SOME ISLAMIC DIRECTIVES

ABOUT Stealing

"If Islam deals so fairly with everything, how does it deal with stealing?"  MuhammadAli asked when he and his father sat down for more discussion.

      "MuhammadAli," answered his father after a sip of water, "stealing is a grave sin, and Islam has prohibited such an act exclusively.  The sin of stealing is grave.  Stealing is destructive, and many innocent people suffer and lose their belongings because of it.  They will suffer emotionally for some time after that too.  The person who steals is capitalizing on others, he is not just a parasite on society, but worse than that.  Such a person is a disruptive parasite to society and a grave danger to society's integrity.  Stealing can ruin innocent people when they lose everything they own.  It is so unfair to them and to all concerned."  Abdul-Rahman took a few seconds before he continued, "Allah has put His just punishment in dealing with stealing as follows:

وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُواْ أَيْدِيَهُمَا جَزَاء بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَالاً مِّنَ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

As To The Thief, Male Or Female, Cut Off His Or Her Hand; A Punishment [By Way Of Example] From Allah, For Their Crimes: And Allah Is Supreme In Power. 

(Surah  5:  Ayah  38)

      "Stealing can be small or big," commented Abdul-Rahman, "but no matter what it is, the intention to steal, the act of stealing, and the aftermath of stealing are very destructive.   Quite often, goods stolen from a store, may have to be paid for by the innocent consumers of the community.  In other words, the damage is passed on to the innocent and honest people.  So a thief is doing grave harm to a whole community and we all stand to suffer.  They will hurt the innocent, and may encourage the thief to steal more if he is not punished.

      The above punishment will offer an example to anyone who is thinking of stealing and living off of society."

      "The way I understand it, Islam recommends specific punishments for stealing," MuhammadAli remarked.

      Abdul-Rahman answered briefly:

ABOUT Usury

       "I have heard of usury, Dad, and I am wondering what it is and why Islam prohibits it?"  Asked MuhammadAli, now that he is so knowledgeable.

      "Usury," Abdul-Rahman said, "is lending money and charging an interest rate, usually a high one.  It is something that used to be and still is in use all over the world.  Islam has prohibited such a practice, since many people stand to be hurt, especially those who can least afford it.  Islam discourages anyone who wants to capitalize on others and who makes his money without working for it.  Let us once more refer to the Holiest of the Books, the Quran.  See what Allah (swt) says:

…الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لاَ يَقُومُونَ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا…   

And Men Who Devour Usury Shall Rise Up Before Allah Like Men Whom Satan Has Demented By His Touch; For They Claim That Usury Is A Form Of Trading.

(Surah  2:  Ayah  275)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَذَرُواْ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

O You Who Believe! Fear Allah, And Give Up What Remains Of Your Demand For Usury, If You Are Indeed Believers.

 (Surah  2:  Ayah  278)

يَمْحَقُ اللّهُ الْرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

Allah Deprives Usury Of His Blessings, But He Blesses Almsgiving With Increase; For He Loves Not The Ungrateful Sinners. 

 (Surah  2:  Ayah  276)

"The practice of usury is condemned in the Holy Quran, and Allah has deprived His blessings from it," explained Abdul-Rahman.  "Let us also see what Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (pbuh), says:

لَعَنَ رسولُ الله (ص) آكِلُ الرِّبَوا ومُوَكِّلِهِ وكاتِبِهِ وشاهِدِهِ وقالَ هُمْ سَوآءٌ

The Dealer In Usury And The Writer Of Its Papers And The Witness To It,

Are Equal In Sin.

عن رسولِ اللهِ (ص) قال:  لَيَأْتِـيَنَّ على النَّاسِ زَمانٌ لآ يبقى أحدٌ إلا آكِلُ الرِبوا فإنْ لم يأكُلُهُ أصابهُ مِن بُخارِه

A Time Will Come Over People When None Will Remain Who Will Not Devour Usury.  If He Does Not Devour It, Its Vapor Will Overtake Him.

   "It is unanimous," stated MuhammadAli's father, "that charging a high rate of interest will make it very expensive for the very one who badly needs the money.  Such a person is usually needy already.  If usury is allowed, it will keep the needy in poor conditions, and help those who have the money or the institutions with money, to become even wealthier.  Therefore, through usury the rich will become richer and the poor will become poorer.  Islam encourages equitable distribution of wealth, that is why Islam is against usury.

    In this country, there are many savings and loan institutions that live on usury and we must be careful. There are many rules and regulations for many of the things you are hearing, MuhammadAli.  They apply to usury or any other religious matter.  You have to study it to see if you can or cannot apply it in this country."

      "So from what you are telling me Islam abhors usury,"  MuhammadAli said.

