Category: Misconceptions About Islam

What does Sharia really mean?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

This word has been corrupted by the media and the “Muslim” extremists. Nowadays anytime the word “Sharia Law” is mentioned it causes fear or discomfort in many people, even Muslims. Let us look at what Allah has to say in the Qur’an in an Ayah which talks about the origin of our deen:

 “He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allah is that to which you invite them. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].” [42:13]

At the start of the ayah Allah uses the word “shara’a” which the verb form of the noun “sharia”. In modern Arabic a street is called “sha’ri'” which is where the noun is derived from. The translation “ordained” does not do this justice as the religion was carved out just as a road is carved to form a path.

In old Arabic they used to say “shara’a al ibl” which means someone took a camel all the way to water. What’s interesting about this expression is that the word “shara’a” means that the camel drank on its own and was not forced. So it takes all the effort to find water for a camel in the desert but when the camel gets there it can’t be forced to drink – from this we get Sharia.

This means that we as Muslims put in the effort to call people to the Deen and spread what we can of the knowledge Allah has given us, but at the end of the day it is up to the listener to make the choice of whether to take on the calling or not, just as the camel makes the choice to drink or not.

Then Allah ends by saying that He will guide those who turn back to Him, who open their hearts to Him, therefore it is not in our hands to impose the religion on people or take over a country forcing the public to follow Islam as the media portrays. Our duty is merely to spread knowledge about Islam, the real Islam, the deen that Allah ordained upon our prophets.

Allah knows best.

Making sects in Islam

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

The world has become confused when it comes to sects in our deen. Muslims and non-Muslims alike believe that separation in Islam is the norm, when in fact it isn’t. Allah says in the Qur’an, as mentioned in a previous post:

“He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein…” [42:13]

What we should concentrate on here is the fact that Allah ordained upon the people His religion in which division should not be an occurrence at all. Allah uses the word “tafaruq” which means to separate or divide, not to be confused with “ikhtilaf” which is a disagreement (mostly a small one which could be good or bad). Angels for example have ikhtilaf between them just as we humans do – the only tafaruq is between them and the jinn, for example.

As human beings we can have disagreements when it comes to the deen – there are various opinions within tafsir of the Qur’an and hadeeth and fiqh. However, if this ikhtilaf turns into division this is where the problem is – Allah says establish the deen and do not separate.

Today we are the complete opposite of this teaching. We take the smallest disagreements and make them the justification for our divisions. One mosque telling the people to avoid another mosque because they place their hands in a different position during salah – a ridiculous but real example. This completely goes against what Allah is teaching us here.

“Sects” only started forming after the death of our prophet (ﷺ) and they have now mostly become different religions teaching different things. We have been warned by our prophet (ﷺ) that even though these ayahs have come down there will be people that make sects; he (ﷺ) said: “My ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except for one, and that is the Jamā’ah.” It was said, “And who are they, O Allah’s Messenger?” He responded, “That which I and my Companions are upon today.” [Tirmidhi]

There is only one Islam and it is formed around the teachings in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ) and following these is what defines us as Muslims <- the only name we should be using. The prophet (ﷺ) was not a “Sunni” or a “Shia” or a “Suffi” etc. he was a Muslim, just as all previous prophets were – people who submit their wills to Allah and follow His guidance.

May Allah make us all one true ummah and guide all those who have fallen into deviated teachings to the right path.

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favour of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, brothers [and sisters]. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” [3:103]

Allah knows best.

Beating your wife?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Let us swiftly tackle this insane misconception about Islam with one verse from the Qur’an which is ironically used by islamically uneducated people to backup the claim that husbands can beat their wives as they wish, for disobedience or other.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Men are in maintainers of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if return to obedience [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.” [4:34

Firstly, many Muslims use the word “qawamoon” to mean “in charge of” which is a big mistake. Qawamoon is the plural of “qawam” which comes from the word “qama” which in this context means to “take care of” just as we “take care of” our salah. In no context does it mean to be in charge of.

Secondly, Allah mentions the women that “you fear their nushuz”. Nushuz as many misinterpret does not mean disobedience. Scholars of the Qur’an have explained that this word refers to “fahisha mubayina” which basically means immoral behaviour that is done openly. Scholars further explained that this leans more towards obscenity that leads to zina.

