ducks% eese and ostriches o!er which the
name of Allaah has been mentioned% and )sh and locusts% are halaalF
+hat !eetables% herbs% fruits and edible seeds are halaalF
+hat water% milk% hone$% oil and !inear are halaalF
+hat salt% seasonins and spices are halaalF
+hat usin wood% iron% sand% stones% plastic% lass and rubber is halaalF
+hat tra!ellin !ia ridin&beasts% cars% trains% ships and airplanes is halaalF
+hat usin air&conditioners% frides% washin&machines% tumble&dr$ers%
mills% douh&mi*ers% meat&rinders% Buicers% medical instruments%
enineerin tools% calculators% microscopes% telescopes% machiner$ for
e*tractin water% oil and minerals% )lters for purif$in water% printin
presses and so on is halaalF
+hat wearin cotton% linen% wool% camel hair% fur% permitted leathers% n$lon
and pol$ester is halaalF
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+hat in principle marriae% bu$in% sellin% sponsorship% bills of e*chane%
rentin% professions and trades such as carpentr$% metalworkin% repairin
machines and tendin sheep are all halaalF
I wonder what would happen if we were to e*plain all this in detail to
them" .And what is wron with these people that the$ fail to understand
an$ wordF0 2al&<isaa= 4:8M5
As reards their claim that Islaam is eas$% this is true% but the$ are
twistin the truth to tr$ and pro!e somethin that is false" #hat is meant
b$ sa$in that Islaam is eas$ is not that it is in accordance with their
desires and opinions% but that is it eas$ in accordance with what the
(haree=ah has brouht" +here is a hue diOerence between !iolatin
prohibitions b$ makin false claims about Islam bein eas$ & althouh it is
eas$% be$ond an$ doubt & and a!ailin oneself of leitimate concessions
such as bein allowed to Boin or shorten pra$ers; to break one=s fast when
tra!ellin; to wipe one=s socks when performin wudoo= & for one da$ and
one niht for a person who is not tra!ellin% and for three da$s and three
nihts in the case of tra!ellin; to perform tayammum when one is afraid
to use water; to Boin two pra$ers toether when one is sick or when rain is
fallin; to look at a non&mahram woman for purposes of marriae; to ha!e
the choice% in the case of makin e*piation for a broken !ow% between
freein a sla!e or feedin or clothin the poor; to eat the meat of dead
animals when necessar$ & and other kinds of concessions allowed b$
(haree=ah"
In addition to the abo!e% the 'uslim should realiPe that one principle
underlies all the prohibitions in Islam: Allaah is testin His sla!es b$
means of these prohibitions% to see what the$ will do" Cne of the thins
that distinuishes the people of Paradise from the people of Hell is that
the people of Hell indule in the desires with which the ;ire is surrounded%
whereas the people of Paradise patientl$ endure the hardships with which
the Qarden is surrounded" #ere it not for this test% the obedient would not
~ 1> ~
be distinuished from the disobedient" People of faith look at the
diEculties in!ol!ed from the perspecti!e of the reward the$ will earn b$
pleasin Allaah% so obedience becomes eas$ for them" +he h$pocrites% on
the other hand% !iew these diEculties as a matter of pain% suOerin and
depri!ation% so obedience becomes a hea!$ burden on them"
/$ foreoin what is prohibited% the obedient person ains much more:
whoe!er forsakes somethin for the sake of Allaah% Allaah will compensate
him with somethin better% and he will enBo$ the sweet taste of faith in his
heart"
+his paper discusses a number of the prohibitions that ha!e been pro!en
in (haree=ah% based on e!idence from the Gur=aan and (unnah" ,(ome
scholars ha!e rouped the prohibitions under headins such as al-kabaair
or maBor sins" Amon the best books on the topic is Tanbeeh al-ghaafleen
an amaal al-jaahileen b$ Ibn al&<ahhaas al&Limash:i% ma$ Allaah ha!e
merc$ on him-" +hese prohibitions include actions which are widel$
practised amon man$ 'uslims" /$ mentionin them m$ intention is to
correct and ad!ise people" I ask Allaah to uide me and m$ 'uslim
brothers% and to help us to adhere to the limits which He has set and to
a!oid the thins that He has prohibited% and to sa!e us from our e!il
deeds" And Allaah is the /est to uard% and He is the 'ost 'erciful of
those who show merc$"
~ 11 ~
Shirk $ asso'iating )artnrs *ith Allaah
+his is the most serious of all prohibitions% accordin to the hadeeth
narrated b$ Abu /akrah% who said: .+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: H(hall I not tell $ou of the most
serious of the maBor sinsF= three times" #e said% HCf course% C 'essener
of Allaah@= He said% HAssociatin an$thin in worship with Allaah " " "=0
,Areed upon; see al&/ukhaari% no" 2911% al&/aha edition-"
?!er$ other sin ma$ be fori!en b$ Allaah% apart from shirk% which
re:uires speci)c repentance% as Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: .Reril$% Allaah fori!es not that partners should be set up with
Him in worship% but He fori!es e*cept that ,an$thin else- to whom He
pleases " " "0 2al&<isaa= 4:4M5
Gra+$*orshi)
Cne of the forms of shirk which is particularl$ widespread in 'uslim
countries is: ra!e&worship% the belief that dead awliyaa ,.saints0- can
ful)l one=s needs or help at times of distress% and callin upon them for
aid" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And $our 1ord has
decreed that $ou worship none but Him " " "0 2al&Israa= 18:235
(imilarl$% the$ call upon dead Prophets% rihteous people and others to
intercede for them or to rescue them from some calamit$% but Allaah sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: .Is not He ,better than $our ods- #ho
responds to the distressed one% when he calls Him% and #ho remo!es the
e!il% and makes $ou inheritors of the earth% enerations after enerationsF
Is there an$ ilaah ,od- with AllaahF " " "0 2al&<aml 28:425
(ome of them ha!e adopted the habit of mentionin the name of a
sha$kh or wali ,.saint0- when the$ stand up% or sit down% or stumble% or
encounter problems or distress% so the$ miht sa$ .C 'uhammad@0 or .C
~ 12 ~
HAli@0 or .C Husa$n@0 or .C /adawi@0 or .C Keelaani@0 or .C (haadhili@0 or
.C 6ifaa=i@0 & or the$ ma$ call upon al&=A$daroos or (a$$idah Sa$nab or
Ibn HAlwaan" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Reril$ those
whom $ou call upon besides Allaah are sla!es like $ou " " "0 2al&A=raf 8:1345
(ome of those who worship ra!es walk around them as if in Tawaaf% and
acknowlede their corners% or touch them% kiss them% wipe their faces with
their dust% prostrate towards them when the$ see them% or stand before
them in fear and humilit$% pra$in for whate!er the$ need of healin from
some disease% or for a child% or for help with some diEcult$" (ometimes
the$ call upon the occupant of the ra!e% sa$in .C m$ master% I ha!e
come to $ou from far awa$% so do not let me down"0
/ut Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And who is more astra$
than one who calls ,in!okes- besides Allaah such as will not answer him till
the La$ of 6esurrection% and who are ,e!en- unaware of their calls
,in!ocations- to themF0 2al&Ah:aaf 44:95
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er
dies callin on someone else as a ri!al to Allaah% will enter Hell"0
,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% al-Fath% M7184-"
(ome of them sha!e their heads at the ra!es% and some ha!e books with
titles like Manaasik Hajj al-Mashaahid ,.+he 6ituals of Pilrimae to
(hrines0-% mashaahid or shrines referrin to ra!es or tombs of awliyaa"
(ome of them belie!e that the awliyaa are runnin the aOairs of the
uni!erse and that the$ ha!e the power to bene)t or harm" Allaah sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: .And if Allaah touches $ou with hurt% there
is none who can remo!e it but He; and if He intends an$ ood for $ou%
there is no one who can repel His ;a!our " " "0 2Aoonus 1>:1>85
It is also shirk to make a !ow to an$ other than Allaah% as is done b$ those
who !ow to brin candles or lihts for the occupants of the ra!es"
~ 13 ~
Sa'ri.'ing to anything othr than Allaah
Another manifestation of al-shirk al-akbar is sacri)cin to an$thin other
than Allaah" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .+herefore turn in
pra$er to $our 1ord% and sacri)ce ,to Him onl$-0 2al&Dawthar 1>M:25 & i"e"%
sacri)ce to Allaah and in the name of Allaah" +he Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .Allaah will curse the one who
sacri)ces to an$thin other than Allaah"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam 'uslim%
ma$ Allaah ha!e merc$ on him% in his Saheeh% no" 138M% HAbd al&/aa:i
edition-" +his sin combines two haraam deeds% that of sacri)cin to
an$thin other than Allaah and that of sacri)cin in the name of an$thin
other than Allaah% both of which make the meat of the animal slauhtered
haraam" Cne of the forms of sacri)cin to an$thin other than Allaah
which was known durin the )rst Kaahili$$ah and is still widespread
nowada$s is the practice of .oOerin a sacri)ce to the Binn%0 whereb$ upon
bu$in or constructin a house% or diin a well% people slauhter an
animal at its entrance% out of fear of harm from the resident Binn" ,(ee
Tayseer al-!ee! al-Hameed% al&Iftaa= edition% p" 19M-
Allo*ing *hat Allaah has /orbi##n >
/orbi##ing *hat Allaah has allo*#
Another widespread form of al-shirk al-akbar is the sin of allowin what
Allaah has forbidden and forbiddin what Allaah has allowed% or belie!in
that an$one has the riht to do so e*cept Allaah% or referrin matters for
Budement to jaahili ,non&Islamic- courts freel$ and b$ choice% and
belie!in that this is permissible" Allaah has mentioned this form of maBor
kufr in the Gur=aan ,interpretation of the meanin-: .+he$ ,Kews and
Jhristians- took their rabbis and their monks to their lords besides Allaah
~ 14 ~
,b$ obe$in them in thins which the$ made lawful or unlawful accordin
to their own desires without bein ordered b$ Allaah-" " "0 2al&+awbah 3:315
#hen HAdi$$ ibn Haatim heard the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah
be upon him- recite this aa$ah% he said% ./ut the$ were not worshippin
them"0 +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- replied%
.Aes% but the$ permitted thins that Allaah had forbidden% and the people
accepted this% and the$ forbade thins that Allaah had allowed% and the
people accepted this too% and this is a form of worshippin them"0
,6eported b$ al&/a$ha:i in al-Sunan al-Kubraa% 1>7114" (ee also al&
+irmidhi% no" 3>39" Al&Albaani classi)ed it as hasan in Ghaayat al-Maraam%
p" 13-"
Allaah described the mushrikeen as ,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " "
2those who do not5 forbid that which has been forbidden b$ Allaah and His
'essener and those who acknowlede not the reliion of truth " " "0 2al&
+awbah 3:235
And Allaah said ,interpretation of the meanin-: .(a$: H+ell me% what
pro!ision Allaah has sent down to $ou% and $ou ha!e made of it lawful and
unlawful"= (a$: HHas Allaah permitted $ou ,to do so-% or do $ou in!ent a lie
aainst AllaahF=0 2Aoonus 1>:935
Magi'0 /ort!n$tlling > #i+ination
Cther widespread forms of shirk are: maic% fortune&tellin and di!ination"
'aic ,sihr- is an act of kufr% and one of the se!en sins which doom a
person to Hell" It causes harm but no bene)t" Allaah sa$s of the one who
learns it ,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " And the$ learn that which
harms them and pro)ts them not " " "0 2al&/a:arah 2:1>25
~ 19 ~
." " " and the maician will ne!er be successful% no matter what amount ,of
skill- he ma$ attain-"0 2+a&Ha 2>:435
+he one who deals in maic is a kaa)r% as Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of
the meanin-: .""" (ula$man did not disbelie!e% but the shayaateen
,de!ils- disbelie!ed% teachin men maic and such thins as came down
at /ab$lon to the two anels% Haaroot and 'aaroot% but neither of these
two ,anels- tauht an$one ,such thins- thins till the$ had said% H#e are
onl$ for trial% so disbelie!e not ,b$ learnin this maic from us-"= " " "0 2al&
/a:arah 2:1>25
+he prescribed punishment for the one who practices maic is death% and
his income is haraam and impure" /ut people who are inorant
wrondoers and weak in faith o to maicians to help them harm
someone or take re!ene on someone" (ome people commit the sin of
oin to a maician to ask his help in undoin the maic of someone else%
when the$ should turn to Allaah to help them and heal them% b$ recitin
His words% such as the soorahs that oOer protection ,al-Fala" and al-#aas-%
and so on"
;ortune&tellers and their ilk are kaa)rs who disbelie!e in Allaah% because
the$ claim knowlede of the Tnseen% but no one has knowlede of the
Tnseen e*cept Allaah" 'an$ of these fortune&tellers take ad!antae of
simple&minded people and take their mone$" +he$ use man$ methods
such as drawin lines in the sand% throwin sea&shells% readin palms%
teacups ,or coOee cups-% cr$stal balls and mirrors% and so on" If the$ et it
riht one time% the$ et it wron ninet$&nine times% but inorant people
remember onl$ the one time when these liars et somethin riht" +he$
o to them to )nd out about the future% whether the$ will be successful in
marriae or business% or to help them )nd somethin the$ ha!e lost% and
so on" +he rulin concernin the person who !isits a fortune&teller is: if he
belie!es what he sa$s% he is a kaa)r who has left Islaam% on the basis of
the hadeeth in which the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
~ 14 ~
him- said: .#hoe!er oes to a fortune&teller or a soothsa$er and belie!es
in what he sa$s has disbelie!ed in what was re!ealed to 'uhammad"0
,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 27423; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 9333-" If a
person does not belie!e that the$ ha!e knowlede of the Tnseen% but he
oes out of curiosit$ or whate!er% he is not a kaa)r% but his pra$ers will
not be accepted for fort$ da$s% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er oes to a fortune&teller and asks him
about somethin% his pra$ers will not be accepted for fort$ nihts0
,Saheeh Muslim% 471891- & e!en thouh it is still obliator$ to pra$ and to
repent for this sin"
~ 18 ~
Astrology, or believing that the stars & planets have an inflen!e on people"s lives & events
Sa$d ibn Dhaalid al&Kuhani reported: .+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- led us in the mornin pra$er at al&
Huda$bi$ah after rain had fallen durin the niht" #hen he had )nished%
he turned around to face the people and said: HLo $ou know what $our
1ord sa$sF= +he$ said% HAllaah and His 'essener know best"= He said:
H2Allaah sa$s5: +his mornin one of '$ sla!es became a belie!er in 'e and
one became a disbelie!er" As for the one who said% .#e ha!e been i!en
rain b$ the race and merc$ of Allaah%0 he is a belie!er in 'e and a
disbelie!er in the stars; as for the one who said% .#e ha!e been i!en rain
b$ such&and&such a star%0 he is a disbelie!er in 'e and a belie!er in the
stars"=0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see Fath al-%aari% 27333-
(imilarl$% the one who reads the horoscopes in newspapers and
maaPines and belie!es what the$ sa$ about the inNuence of the stars
and planets is a mushrik% and the one who reads them for entertainment
is a sinner% because it is not permitted to entertain oneself b$ readin
thins that contain shirk% because (ha$taan will tr$ to lead him to shirk
throuh this"
Bli+ing that 'rtain things 'an bring
bn.t *hn th &rator has not "a#
th" so
Aet another form of shirk is belie!in that certain thins can brin bene)t