      Abdul-Rahman answered briefly:

ABOUT Alcohol

       "Dad, you told me about many, many things, but not as of yet about alcohol.  Everyone in this country drinks except for very few.  How does Islam view drinking alcohol?"

      "Islam prohibits drinking alcohol," came the immediate answer from his father.  "Islam orders us to be complete teetotalers.  Alcohol is evil, and many times it leads to a person's own destruction.  When drunk, a person looses his self-control and dignity.  Alcohol damages one's health and it can make a person dangerous, such as when driving while intoxicated.

      Alcohol is expensive and it cuts down on one's finances.  Those who become dependent on alcohol are called alcoholics.  This in itself can play havoc with the family life.  The children suffer, the job suffers, and indirectly the whole society suffers.  An alcoholic is likely to lie and steal too, especially if he has a poor image of himself.

      "Let us face it, alcohol is offered socially, but the person who takes a small drink is prone to take a larger drink, and the one who takes a few drinks is apt to take many more.  Let us again refer to the Holy Quran.  Let us see what Allah, who cares for our welfare, says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ

رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O Believers! Alcohol, Gambling, Idols And Divining Arrows, Are Works Of The Devil.  Avoid Them, So That You May Prosper.

(Surah  5:  Ayah  90)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَارَى حَتَّىَ تَعْلَمُواْ مَا تَقُولُونَ

O You Who Believe! Don't Approach Prayers With A Befogged Mind,

Until You Can Understand All That You Say.

(Surah  4:  Ayah  43)

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

          They Ask You About Alcohol And Gambling, Say: In Them Is Great Sin, And Some Profit For Man; But Their Evil Is Greater Than The Profit.

(Surah  2:  Ayah  219)

      It is clear, then, that we are explicitly prohibited from drinking alcohol in all its forms, be it beer, wine-coolers, Champaign, wine or others.  Muslims are to be with clear mind, have self‑control, be dignified, and be righteous.  With alcohol, especially if taken in large amounts, a person often loses his faculty of reason, and stands to lose.  Let us now quote some Hadiths, and see what Muhammad (pbuh) says:

الخَمْرُ أُمُ الخَبائِث

Alcohol Is The Root Of Evil.

لُعِنَ في الخمرِ عشْرَةٌ:  عاصِرُها، ومُعْتصِرُها، وشارِبُها، وحامِلُها، والمَحْمُولَةُ لَهُ، وساقِيها، وبائعُها، وآكِلُ ثََمَنِها، والمُشْتَرى لَهُ

Ten Have Been Cursed In Regard To Liquor:  The One Who Extracts It,

The One Who Drinks It, Or Carries It, Or Sells It, Or Earns Money From It,

Or Buys It, Or The One To Whom It Is Bought.

Ibn Maajeh And Tirmidhi

Other Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and/or sayings of the Imams are given here:

►  Of Whatever Thing A Large Quantity Intoxicates, Even A Small Quantity Is Prohibited. 

►  Every Drink That Intoxicates Is Prohibited.

   "I know alcohol is bad, but I didn't know it is that bad," commented MuhammadAli.

      "Sure, the subject is massive," answered his father, who then continued so that he would not lose the chain of thought, "the sense of a person's dignity, serenity, poise, and self‑respect can easily be lost with alcohol.  A drunk person is a nuisance to others, can be abusive, or hurtful.  An alcoholic is usually the source of all kinds of trouble.

      Our Creator cares for us far more than what we care for ourselves; He wants our welfare.  He wants us to be good, decent, and not to hurt ourselves or others.  Because of that, Allah prohibits alcohol, even of the smallest amount.

      In parties or invitations, be they to our houses or to others, we can always order a soft drink rather than alcohol, and explain that we, as Muslims, do not drink alcohol.  People often respect the person who has religious conviction and think highly of him."

      "Islam, as I see it, teaches us a lot about alcohol," MuhammadAli said in a reflective mood.

      Abdul-Rahman answered briefly:

      We can always take soft drink, like Coke®, Pepsi®, 7-Up® or the like, and follow the directives of Islam, that: Alcohol in all its forms is Haram."

      Abdul-Rahman continued, "Of course, it also follows that we should never take any drugs which also have an intoxicating effect such as heroine, cocaine, or opium.  Such drugs can also destroy our personal and family life, and make it almost impossible to work.  These drugs are very dangerous because they are highly addictive.  They will destroy our physical, intellectual, and moral fiber."

ABOUT Adultery

       "MuhammadAli," Abdul-Rahman asked, "How would you like to hear about adultery and what the Islamic point view is?"

      "I'd love to, but I was too bashful to ask," MuhammadAli answered.

      "Islam," answered Abdul-Rahman, "wants us to be good, it entreats us toward decency and wholesomeness.  We are to be faithful to ourselves and our spouses.  This applies both to men and women.  Adultery is a grave sin and Islam is very strict in its stand against it.

