The
Viability of Islamic Law to solve the Current Global Problems
The
divine nature of Islam makes it the only religion in the world that offers
genuine solutions to such problems as social unrest, political instabilities,
poverty and destitution, prostitution, homicide, killing, drug addiction,
alcoholism, family break-up, juvenile delinquency, suicides, AIDS and the like.
Islam is not only a religion, but also a complete code of life. All facets of
life, public and private alike, are covered under the realm of Islamic Law.
Islamic Law is “the epitome of
Islamic thought, the most typical manifestation of the Islamic way of life, the
core and kernel of Islam itself.. Apart from this, the whole life of the
Muslims, Arabic literature and the Arabic and Islamic disciplines of learning
are all deeply imbued with the ideals of Islamic law; it is impossible to
understand Islam without understanding Islamic law.”
(Joseph Schacht, quoted by
Abdul Ghafur Muslim, The Islamic Quarterly London: 1987, Vol. XXXI, No. 2, p.
80.)
Absolute
Prohibition of Adultery, Prostitution and Other Forms of Sexual Promiscuity
Islamic
Law explicitly prohibits adultery and fornication as clearly mentioned in the
following Qur’anic injunctions:
“Nor come nigh to adultery:
for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils.” (Qur’an 17:32)
“The man and woman guilty of
adultery or fornication, flog each of them with a hundred stripes: let no
compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if you
believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of believers witness their
punishment.” (Qur’an 24:2)
Adultery, fornication and other
promiscuous sex practices are punishable in Islam, because they are indeed
serious crimes which affect the entire society. As discussed earlier, the AIDS
problem, which is reaching epidemic proportion, is due largely to sexual
permissiveness. Thus, the divine punishment (hudud) for these social ills
is certainly for the good of the entire humanly.
Alyough, the AIDS problem is currently affecting largely those indulging
in sexual promiscuity, many innocent individuals, including doctors, nurses and
children, have been victimized by this social carnage. Even in countries, where
AIDS is virtually non-existent, people are wary about the underlying danger.
That is why the Chinese doctors likened AIDs to that of a holocaust.
Allah’s justice is equally open to
all. In Islam, one can not just be abused by the law. For instance, a charge
against a chaste individual needs to be confirmed, beyond any reasonable doubt.
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala, meaning: the Exalted, Most Glorious) says:
“And those who launch a charge
against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their
allegations), flog them with 80 stripes; and reject their evidence ever after:
for such men are wicked transgressors.” (Qur’an
24:4)
Islam, therefore, discourages
unwarranted suspicion as much as possible. Allah
says:
“O you who believe! Avoid
suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy
not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of
you like to eat die flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it... But
fear Allah: for Allah s Off-Returning, Most Merciful.”
(Qur’an 49:12)
So, if a wicked person accuses a woman
or a man of adultery or fornication, she or he should be given the benefit of
the doubt. Allah warns
the believers against the
mischief of the wicked as follows:
“O you who believe! If a
wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest you harm
people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for what you have
done.” (Qur’an 49:6)
True Muslims are indeed God-fearing.
They avoid all kinds of vices to please Allah
alone. True believers, for
instance, are definitely mindful of the warning of the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
(Salallahu ‘alayhi wa salam,
meaning: May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
regarding adultery and prostitution as narrated in the following authentic Ahâdîth
(Prophet’s teachings):
Ubadah
ibn as-Samith
(r.a.) (Radhiallahu anhu,
meaning: May Allah
be pleased with him)
narrated that Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah
has ordained a way for those (women). When
an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female (they should
receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one youar. And in case of married
male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred
lashes and be stoned to death.” (Muslim,
Hadith 4191)
Aishah
(Radhiallahu anha: Meaning: May Allah
be pleased with her) narrated
that
Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.) said,
"O followers of Muhammad! There is none, who has a greater sense of Ghira
(self-respect) than Allah, so He has forbidden that His slave commits illegal
sexual intercourse or His slave girl commits illegal sexual intercourse. O
followers of Muhammad! If you but knew what I know, you would laugh less and
weep more!" (Bukhari, Vol. 7, Hadith 148)
Narrated Ibn Abbas
(r.a.)