when the Jreator has not made them so" ;or e*ample" some people
belie!e in amulets and spells% or wearin certain t$pes of pearls or
seashells or metal earrins and so on% on the ad!ice of fortune&tellers or
maicians or in accordance with inherited customs" (o the$ han them
around their own or their children=s necks to ward oO the e!il e$e & or so
the$ claim; or the$ tie them onto their bodies or han them in their cars
and homes% or wear rins with special stones% thinkin that these thins
~ 1M ~
can relie!e or ward oO distress" +his without a doubt is contrar$ to the
idea of rel$in on Allaah% and will onl$ result in makin a person e!en
more weak% like seekin medicine in a haraam wa$" +hese amulets
ob!iousl$ contain much shirk% such as seekin the help of some Binns and
de!ils% or !aue drawins and illeible writin" (ome of these liars e!en
write aa$aat from the Gur=aan% or mi* them with words of shirk% or write
them with impure substances such as menstrual blood" Hanin up these
amulets or t$in them to one=s bod$ is haraam because the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er hans up an
amulet is uilt$ of shirk"0 ,6eported b$ Ahmad% 47194; see also Silsilat al-
Saheehah% no" 432-"
If the one who does this belie!es that these thins can cause bene)t or
harm instead of Allaah% he is a mushrik who is uilt$ of al-shirk al-akbar" If
he belie!es that the$ are a means of causin bene)t or harm% then he is a
mushrik who is uilt$ of al-shirk al-asghar% which includes shirk that
consists of attributin causes to thins other than Allaah"
Sho*ing o3 in *orshi)
(howin oO in worship: amon the conditions for an$ ood deed to be
acceptable are that it should be free of an$ kind of showin oO and within
the framework of the (unnah" +he person who performs acts of worship%
like pra$in% in order to be seen b$ other people is a mushrik and his deed
is unacceptable" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Reril$% the
h$pocrites seek to decei!e Allaah% but it is He #ho decei!es them" And
when the$ stand up for pra$er% the$ stand with laPiness and to be seen of
men% and the$ do not remember Allaah but little"0 2al&<isaa= 4:1425
(imilarl$% the person who does a ood deed so that news of it will reach
other people has also fallen into the sin of shirk" +he threat of punishment
~ 13 ~
for the one who does this was reported in the hadeeth narrated b$ Ibn
HAbbaas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his father-% in which the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er does
thins to be seen and heard b$ others% Allaah will cause him to be seen
and heard as an e*ample to others"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 4722M3-"
#hoe!er does an$ act of worship for the sake of Allaah and other people%
his deeds will be unacceptable% as is stated in the hadeeth "udsi: .I am so
self&suEcient that I am in no need of ha!in an associate" +hus he who
does a deed for someone else=s sake as well as 'ine will ha!e that deed
renounced b$ 'e to him who he associated with 'e"0 ,6eported b$
'uslim% no" 23M9-"
It ma$ happen that a person starts to do a deed for the sake of Allaah%
then the ure to show oO comes o!er him" If he resists that impulse his
deed will still be acceptable% but if he submits willinl$ to it% then in the
opinion of most of the scholars his deed will be unacceptable"
S!)rstitio!s bli/ in o"ns
(uperstitious belief in omens: this is a form of pessimism% as Allaah sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: ./ut whene!er ood came to them% the$
said% HCurs is this"= And if e!il aUicted them% the$ ascribed it to e!il omens
connected with 'usa and those with him " " "0 2al&A=raaf 8:1315
/efore Islam% if one of the Arabs wanted to do somethin like tra!ellin%
he would take hold of a bird and release it: if it New to the riht% he would
take this as a ood omen and proceed with his plans% but if it New to the
left% he would take it as a bad omen and cancel his plans" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- a!e his !erdict on this
practice when he said: .l-Tiyarah ,obser!in birds for omens- is shirk"0
,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 173M3; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 3399-"
~ 2> ~
+his kind of haraam belief that oes aainst +awheed also includes the
practice of reardin certain times etc"% as inauspicious% such as not
holdin a weddin in (afar% or reardin the last #ednesda$ of e!er$
month as a da$ of e!il omen and onoin calamit$% or belie!in that
numbers such as 13% or certain names% are .unluck$"0 It is also haraam to
belie!e that handicapped people are bad omens% such as oin to open
one=s store but turnin back upon seein a one&e$ed man" All of this is
haraam and is part of the shirk for which the Prophet ,peace and blessins
of Allaah be upon him- disowned people" HImraan ibn Husa$n reported that
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .He is not
one of us who obser!es birds for omens or has someone else do this for
him% or who predicts the future or asks someone else to do it for him% ,and
I think he said- or who practices maic or asks someone else to do it for
him"0 ,6eported b$ al&+abaraani in al-Kabeer% 1M7142; see also Saheeh al-
$aami 9439-"
+he e*piation re:uired from the person who commits an$ of these sins is
reported in the hadeeth reported b$ Abdullaah ibn HAmr: .+he 'essener
of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: H#hoe!er was
turned awa$ from doin somethin because of a bad omen is uilt$ of
shirk"= +he people asked% HC 'essener of Allaah% what e*piation is there
for doin thatF= He said% H+hat he should sa$: .C Allaah% there is no
oodness e*cept Aour oodness and no omen e*cept $our omen and there
is no od but Aou"0=0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 2722>; al-Silsilah al-
Saheehah% 1>49-"
Pessimism is a part of e!er$one=s nature% to a reater or lesser e*tent; the
best cure for it is reliance upon Allaah ,tawakkul-% as Ibn 'as=ood said:
.+here is no one amon us ,who will not feel pessimistic sometimes-% but
when we rel$ on Allaah% He makes that feelin o awa$"0 ,6eported b$ Abu
Lawud% no" 331>; see also al-Silsilah al-Saheehah% 43>-"
~ 21 ~
S*aring by so"thing othr than Allaah
(wearin b$ somethin other than Allaah: Allaah ma$ swear b$ whate!er
of His creatures He wills% but His creatures are not permitted to swear b$
an$thin other than Allaah" 'an$ people swear all kinds of oaths b$ thins
other than Allaah% but swearin b$ somethin is like lorif$in it% and it is
not riht to lorif$ an$thin or an$one other than Allaah" Ibn HTmar
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: .Allaah has prohibited that $ou should swear b$ $our fathers" If
an$one swears% let him swear b$ Allaah% or else remain silent"0 ,6eported
b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath% 11793>-" Ibn HTmar also reported that the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er
swears b$ somethin other than Allaah is uilt$ of shirk"0 ,6eported b$
Imaam Ahmad% 27129; see Saheeh al-$aami% 42>4-" +he Prophet ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er swears b$
trustworthiness is not one of us"0 ,6eported b$ Abu Lawud 3293; see also
al-Silsilah al-Saheehah% no" 34-"
It is not permitted to swear b$ the Da=bah% b$ trustworthiness% b$ honour%
b$ help% b$ the blessin of so&and&so% b$ the life of so&and&so% b$ the
!irtue of the Prophet% b$ the !irtue of a wali% b$ one=s father and mother%
b$ the heads of one=s children% etc" All of that is haraam% and the e*piation
for doin it is to sa$ &a ilaaha ill-llaah% as is stated in the saheeh
hadeeth: .#hoe!er swears and sa$s H/$ al&1aat= or H/$ al&=TPPa%= let him
sa$ H&a ilaaha ill-llaah ,there is no od e*cept Allaah-"=0 ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% al-Fath% 117934-" +here are other phrases that similarl$ in!ol!e
shirk and are therefore forbidden% but that are often spoken b$ 'uslims%
such as: .I seek refue with Allaah and with $ou%0 .I am dependin on
Allaah and on $ou%0 .+his is from Allaah and from $ou%0 .I ha!e no&one but
Allaah and $ou%0 .I ha!e Allaah in hea!en and I ha!e $ou on earth%0 .If it
were not for Allaah and so&and&so%0 .I disown Islaam%0 .+ime has let me
down0 ,and e!er$ other e*pression which in!ol!es cursin time% like
sa$in% .+his is a bad time%0 .+his is an unluck$ time%0 .+ime is a
~ 22 ~
betra$er%0 etc"% because cursin time is an insult to Allaah #ho has
created time-% references to .<ature=s wa$"0 <ames that impl$ bein a
sla!e of an$one other than Allaah% such as HAbd Hal&'aseeh% HAbd al&<abi%
HAbd al&6asool and HAbd al&Husa$n% are also forbidden"
+here are also modern e*pressions which are contrar$ to +awheed and are
therefore haraam% such as .Islamic socialism%0 .Islamic democrac$%0 .+he
will of the people is the will of Allaah%0 .6eliion is for Allaah and the land
is for the people%0 .In the name of Arabism%0 .In the name of the
re!olution%0 etc"
It is also haraam to use titles such as .Din of kins0 or .Kude of Budes0
for human beins; to address munaf"een or ku'aar with titles like
.Sayyid ,master-0 ,whether speakin Arabic or other lanuaes-% to use
the words .If onl$"""0 & which impl$ discontent and reret% and open the
wa$ for (ha$taan% and to sa$ .C Allaah% fori!e me if Aou want to"0 ,;or
more information% see Mujam al-Manahi al-&af!iyyah% /akr or Sa$d-
Sitting *ith hy)o'rits > *rong#ors to
n%oy thir 'o")any or to k) th"
'o")any
'an$ of those who do not ha!e stron faith deliberatel$ sit with people
who are immoral and sinful" +he$ ma$ e!en sit with those who attack the
(haree=ah and make fun of Islam and the people who adhere to it strictl$"
+here is no doubt that this is a forbidden deed% one which could
undermine a person=s belief" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-:
.nd when y(u see th(se wh( engage in a false )(n*ersati(n ab(ut +ur
,erses by m()king at them- stay away fr(m them till they turn t( an(ther
t(.i)/ nd if Shaytaan )auses y(u t( f(rget- then after the remembran)e
~ 23 ~
sit n(t in the )(m.any (f th(se .e(.le wh( are the !aalim((n 0.(lytheists
and wr(ngd(ers- et)/10 2al&An=aam 4:4M5
In that case it is not permitted to sit with them% e!en if the$ are closel$&
related or are !er$ kind and ood compan$% e*cept for the purposes of
da=wah or refutin their false talk" /ut acceptin and remainin :uiet
about their conduct is not permitted" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: .They 0the hy.()rites1 swear t( y(u 0Muslims1 that y(u may be
.leased with them- but if y(u are .leased with them- )ertainly llaah is
n(t .leased with the .e(.le wh( are al-faasi"((n 0rebelli(us- dis(bedient
t( llaah1/0 2al&+awbah 3:345
La'k o/ 'o")os!r in )rayr
Cne of the worst forms of theft or cheatin is cheatin in pra$er" +he
'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
.+he worst t$pe of thief is the one who steals from his pra$er"0 +he people
asked% .C 'essener of Allaah% how can a person steal from his pra$erF0
He said: ./$ not doin ruk(( and suj((d properl$"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam
Ahmad% 9731>; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 338-" +his lack of composure
and failure to pause in ruk(( and suj((d and to stand up straiht after
ruk(( or sit up properl$ between suj((ds ma$ be obser!ed in man$ of
those who pra$% and hardl$ an$ mos:ue is free of e*amples of people who
do not ha!e the proper composure in pra$er" Jorrect composure is one of
the pillars of pra$er% without which pra$er is in!alid" +his is a serious
matter" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .A
man=s pra$er is not ood enouh until his back is straiht in rukoo= and
suBood"0 ,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 17933; see also Saheeh al-$aami%
8224-"
~ 24 ~
+here is no doubt that lackin the proper composure is bad% and the
person who is uilt$ of this deser!es to be reprimanded and threatened
with punishment" Abu HAbdullaah al&Ash=ari reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- led his Jompanions in pra$er%
then he sat with a roup of them" A man came in and started to pra$% but
made his mo!ements rapid like a chicken peckin the round" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .Lo $ou see thisF
#hoe!er dies ha!in done this has died outside of the communit$ of
'uhammad% and his pra$er is like a crow peckin blood" +he person who
bows then pecks in his suj((d is like a hunr$ man who eats no more than
one or two dates & what ood will that do himF0 ,6eported b$ Ibn
DhuPa$mah in his Saheeh 17332; see also al&Albaani% Sifat Salaat al-#abi
,+he Prophet=s Pra$er described-% 131-" Sa$d ibn #ahb said: .Hudha$fah
saw a man who was not performin ruk(( and suj((d properl$" He said:
HAou ha!e not pra$ed% and if $ou were to die% $ou would die on a wa$ other
than that re!ealed b$ Allaah to 'uhammad ,peace and blessins of Allaah
be upon him-"=0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 27284-" Cnce a
person is aware of this rulin% if he fails to perform pra$er with the proper
composure% he should repeat it and repent to Allaah for what is past; he
does not need to repeat all of his pre!ious pra$ers% as is indicated b$ the
hadeeth .6epeat $our pra$er% for $ou ha!e not pra$ed"0
~ 29 ~
#i$geting & %a&ing nne!essary %ove%ents in prayer
Hardl$ an$ of the people who pra$ are free from this problem% because
the$ are not followin the command of Allaah ,interpretation of the
meanin-: ." " " And stand before Allaah with obedience0 2al&/a:arah
2:23M5; and the$ fail to understand the words of Allaah ,interpretation of
the meanin-: .(uccessful indeed are the belie!ers% those who oOer their
salaat with all solemnit$ and full submissi!eness"0 2al&'u=minoon 23:1&25
#hen the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- was asked
about smoothin the earth before prostratin% he said% .Lo not wipe it
when $ou are pra$in; if $ou ha!e to% then Bust smooth the ra!el once"0
,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 179M1; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 8492-" +he
scholars mentioned that continuous% e*cessi!e% unnecessar$ mo!ement
in!alidates one=s pra$er" How can those )dets stand before Allaah%
lookin at their watches% straihtenin their clothes% puttin their )ners
in their noses% lookin to the riht and the left and up to the sk$% and not
fearin that Allaah ma$ take awa$ their siht or (ha$taan ma$ steal their
pra$erFF
5libratly anti'i)ating th "o+"nts o/
th i"aa" 6*hn )raying in 'ongrgation7
'an is hast$ b$ nature% as it sa$s in the Gur=aan ,interpretation of the
meanin-: ." " " and man is e!er hast$ " " "0 2al&Israa= 18:115" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .Leliberation is from
Allaah and haste is from (ha$taan"0 ,6eported b$ al&/a$ha:i in al-Sunan
al-Kubra% 1>71>4; see also al-Silsilah% 1839-" Cne often notices% when
pra$in in conreation% people to the left and riht anticipatin the
imaam in rukoo=% suBood and the takbeeraat that sinal chanes in
position & one e!en notices it in oneself too% sometimes" People ma$ e!en
precede the imaam in i!in salaam at the end of the pra$er" +his is a
matter which ma$ appear unimportant to man$% but the Prophet ,peace
~ 24 ~
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- issued a stern warnin when he said:
.Loes the person who raises his head before the imaam not fear that
Allaah ma$ turn his head into the head of a donke$F0 ,6eported b$
'uslim% 1732>&321-"
