Tag: suheil laher

5b – The End of This World

THE LAST DAY

The Last Day is so named because there is no day (of this world) after it.  On that day, Allah will cause this world to perish, and will replace it with another wherein people will be given the dues of their worldly actions.

The Time of Occurrence of the Last Day

Its exact time is known only to Allah.  “They ask you about the Hour, when will its coming be?  Say : its knowledge is only with my Lord.  None will reveal it at its time save Him.  [Its knowledge] is weighty upon the [inhabitants of the] heavens and the earth.  It will not come to you except suddenly.  They ask you as if you are well-informed about it.  Say : Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of mankind do not know.” [Qur’an, 7:187]  At the end of the Jibreel hadith, the angel Gabriel asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “When is the Hour?”  He replied, “The questioned is not more knowledgeable about it than the questioner,” and then recited a verse of the Qur’an.  “Indeed, with Allah is the knowledge of the Hour.” [Qur’an, 31:34]

Thus, it is totally forbidden to engage in speculation or calculation in order to try to predict the end of the world.  Anyone who believes that a psychic or fortune-teller shares in Allah’s knowledge of the Hidden, has left Islam.  On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be well pleased with him) : “Whoever came to a diviner, or a fortune-teller, and affirmed him in that which he said, has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).” [Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Al-Hakim]   Nor is it permissible to visit psychics and the like for fun, and the person who does risks losing his prayers for forty days.  “Whoever came to a fortune-teller, and asked him about something and then affirmed him , the salah of forty days will not be accepted from him.” [Narrated by Muslim] Continue reading “5b – The End of This World” →

5a – The Hereafter – Prelude

“O mankind!  Indeed, Allah’s promise is true, so do not let the life of the world delude you, nor let the Deluder (Satan) delude you from Allah.” [Qur’an, 35:5]

“And they inquire from you, ‘Is it (the Day of Judgement) true?’  Say, ‘Yea.  By my Lord!  Indeed, it is true.  And you shall not escape.” [Qur’an, 10:53]

This world, with the precise and well-defined roles of its constituents, indicates the existence of a wise, knowing and powerful Creator.  (See: [Qur’an, 50:4,16,18, 34:3 and 46:33, 50:15, 36:82]) Yet, we sometimes see people around us getting other than what they deserve.  Very good people might suffer greatly, while evil, dishonest individuals might escape the hand of the law, and live in luxury and wealth that they have amassed by illicit and immoral means.  It would be wishful thinking to imagine that human free-will, with its accompanying conscience, carries no accountability or consequences. There must be another life, in which all will receive their just reward or punishment.  [See: Qur’an, 3:190, 23:115-116, 68:35-36, 45:21, 75:36-40, 44:34-40] Continue reading “5a – The Hereafter – Prelude” →

3b – The Qur’an

The Qur’an is the speech of Allah, sent down upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his Household), conveyed to us by mass-transmission, the very recitation of it constitutes worship, and the smallest surah of it constitutes a challenge. (see: Q[9:6, 26:192-5, …])

Preservation of the Qur’an
The Prophet memorized the Qur’an as he received it, as did many of his companions, and it was also written down during his lifetime. The tradition of memorizing the entire Qur’an has continued in every generation, such that the Qur’an has been preserved through dual means: through writing as well as orally. Every year, during the recommended extra night prayers in the Islamic month of Ramadan, it is customary for the Huffaz (those who have memorized the Qur’an) to complete recitation of the entire Qur’an from memory. This massive coordination of human effort over history, which has today continued and extended further into new forms of media, is the illustration of Allah’s having undertaken the Qur’an’s preservation.
“Verily, it is We who have revealed the Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an), and it is We who shall guard it.” [Qur’an, 15:9] Continue reading “3b – The Qur’an” →

Muslim Sacred Texts Against Terrorism

Islamic rulings are derived from the Qur’ān (the word of God revealed by the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad, God bless him and grant him peace) and the Sunna (the way shown by the Prophet, including his sayings, deeds, and tacit approvals or disapprovals). What follows is a compilation of Muslim sacred texts in condemnation of wanton destruction and indiscriminate killing.

FROM THE QUR’ĀN

1. “[…]We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul – unless for a soul1 or for corruption [done] in the land 2 – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And, whoever saves one, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely”. (Qur’ān, 5:32)

This verse establishes the sanctity of life.

2. “[…] And do not kill the soul3 which God has forbidden except by right […]”. (Qur’ān, 6:151)

3. “And do not kill the soul which God has forbidden except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly, We have given his heir authority4 but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law]”. (Qur’ān, 17:33)

4. “And [the believers are] those who do not invoke any deity with God, nor kill the soul which God has forbidden except by right, nor commit zina”.5 (Qur’ān, 25:68)

This verse conveys the heinousness of unjustifiably taking a human life, and indicates that wrongful murder is close in enormity to shirk6 and zina.