(on the authority of Abu Hurairah
t)
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said: Allah has written for Adam’s son his share of adultery , which he
commits inevitably. The adultery of the eyous is the sight (to gaze at a
forbidden thing), the adultery of the tongue is the talk, and the inner self
wishes and desires and the private parts testify all these or deny it.”
(Bukhari Vol. 8, Hadith 260 and 609)
Abdullah
ibn Abbas
(r.a.)
narrated
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “There is no prostitution in Islam. If anyone practised prostitution in
pre-Islamic times, the child will be attributed to the master (of the
slave-woman). He who claims his child without a valid marriage or ownership will
neither inherit nor be inherited.” (Abu
Dawud, Hadith 2257)
The
Principle of Equality and Justice: The Way to Overcome the Crimes Worldwide
Islam also provides absolutely
effective solution to murder and other related crimes common in the West and
elsewhere. The Islamic laws of
equality and justice, tempered with mercy, are seen in the following Qur’anic
injunctions:
“O you who believe! the law of
equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the
slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission by the
brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with
handsome gratitude. This is a concession and a mercy from your Rabb (Sustainer).
After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.”
(Qur’an 2:178)
“In the Law of Equality there
is (saving of life) to you, O you men of understanding that you may restrain
yourselves. ” (Qur’an 2:179)
“In it (i.e. the Torah) We
decreed for them a life for a life, an eyou for an eyou, a nose for a nose, an
ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and a ( similar) retribution for wounds.
But for him who foregoes it out of mercy it will atone for some of his sins.
Those who do not judge in accordance with what Allah has revealed are indeed
wrongdoers. ” (Qur’an 5:44-47)
“Nor take life
¾
which Allah has made sacred
¾
except for just cause. And if
anyone is slain wrongfully we have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or
to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he
is helped by the (Law) .” (Qur’an
17:33)
“The recompense for an injury
is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes
reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loves not those who do
wrong.” (Qur’an 42:40)
“As to the thief male or
female, cut off his hand or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from
Allah, for their crime: and Allah s exalted in power.”
(Qur’an 5:38)
“But if the thief repent after
his crime, and amend his conduct, Allah turns to him in forgiveness; for Allah s Most forgiving, Most
Merciful.” (Qur’an 5:39)
We know that murder, burglary and
other related crimes are taking place, day by day, in both the capitalist and
communist worlds, notably in the United States and the Soviet Union. Had the
West and elsewhere been under Islamic rule, as is the case of Saudi Arabia, such
crimes would have rarely occurred. Saudi Arabia has remained the most peaceful
country in the world, because of its adherence to Shari’ah. For instance, when
a murderer is finally convicted, after passing through a legal procedure in
accordance with the Shari’ah, he will be punished accordingly in the eyes of
the public. Conventional wisdom
will tell anyone not to do anything against the law, when he sees that the
culprits are duly punished. For the man of faith, however, he looks at this
divine punishment for the culprits as Allah’s blessing for the entire
humanity. Duly punishing the convict for example, means that the law-abiding
people will have peace of mind, because they know for sure that they are being
protected by the Law. Thus, this is tantamount to removing the social cancer for
the benefit of all.
In contrast, as long as America,
Europe and the rest of the world -- including Muslim countries which emulate the
West -- stick to their man-made laws, they will always be on the brink of chaos and
instability.
Where Islamic Law prevails, as in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the constituents are God-fearing and righteous. They
refrain from murdering or killing people without justifiable reasons in Islam.