If a person is re:uired to come to the pra$er with dinit$ and composure%
how then should he be durin the pra$er itselfF (ome people are confused
about this issue and seek to compensate b$ dela$in their mo!ements
after the imaam; these people should know that the fu"ahaa% ma$ Allaah
ha!e merc$ on them% ha!e described an e*cellent wa$ to control the
matter% which is that the person followin the imaam should onl$ start his
mo!ements after the imaam has )nished pronouncin the ra ,.r0- of
.llaahu akbar0; then the person followin the imaam is permitted to
mo!e% and not before or after"
+he Jompanions of the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- used to be !er$ keen to a!oid anticipatin his mo!ements when he
led them in pra$er" Cne of them% al&/araa= ibn HAaPib ,ma$ Allaah be
pleased with him- said that the$ used to pra$ behind the Prophet ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him-: .#hen he raised his head from
rukoo=% I would ne!er see an$one bendin his back in suBood until the
'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- had
placed his forehead on the round% then e!er$one would o down in
suBood behind him"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% no" 484% HAbd al&/aa:i edition-"
#hen the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- rew older%
and became rather slow in his mo!ements% he told the people pra$in
behind him: .C people% I ha!e ained weiht% so do not anticipate me in
performin rukoo= and suBood"0 ,6eported b$ al&/a$ha:i% 2733 and
classi)ed as hasan in 2rwaa al-Ghaleel% 2723>-"
+he imaam is oblied to follow the (unnah in makin takbeer when he
pra$s% as reported in the hadeeth narrated b$ Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah
be pleased with him-: .#hen the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
~ 28 ~
blessins of Allaah be upon him- stood up to pra$% he would sa$ takbeer
when he stood up and when he bowed " " " then he would sa$ takbeer
when he went down for suBood and when he raised his head% then when he
went down for suBood aain and when he raised his head aain" +hen he
would repeat this throuhout the whole pra$er until it was )nished% and he
would sa$ takbeer when he stood up after completin two rak=ahs"0
,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% no" 894% al&/ahaa edition-" If the imaam
pronounces takbeer at the same time as he makes the mo!ements% and
the people followin him stri!e to follow the uidelines mentioned here%
then the$ will ha!e performed the conreational pra$er correctl$"
&o"ing to th "os8! a/tr ating onions
or garli'0 or anything that has an o3nsi+
s"ll
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .C Jhildren of Adam@ +ake
$our adornment ,b$ wearin $our clean clothes- while pra$in " " "0 2al&
A=raaf 8:315" Kaabir said: .+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: H#hoe!er eats arlic or onions% let him keep
awa$ from us%= or Hlet him keep awa$ from our mos:ue and sta$ in his
house"=0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 27333-" Accordin to a
report narrated b$ 'uslim% the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .#hoe!er eats onions or arlic or leeks% let him not come
near our mos:ue% because the anels will be oOended b$ what is oOensi!e
to the sons of Adam"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% no" 17339-" HTmar ibn al&
Dhattaab addressed the people one ;rida$ and said: .C people% $ou eat
two thins that I think come from bad plants: onions and arlic" I saw the
'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-% when
he noticed this smell comin from a man in the mos:ue% order him to o
out to al&/a:ee=" #hoe!er wants to eat these thins% let him cook them to
death"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 17334-"
~ 2M ~
#e miht also include here those who come to the mos:ue straiht from
work% with unpleasant odours emanatin from their armpits and socks"
?!en worse than these are smokers who ha!e the habit of consumin their
haraam ciarettes then comin to the mos:ue and disturbin the
worshippers of Allaah% people and anels alike% with their smell"
~ 23 ~
Zinaa $ /orni'ation > a#!ltry(
Cne of the aims of Islamic sharee=ah is to preser!e honour and lineae% so
!inaa ,unlawful se*ual intercourse- is forbidden" Allaah sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: .And come not near to unlawful se*ual
intercourse" Reril$ it is a faahishah ,a reat sin- and an e!il wa$ ,that
leads to Hell unless Allaah fori!es-0 2al&Israa= 18:325
(haree=ah blocks all the wa$s and means that could lead to !inaa% b$
enBoinin hijaab and lowerin the aPe% and b$ forbiddin bein alone with
a non&mahram woman% etc"
+he married man who commits adulter$ deser!es the worst kind of
punishment% which is stonin to death% so that he ma$ taste the results of
his deeds and so that e!er$ part of his bod$ ma$ suOer Bust as e!er$ part
of his bod$ enBo$ed the illicit liaison" +he fornicator who was pre!iousl$
unmarried is to be punished with the ma*imum number of lashes
mentioned in sharee=ah% which is 1>> lashes% in addition to the scandal of
this punishment bein witnessed b$ a roup of belie!ers% and the
humiliation of bein banished from his cit$ and the scene of his crime for
one full $ear"
In /arPakh% the punishment for men and women who were uilt$ of !inaa
is that the$ will be in an o!en whose top is narrow and whose bottom is
wide% with a )re beneath it% and the$ will be naked therein" #hen the heat
of the )re increases% the$ will scream and rise up until the$ nearl$ come
out of the top% then when the )re decreases% the$ will fall back down" +his
will repeated o!er and o!er until the onset of the Hour"
#hat is e!en worse is when a man continues to commit adulter$ e!en
when he rows old% death approaches and Allaah i!es him the
opportunit$ to repent" Abu Hura$rah reported that the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .+here are three to whom Allaah
will not speak on the La$ of 6esurrection% nor praise% nor look at; theirs
will be a painful torment: an old man who commits !inaa% a kin who lies%
~ 3> ~
and a poor man who is arroant"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 171>2&1>3-"
Amon the worst of incomes is the earnins of a prostitute which she
takes before committin !inaa% and the immoral woman who earns her
li!in b$ sellin herself is depri!ed of ha!in her pra$ers answered when
the ates of hea!en are opened at midniht" ,+he hadeeth is in Saheeh al-
$aami% 2381- /ein in need or bein poor are not acceptable e*cuses for
transressin the limits set b$ Allaah" +here is an old sa$in that the free
woman would rather star!e than eat b$ displa$in her breasts% so how
about her pri!ate parts thenF
<owada$s all the doors of immoralit$ ha!e been opened% and (ha$taan
and his supporters ha!e made it !er$ eas$ for people to commit sin" +his
has been followed b$ the spread of tabarruj ,wanton displa$- and
un!eilin amon women% people allowin their aPes to wander to thins
the$ should not look at% an increase in mi*in between the se*es% the
popularit$ of immoral maaPines and lewd )lms% increased tra!el to
corrupt countries and the establishment of a market for prostitution% an
increase in the !iolation of honour% and an increase in the number of
illeitimate births and abortions"
C Allaah% we ask $ou to show us Aour merc$ and to protect us from
immoralit$; we ask Aou to purif$ our hearts and to keep our pri!ate parts
chaste% and to place a barrier between us and what is haraam"
So#o"y 6Ho"os:!ality7
(odom$% or intercourse between two males% was the crime of the people
of 1ut" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And ,remember- 1ut%
when he said to his people: HAou commit al-faahishah ,sodom$ & the worst
sin- which none has preceded $ou in ,committin- amon the aalameen
,mankind and Binns-" Reril$% $ou commit sodom$ with men% and rob the
~ 31 ~
wa$farer% and practise al-munkar ,disbelief% pol$theism and e!er$ kind of
e!il deed- in $our meetins"= " " "0 2al&=Ankaboot 23:235"
/ecause of the repulsi!e nature and enormit$ of this sin% Allaah inNicted
four kinds of punishment which He had ne!er before inNicted in
combination upon an$ other people; the$ were: these people would be
blinded% their cit$ would be turned upside&down% stones of baked cla$%
piled up% would be rained down upon them% and an awful cr$ would be
sent upon them"
In Islam% those uilt$ of this crime are to be killed b$ the sword% accordin
to the soundest opinion" +his punishment is to carried out on both the one
who does this and the one to whom it is done% if it is done freel$ and b$
choice" Ibn HAbbaas reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .#home!er $ou )nd committin the sin of the
people of 1ut% kill them & both the one who does it and the one to whom it
is done"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 173>>; see also Saheeh al-$aami%
4949-" +he modern&da$ spread of incurable diseases like the killer AIL(
caused b$ this corruption% that were unknown to our predecessors% is an
indication of the wisdom of the (haree=ah in prescribin this se!ere
punishment"
Not allo*ing on2s h!sban# to ha+ "arital
rlations /or no lgiti"at rason
Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .If a man calls his wife
to his bed% and she refuses% and he oes to sleep anr$ with her% the
anels will curse her until mornin"0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath%
47314-"
~ 32 ~
'an$ women% when the$ ha!e an arument with their husbands% .punish0
them & so the$ think & b$ den$in them their marital rihts" +his ma$
result in maBor corruption if the husband is tempted to do somethin
haraam% or it ma$ back)re on the wife if the husband starts to think
seriousl$ of takin another wife"
A wife should hasten to respond to her husband=s call if he wants her% in
obedience to the words of the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him-: .If a man calls his wife to his bed% let her respond% e!en if she
is ridin on the back of a camel ,i"e"% !er$ bus$-"0 ,(ee 3awaaid al-
%a!!aar% 271M1; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 948-"
At the same time% the husband must show consideration towards his wife
if she is sick% prenant or depressed% so as to maintain harmon$ and
pre!ent discontent or hatred"
Asking on2s h!sban# /or a #i+or' /or no
lgiti"at rason
'an$ women hasten to demand a di!orce from their husbands for the
least little arument% or if their husbands do not i!e them what the$ want
of mone$" (ome women ma$ be eed on b$ troublemakers amon their
relati!es or neihbours to challene their husbands with pro!ocati!e
words such as: .If $ou were a real man% $ou would di!orce me@0 +he dire
results of di!orce are well known: breakdown of the famil$ and children
roamin the streets" A person ma$ come to reret di!orce when it is too
late" ;or all these reasons and others% the (haree=ah wisel$ prohibited
such actions" +hawbaan ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .An$
woman who asks her husband for a di!orce with no sound reason will be
depri!ed of smellin the frarance of Paradise"0 ,6eported b$ Ahmad%
~ 33 ~
9"288; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 28>3-" HT:bah ibn HAamir ,ma$ Allaah be
pleased with him- reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .#oman who ask for di!orce and women who
contend unnecessaril$ with their husbands are h$pocrites"0 ,6eported b$
al&+abaraani in al&Dabeer% 187333; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 1334-" /ut if
there is a sound reason% such as the husband abandonin pra$er% drinkin
or takin drus% or forcin his wife to do somethin haraam% or oppressin
her and makin her suOer b$ den$in her the rihts ranted to her b$
Islaam% and he does not listen to ad!ice to mend his wa$s% then in this
case there is nothin wron with a woman seekin di!orce for her own
sake and for the sake of her reliion"
Zihaar
Cne of the e*pressions of the )rst $aahiliyyah that is still widespread in
this ummah is the phenomenon of !ihaar% whereb$ a man sa$s to his wife%
.Aou are to me like the back of m$ mother%0 or .Aou are as forbidden for
me as m$ sister%0 and other similarl$ ul$ statements whose repulsi!e
nature was con)rmed b$ the (haree=ah% because of the oppression of
women in!ol!ed" Allaah referred to this in the Gur=aan ,interpretation of
the meanin-:
.+hose amon $ou who make their wi!es unlawful to them b$ sa$in to
them% HAou are like m$ mother=s back%= the$ cannot be their mothers" <one
can be their mothers e*cept those who a!e them birth" And !eril$% the$
utter an ill word and a lie" And !eril$% Allaah is Cft&Pardonin% Cft&
;ori!in"0 2al&'uBaadilah 9M:25
+he (haree=ah has imposed a hea!$ penalt$ ,kafaarah- for this crime%
similar to that re:uired for killin a person b$ mistake or for ha!in
intercourse durin the da$ in 6amadaan; the person who has committed
~ 34 ~
!ihaar is not permitted to approach his wife until he has paid this penalt$"
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And those who make
unlawful to them ,their wi!es- ,b$ !ihaar-% and wish to free themsel!es
from what the$ uttered% ,the penalt$- in that case ,is- the freein of a
sla!e before the$ touch each other" +hat is an admonition to $ou ,so that
$ou ma$ not return to such an ill thin-" And Allaah is All&Aware of what
$ou do"
And he who )nds not ,the mone$ for freein a sla!e- must fast two
successi!e months before the$ both touch each other" And for him who is
unable to do so% he should feed si*t$ miskeen ,poor-" +hat is in order that
$ou ma$ ha!e perfect ;aith in Allaah and His 'essener" And for
disbelie!ers% there is a painful torment"0 2al&'uBaadilah 9M:3&45
Ha+ing intr'o!rs *ith on2s *i/ #!ring
hr )rio#
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .+he$ ask $ou concernin
menstruation" (a$: that is an adhaa ,a harmful thin for a husband to
ha!e se*ual intercourse with his wife while she is ha!in her menses-%
therefore keep awa$ from women durin menses and o not unto them till
the$ ha!e puri)ed ,from menses and ha!e taken a bath- " " "0 2al&/a:arah
2:2225
(o a man is not permitted to approach his wife until her period has ended
and she has taken a bath ,ghusl-" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: ." " " And when the$ ha!e puri)ed themsel!es% then o in unto
them as Allaah has ordained for $ou " " " . 2al&/a:arah 2:2225
~ 39 ~
+he repulsi!e nature of this sin is indicated b$ the words of the Prophet
,pace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-: .#hoe!er has intercourse
with a menstruatin women% or with a woman in her rectum% or oes to a
fortune&teller% has disbelie!ed in what was re!ealed to 'uhammad"0
,6eported b$ al&+irmidhi from Abu Hura$rah% 17243; see also Saheeh al-
$aami% 931M-"
#hoe!er does this b$ mistake% not deliberatel$% does not ha!e to pa$ an$
penalt$% but the person who does it deliberatel$ and with full knowlede
of what he is doin must pa$ the penalt$% which accordin to the scholars
with the soundest knowlede is one dinar or half a dinar" (ome scholars
sa$ that there is a choice in the amount to be paid; others sa$ that if a
man has intercourse with his wife at the beinnin of her period% when the
Now of blood is hea!$% he must pa$ one dinar% and if he does it at the end
of her period when the Now is liht% he must pa$ half a dinar" In modern
terms% a dinar is e:ual to 29"4 rams of old: this or the e:ui!alent
amount of currenc$ must be i!en in charit$"
Ha+ing intr'o!rs *ith on;s *i/ in hr
r't!"