5. “And fight, in the path of God, those who fight you […]”. (Qur’ān, 2:190)

This verse indicates that only those involved in combat are to be fought, which excludes non-combatants such as women, children and civilians; a regulation detailed further by narrations from the Sunna, as mentioned in the following section.

6. “Among mankind is he whose speech impresses you in worldly life, and he calls God to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents. And, when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein, and to destroy crops7 and lives.8 And God does not love corruption”. (Qur’ān, 2:204–5)

These verses indicate that wanton destruction and indiscriminate killing are tantamount to working mischief / corruption upon the earth.

FROM THE SUNNA

Prohibition against causing suffering even to animals

1. “A woman entered the Fire on account of a cat, which she tied up, neither feeding it, nor letting it eat [for itself] from the vermin of the earth, until it died, and as a result she entered the Fire [of Hell]”.9

2. “Do not take something with a soul as a target”.10

Another version says, “Ibn ‘Umar passed by some youths of Quraysh who had set up a bird and were shooting at it, giving any arrows which missed to the owner of the bird. Thereupon, Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘God curses the one who does this. Verily, the Messenger of God cursed the one who takes something with a soul as a target’”.11
Another version says, “The Messenger of God forbade taking something with a soul as a target”.12
Another version says, “God curses the one who takes something with a soul as a target”.13

3. “Indeed, God tortures those who torture people in this world”.14

The narrator of this h.adīth, H.akim ibn H.izam, saw some people in the Levant who had had oil poured over their heads and were being made to stand in the hot sun as a punishment for not paying taxes, and he cited the h.adīth in condemnation of this. This establishes the severe prohibition of inflicting torturous suffering on people, even when they are duly-convicted criminals.

4. “Do not punish with the punishment of God, the Mighty, the Majestic”.15

This h.adīth specifically prohibits the infliction of burning on human beings.

Prohibitions Against Wrongfully Taking Life

5. “A Muslim remains in latitude concerning his religion as long as he does not take a life”.16

6. “Avoid the seven ruinous [sins] […] associating partners with God, sorcery, unlawfully taking life which God has prohibited, consuming interest (riba), consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing on the day of marching [in battle], and accusing a chaste, unaware believing woman of adultery”.17

Specific Narrations Regulating Killing During War

7. Ribah ibn al-Rabi‘ al-Tamimi says, “We were with the Messenger of God in a battle. He saw people gathered, and then he saw a slain wo man, whereupon he said, ‘This [woman] was not fighting!’”18

Another version adds, “Thereupon, the Prophet repudiated (i.e. prohibited) the killing of women and children”.19

Another adds, “Catch up with Khalid and tell him: The Messenger of God commands you not to kill [women and] children, nor hired workers”.20

  1. Ibn ‘Abbas says: The Messenger of God, when dispatching his troops, would tell them, “[…] Do not behave treacherously, nor misappropriate war-booty, nor mutilate [those whom you kill], nor kill children, nor the people in cloisters”.21Another version contains, “[…] Do not kill a decrepit old man, nor a child, nor a youngster, nor a woman […]”.22

Another contains, “[…] Do not kill a woman, nor a child, nor an old, aged man […]”.23

Another contains, “Do not kill a child, nor a woman, nor an old man, nor obliterate a stream, nor cut a tree […]”.24

9. The words of anyone after the Prophet do not carry independent religious authority, but the above teachings of the Prophet are clearly reflected in the practice of his immediate successor, the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr gave ten directions to Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan, one of his commanders, when dispatching him at the head of an army to the Levant:
“Do not kill a woman, nor a child, nor a decrepit aged person; do not cut down a fruit-bearing tree; do not destroy a dwelling; do not kill a sheep or camel, unless [you need to kill it] for food; do not set date-palms on fire, nor drown them; do not misappropriate war-booty; and do not be cowardly”.25

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FOOTNOTES

1i.e. in legal retribution for murder, through the requisite channels of justice.

2i.e. that requiring the death penalty, again through the requisite legal channels.

3 i.e. person.

4Grounds for legal action.

5Illicit sexual intercourse. The Arabic word encompasses both fornication and adultery.

6Polytheism or associating partners with God, a sin which is never forgiven to one who dies insistent upon it, as declared in Qur’ān, 4:116.

7The Arabic word used here, al-harth, is generally understood, based on its common lexical meaning, to refer to crops, but see the next footnote for other explanations. Al-Qamus al-Muhit also mentions one of the meanings as “earnings”.