Allah uses the word “fear” very specifically here. What is a man’s greatest fear when it comes to his wife? That’s right, adultery. It can drive any person insane; however, men are more likely to act out physically. In 2018 alone there were almost 90,000 recorded cases of “crimes of passion”, over 90% of them were committed by men – some of them being brutal murders.

Allah knows His creation and thus gave guidelines on how to act accordingly. The first step is to talk; attempt to fix the issue through real conversation. If that does not work, leave the bed. If the woman is not fazed by this at all then there must be something going on. No partner in the world would not react to this notion.

This is where Allah has put down a strike. However, this is not for physically abuse – there are exact rulings on how this is done in order for it to be a gesture to draw attention to the major sin and not an attack – it has to be done lightly. No hitting with force, no physically hurting the woman, no touching the face and further strict guidelines.

Then Allah says “wa la’in ata’nakoum”. The word “ata’nakoum” translates in English to “if they return to obedience”, however, the word used has several meanings: comply with, accommodate, give in to i.e. it is translated in this context as “when they are committed to the marriage again”, as scholars of the Qur’an explained.

If they are committed once again, Allah orders the man to never speak of the issue ever again – to never once bring it up. Many husbands will hold on to such a notion and spring it up as a defence in the future – Allah forbids this.

What other way of life forms such detailed orders on a matter like this?

May Allah guide those who are oppressing our women in the name of Islam and help the women overcome such treacherous treatment.

Remember, the prophet (ﷺ) said: “The best of you are those who are the best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives.” [Tirmidhi]

His wife Aisha said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), peace and blessings be upon him, did not strike a servant or a woman, and he never struck anything with his hand.” [Muslim]

Allah knows best.

What is taqqiya?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Many of the far right community and even some sects in Islam have obscured the meaning of the term “taqqiya”. They claim that we Muslims use the term as a free pass to be able to lie and deceive non-Muslims in order to give a better image of the religion thus tricking people into joining Islam. In the real Islam, this is not true at all and still falls heavily under the major sins that is lying and deception.

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief, except for one who is forced to renounce his religion while his heart is secure in faith, but those who willingly open their hearts to unbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah and for them is a great punishment.” 16:106

The word taqqiya is derived from the Arabic word “waqa'” which means “to shield oneself”. Real taqqiya is the concealing of one’s faith in order to safeguard oneself from harm or death. Allah knows what is in one’s heart; uttering words that are not in one’s heart to keep one safe is “taqiyya”. It has nothing to do with lying about the religion. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and denies the truth when it has come to him? Is there not in Hell a residence for the disbelievers?” 39:32

To lie about Islam is to lie about Allah. Our religion is open to the world with proof; anything that goes against or is not included in the true interpretation of the Qur’an or the sunnah of the prophet (ﷺ) is a fallacy.

Allah knows best.

 

Alcohol and drugs in Islam

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Most Muslims understand that consuming any alcoholic substance is forbidden. However, we find today that there are also many who say that drugs such as Marijuana are acceptable and the use of alcohol is not directly forbidden in the Qur’an. These Muslims make various claims to try and make these illicit substances permissible.

There is a misconception in our religion that “the Qur’an does not mention anything about drugs, it only mentions alcohol and it does not directly say it is haram”. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah ], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.

Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?” 5:90-91

Allah clearly tells us that intoxicants are the work of the Shaytan. The word used is “khamr” which is derived from the word “khimar” which means “to cover”. Intoxicants “cover” the mind, taking the user out of their normal mental state. This in turn pushes the mind away from remembering Allah which means one will be capable of performing all other sins without even realising it – it is known as the key to all evils. Allah mentions the prayer as well specifically to highlight the severity of this sin; it pushes away the prayer and in turn user’s belief will go with it.

Now the questions is, what covers the mind in such a manner? Almost all drugs including alcohol and what the West deems to be “soft drugs” intoxicate the mind. This does not only include illegal drugs but also legal substances such as morphine; if it used outside of the prescription of a registered doctor it will be classed as impermissible in Islam. Only out of necessity for one’s health may these be administered by professionals.  Many over the counter pills are in the same category.

Allah also says in the Qur’an:

“They ask you about wine [intoxicants] and gambling. Say, ‘In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.’ And they ask you what they should spend. Say, ‘The excess [beyond needs].’ Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.” 2:219

The fact is that we all know what an intoxicant is and if we are taking them in the haram manner, and we all understand the physical harms alongside the spiritual issues. Allah does not prohibit something without there being benefit for us. He is the creator, He knows His creation better than we know ourselves.

Allah knows best.