(ome per!erted people who ha!e little faith do not hesitate to ha!e
intercourse with a woman in her rectum ,the place from which e*crement
emeres-" +his is a maBor sin% and the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- cursed the one who does this" Abu Hura$rah ,ma$
Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .He is cursed% the one who has
intercourse with a woman in her rectum"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad%
27483; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 9M49-" Indeed% the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er has intercourse with a
~ 34 ~
menstruatin women% or with a woman in her rectum% or oes to a
fortune&teller% has disbelie!ed in what was re!ealed to 'uhammad"0
,6eported b$ al&+irmidhi from Abu Hura$rah% 17243; see also Saheeh al-
$aami% 931M-" Althouh there are man$ rihteous and sensible women
who refuse to do this% there are man$ husbands who threaten their wi!es
with di!orce if the$ do not compl$" (ome husbands e!en decei!e their
wi!es who m$ be too sh$ to ask a scholar about this matter; the$ tell
them that this is halaal% and the$ ma$ e!en mis:uote the Gur=aan to
support their claim ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Aou wi!es are a tilth
for $ou% so o to $our tilth when or how $ou will " " "0 2al&/a:arah 2:2235"
/ut it is well&known that the (unnah e*plains the Gur=aan% and the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- stated that it is permitted to
ha!e intercourse with one=s wife in whate!er wa$ one wishes% approachin
from the front or the back% so lon as intercourse is in the place from
which a child is born ,the !aina-; it is ob!ious that the anus% from which
e*crement is produced% is not the place from which a child is born" Cne of
the reasons for this crime is the fact that man$ people enter what should
be a clean and pure married life with an inheritance of dirt$% haraam%
jaahili% per!erted practices% or memories )lled with scenes from lewd
mo!ies for which the$ ha!e not repented to Allaah" It is also well known
that this deed is haraam e!en if both parties consent to it; mutual consent
to a haraam deed does not make it halaal"
Not trating 'o$*i+s /airly
Cne of the thins that Allaah has enBoined in His /ook is fair treatment of
co&wi!es" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Aou will ne!er be
able to do perfect Bustice between wi!es e!en if it is $our ardent desire% so
do not incline too much to one of them ,b$ i!in her more of $our time
and pro!ision- so as to lea!e the other hanin ,i"e"% neither di!orced nor
married-" And if $ou do Bustice% and do all that is riht and fear Allaah b$
~ 38 ~
keepin awa$ from all that is wron% then Allaah is ?!er Cft&;ori!in%
'ost 'erciful"0 2al&<isaa= 4:1235
+he Bustice that is re:uired here is a fair di!ision of nihts% and the i!in
of each wife her rihts as reards spendin and clothin" +his does not
refer to emotions or lo!e% because man has no control o!er his feelins"
/ut some people% when the$ marr$ more than one wife% fa!our one and
nelect the other% spendin more time with one wife and spendin more
on her% and inorin the other" +his is haraam% and the person who does
this will come on the La$ of 6esurrection in the condition described b$ the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- in the hadeeth
narrated b$ Abu Hura$rah: .#hoe!er has two wi!es and i!es one of
them preferential treatment% he will come on the La$ of 6esurrection with
half of his bod$ leanin"0 ,<arrated b$ Abu Lawud% 274>1; see also
Saheeh al-$aami% 4431-"
Bing alon *ith a non$"ahra" *o"an
(ha$taan is alwa$s keen to tempt people and make them commit haraam
deeds" ;or this reason% Allaah warned us ,interpretation of the meanin-:
.C $ou who belie!e@ ;ollow not the footsteps of (ha$taan" And whosoe!er
follows the footsteps of (ha$taan% then% !eril$ he commands al-fahshaa
,indecenc$- and al-munkar ,e!il deeds- " " "0 2al&<oor 24:215
(ha$taan runs throuh the !eins of mankind like blood% and one of the
wa$s in which he induces people to commit indecent acts is b$ leadin a
man to be alone with a non&mahram woman" Islaam blocks this wa$ b$
forbiddin such conduct% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .<o man is alone with a ,non&mahram- woman% but
(ha$taan will be the third amon them"0 ,6eported b$ al&+irmidhi% 37484;
see also Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh% 311M-" Ibn HTmar ,ma$ Allaah be pleased
~ 3M ~
with him and his father- reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .;rom this da$ on% no man should enter upon a
woman whose husband is absent unless there is another man or two with
him"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 471811-" It is not permitted for a man to be
alone in a house% room or car with a non&mahram woman% includin his
brother=s wife or a ser!ant" (imilarl$ a female patient should not be alone
with a doctor% and so on" 'an$ people are careless about this matter%
whether because the$ trust themsel!es or for some other reason% with the
results that man$ commit indecent acts or take the steps that lead to
them% which in turn results in the traedies of confused lineae and
illeitimate births"
Shaking han#s *ith a non$"ahra" *o"an
+his is one of the cases where incorrect social customs ha!e taken
precedence o!er the laws of Allaah% to such an e*tent that if $ou tr$ to
talk to people and show them e!idence that this is wron% the$ will accuse
$ou of bein backward% ha!in a comple*% tr$in to break famil$ ties%
doubtin their ood intentions% etc" (hakin hands with female cousins%
brothers= wi!es and uncles= wi!es is now easier than drinkin water in our
societ$% but if we look properl$ we will understand the seriousness of the
matter"
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .If one of
$ou were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle it would be better
for him than touchin a woman whom he is not permitted to touch"0
,6eported b$ al&+abaraani% 2>7212; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 4321-" +here
is no doubt that this is an act of !inaa% because the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+he e$es ma$ commit !inaa% the
hands ma$ commit !inaa% the feet ma$ commit !inaa and the pri!ate
~ 33 ~
parts ma$ commit !inaa/V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 17412; see also
Saheeh al-$aami4% 4321-"
Is there an$one more pure in heart than 'uhammad ,peace and blessins
of Allaah be upon him-F Aet still he said% .I do not shake hands with
women"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 47398; see also Saheeh al-$aami%
8>94% and al&Isaabah% 47394% 5aar al-Kitaab al-rabi edition-" And he said%
VI do not touch the hands of women"V ,6eported b$ al&+abaraani in al-
Kabeer% 247342; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 8>94 and al-2saabah% 47394%
Lar al&Dutub al&WArabi edition-" HAa=ishah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with her-
said: .<o% b$ Allaah% the hand of the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- ne!er touched the hand of a ,non&
mahram- woman" He recei!ed bayah ,plede of alleiance- from them b$
word onl$"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 374M3-" 1et them fear Allaah% those
people who threaten their pious wi!es with di!orce if the$ do not shake
hands with their brothers"
#e should also note that placin a barrier such as a piece of cloth is of no
use; it is still haraam to shake hands with a non&mahram woman"
A *o"an *aring )r/!" *hn going o!t
or )assing by non$"ahra" "n
+his practice is widespread nowada$s% despite the stern warnin of the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-% who said: .An$
woman who applies perfume and then oes out amon the people so that
the$ could smell her frarance is a !aaniyah ,adulteress-"0 ,6eported b$
Imaam Ahmad% 4741M; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 1>9-" (ome women are
!er$ careless and take the matter too lihtl$% especiall$ in front of dri!ers%
shopkeepers% school porters% etc"% e!en thouh the (haree=ah states !er$
strictl$ that the woman who wears perfume must wash herself like a
person must wash when in a state of janaanah ,i"e"% perform ghusl-% if she
~ 4> ~
wants to o out to the mos:ue" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .An$ woman who wears perfume then oes out
to the mos:ue% so that the frarance can be discerned% her pra$ers will
not be accepted until she performs ghusl like the ghusl to be performed
when in a state of janaabah"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 27444; see also
Saheeh al-$aami% 28>3-"
#e complain to Allaah about the bukh((r and ((d ,t$pes of incense- used
at weddins and women=s parties before people lea!e% and the use of
stron&smellin perfumes in market&places% means of transportation and
mi*ed atherins in the mos:ues e!en durin the nihts of 6amadaan"
Islaam tells us that women=s perfume should be that which has colour but
little smell" #e ask Allaah not to despise us and not to punish rihteous
men and women for the deeds of foolish men and women" 'a$ He uide
us all to the (traiht Path"
A *o"an tra+lling *itho!t a "ahra"
+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
.It is not permitted for the woman who belie!es in Allaah and the 1ast La$
to tra!el one da$=s distance without the presence of a mahram"0
,6eported b$ 'uslim% 27388-" #hen a woman tra!els without a mahram%
this encouraes corrupt people to pre$ on her because of her weakness;
at the !er$ least% her honour will be harmed" +his prohibition applies also
to a woman tra!ellin b$ plane% e!en if & as is often claimed & one mahram
sees her oO at one end and another mahram meets her at the other" #ho
is oin to sit ne*t to her durin the Bourne$F #hat if technical problems
di!ert the plane to another airport% or the Niht is dela$edF #hat if"""F
+here are too man$ stories of thins that went wron" ;or a person to be
~ 41 ~
considered a mahram% he must meet four conditions: he should be a
'uslim% o!er the ae of pubert$% of sound mind% and male"
Abu (a=eed al&Dhudri said: .+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins
of Allaah be upon him- said: H<o woman who belie!es in Allaah and the
1ast La$ should tra!el a distance of three da$s= Bourne$ or more unless
her father% son% husband% brother or other mahram is with her"0 ,6eported
b$ 'uslim% 27388-"
5libratly looking at a non$"ahra"
*o"an
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .+ell the belie!in men to
lower their aPe ,from lookin at forbidden thins-% and to protect their
pri!ate parts ,from illeal se*ual acts% etc"-" +hat is purer for them" Reril$%
Allaah is All&Aware of what the$ do"0 2al&<oor 24:3>5
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+he
adulter$ of the e$es is b$ lookinV ,i"e" b$ lookin at what Allaah has
forbidden-" ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 11724-" 1ookin for
a leitimate purpose is e*empted from this rule% such as lookin at a
woman for marriae purposes% or a doctor e*aminin a patient for medical
reasons% etc" #omen are e:uall$ forbidden to look at non&mahram men%
as Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And tell the belie!in
women to lower their aPe ,from lookin at forbidden thins- and to
protect their pri!ate parts ,from illeal se*ual acts% etc"- " " "0 2al&<oor
24:315
'en are also forbidden to look with desire at a man with a hairless or
beautiful face" 'en are forbidden to look at the Hawrah of other men% and
women are forbidden to look at the Hawrah of other women" If it is
forbidden to look at somethin% it is forbidden to touch it% e!en o!er
clothin" Cne of the wa$s in which (ha$taan decei!es people is b$ makin
~ 42 ~
them think that there is nothin wron with lookin at pictures in
maaPines or watchin mo!ies% because what is seen is not .real%0 e!en
thouh such imaes clearl$ cause so much damae b$ pro!okin desires"
Sing on2s *o"n/olk bha+ing in an
i""oral /ashion an# k)ing silnt
Ibn HTmar ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his father- reported that
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .+here are
three whom Allaah will depri!e of Paradise: the one who drinks
into*icants% the one who is disobedient to his parents% and the one who
accepts immoral conduct on the part of his famil$"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam
Ahmad% 2743; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 3>48-" Cne of the man$
e*amples of this in modern times is men turnin a blind e$e to their
dauhters or wi!es contactin non&mahram men and chattin to them in a
wa$ that ma$ be described as .romantic%0 or acceptin one of the women
of his household bein alone with a non&mahram man% or allowin them to
sit alone with a dri!er or other emplo$ee% or lettin them o out without
proper hiBaab% so that e!er$one ma$ look at them% or brinin home
immoral maaPines and mo!ies"
Making /als 'lai"s abo!t a 'hil#2s linag0
or #nying on2s o*n 'hil#
Accordin to (haree=ah% it is not permissible for a 'uslim to claim to
belon to an$one other than his father% or to claim to belon to a people
of whom he is not a member" (ome people ma$ do this for material ains%
and ma$ obtain documentation to .con)rm0 their false identit$ oEciall$"
(ome people ma$ do this out of hatred towards a father who abandoned
them when the$ were children" All of this is haraam% and ma$ lead to
~ 43 ~
much chaos and corruption in a number of )elds% such as knowin who is
one=s mahram% marriae% inheritance and so on" (a=d and Abu /akrah
,ma$ Allaah be pleased with them- both reported that the Prophet ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er knowinl$ claims to
belon to an$one other than his father% Paradise will be denied him"0
,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see Fath al-%ari% M749-"
It is also forbidden to tamper with lineaes or make false claims about a
person=s descent" +here are some people who% when the$ want to )ht
dirt$ in aruments with their wi!es% accuse them of immoral conduct and
disown their children% without an$ proof% when the child was born .in their
bed0 ,i"e" is the husband=s child and no&one else=s-" +hen there are some
wi!es who betra$ their trust and become prenant with another man=s
child% but claim that it belons to the husband" +he Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- issued a stern warnin aainst such
conduct" Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that
when aayat al-mulaaanah 2al&<oor 24:8 & check5 was re!ealed% the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .+he woman
who brins into a people someone who does not belon to them has
nothin to do with Allaah% and Allaah will not admit her to His Paradise"
An$ man who denies his own child when he is lookin at him% Allaah will
conceal Himself from him and e*pose him before all the people"0
,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 27439; see also Mishkat al-Masaabeeh% 3314-"
&ons!"ing riba 6!s!ry or intrst7
In the Gur=aan% Allaah does not declare war on an$one e*cept the people
who deal in riba ,interpretation of the meanin-: .C $ou who belie!e@ /e
afraid of Allaah and i!e up what remains ,due to $ou- of riba ,from now
onward-% if $ou are ,reall$- belie!ers" And if $ou do not do it% then take a
messae of war from Allaah and His 'essener"0 2al&/a:arah 2:28M&2835
~ 44 ~
+his is suEcient to e*plain the abhorrence of this deed in the siht of
Allaah% ma$ He be lori)ed"
Cne ma$ easil$ discern the e*tent of de!astation% at the indi!idual and
the international le!el% caused b$ dealin with riba & such as bankruptc$%
recession% economic stanation% inabilit$ to repa$ loans% hih
unemplo$ment% collapse of man$ companies and institutions% etc" Lail$
toil has become a ne!er&endin strule to pa$ oO interest on loans and
societies ha!e become class&ridden structures in which hue wealth in
concentrated in the hands of a few" Perhaps all this is a manifestation of
the war threatened b$ Allaah to those who deal in riba"
?!er$one who has somethin to do with riba% whether he is one of the
main parties in!ol!ed or is a middleman or facilitator% has been cursed b$
'uhammad ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-" Kaabir ,ma$
Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the 'essener of Allaah ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- cursed .the one who consumes riba%
the one who i!es it to others% the one who writes it down and the one
who witnesses it"0 He said: .+he$ are all the same"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim%
371213-" /ased on this% it is not permitted to do work that in!ol!es writin
interest&based contracts and conditions% pa$in or recei!in riba%
depositin it or uardin it" Qenerall$ speakin% it is haraam to be directl$
or indirectl$ in!ol!ed with riba in an$ wa$% shape or form"
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- was keen to
e*plain the uliness of this maBor sin" HAbdullaah ibn 'as=ood ,ma$ Allaah
be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .+here are se!ent$&three t$pes of riba% the least
of which is as abhorrent as a man ha!in intercourse with his own mother
and worst of which is 2!iolatin5 a 'uslimWs honor and sanctit$" ,6eported
b$ al&Haakim in al-Mustadrak- 2738-; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 3933-"
HAbdullah ibn HanPalah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his father-
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
~ 49 ~
said: .Dnowinl$ consumin a dirham of riba is worse for a man than
committin adulter$ thirt$&si* times"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 97229;
see also Saheeh al-$aami% 3389-" +he prohibition on riba does not Bust
appl$ to deals between rich and poor% as some people think; it is a eneral
prohibition that applies to e!er$ person and e!er$ situation" How man$
rich people and bi businessmen ha!e one bankrupt because of riba@ +he
least harm riba does is to destro$ the blessin ,barakah- of the mone$%
e!en if a person=s wealth is reat" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- said: .?!en if riba is much% it will end up bein a
small amount"0 ,6eported b$ al&Haakim% 2738; see also Saheeh al-$aami%