Adultery can lead to a lot of trouble and destruction, it is a major sin and it is a social disease of the greatest magnitude.  It is the biggest cause for divorce and dissolution of families.  See what Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ…

Say To The Believing Men That They Should Lower Their Gaze And Guard Their Modesty; That Will Make For Greater Purity For Them, And Allah Is Well Acquainted With All They Do. And Say To The Believing Women That They Should Lower Their Gaze And Guard Their Modesty...  (Surah  24:  Ayah  30-31)

وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلاً

          ...Nor Come Nigh To Adultery: For It Is A Disgraceful Deed And An Evil, Opening The Road To Other Evils.

(Surah  17:  Ayah  32)

الزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِي فَاجْلِدُوا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِئَةَ جَلْدَةٍ وَلا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِي دِينِ اللَّه

ِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ

The Adulterer And The Adulteress Shall Each Be Given A Hundred Lashes... 

(Surah  24:  Ayah  2)

Also Let Us Quote Some Hadiths Of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh):

►So Abhors As His Male And Female Servants Committing Adultery. 

►The Adultery Of The Eye Is To Look With An Eye Of Desire On The Wife Of Another;

►And The Adultery Of The Tongue Is To Utter What Is Forbidden. 

►Every Eye Commits Adultery That Looks With Desire On A Woman; And Whichever Woman Perfuming Herself, And Goes To An Assembly Where Men Are, Wishing To Show Herself To Them With A Look Of Lasciviousness, Is An Adulteress.

      As is obvious, one of the gravest sins is committing adultery, or fornica­tion, which means having forbidden sexual contact outside the bond of marriage.

      We are to enjoy partners only through married life.  It is the clean, decent way.  Anything short of that tends to open the doors for numerous problems and crimes.  The result will be suffering of numerous people, emotionally or otherwise.

      We must even go a step further and help prevent such a thing.  To clean our minds from evil thoughts, to lower our gaze in regard to the other sex, and to mind our own business, will help prevent a future would-be mishappenings.  It is also important that both men and women do not show-off to attract attention for that purpose."

      "Islam then is very clear about adultery," MuhammadAli affirmed.  Abdul-Rahman answered briefly:

ABOUT Murder

       "Dad, there are a few other subjects I like to hear about.  One of them is murder,"  stated MuhammadAli.

      "Murder," answered his father, "is a very grave sin, and naturally, Islam has prohibi­ted it.  There is no need to comment a lot about how awful murder is, but just let us see what the Almighty says:

…أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا…

          ...That When A Person Kills Another (Unless In Return For Murder Or Spreading Evil In The Land) It Would Be As If He Killed All Of The People...  (Surah  5:  Ayah  32)

وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا

وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ عُدْوَانًا وَظُلْمًا فَسَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِ نَارًا وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللّهِ يَسِيرًا

          And You Shall Not Kill One Another. But The One Who Does That Through Wickedness And Injustice Shall Be Burnt In Hell‑Fire.  That Is Easy For Allah Is Merciful.  (Surah  4:  Ayah  29-30)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى…

O You Who Believe! The Law Of Equality Is Prescribed To You In Case Of Murder...  (Surah  2:  Ayah  178)

Also Let Us See What Allah's Messenger (Pbuh) Said:

► There Should Be Two Eye‑Witnesses To The Murder. 

► The Punishment For Murder Is Death. Receiving Of Blood‑Money By The Relatives Of The Deceased Is Allowed As Compensation, But The Claim By Them Should Be Reasonable.

      Naturally, it goes without saying that murder is a horrible and a grave sin," stated MuhammadAli's father.  "Allah has given us our lives to preserve and respect, not to destroy it.  We are to live and to let live.  No matter what grievances there are, respect for other peoples' natural rights and especially their lives is paramount.  The greatest gift we have on earth is the privilege of being alive.  On the other hand, the greatest disgrace is to destroy a human being.

      Killing a person, no matter what the reason is, will deprive the victim's family of him, will make his children orphans, his wife a widow and his parents, relatives, and friends will miss him.  The society will lose him.

      Of course, we shouldn't even think of such an act, since Islam calls for goodwill among men, and it is opposed to destruction unless there is an acceptable reason, such as self-defense."

      "MuhammadAli, let me illustrate by a sketch about the personal perspective in Allah's sight. Islam is a religion of perfect balance.  Being responsible for what you do, feel, and even intend is the basis of personal accountability.  A Muslim is rewarded (Thawaab) for his good deeds Hasanaat several folds over.  A Muslim also will be penalized for his sinful acts according to the severity of that sin.  Our salvation depends on our application of the Islamic Directives. The sketch below shows in a simplified way how basically the fairness of the Creator is at work.