8The Arabic word I have translated here as “lives” is al-nasl, which a number of English translations of the Qur’ān have translated as “cattle”—an inaccurate translation as we proceed to explain. Al-Qamus al-Muhit, an authoritative dictionary of classical Arabic, explains al-nasl to be created beings, or offspring. Renowned exegetes have mentioned similar explanations. Qurt.ubī says, “al-nasl is the child which emanates from any [type of] female”. See Al-Jami` li-Ahkam al-Qur’ān, 3/19. Alusi says, “al-nasl is every being with a soul […] Al-Azhari [an authority in Arabic] said: al-harth here is women [as in Qur’ān, 2:223] and al-nasl is children. [And it is reported] from [Imam] al-Sadiq that al-harth here is the religion, and al-nasl is people”. See Ruh al-Ma`ani, 2/144. Shaykh Zadah Rumi says, in his marginal annotations on Baydawi’s exegesis, “al-nasl is the noun of yansilu, used when something emerges distinct from something else, [ …] and so the child is the nasl of his parents”. See Hashiyat Shaykh Zadah `ala Tafsir al-Qadi al-Baydawi, 1/514. This selection of quotes establishes clearly that the meaning of al-nasl encompasses life in general, and is not restricted to cattle. Perhaps the reason why some translators selected the word cattle here is that the verse, when revealed, first referred to a man at that time named al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq al-Thaqafi, who matched the description of the verses, and destroyed crops and cattle [details of the incident can be perused in most books of Qur’ānic exegesis], which in turn led some briefer exegetes to explain al-nasl as cattle. However, there is unanimity among scholars—indeed among all rational people—that the import and significance of Qur’ānic verses derives from the general implication of their wording, and is not restricted to the specifics of the circumstances or situation in which they were revealed. See Suyuti’s Al-Itqan fi `Ulum al-Qur’ān (“The Perfection in the Sciences of the Qur’ān”), 1/39-40. Hence, there appear no grounds for departing from the literal and general implication of al-nasl as “life”, and replacing it with “cattle”.

9 Narrated by Bukhārī, Muslim.

10Narrated by Muslim, Nasā’ī, Ibn Mājah, A h.mad.

11Narrated by Muslim via Ibn `Umar as quoted, and by Nasā’ī via two routes (Ibn `Umar and Ibn ‘Abbās) but without mention of the incident of the bird.

12 Narrated by Tirmidhī (who graded it hasan s.ah.īh.) and Ah.mad, via Ibn `Abbas. Both of them included mention of Ibn ‘Abbās witnessing an incident involving a pigeon, similar to that witnessed by Ibn `Umar as in the preceding narration.

13Narrated by Ah.mad, through a sound, continuous chain of transmitters (Hushaym-Abu Bishr-Sa`id ibn Jubayr-Ibn `Umar).

14 Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dāwūd and Ah.mad.

15 Narrated by A h.mad (with this wording), as well as by Bukhārī, Tirmidhī (who graded it s.ah.īh. hasan), Abu Dāwūd and Nasā’ī.

16 Narrated by Bukhārī and al- H.ākim.

17 Narrated by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasā’ī, Abu Dāwūd.

18 Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, Nasā’ī, Ibn Hibban.

19 Narrated by Bukhārī, Muslim, Tirmidhī (who graded it hasan s.ah.īh.), Abu Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah.

20 Narrated by A h.mad, Ibn Mājah, Tahawi and others.

21 Narrated by A h.mad, Tirmidhī (who graded it hasan s.ah.īh.). Shawkānī says, “Its isnad contains Ibrahīm ibn Isma`il ibn Abi Habibah, who is weak, but Ah.mad regarded him as reliable”. The Muhaddith (H.adīth master) Zafar A h.mad `Uthmani adds, “`Ijli also said, “he is a reliable Hijazi”, as in al-Tahdhib (1/104), and the disagreement is of no detriment, and so the h.adīth is hasan“. See I`la al-Sunan

22Narrated by Abu Dāwūd. Shawkānī says, “Its isnad contains Khalid ibn al-Fizr, and he is not that [strong]”. `Uthmani graded it as hasan, observing that Khalid ibn al-Fizr is rated as “acceptable” in al-Taqrib (p. 51), “a shaykh” by Abu Hatim as in al-Tahdhib, and accredited by Ibn H.ibbān. See I`la al-Sunan, 12/31.

23Narrated by Baghawi, through his isnad See Shar h. al-Sunna, 11/11. He said, “This is an authentic h.adīth, narrated by Muslim”. It may be observed that Baghawi’s wording is more detailed than Muslim’s, the latter mentioning only children.

24Narrated by Bayhaqī, who said, “Its isnad is weak, but it is strengthened by attesting narrations”. (see I`la al-Sunan, 12/31). Among the supporting narrations is that which A h.mad has narrated— through a chain containing mediocrity (on account of Ibn Lahi`ah, who is upright but weak in memory) as well as an unnamed narrator:— “Whoever kills a youngster or an old person, or burns a date-palm, or cuts down a fruit-bearing tree, or kills a sheep for its skin, will not return sufficed”.