3942-" +his does not refer to whether the ratio of interest is hih or low; all
riba is haraam% and the one who deals with it will be raised up on the La$
of 6esurrection like the one who stands beaten b$ (ha$taan resultin in
insanit$ and epileps$"
In spite of the enormit$ of this sin% Allaah has told us to repent from it and
has e*plained how" Allaah sa$s to those who deal in riba ,interpretation of
the meanin-: .""" but if $ou repent% $ou shall ha!e $our capital sums" Leal
not unBustl$ ,b$ askin more than $our capital sums-% and $ou shall not be
dealt with unBustl$ ,b$ recei!in less than $our capital sums-"0 2al&/a:arah
2:2835 +his is :uintessential Bustice"
+he belie!er must despise this maBor sin and feel its abhorrence% e!en if
he puts his mone$ in interest&based banks because he has no other choice
and is afraid that his mone$ ma$ be lost or stolen otherwise" He should
feel that he is bein compelled b$ necessit$ to do this% like one who eats
dead meat% or worse" At the same time% he should seek the fori!eness of
Allaah and tr$ to )nd an alternati!e if he can" He is not permitted to ask
the bank for interest% and if the bank deposits it in his account% he must
et rid of it in whate!er wa$ is permissible" +his mone$ cannot be counted
as sada"ah ,charit$-% because Allaah is pure and accepts onl$ that which
is pure" He cannot bene)t from this mone$ b$ usin it to b$ food% drink%
clothin% transportation or housin; he cannot use it to ful)l obliations
~ 44 ~
such as spendin on his wife% child or parents% or to pa$ !akaat or ta*es%
or to defend himself in court" 6ather% he should Bust et rid of it% for fear of
the wrath of Allaah"
&on'aling a )ro#!'t2s /a!lts at th ti" o/
sal
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- once passed b$
a pile of food that was for sale" He put his hand in it and felt dampness% so
he asked% .#hat is this% C seller of the foodF0 He said% .It was rained on% C
'essener of Allaah"0 +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- said: .#h$ don=t $ou put it on top% so that people can see itF
#hoe!er decei!es ,the people- is not one of us"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim%
1733-"
+here are man$ traders nowada$s who do not fear Allaah% and tr$ to
conceal faults b$ wrappin it in plastic 2F5% puttin fault$ produce in the
bottom of the bo*% usin chemicals and the like to make a product look
ood% or concealin noises in enines that ma$ indicate a fault & so that
when the purchaser brins a product home% it soon starts to wear out"
(ome traders chane e*pir$ dates% or pre!ent the bu$er from e*aminin
or tr$in out a product" 'an$ of those who sell cars or other t$pes of
e:uipment do not point out the product=s faults" All of this is haraam% as
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .+he
'uslim is the brother of his fellow 'uslim" +he 'uslim is not permitted to
sell to his brother an$thin which is fault$ without pointin out the faults
to him"0 ,6eported b$ Ibn 'aaBah% 27894; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 48>9-"
(ome traders e!en think that their responsibilit$ ends when the$ tell
bu$ers at an auction% .I am sellin a heap of metal% a heap of metal"""0
~ 48 ~
+his is a sale in which there is no blessin% as the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .+he two parties in!ol!ed in a sale
ha!e the choice ,to end it & i"e" the sale is not )nal- until the$ part" If both
ha!e been truthful and honest about an$ faults% the sale will be blessed%
but if the$ ha!e lied and concealed an$ faults% the blessin of the sale will
be lost"0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath% 4732M-"
Arti.'ially in1ating )ri's
+his refers to the practice of arti)ciall$ inNatin the price with no intention
of bu$in% in order to decei!e others% thus pushin them to add more to
the price the$ are oOerin" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .Lo not arti)ciall$ inNate prices"0 ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 1>74M4-" +his is undoubtedl$ a form of deceit%
and the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
.Louble&dealin and cheatin will end in Hell"0 ,(ee Silsilat al-haadeeth
al-Saheehah% 1>98-" 'an$ salesmen at auctions and in car salesrooms are
earnin unclean and haraam income because of the man$ haraam thins
that the$ do% such as conspirin to arti)ciall$ inNate prices and decei!e
purchasers% or to lower the price of one of their products% or con!ersel$
pretendin to be customers and raisin the prices at auctions to decei!e
and cheat"
Tra#ing a/tr th s'on# 'all to )rayr on
4ri#ay
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .C $ou who belie!e@ #hen the
call is proclaimed for the salaat ,pra$er- on the da$ of ;rida$ ,Kumu=ah
pra$er-% come to the remembrance of Allaah and lea!e oO business ,and
~ 4M ~
e!er$ other thin-% that is better for $ou if $ou did but know@0 2al&Kumu=ah
42:35"
(ome people continue tradin in their stores and in front of the mos:ue
e!en after the second call to pra$er; those who bu$ from them also share
in their uilt% e!en if the$ onl$ bu$ a siwaak ,natural toothbrush-"
Accordin to the soundest opinion% this sale is in!alid" (ome owners of
restaurants% bakeries and factories force their emplo$ees to work at the
time of Kumu=ah pra$ers; e!en if this leads to an apparent increase in
earnins% the$ will ultimatel$ be losers in realit$" +he emplo$ee is oblied
to act in accordance with the teachin of the Prophet ,peace and blessins
of Allaah be upon him-: .+here is no obedience to a created bein if it
in!ol!es disobedience to Allaah"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 17123;
Ahmad (haakir said: its isnaad is saheeh% no" 1>49-"
Ga"bling
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .C $ou who belie!e@
Into*icants ,all kinds of alcoholic drinks-% amblin% al-ansaab ,stone altars
for sacri)ces to idols% etc"-% and al-a!laam ,arrows for seekin luck or
decision- are an abomination of (ha$taan=s handiwork" (o a!oid ,strictl$
all- that abomination% in order that $ou ma$ be successful"0 2al&'aa=idah
9:3>5
Qamblin was !er$ common durin the Kaahili$$ah; in one of the most
well&known forms of amblin% ten people would bu$ a camel% each pa$in
an e:ual share% then the$ would throw down arrows & a form of drawin
lots" (e!en people would win une:ual shares and three would be left
empt$&handed"
~ 43 ~
<owada$s there are man$ forms of amblin% includin: lotteries and
raUes% in which people pa$ mone$ to bu$ numbers% then numbers are
drawn for )rst priPe% second priPe% and so on for a !ariet$ of priPes" +his is
haraam% e!en when it is supposedl$ done for charit$"
/u$in a product which includes somethin unknown% or pa$in for a
number for a draw which will decide who ets what"
Another modern form of amblin is insurance% such as life insurance% car
insurance% product insurance% insurance aainst )re or theft% third part$
insurance% comprehensi!e insurance% and so on" +here are so man$ t$pes
of insurance that some siners e!en insure their !oices@
All of the abo!e are forms of amblin" <owada$s there are e!en clubs
that are de!oted e*clusi!el$ to amblin% in which there are so&called
.reen tables0 ,roulette tables- Bust for people to commit this sin" Cther
forms of amblin include bettin on horse races and other sports% fruit&
machines and the like in amusement centres% and competitions in which
the !ictors win priPes% as a roup of scholars ha!e stated"
Th/t
Allah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Jut oO ,from the wrist Boint-
the ,riht- hand of the thief% male or female% as a recompense for that
which the$ ha!e committed% a punishment b$ wa$ of e*ample from
Allaah" And Allaah is All&Powerful% All&#ise"0 2al&'aa=idah 9:3M5
Cne of the worst forms of this sin is theft from the pilrims who come on
HaBB and HTmrah to the Ancient House of Allaah" +his kind of thief has no
respect for the limits set b$ Allaah in the best reion on earth and around
the House of Allaah" In the report about (alaat al&Dusoof ,the eclipse
~ 9> ~
pra$er-% it is reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .Hell was brouht near% and that was when $ou saw me
steppin backwards% because I feared that its heat would touch me" I saw
therein the man with the crooked stick drain his intestines in the ;ire"
He used to steal from the hujjaaj ,pilrims- with his crooked stick" If the$
spotted him% he would sa$ H+his ot cauht on m$ stick%= and if the$ did
not spot him% he would take whate!er he had stolen " " "0
Another of the worst forms of theft is stealin from the public purse" (ome
of those who do this sa$ .#e are onl$ doin what others do"0 +he$ do not
realiPe that what the$ are doin is eOecti!el$ stealin from all the
'uslims% because the public purse belons to all the 'uslims" Imitatin
those who do not fear Allaah is no e*cuse" (ome people steal from the
wealth of the kuOaar on the rounds that the$ are kuOaar% but this is
wron; the onl$ kuOaar whose wealth we are allowed to take awa$ are
those who are acti!el$ )htin the 'uslims% which does not appl$ to e!er$
kaa)r indi!idual or compan$"
Another form of theft is pick&pocketin% stealin somethin from a
person=s pocket without him realiPin" (ome thie!es enter people=s houses
as !isitors% and steal from them" (ome steal from their uests= bas" (ome
& includin women & o into stores and hide thins in their pockets or
under their clothin" (ome think that the theft of small or cheap items is
of little conse:uence% but the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .Allaah has cursed the thief who steals an e and has his
hand cut oO% and the thief who steals a rope and has his hand cut oO"0
,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 127M1-"
?!er$one who steals somethin must )rst repent to Allaah then return the
item to its rihtful owner% whether openl$ or secretl$% in person or !ia a
third part$" If he fails to )nd the rihtful owner or his heirs after much
eOort% then he should i!e the propert$ in charit$% with the intention that
the reward should be i!en to the rihtful owner"
~ 91 ~
O3ring or a'')ting bribs
Qi!in a bribe to a "aadi or Bude to make him turn a blind e$e to the
truth or to make a false claim succeed is a sin% because it leads to
oppression and inBustice for the person who is in the riht% and it spreads
corruption" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .And eat up not
one another=s propert$ unBustl$% not i!e briber$ to the rulers that $ou
ma$ knowinl$ eat up a part of the propert$ of others sinfull$"0 2al&
/a:arah 2:1MM5
Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .Allaah has cursed
those who i!e and accept bribes with reard to Budin"0 ,6eported b$
Imaam Ahmad% 273M8; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 9>43-" Howe!er%
pa$ments made in order to reach the truth or a!ert inBustice when there is
no other wa$ of doin so are not included in this warnin"
/riber$ is so widespread nowada$s that it more of a source of income than
the reular salar$ for some workers" (ome companies e!en include bribes
as a factor in their budets% under a !ariet$ of headins% and some
dealins cannot bein or end without the pa$ment of a bribe" 'uch harm
is caused to the poor and man$ safeuards are broken because of bribes"
/riber$ is a cause of corruption whereb$ emplo$ees act aainst their
emplo$ers% and one can onl$ et ood ser!ice if one pa$s a bribe & the
person who refuses to pa$ will et shodd$ or late ser!ice% and people who
come after him but are willin to pa$ will be ser!ed before him" /ecause
of briber$% a reat deal of mone$ which is due to emplo$ers ends up in the
pockets of sales representati!es and those responsible for makin
compan$ purchases" It is little wonder% then that the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- pra$ed to Allaah to depri!e all those
~ 92 ~
in!ol!ed of His 'erc$" HAbdullah ibn HAmr ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with
him- said: .+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: H+he curse of Allaah be upon the one who i!es a bribe
and the one who accepts it"0 ,6eported b$ Ibn 'aaBah% 2313; see also
Saheeh al-$aami% 9114-"
Si<ing lan# by /or'
#hen there is no fear of Allaah% strenth and cunnin are a disaster
because the one who possesses these :ualities uses them to oppress
others% such as seiPin other people=s possessions% includin their land"
+he punishment for this is e*tremel$ se!ere" HAbdullaah ibn HTmar
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: .#hoe!er seiPes an$ piece of land unlawfull$% on the La$ of
6esurrection Allaah will make the round swallow him up to the se!enth
depth of the earth"0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath 971>3-"
Aa=laa ibn 'urrah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .An$ man who
seiPes a hand span of land% Allaah will tell him to di it ,accordin to al&
+abaraani: to brin it- to the se!enth depth of the earth% then it will be
placed around his neck on the La$ of 6esurrection% until Allaah has
)nished Budin mankind"0 ,6eported b$ al&+abaraani in al-Kabeer% 22728>;
see also Saheeh al-$aami% 3728-"
+his also includes chanin landmarks and boundaries in order to make
one=s own land bier at the e*pense of a neihbour% as is indicated b$
the words of the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-:
.Allaah has cursed the one who chanes the boundar$&markers of the
land"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% with commentar$ b$ al&<awawi% 137141-"
~ 93 ~
A'')ting a gi/t in rt!rn /or intr'#ing
+o ha!e a position of hih standin amon people is one of the blessins
of Allaah to His sla!e% if he is rateful" Cne wa$ in which a person ma$
i!e thanks for this blessin is b$ usin his position to bene)t other
'uslims" +his is part of the eneral meanin of the hadeeth: .#hoe!er
amon $ou is able to bene)t his brother% then let him do so"0 ,6eported b$
'uslim% 471824-" +he person who uses his position to bene)t others b$
a!ertin inBustice or brinin some ood% without doin an$thin that is
haraam or infrines on the rihts of others% will be rewarded b$ Allaah% so
lon as his intention is sincere% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- told us: .Intercede% $ou will be rewarded"0 ,6eported
b$ Abu Lawud% 9132; the hadeeth is also reported in al-Saheehayn% see
Fath al-%aari% 1>749>% Kitaab al-adab- %aab taaawun al-mumineen
baduhum badan-"
It is not permitted to accept an$thin in return for this intercession or
mediation" ?!idence for this ma$ be seen in the hadeeth narrated b$ Abu
Tmaamah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him-: V#hoe!er intercedes for
someone then accepts a ift ,in return for it-% has committed a serious
t$pe of riba"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 97241; see Saheeh al-$aami4%
4232-"
(ome people oOer the opportunit$ to bene)t from their position% in return
for a sum of mone$% in order to help someone et a Bob% or a transfer from
one oEce or area to another% or treatment for the sick% etc" +he soundest
opinion is that this e*chane is haraam% because of the hadeeth of Abu
Tmaamah :uoted abo!e% whose apparent meanin is that acceptin such
ifts is wron% e!en if no areement was pre!iousl$ made" ,;rom the
spoken statements of WAbd al&WAPeeP ibn /aaP-" +he reward which the doer
of ood will recei!e from Allaah on the La$ of Kudement should be
~ 94 ~
suEcient" A man came to al&Hasan ibn (ahl askin him to intercede for
him in some matter% which he did; then the man came to thank him" Al&
Hasan ibn (ahl said to him% V#h$ are $ou thankin usF #e belie!e that
Pakaat is due on positions of rank Bust as it is due on wealth"V ,Ibn 'uNih%
al-adaab al-Shar4iyyah% 27184-"
It is worth pointin out here that there is a diOerence between hirin
someone to do leal paperwork for $ou and pa$in him waes in return%
which has to do with the leitimate hirin of labour% and usin a personWs
position to intercede for $ou in return for mone$% which is haraam"
Hiring so"on > bn.tting /ro" his
labo!r0 thn not )aying hi" his *ags
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- encouraed
speed$ pa$ment of waes to people hired for their labour" He said: .Qi!e
the hired man his waes before his sweat dries"0 ,6eported b$ Ibn 'aaBah%
27M18; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 1433-"
Cne form of oppression or inBustice that is common in 'uslim societies is
the failure to i!e emplo$ees and workers their rihts" +his takes man$
forms% for e*ample:
Len$in an emplo$ee=s rihts in totalit$% where the emplo$ee has no proof
of his rihts" He ma$ ha!e lost his dues in this world% but he will not lose
them before Allaah on the La$ of 6esurrection" (o the oppressor who
consumed the mone$ due to the !ictim will be brouht forth% and his
!ictim will be i!en some of his hasanaat in compensation ,i"e" some of
the oppressor=s ood deeds will be added to his !ictim=s credit-" If the
hasanaat are not enouh% some of the !ictim=s sayiaat ,bad deeds- will be
added to the oppressor% then he will be thrown into Hell"
~ 99 ~
<ot i!in the emplo$ee his full rihts" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: .#oe to al-Muta6feen 2those who i!e less in measure and
weiht ,decrease the rihts of others-5"0 2al&'utaEfeen M3:15 Cne
e*ample of this is the action of some bosses who brin workers from their
homelands with a contract to pa$ a certain wae" Cnce the people are
committed and ha!e started to work for him% he oes and chanes the
contracts% alterin them to state a lower wae than the one actuall$
areed upon" +he emplo$ees sta$ because the$ ha!e no choice and ha!e
no proof of their rihts; all the$ can do is complain to Allaah" If the
emplo$er is a 'uslim and the emplo$ee is not% this lowerin of waes is a
wa$ of turnin people awa$ from the (traiht Path% and he will carr$ his
sin"
'akin the emplo$ee do e*tra work or put in loner hours% without pa$in
him o!ertime or i!in him an$ more than the basic salar$"
(ome bosses dela$ pa$ment of waes and pa$ up onl$ after much
strule% complainin% chasin and court cases" +heir aim ma$ be to make
the emplo$ee i!e up his claim to his rihtful waes and stop askin; or
the$ ma$ want to in!est this mone$% perhaps b$ lendin it for interest"
'eanwhile% the poor emplo$ee cannot bu$ his dail$ bread or send
an$thin home to his need$ wife and children for whose sake he left to
work o!erseas" #oe to those oppressors on that painful La$@ Abu
Hura$rah reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .Allaah sa$s: H+here are three whom I will oppose on the
La$ of 6esurrection: a man who i!es his word% swearin b$ 'e% then
breaks it% a man who sells a free man into sla!er$ and keeps the mone$%
and a man who hires another and bene)ts from his labour% then does not
pa$ him his waes"0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 47448-"
~ 94 ~
Not gi+ing gi/ts 8!ally to on2s 'hil#rn
(ome people show fa!ouritism in the wa$ the$ i!e ifts to some of their
children but not others" Accordin to the soundest opinion% doin this is
haraam unless there is some leitimate reason% such as one child bein in
reater need than the others due to sickness% bein in debt% bein
rewarded for ha!in memoriPed the entire Gur=aan% bein unable to )nd a
Bob% ha!in a lare famil$% bein a full&time student% etc" #hen a father
i!es somethin to one of his children who is in need% he should ha!e the
intention to i!e similarl$ to an$ other children of his should the need
arise" Qeneral proof of this principle ma$ be seen in the aayah
,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " /e Bust: that is nearer to piet$% and
fear Allaah " " "0 2al&'aa=idah 9:M5" (peci)c e!idence is found in the report
of al&<u=maan ibn /asheer ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him-% whose
father brouht him to the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him- and said: .I ha!e i!en this son of mine a sla!e that I
had"0 +he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- asked him% .Lid $ou i!e all $our children a similar iftF0 He said%
.<o"0 +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
.+hen take ,the ift- back"0 ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 97211-"
Accordin to another report% the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .;ear Allaah and be fair to $our children%0 so he went
awa$ and took his ift back" ,al-Fath 97211-" Accordin to a third report% he
said% .Lo not ask me to be a witness% for I will not bear witness to
inBustice"0 ,Saheeh Muslim% 371243-" (ons ma$ be i!en twice as much as
dauhters% as in the case of inheritance% accordin to Imaam Ahmad% ma$
Allaah ha!e merc$ on him ,Abu Lawud% Masaail al-2maam hmad% 2>4;
Imaam Ibn al&Ga$$im e*plained this in more detail in his footnotes-" /ut
there are some families where fathers do not fear Allaah% and their
fa!ouritism creates hatred and Bealous$ amon the children" A father ma$
i!e one child more because he looks like his paternal uncles% and i!e
less to another child because he looks like his maternal uncles; or he ma$
i!e more to the children of one wife and less to the children of another
wife; or he ma$ put one wife=s children in pri!ate schools% but not the
~ 98 ~
other wife=s children" +his will ultimatel$ back)re on him% because in most
cases the one who is depri!ed in this wa$ will not respect his father or
treat him kindl$ in the future" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah
be upon him- asked the man who showed fa!ouritism to one son% .Lo $ou
not want all $our children to respect $ou e:uall$F0 ,6eported b$ Imaam
Ahmad% 47243; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 1423-"
Asking )o)l /or "ony *hn on is not in
n#
(ahl ibn al&HanPali$$ah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that
the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
.#hoe!er asks people for mone$ when he has what is suEcient for him is
onl$ askin for more of the embers of Hell"0 +he$ asked him% .C
'essener of Allaah% what is suEcient so that he does not ha!e to ask for
moreF0 He said: .Ha!in enouh to eat lunch and dinner"0 ,6eported b$
Abu Lawud% 272M1; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 42M>-" Ibn 'as=ood ,ma$
Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the 'essener of Allaah ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .#hoe!er asks the people for
mone$ when he has what is suEcient for him will come on the La$ of
Kudement with scratches and lacerations on his face"0 ,6eported b$
Imaam Ahmad% 173MM; see also Saheeh al-$aami% 4299-" (ome bears
come to the mos:ues% interruptin people=s worship with their complaints;
some of them lie% brinin fored papers and tellin tall stories; some of
them distribute their famil$ members around diOerent mos:ues% then the$
reroup and mo!e on to other mos:ues" (ome of these people ma$ in fact
be well&oO% to an e*tent which onl$ Allaah knows; onl$ when the$ die do
others )nd out what the$ ha!e left behind" 'eanwhile% there are others
who are trul$ in need% but people are not aware of it and ma$ think the$
ha!e enouh% because the$ are too proud and do not be of people at all;
nobod$ knows their true situation so no&one i!es them charit$"
~ 9M ~
Sking a loan *ith no intntion o/ )aying
it ba'k
+he dues owed b$ one person to another are !er$ important in the siht of
Allaah% so much so that if a person falls short in his duties towards Allaah%
he ma$ be fori!en if he repents% but when it comes to the rihts of other
people% he has to ful)l them before the La$ comes when dinars and
dirhams will be of no a!ail% and onl$ hasanaat and sayiaat ,ood and bad
deeds- will count" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: .Reril$%
Allaah commands that $ou should render back the trusts to those to
whom the$ are due " " "0 2al&<isaa= 4:9M5
Cne of the widespread problems in our societ$ is this casual approach to
loans; some people take out loans not for some urent need but because
the$ want to e*pand their businesses or keep up with others b$ bu$in
new cars or furniture or other temporar$ lu*uries of this life" Cften these
people let themsel!es in for the confusion of installment plans% which are
dubious or ma$be e!en haraam"
A casual approach to loans leads people to dela$ repa$ments% which in
turn leads to loss and )nancial ruin of others" #arnin of the
conse:uences of this deed% the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: .#hoe!er takes people=s mone$ with the intention of
pa$in them back% Allaah will pa$ him back% but whoe!er takes people=s
mone$ with the intention of wastin it% Allaah will destro$ him"0 ,6eported
b$ al&/ukhaari; see Fath al-%aari% 9794-" People take the matter of loans
!er$ lihtl$% but in the siht of Allaah it is a serious matter% so much so
that e!en the shaheed ,mart$r-% with his immense reward and hih status%
is not free of the conse:uences of debt" ?!idence of this is seen in the
hadeeth: .Qlor$ be to Allaah% #ho has re!ealed the seriousness of debt"
~ 93 ~
/$ the Cne in #hose hand is m$ soul% if a man were slain in the wa$ of
Allaah% then brouht back to life% then killed aain and brouht back to life
aain% then killed a third time% but he owed a debt% he would not be
admitted to Paradise until his debt was paid oO"0 ,6eported b$ al&<isaa=i;
see al-Mujtabaa% 87314% and Saheeh al-$aami% 3934-" <ow will these
s:uanderers be deterred from such a casual approachF
&ons!"ing haraa" *alth
+he person who does not fear Allaah does not care where he earns his
mone$ or how he spends it; his onl$ concern is to increase his bank
balance% e!en if it is haraam and ill&otten b$ means of theft% briber$%
e*tortion% forer$% sellin haraam thins% riba ,usur$-% consumin an
orphan=s wealth% earnins from haraam work like fortune&tellin%
immoralit$ or sinin% stealin from the 'uslim treasur$ or public
propert$% takin people=s mone$ b$ coercion or hih&pressure sales
tactics% bein when one is not in need% etc" +hen he bu$s food% clothin
and transportation with this ill&otten mone$% and builds or rents a house%
and furnishes it% and )lls his stomach with haraam food" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: .An$ Nesh that rows
from ill&otten ains is more deser!in of bein touched b$ Hell&)re " " "0
,6eported b$ al&+abaraani in al-Kabeer% 137134; see also Saheeh al-$aami%
4439-" Cn the La$ of 6esurrection% each person will be asked how he
earned mone$ and on what he spent it% and there will be doom and loss"
An$one who still has haraam mone$ should hasten to et rid of it; if it is
due to an$one else% then he should hasten to return it and ask for his
fori!eness before there comes a La$ on which dinars and dirhams will be
of no a!ail% and all that will count will be hasanaat and sayiaat"
~ 4> ~
5rinking khamr $ +n a singl #ro)
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " Into*icants ,all kinds of
alcoholic drinks-% amblin% al-ansaab ,stone altars for sacri)ces to idols%
etc"- and al-a!laam ,arrows for seekin luck or decision- are an
abomination of (ha$taan=s handiwork" (o a!oid ,strictl$- all that
,abomination- in order that $ou ma$ be successful"0 2al&'aa=idah 9:3>5
+he command to a!oid these thins is the stronest indication that the$
are forbidden" Khamr ,.wine0% alcohol- is compared to al-ansaab% which
were idols of the kuOaar; there is no e*cuse for those who arue that the
Gur=aan does not sa$ it is forbidden but onl$ tells us to a!oid it@
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- also issued a
stern warnin to the one who drinks khamr" Kaabir reported that he said:
.Allaah has promised the one who drinks khamr that He will make him
drink the mud of khibaal"0 +he people asked% .C 'essener of Allaah%
what is the mud of khibaalF0 He said% .+he sweat of the people of Hell% or
the Buice of the people of Hell"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 3719M8-" Ibn HAbbaas
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: .#hoe!er dies and has the habit of drinkin khamr% he will meet
Allaah as one who worships idols"0 ,6eported b$ al&+abaraani% 12749; see
also Saheeh al-$aami% 4929-"
<owada$s there are !er$ man$ kinds of khamr% with man$ names in
Arabic and other lanuaes% such as beer% jiah ,beer-% alcohol% ara"
,.arrack0-% !odka% champane% etc" +here has appeared in this ummah the
t$pe of person described b$ the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him-: .(ome people of m$ ummah will drink khamr% callin it b$
another name"0 ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 97342; see also Saheeh al-
$aami% 9493-" (o the$ ma$ call it .spirits0 instead of khamr% as an attempt
to distort the facts and decei!e" Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the
meanin-: .+he$ ,think to- decei!e Allaah and those who belie!e% while
the$ onl$ decei!e themsel!es% and percei!e ,it- not@0 2al&/a:arah 2:35
~ 41 ~
Islam imposes strict controls on this matter% and deals with it decisi!el$ so
that there is no room for misunderstandin" +he Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allah be upon him- said: .?!er$ into*icant is khamr and e!er$
into*icant is haraam"0 ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 3719M8-" ?!er$thin that has
the eOect of cloudin the mind is haraam% whether in lare or small
amounts" ,+he hadeeth% .#hate!er causes into*ication in lare amounts%
a small amount of it is haraam%0 was reported b$ Abu Lawud% no" 34M1;
see Saheeh bi 5awud% no" 312M-" <o matter how man$ diOerent names
there are% the$ all refer to one thin% and the rulin concernin it is well&
known"
;inall$% the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- issued a
warnin to those who drink khamr: .#hoe!er drinks khamr and becomes
into*icated% his pra$ers will not be accepted for fort$ da$s% and if he dies
he will enter Hell% and if he repents Allaah will accept his repentance" If he
drinks aain and becomes into*icated aain% his pra$ers will not be
accepted for fort$ da$s% and if he dies he will enter Hell% and if he repents
Allaah will accept his repentance" If he drinks aain and becomes
into*icated aain% his pra$ers will not be accepted for fort$ da$s% and if he
dies he will enter Hell% and if he repents Allaah will accept his repentance"
If he drinks a fourth time% Allaah promises that He will make him drink
from the mud of khibaal on the La$ of 6esurrection" +he people asked% .C
'essener of Allaah% what is the mud of khibaalF0 He said% .+he Buice of
the people of Hell"0 ,6eported b$ Ibn 'aaBah% no" 3388; see also Saheeh
al-$aami% 4313-"
Using +ssls o/ gol# > sil+r0 or ating >
#rinking /ro" th"
<owada$s hardl$ an$ household oods stores are free of !essels made of
old and sil!er% or plated with these metals" +he same applies to homes of
~ 42 ~
rich people and man$ hotels" +his kind of thin has become one of the
precious ifts that people i!e one another on special occasions" (ome
people ma$ not ha!e these thins at home% but the$ use them in other
people=s homes and when in!ited to a meal" All of these are actions which
are forbidden in Islaam" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- issued a stern warnin about usin such !essels" Tmm
(alamah reported that he said: .+he one who eats or drinks from a !essel
of old or sil!er is puttin )re from Hell into his stomach"0 ,6eported b$
'uslim% 371434-" +his rulin applies to e!er$ kind of !essel or utensil that
is made of old or sil!er% such as plates% forks% spoons% kni!es% tra$s on
which food is oOered to uests% bo*es of sweets which are i!en to
weddin uests% and so on"
(ome people miht sa$% .#e are not usin them% we are Bust puttin them
on displa$ in a lass case"0 +his is not permitted either% to pre!ent an$
possibilit$ of these thins bein used" ,;rom the spoken statements of
(ha$kh HAbd al=&=APeeP ibn /aaP"-
Baring /als *itnss
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " (o shun the abomination
,worship- of idols% and shun l$in speech ,false statements- & hunafaa
&illah ,i"e"% to worship none but Allaah-% not associatin partners ,in
worship% etc"- unto Him " " "0 2al&HaBB 22:3>&315
HAbd al&6ahmaan ibn Abi /akrah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his
father- reported that his father said: .#e were with the 'essener of
Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- when he said: HI fear
for $ou three maBor sins= & three times: Hassociatin partners with Allaah%
disobedience to parents% and &= & he was reclinin but he sat up at this
point and said: H & and bearin false witness"= He kept repeatin this with
~ 43 ~
such fer!our that we wished he would stop ,for his own sake-"0 ,6eported
b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 97241-"
+he warnin aainst bearin false witness was uttered repeatedl$ because
people take it too lihtl$ and there are man$ moti!es for doin so% such as
hatred and en!$" +he resultin corruption is reat indeed: how man$
people ha!e lost their rihts because of false witness@ How man$ innocent
people ha!e been treated unBustl$% and how man$ people ha!e ained
what the$ did not deser!e% because of it@
An e*ample of the wa$s in which people take this matter lihtl$ is what
sometimes happens in the courts% when a person miht sa$ to someone
he has onl$ Bust met% V+estif$ for me and I will testif$ for $ou"V (o one
miht testif$ for the other in a case where he does not ha!e the necessar$
knowlede of what reall$ happened% like testif$in that this person owns a
piece of land or a house% or recommendin him when he has ne!er seen
him before that da$ in court" +his is l$in and false witness% whereas
testimon$ should be as described in the /ook of Allaah: V" " " we testif$ not
e*cept accordin to what we know " " "V 2Aoosuf 12:M15
Listning to "!si' > "!si'al instr!"nts
Ibn 'as=ood ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- used to swear b$ Allaah
that the aa$ah .And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead
,men- from the Path of Allaah " " "0 21u:maan 31:45 referred to sinin"
Abu HAamir and Abu 'aalik al&Ash=ari ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with them-
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: .Amon m$ ummah will be those who make permissible al&
hira,adultr$ or Pinah-% silk% khamr and musical instruments " " "0 ,6eported
b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath% 1>791-" Anas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him-
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
~ 44 ~
said: .In this ummah there will be punishments of earth:uakes% showers of
stones and deformit$ ,transformation into animals-; that will be when the
people drink khamr% listen to female siners and pla$ musical
instruments"0 ,(ee al-Silsilah al-Saheehah% 22>3; attributed to Ibn Abi=l&
Lun$aa% 5hamm al-Malaahi; the hadeeth was narrated b$ al&+irmidhi% no"
2212-"
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- forbade the
.koobah0 ,a kind of drum-% and described the Nute as the !oice of the
immoral fool" +he earl$ scholars such as Imaam Ahmad% ma$ Allaah ha!e
merc$ on him% stated that musical instruments such as the 4((d ,lute-%
tanb((r ,a lon&necked strined instrument-% reed Nute% rabaab ,strined
instrument resemblin a )ddle- and c$mbal% were haraam; no doubt
modern instruments such as the !iolin% "aan((n ,strined musical
instrument resemblin a Pither-% oran% piano% uitar% etc"% are also
included in the Prophet=s prohibition on musical instruments% because
their eOect and impact is reater than that of the ancient instruments
mentioned in some ahaadeeth" +he$ are e!en more into*icatin than
khamr% as scholars such as Ibn al&Ga$$im mentioned" <o doubt the
prohibition% and the sin in!ol!ed% are reater when the music is
accompanied b$ sinin and the !oices of female siners% and it is e!en
worse when the l$rics speak of lo!e and describe ph$sical beaut$" Hence
the scholars said that sinin pa!es the wa$ for !inaa ,adulter$ or
fornication-% and that it makes h$pocris$ row in the heart" Qenerall$
speakin% music and sinin form one of the reatest temptations of our
times"
#hat is !er$ diEcult is the fact that nowada$s music is a part of so man$
thins% such as clocks% doorbells% children=s to$s% computers% telephones%
etc"% and a!oidin it takes a reat deal of determination" Allaah is the
source of help"
~ 49 ~
Gossi) > ba'kbiting
'an$ atherins produce nothin but ossip about other 'uslims and
slander of their honour" +his is somethin which Allaah has forbidden His
sla!es% and has drawn the most repulsi!e analo$ to put them oO" He sa$s
,interpretation of the meanin-: ." " " neither backbite one another" #ould