25 Narrated by Mālik. Qadi Shawkānī said, “It is discontinuous”. However, it is known that the discontinuous narrations of Mālik’s Muwatta‘ can all be found continuously narrated elsewhere, and are regarded as reliable by Mālik, as pointed out by `Uthmani, and others. See for example, Dihlawi, Hujjat Allāh al-Balighah, 1/249; `Umari, Buhuth fi Tarikh al-Sunnah al-Musharrafah, 242; `Uthmani, I`la al-Sunan, 12/25.

3a – Belief in Scriptures

Prelude: Divine Guidance

Islam teaches that Allah sent communication to mankind at various times in history. This communication was through human messengers (prophets), who were directly inspired by Allah, and commanded to convey to their people the truth and guidance received through this revelation. Every true prophet of Allah must show people at least one miracle: something that is beyond human capability, a sign from God. A miracle (along with other factors, as we discuss later) is what proves that the prophet is indeed conveying a divine message, and that he is not just a philosopher, social reformer or charismatic leader.

Our knowledge is limited, subject to change, and confined to our experience in and of this world. Since we cannot directly perceive anything outside this life, we cannot know exactly how our conduct here impacts our fate after death. Human reason and experience might, arguably, be able to reach some realizations (about God, morality and divine justice) independently of divine revelation. But it is only by means of communication from outside this world that we could ever receive detailed knowledge of ultimate realities about the universe and our role in it. Individual spiritual experiences and human moral judgments can vary drastically between different people, especially in different cultures and time periods. This subjectivity makes these two sources unsuitable for the collective guidance of humanity. It makes sense for there to be some core of absolute values, corresponding to the essential, shared nature of humanity, and such common values can provide a basis for the smooth conduct of society. Continue reading “3a – Belief in Scriptures” →

In Censure of Ignorance

The following is a thought-provoking sermon, attributed to Caliph `Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him).

Among the people most detested before Allah are two: One whom Allah has [forsaken and] entrusted to his own self, and so he has transgressed from the sound path and is enamored with speech of [reprehensible] innovation and invitation towards error. He is therefore a tribulation for those who are afflicted with him, astray from the guidance of those preceding him, misleading those who follow him in his life or after his death, carrying [part of the burden of] sins of others, and mortgaged for his own misdeeds.

[The second is] a man who has amassed ignorance. He moves among the ignorant of the ummah [to deceive them] and hastens to the darknesses of tribulation, while being blind to the advantages of tranquil satisfaction. Pseudo-men have named him a scholar but he is not so. He goes out in the early morning, and amasses an abundance of things which are better to be lacking in than to have in plenty, until, when he has quenched his thirst from polluted, brackish water and gathered purposeless things, he sits as a judge amongst people, taking upon himself to clarify what has been perplexing to others. If an enigmatic matter comes before him, he prepares for it some crumbling stuffing and passes it off as a certainty. Continue reading “In Censure of Ignorance” →

Truth and its Perception

Perception, Between Truth and Error

There are many important issues on which people disagree, yet each of them may think he/she has the correct position. Clearly, at least some of the people must be mistaken – in part or totally – for there cannot be contradictory truths about the same matter.

Caliph `Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported to have said that a shubhah (confusion or misunderstanding) is so named in Arabic because it resembles (tushbihu) the truth in some respects. In this light, we summarize here the main scenarios of perception, between truth and error.  Perhaps it will be useful to those who want to honestly evaluate themselves.

  1. A complete perception of the truth, along with all of its elements, parts and characteristics. This is somewhat rare, especially for matters related to the unseen. [See Qur’an[17:85] for example]
  2. An incomplete perception, whereby one has perceived part of the truth, but not all of its elements, parts and characteristics. We need to humbly acknowledge our deficiencies and limitations.
  3. Blurring of some of the boundaries of the truth, often arising from ignorance, or insufficient knowledge, or misconceptions.
  4. Exceeding the boundaries of the truth, under the impression that the excess is also part of the truth. e.g. unjustified generalization, such as judging a school or philosophy based on a single factor attributed to it, or a single individual who claims to follow it.
  5. A partial conformity to the truth, analogous to someone who intends to aim a searchlight at a certain building, then proceeds to do so, except that the searchlight falls on only one wing of the building, while the person does not realize this, and imagines what he sees to be the entire building.
  6. A complete miss of the truth, such as if the searchlight from the above analogy misses the targetted building entirely, and instead strikes another building, or nothing at all, with the person being under the false impression that he is now seeing the building he targetted.

[These six categories are summarized from: Basa’ir li’l-Muslim al-Mu`asir, by Shaykh `Abdur-Rahman Hasan Habannakah al-Maydani, a contemporary Muslim scholar.]” Continue reading “Truth and its Perception” →