one of $ou like to eat the Nesh of his dead brotherF Aou would hate it " " "0
2al&HuBuraat 43:125
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- e*plained the
meanin of this aa$ah" He said: .Lo $ou know what gheebah ,ossip or
backbitin- isF0 +he$ said% .Allaah and His 'essener know best"0 He said:
V+o sa$ somethin about $our brother that he does not want to be said"V
He was asked% V#hat do $ou think if what is said about him is trueFV He
said% VIf what $ou sa$ about him is true% this is backbitin% and if what $ou
sa$ about him is not true% this is a lie"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 472>>1-"
Qossip or backbitin means sa$in somethin about a 'uslim which ma$
be true but which he does not like to hear spoken% whether it be about his
ph$sical appearance% his adherence to reliion% his worldl$ aOairs% his self%
his beha!iour or his character" +here are man$ forms of ossip% includin
talkin about a personWs faults and imitatin him to make fun of him"
People take the matter of gheebah !er$ lihtl$% althouh it is !er$ serious
in the siht of Allaah% as is indicated b$ the words of the Prophet ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him-: V+here are se!ent$&two forms of
riba% the least of which is as bad as a man ha!in intercourse with his own
mother% and the worst of which is when a man slanders the honour of his
brother"V ,Silsilah al-Saheeh% 1M81-"
#hoe!er is present in a atherin where ossip takes place should Vforbid
what is e!ilV and defend his absent brother" +he Prophet ,peace and
~ 44 ~
blessins of Allaah be upon him- encouraed us to do this when he said:
V#hoe!er defends the honour of his 'uslim brother% Allaah will protect his
face from the ;ire on the La$ of 6esurrection"V ,6eported b$ Ahmad%
4749>; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 423M-"
Slan#r
(ome people o about repeatin the words of others to cause trouble
between people; this is one of the reatest causes of broken relations and
stirrin up feelins of hatred amon people" Allaah condemned the one
who does this ,interpretation of the meanin-: VAnd obe$ not e!er$one
who swears much% & and is considered worthless% a slanderer% oin about
with calumnies"V 2al&Galam 4M:1>&115
Hudha$fah reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: V<o ea!esdropper will enter Paradise"V ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 1>7482; Vea!esdropperV here refers to a person who
ea!esdrops on others without their knowin% then oes and tells others
what he has heard-
Ibn WAbbaas said: V+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- passed b$ one of the ardens of 'adeenah% and heard the sound of
two people bein punished in their ra!es" +he Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+he$ are bein punished% but the$
are not bein punished for an$ maBor sin; one of them used ne!er to clean
himself properl$ after urinatin% and the other used to spread malicious
slander " " "V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see Fath al-%aari% 17318-"
Cne of the worst forms of this sin is to cause trouble between a husband
and wife% or !ice !ersa% or to tell oneWs boss what other emplo$ees are
sa$in% in order to create trouble" All of this is haraam"
~ 48 ~
Looking into )o)l;s ho!ss *itho!t thir
)r"ission
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: VC $ou who belie!e@ ?nter not
houses other than $our own% until $ou ha!e asked permission and reeted
those in them"""V 2al&<oor 24:285
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- e*plained that
the reason wh$ permission was to be souht was for fear that the person
seekin to enter miht see somethin pri!ate in the house: V+he rule of
seekin permission has been established for the sake of ,not- seein"V
,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 11724-" <owada$s% when
houses and buildins are too close to one another or e!en attached% and
doors and windows face one another% the possibilit$ of neihbours seein
one another has increased reatl$" 'an$ people do not lower their aPe%
and some of those who li!e on hiher Noors ma$ deliberatel$ look down
from their roofs and windows into neihbourin homes that are lower than
their own" +his is an act of betra$al and an in!asion of their neihboursW
pri!ac$% as well as bein the wa$ that leads to haraam deeds" A reat deal
of miser$ and trouble has resulted from this% and that fact that the
(hareeWah counts the e$e of the one who spies as worthless is suEcient
proof of the seriousness of the matter" +he 'essener of Allaah ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V#hoe!er looks into
somebod$Ws house without their permission% it is permissible for them to
put out his e$e"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 371433-" Accordin to another
report% he said: VPut out his e$e% and there will be no penalt$ or
retribution"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 273M9; see also Saheeh al-
$aami4% 4>22-"
T*o )o)l 'on+rsing )ri+atly to th
:'l!sion o/ a thir#
~ 4M ~
+his is one of the problems that e*ist in social atherins% and it is one of
the wa$s in which (ha$taan di!ides the 'uslims and makes some of them
hate others" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
e*plained the rule and the wisdom behind it: VIf $ou are three% then two
should not con!erse pri!atel$ to the e*clusion of a third until $ou are
Boined b$ other people% because this will make him sad"V ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 117M3-" +his also includes three people talkin
pri!atel$ to the e*clusion of a fourth% and so on% and two people speakin
in a lanuae which the third does not understand% because this is
undoubtedl$ a form of disdain towards the third% and i!es the impression
that the$ intend to hurt him% etc"
Isbaal $ *aring 'loths that 'o" #o*n
blo* th ankls
Cne of the thins which people treat as insini)cant% althouh it is serious
in the siht of Allaah% is isbaal% which means lenthenin oneWs clothes
below the ankles; some people let their clothes touch the round% and
some allow them to dra on the Noor behind them"
Abu Lharr ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+here are three to
whom Allaah will not speak on the La$ of 6esurrection% nor look at nor
praise: the one who wears his lower arment below the ankles; the one
who reminds others of his ifts or fa!ours; and the one who sells his
product b$ means of lies and false oaths"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 171>2-"
+he one who sa$s% VI am not wearin m$ clothes below m$ ankles out of
arroanceV is in fact praisin himself in a wa$ that is unacceptable" +he
warnin aainst isbaal is issued to all% reardless of whether the$ do it out
of arroance or not% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- said: V#hate!er part of the lower arment is below the ankles is in
~ 43 ~
Hell"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 47294; see also Saheeh al-$aami4%
9981-" +he person whose isbaal is the result of arroance will be more
se!erel$ punished than the one who has no such intention% as the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V#hoe!er trails his
arment out of pride% Allaah will not e!en look at him on the La$ of
6esurrection"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% no" 3449% al&/aha edition- & this
is because he is combinin two sins in one action"
#earin an$ clothes below the ankle is haraam% as is indicated in the
hadeeth reported b$ Ibn WTmar ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his
father-: V2sbaal ma$ be done with an i!aar ,lower arment-% "amees ,shirt
or upper arment- and 4amaamah ,turban-; whoe!er dras an$ part of
them on the round out of pride% Allaah will not look at him on the La$ of
6esurrection"V ,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 47393; see also Saheeh al-$aami4%
288>-" #omen are permitted to lenthen their arments b$ one or two
handspans to co!er the feet or as a precaution aainst an$thin bein
unco!ered b$ the wind% etc"% but it is not permitted to do more than that%
as is done with some weddin dresses which ma$ ha!e a train se!eral
metres lon% which has to be carried behind the bride"
Mn *aring gol# in any sha) or /or"
Abu 'oosa al&AshWari ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V(ilk and old
ha!e been permitted for the females of m$ ummah% and ha!e been
forbidden for the males"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 47333; see also
Saheeh al-$aami4% 2>8-"
+he market nowada$s is )lled with an$ number of items desined for men%
such as watches% spectacles% buttons% pens% chains and so&called
Vmedallions%V made of old of !arious standards% or completel$ old&
~ 8> ~
plated" Cne of the common sins occurs in competitions where amon the
priPes are menWs old watches"
Ibn WAbbaas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the
'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- saw a
man wearin a old rin; he took it and threw it aside% sa$in% V#ould an$
of $ou take a burnin ember from Hell and hold it in his handFV After the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- had one awa$%
someone suested to the man: V#h$ donWt $ou take $our rin and
bene)t from it ,sell it-FV He said% V<o% b$ Allaah% I will ne!er take it back
when the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- has thrown it aside"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 371499-"
=o"n *aring short0 tight or s$tho!gh
'loths
Cne of the wa$s in which our enemies are attackin us in modern times is
b$ means of the fashions which the$ desin and promote% and which ha!e
become popular amon 'uslims" +hese fashions do not co!er an$thin%
because the$ are so short% transparent or tiht; man$ of them are
inappropriate for wearin e!en in front of other women or oneWs mahrams@
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- told us that
these kinds of clothes would appear amon the women of the last times%
as was reported in the hadeeth narrated b$ Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be
pleased with him-: V+here are two t$pes of the people of Hell that I ha!e
not seen: people who ha!e whips like the tails of cattle% with which the$
strike the people; and women who are dressed but naked% walkin with an
enticin ait% with their hair lookin like the humps of camels% leanin
sidewa$s" +he$ will not enter Paradise or e!en smell its frarance%
althouh its frarance can be detected from such&and&such a distance"V
,6eported b$ 'uslim% 3714M>-" Also included in this t$pe of clothes are the
~ 81 ~
arments worn b$ some women which ha!e lon slits from the hem% or
pieces cut out here and there; when the wearer sits down% her 4awrah ,i"e"%
e!er$thin e*cept the face and hands- becomes !isible% apart from the
fact that b$ wearin such clothes a woman is resemblin the kuOaar and
followin their fashions and trends of re!ealin clothes" #e ask Allaah to
keep us safe from all that" Another serious matter as reards clothin is
the bad pictures which appear on some clothes% such as pictures of
siners and rock roups% bottles of wine etc"% pictures of animate beins
which are forbidden in Islam% crosses% loos of immoral clubs and
societies% or bad words which do not be)t people of honour% which ma$ be
written in forein lanuaes"
=aring *igs > hair)i's0 *hthr "a#
/ro" nat!ral or arti.'ial hair0 /or "n >
*o"n
AsmaaW bint Abi /akr said: VA woman came to the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- and said% WC 'essener of Allaah% I ha!e
a dauhter who is oin to be married; she had a fe!er and lost much of
her hair & can I i!e attach false hair to her headFW He said: WAllaah has
cursed the one who attaches false hair and the one who has this done"WV
,6eported b$ 'uslim% 371484-" Kaabir ibn WAbdullaah said: V+he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- issued strict instructions that
no woman should add an$thin to her head"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim%
371483-"
?*amples of this include the thins known nowada$s as wis and hair
e*tensions% and the man$ e!il thins with which salons are crowded" Also
included are the arti)cial wis worn b$ some actors and actresses who
ha!e no morals"
~ 82 ~
Mn rs"bling *o"n > *o"n
rs"bling "n0 in #rss0 s)'h >
a))aran'
Part of the ftrah ,natural inclinations of mankind- is that men should
preser!e the masculinit$ which Allaah has created in them% and women
should preser!e the femininit$ which Allaah has created in them" #ithout
this% decent human life becomes impossible" 'en resemblin women and
!ice !ersa is somethin which oes aainst manWs innate nature ,ftrah-
and opens the door to corruption and widespread promiscuit$" +he rulin
in shareeWah is that when it is stated that the person who does a thin is
cursed% that thin is haraam" Ibn WAbbaas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him
and his father- reported that the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VAllaah has cursed the men who
make themsel!es look like women and the women who make themsel!es
look like men"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath% 1>7332-" Ibn WAbbaas
,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him and his father- also reported that the
'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
VAllaah has cursed eOeminate men and masculine women"V ,6eported b$
al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 3X1>7333-" +he resemblance ma$ be in the wa$
the$ mo!e% walk and speak"
(imilarl$% the two se*es are not permitted to resemble one another in
dress or b$ wearin an$thin that is speci)call$ for the other se*" (o a
man is not permitted to wear necklaces% bracelets% anklets or earrins%
etc"% as is widespread amon hippies and the like" #omen are not
permitted to wear thins that are speci)call$ for men% like the thawb ,lon
arment worn b$ men in Arab countries-% shirts% etc"; whate!er she wears
should be diOerent in st$le% details and colour" +he e!idence that the two
se*es should not resemble one another in dress is found in the hadeeth
narrated b$ Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him-: VAllaah has
cursed the man who wears womenWs clothes and the woman who wear
~ 83 ~
menWs clothes"V ,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 47399; see also Saheeh al-
$aami4% 9>81-"
5ying on;s hair bla'k
+he correct opinion is that it is haraam to do this% because of the warnin
mentioned in the hadeeth: VAt the end of time there will be people who
d$e their hair black like the crops of pieons; the$ will ne!er smell the
frarance of Paradise"V ,6eported b$ Abu Lawud% 47413; see also Saheeh
al-$aami4% M193-" +his practice is widespread amon those who ha!e re$
hairs% which the$ co!er with black d$e; this leads to man$ e!ils% such as
deceit% and cheatin people b$ boastin of somethin which is not true" It
is true that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- used
to d$e his re$ hairs with henna% which a!e a $ellowish% reddish or
brownish hue" #hen Abu Guhaafah% whose hair and beard was as white as
thughaamah ,plant whose lea!es and Nowers are intensel$ white- was
brouht to him on the da$ of the Jon:uest of 'akkah% the Prophet ,peace
and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said% VJhane this with somethin%
but a!oid black"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 371443-" +he correct !iew is that
women are like men in this reard: the$ are not permitted to d$e an$ hairs
black that are not black"
Ha+ing )i't!rs o/ ani"at bings on
'lothing0 *alls or )a)r0 t'-
WAbdullaah ibn 'asWood ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+he people
who will be most se!erel$ punished b$ Allaah on the La$ of 6esurrection
are the picture&makers"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-Fath% 1>73M2-"
Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
~ 84 ~
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VAllaah sa$s: W#ho does
more wron than the one who tries to create somethin like '$ creation;
let him create a rain of wheat or an ear of corn " " "WV ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 1>73M9-" Ibn WAbbaas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased
with him- said: V?!er$ picture&maker will be in the ;ire% and for each
picture that he made he will be i!en a soul% and he will be punished in
Hell"V Ibn WAbbaas said: If $ou must make pictures% draw trees and thins
that do not possess a soul"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 371481-" +hese
ahaadeeth clearl$ indicate that it is haraam to make imaes of animate
beins% whether the$ be humans or diOerent kinds of animals% whether
the imaes are two& or three dimensional" Pictures are forbidden whether
the$ are drawn% enra!ed% car!ed% etched or cast from moulds" +he
ahaadeeth which forbid makin pictures co!er all these methods"
+he 'uslim should accept what the (hareeWah sa$s% without aruin"
(ome ma$ sa$ V#ell% I am not worshippin these pictures or prostratin to
them@V /ut if $ou look closel$ and think about Bust one of the bad eOects
of the widespread presence of pictures in our times% $ou will understand
the wisdom behind this prohibition: this bad eOect is the pro!ocation of
se*ual desire which leads to immoralit$% because of these pictures"
+he 'uslim should not keep an$ pictures of animate beins in his house%
because this pre!ents the anels from enterin his home" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V+he anels do not
enter a house where there is a do or pictures"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari%
see al-Fath% 1>73M>-" In man$ houses there are e!en statues% some of
which represent the ods of the kuOar% which are kept for decoration;
these are more haraam than other kinds% Bust as pictures which are hun
up are worse than pictures which are not hun up" How often ha!e
pictures led to lori)cation and rief% and led to boastin@ #e should not
sa$ that the pictures are kept for memories% for true memories of dear
fellow&'uslims lie in the heart% and one remembers them b$ pra$in for
fori!eness and merc$ for them" Cne should remo!e all these pictures% or
~ 89 ~
blot them out% e*cept when it is too diEcult to do so% as with these
pictures which are all o!er food packain% or in enc$clopaedias and
reference books; e!en then% $ou should tr$ to remo!e it% and to be careful
about the bad pictures in some books" It is permissible to keep some
necessar$ pictures% such as those on identit$ cards and licences% or
pictures which are walked on ,such as pictures in carpets-" V(o keep $our
dut$ to Allaah and fear Him as much as $ou can " " "V 2al&+ahaabun 44:145
Lying abo!t on2s #ra"s
(ome people deliberatel$ fabricate dreams and !isions that the$ ha!e not
reall$ seen% as a means of ainin spiritual prestie and fame% or for some
material ains% or to scare their enemies% and the like" 'an$ of the
common people ha!e a stron beliefs in dreams and are easil$ decei!ed
b$ such lies" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
issued a stern warnin to whoe!er does such a thin: VCne of the worst
t$pes of lie is for a man to claim to belon to someone other than his real
father% or to claim to ha!e seen somethin which he did not see% or to
attribute to the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- words that he did not sa$"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see al-
Fath% 4794>-" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
also said: V#hoe!er claims to ha!e seen a dream which he did not see will
be ordered to tie two rains toether% and he will ne!er be able to do
it " " "V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see al-Fath% 127428-" +$in two rains
toether is impossible% so the punishment will )t the crime"
Sitting or *alking on gra+s0 or ans*ring
th 'all o/ nat!r in a gra+yar#
~ 84 ~
Abu Hura$rah reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- said: VIf an$ of $ou were to sit on a li!e coal and let it burn his
clothes until it reached his skin% this would be better for him than sittin
on a ra!e"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 27448-" As for steppin on ra!es%
man$ people do this% and when a person is buried $ou can see people who
do not care where the$ walk ,e!en wearin shoes sometimes- on
neihbourin ra!es% with no respect for the dead" +he seriousness of this
matter is clear from the words of the Prophet ,peace and blessins of
Allaah be upon him-: VIf I were to walk on coals or on a sword% or to mend
m$ shoe with m$ own foot% this would be better for me than walkin on
the ra!e of a 'uslim"V ,6eported b$ Ibn 'aaBah% 17433; see also Saheeh
al-$aami4% 9>3M-" (o what about those who take o!er the site of a
ra!e$ard and build businesses or homes thereF As for respondin to the
call of nature in a ra!e$ard% this is somethin done b$ people who ha!e
no morals at all" #hen the$ feel the need% the$ Bump o!er the wall of the
ra!e$ard and oOend the dead with their unpleasant odours and impure
waste matter" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: VWI wouldnWt care if it were in the middle of the ra!e$ard or in the
middle of the marketplaceV ,ibid"- & i"e" answerin the call of nature in a
ra!e$ard is like unco!erin oneWs 4awrah and answerin the call of nature
in front of people in a marketplace" +hose who deliberatel$ throw their
trash into ra!e$ards ,especiall$ those which are abandoned and whose
walls are broken down- are included in this condemnation" Amon the
eti:uette re:uired of those who !isit ra!e$ards is takin oO their shoes
when the$ want to walk between ra!es"
Not 'laning onsl/ )ro)rly a/tr )assing
*atr
Cne of the beauties of Islam is that it teaches e!er$thin that will impro!e
and reform mankind% includin how to remo!e impurities b$ cleanin
~ 88 ~
oneself properl$ after urinatin or defecatin" /ut some people are !er$
careless about this matter% and allow their clothes and bodies to become
contaminated% thus causin their pra$ers to be in!alidated" +he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- told us that this is one of the
causes for the punishment in the ra!e" Ibn WAbbaas said: V+he Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- passed b$ one of the ardens
of 'adeenah% and heard the sound of two men bein punished in their
ra!es" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said:
V+he$ are bein punished% but the$ are not bein punished for an$ maBor
sin" Cne of them used not to clean himself properl$ after urinatin% and
the other used to spread malicious ossip"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari; see
Fath al-%aari% 17318-" Indeed% the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah
be upon him- said that Vmost of the punishment of the ra!e will be
because of urine"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 27324; see also Saheeh al-
$aami4% 1213-"
<ot cleanin oneself properl$ after urinatin also includes undue haste in
completin the action% or deliberatel$ urinatin in a position or place
where the urine can come back on oneself% or failin to clean oneself
afterwards% or not cleanin oneself properl$" 'odern imitation of the
ku'aar has reached such an e*tent that some rest rooms for men contain
wall&mounted urinals which are open to !iew% so a person who uses them
is urinatin in full !iew of an$one who comes and oes with no shame% in
the midst of impurit$" +hus he combines two abhorrent and forbidden acts
in one deed: not hidin his pri!ate parts from the !iew of others% and nor
cleanin himself properl$ after urinatin"
Ea+s#ro))ing on )o)l *ho #o not *ant
to b har#
Allaah sa$s ,interpretation of the meanin-: V" " " And sp$ not ,on one
another- " " "V 2al&HuBuraat 43:125"
~ 8M ~
Ibn WAbbaas ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V#hoe!er listens to
peopleWs con!ersations without their permission will ha!e molten lead
poured into his ears on the La$ of 6esurrection " " "V ,6eported b$ al&
+abaraani in al-Kabeer% 11724M&243; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 4>>4-"
If this person then oes and tells others of the con!ersation he o!erheard
in order to cause trouble for them% then his sin of sp$in is compounded
b$ another sin% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- said: V+he ea!esdropper will not enter Paradise"V ,6eported b$ al&
/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 1>7482-"
Bing a ba# nighbo!r
Allaah has enBoined kind treatment of neihbours in the GurWaan
,interpretation of the meanin-: V#orship Allaah and Boin none with Him in
worship% and do ood to parents% kinsfolk% orphans% the poor% the
neihbour who is near of kin% the neihbour who is a straner% the
companion b$ $our side% the wa$farer ,$ou meet-% and those sla!es whom
$our riht hands possess" Reril$% Allaah does not like such as are proud
and boastful"V 2al&<isaaW 4:345
Harmin a neihbour is haraam because of the reatness of his rihts"
Abu (hura$h ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet
,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V/$ Allaah% he does not
belie!e% b$ Allaah% he does not belie!e% b$ Allaah% he does not belie!e"V
He was asked% V#ho% C 'essener of AllaahFV He said: V+he one from
whose harm his neihbour is not safe"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath
al-%aari% 1>7443-
~ 83 ~
+he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- rearded the
praise or criticism of a neihbour as a measure of a personWs oodness or
badness" Ibn 'asWood ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that a
man said to the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-: VC
'essener of Allaah% how ma$ I know if I am doin well or notFV +he
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VIf $ou hear
$our neihbour sa$ that $ou are ood% then $ou are doin well% and if $ou
hear him sa$in that $ou are bad% $ou are not doin well"V ,6eported b$
Imaam Ahmad% 174>2% see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 423-"
Harmin a neihbour ma$ take man$ forms% includin: not allowin him to
)* a piece of wood to a shared wall or fence; e*pandin oneWs dwellin in
such a wa$ as to depri!e him of sun or air without his permission; openin
windows o!erlookin his house and lookin out of them to in!ade his
pri!ac$; disturbin him with loud sounds such as hammerin or shoutin%
especiall$ when he is asleep or restin; or throwin trash in front of his
door" +he sin of such deeds is increased when the$ are done to a
neihbour% as the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: VIf a man were to commit adulter$ with ten women% it would be
better for him than committin adulter$ with the wife of his neihbour%
and if a man were to steal from ten houses% it would be better for him
than stealin from the house of his neihbour"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari
in al-dab al-Mufrad% no" 1>3; see also al-Silsilah al-Saheehah% 49-" (ome
treacherous people take ad!antae of a neihbourWs absence durin his
niht shift to enter his house and commit immoral acts" #oe to them of
the punishment of a painful La$@
=riting a *ill /or th )!r)os o/ har"ing
on o/ th hirs
Cne of the basic principles of (hareeWah is that there should be neither
harmin nor reciprocatin harm" Cne e*ample of this harm is writin a will
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that depri!es one or some of the leitimate heirs of his or their rihts"
(uch a person is warned b$ the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him-: V#hoe!er harms ,others-% Allaah will harm him% and whoe!er
makes thins diEcult for others% Allaah will make thins diEcult for him"V
,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 37493; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 434M-"
#a$s in which a personWs will can harm others is b$ den$in an heir of his
rihts% or i!in an heir more than he is entitled to in (hareeWah% or b$
be:ueathin more than a third to an$ one person"
In places where people are not subBect to the rule of (hareeWah% it ma$ be
diEcult for a person to take what is his b$ rihts ranted b$ Allaah%
because courts that appl$ man&made laws ma$ order that the unfair will
reistered with a law$er be e*ecuted" V#oe to them for what their hands
ha!e written and woe to them for that the$ earn thereb$"V 2al&/a:arah
2:835
Playing *ith #i'
'an$ popular ames in!ol!e elements that are haraam; amon them are
ames in which pieces are mo!ed accordin to the throw of a dice% such
as backammon% etc" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- warned that these dice open the door to amblin: V#hoe!er pla$s
with dice% it is as if he dipped his )ner in the Nesh and blood of swine"V
,6eported b$ 'uslim% 47188>-" Abu 'oosa ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with
him- reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon
him- said: V#hoe!er pla$s with dice has disobe$ed Allaah and His
'essener"V ,6eported b$ Imaam Ahmad% 47334; see also Saheeh al-
$aami4% 49>9-"
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&!rsing a bli+r or so"on *ho #os
not #sr+ to b '!rs#
'an$ people do not control their tonues at times of aner% and are :uick
to curse people% animals% inanimate obBects% da$s% hours% etc" +he$ ma$
e!en curse themsel!es and their children% or a husband ma$ curse his
wife and !ice !ersa" +his is a !er$ serious matter" Abu Sa$d +haabit ibn al&
Lahhaak al&Ansari ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V" " " whoe!er
curses a belie!er% it is as if he killed him"V ,6eported al&/ukhaari% see ;ath
al&/aari% 1>7449-" /ecause cursin is more common amon women% the
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- e*plained that this
would be one of the reasons for them enterin Hell% and that those who
curse will not be intercessors on the La$ of 6esurrection" 'ore serious
than that is the fact that the curse will come back on the one who utters
it% if he sa$s it unfairl$; in that case he will ha!e pra$ed aainst himself
and e*cluded himself from the merc$ of Allaah"
=ailing 6at ti" o/ bra+"nt7
Cne of the haraam deeds that some women do is to raise their !oices in
screamin and euloiPin the dead% strikin their faces% tearin their
clothes% cuttin or tearin out their hair% etc" All of this indicates that a
person does not accept the decree of Allaah and is not bearin disaster
with fortitude and patience" +he Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- cursed the one who does this" Abu Tmaamah ,ma$ Allaah be
pleased with him- reported that the 'essener of Allaah ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- cursed the woman who strikes her face%
tears her clothes and cries out about woe and doom" ,6eported b$ Ibn
'aaBah% 179>9; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 9>4M-" WAbdullaah ibn 'asWood
,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VHe is not one of us who strikes his
cheeks% tears his clothes and pra$s with the supplication of the
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Kaahili$$ah"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% see Fath al-%aari% 37143-" +he
Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VIf the woman
who wails does not repent before her death% she will be raised on the La$
of 6esurrection wearin a shirt of tar and a arment of scabs"V ,6eported
b$ 'uslim% no" 334-
Striking or bran#ing th /a'
Kaabir said: V+he 'essener of Allaah ,peace and blessins of Allaah be
upon him- forbade strikin or brandin the face"V ,6eported b$ 'uslim%
371483-"
As far as strikin the face is concerned% man$ fathers and teachers do this
as a wa$ of punishin children% when the$ strike them in the face with
their hand% and so on; some people also do this to their ser!ants% e!en
thouh this is an insult to the face with which Allaah has honoured man" It
ma$ also cause the loss of some of the important senses which are
located in the face% leadin to reret and possible demands for retribution"
/randin animals in the face is done to make a distinuishin mark so
that each animalWs owner ma$ be known and the animal ma$ be returned
to him if it is lost" +his is haraam% because it causes suOerin and
deformit$" If people claim that this is their tribal custom and that a
distinuishin mark is necessar$% it should be made on some other part of
the animal% not on the face"
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Aban#oning a M!sli" brothr /or "or than
thr #ays *ith no lgiti"at rason
+his is one of the wa$s in which (ha$taan causes di!ision amon 'uslims%
and those who follow in the footsteps of (ha$taan ma$ forsake a 'uslim
brother for no leitimate reason% but because of a dispute o!er mone$ or
some tri!ial disareement" +his di!ision ma$ continue for a lifetime% with
one swearin that he will ne!er speak to the other and !owin ne!er to
set foot in his house% turnin awa$ if he sees him in the street and
inorin him if he happens to encounter him in a atherin% shakin hands
with e!er$one else but him" +his is a cause of weakness in the 'uslim
communit$% hence the rulin concernin this is decisi!e and the warnin
aainst it is stern" Abu Hura$rah ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him-
reported that the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: VIt is not permitted for a 'uslim to forsake his brother for more than
three ,da$s-; whoe!er does this and dies% he will enter Hell"V ,6eported b$
Abu Lawud% 97219; see also Saheeh al-$aami4% 8439-"
Abu Dhuraash al&Aslami ,ma$ Allaah be pleased with him- reported that
the Prophet ,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: V#hoe!er
forsakes his bother for a $ear% it is as if he has shed his blood"V ,6eported
b$ al&/ukhaari in al-dab al-Mufrad% hadeeth no" 4>4; see also Saheeh al-
$aami4% 4998-"
It is bad enouh that di!ision amon 'uslims results in their bein
depri!ed of the fori!eness of Allaah% ma$ He be lori)ed" Abu Hura$rah
reported that the Prophet,peace and blessins of Allaah be upon him-
said: V+he deeds of the people are shown to Allaah twice a week% on
'onda$s and +hursda$s; He fori!es all His belie!in sla!es% e*cept for
the one between whom and his brother is enmit$" He sa$s% W1ea!e these
two until the$ reconcile"WV ,6eported b$ 'uslim% 4713MM-"
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#hiche!er of the two parties repents to Allaah must then o back to his
brother and reet him with salaam; if he does this and the other person
inores him% then the former is free of blame and the responsibilit$ falls
upon the latter" Abu A$$oob reported that the Prophet ,peace and
blessins of Allaah be upon him- said: VIt is not permissible for a man to
forsake his brother for more than three nihts% each turnin awa$ if the$
meet" +he better of the two is the one who is the )rst to reet the other
with salaam"V ,6eported b$ al&/ukhaari% Fath al-%aari% 1>7432-"
+here ma$ be cases where there is a leitimate reason for forsakin a
person% such as his not pra$in% or persistin in immoralit$" If forsakin
him will bene)t him b$ brinin him to his senses and makin him see the
error of his wa$s% then it is obliator$ to forsake him% but if it will onl$
make him more stubborn and persistent in his sin% then it is not riht to
forsake him% because nothin is achie!ed b$ doin so" ;orsakin him will
onl$ make matters worse% so the riht thin to do is to continue treatin
him kindl$% and ad!isin and remindin him"
In conclusion% this is what Allaah has enabled me to write about the
prohibitions that are widel$ inored" +his is a lenth$ topic% and in order
that readers ma$ further bene)t% another chapter is needed% in which a
roup of prohibitions mentioned in the GurWaan and (unnah will be listed"
+his will appear as a separate work% in sha Allaah" I ask Allaah% ma$ He be
lori)ed and e*alted% b$ His 'ost /eautiful <ames% to i!e us enouh
awareness and fear of Him to keep us awa$ from sin% and enouh de!otion
and obedience to Him to help us reach His Paradise% to fori!e us for our
sins and b$ His race to make us content with what He has permitted and
keep us awa$ from what He has forbidden" 'a$ He accept our repentance
and cleanse us from sin% for He is the All&Hearin% the Cne #ho answers
pra$ers" 'a$ the peace and blessins of Allaah be upon the Tnlettered
Prophet% 'uhammad% and upon all his famil$ and companions" All praise
be to Allaah% 1ord of the #orlds"
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'uhammad (aalih al&'unaBBid
P"C" /o* 2333
Al&Dhobar
(audi Arabia
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