Subsequently, they enjoy peace and harmony between and among themselves
and that with others because they obey the following admonitions of the Prophet r:
Jarir
(r.a.)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said to me during Hajjat-al-Wida: “Let the people keep quiet and listen. Then
he said (addressing the people), "Do not (become infidels) revert to
disbelief after me by striking the necks (cutting the throats) of one another
(killing each other).” (Bukhari,
Vol. 1, Hadith 122)
Anas
(r.a.)
narrated from the Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
about the major sins. He (the Prophet r)
said “Associating anyone with Allah, disobedience to parents, killing a person
and false utterance.” (Muslim Vol. 1, Hadith
159)
Abdullah ibn
Mas’ud
(r.a.)
narrated that the
Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) said: “The most merciful of the people in respect of killing are
believers (in Allah) .” (Abu
Dawud, Hadith 2660)
Abu Bakrah
(r.a.)
narrated “I heard Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
saying, “When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their
swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to Hell-fire.”
I said, “O Allah’s Messenger!. It is all right for the murderer but
what about the murdered one? Allah’s
Messenger replied, “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.”
(Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadith 30)
Ibn Umar narrated
(r.a.) that Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “A faithful believer remains at liberty regarding his religion,
unless he kills somebody unlawfully.” (Bukhari,
Vol.9, Hadith 2)
Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet said, “Whoever
carries arms against us, is not from us.”
(Bukhari, Vol. 9, Hadith 13)
Ibn Abbas narrated
(r.a.)
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “The most hated persons with Allah are three: 1) a person who
deviates from the right conduct (i.e., an evil-doer), in the Haram (sanctuaries
of Makkah and Madinah); 2. a person who seeks that the traditions of the period
of ignorance should remain in Islam; 3. and a person who seeks to shed
somebody’s blood without any right.” (Bukhari,
Vol. 9, Hadith21)
Zayd ibn Thabit
(r.a.)
narrated
that the verse, "If a man
kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein for
ever" was revealed six months after the verse ‘And those who invoke not
with Allah any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred, except
for just cause in Surat al-Furqan.’” (Abu
Dawud, 4259)
The Divorce Issue in Islam
Regarding marital frictions,
man’s hatred or displeasure against his wife does not mean that he is free to
mistreat or abuse her. In case of serious dispute between the wife and husband,
Islam has laid down very scientific steps to be followed. The underlying
objective is peace and reconciliation for the integration of the family.
In an Islamic state, civil courts
also handle legal matters pertaining to marital problems. However, members of
the community, particularly the parents and relatives, are duty-bound to help
pacify the couple, before the friction becomes too serious to handle. Allah says:
“lf you fear a breach between
them twain, appoint (two) arbiters, one from his family, and the other from
hers; if they wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation: for Allah
hath full knowledge, and is acquainted with all things.” (Qur’an
4:35)
Allah the Exalted has enjoined on
the believing men to treat their wives with kindness, as the following verse
shows:
“O you who believe! You are
forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with
harshness, that you may take away part of the dower you have given them - except
where they have been guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on
a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them it may be that
you dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.” (Qur’an 4:19)
In line with the above Qur’anic
injunction, the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
teaches all husbands to show
kindness to their respective wives.
The
following virtuous teachings with
regards to kindness to wives, serve as guidance and admonitions to those who
maltreat their wives:
Abu
Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “Among the Muslims the most
perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the
best among you are those who treat their wives well."
(Tirmidhi, Hadith 628, 278 and 3264 and Abu Dawud)
Amr
ibn al-Ahwas al-Jushami
(r.a.)
narrated
that he heard the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said in his farewell address on the eve of his Last Pilgrimage, after he had
glorified and praised Allah, he cautioned his followers: 'Listen! Treat women
kindly; they are like prisoners in your hands. Beyond this you do not owe
anything from them. Should they be guilty of flagrant misbehaviour, you may
remove them from your beds, and beat them but do not inflict upon them any
severe punishment. Then if they obey you, do not have recourse to anything else
against them. Listen! You have your rights upon your wives and they have their
rights upon you. Your right is that they shall not allow anyone you dislike, to
trample your bed and do not permit those whom you dislike to enter your home.
Their right is that you should treat them well in the matter of food and
clothing. (Tirmidhi, Hadith 276)
Mu’awiyah
al-Qushayrit narrated: “I went to the Allah’ s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
and asked him: “What do you say (command) about our wives?” He replied:
“Give them food what you have for yourself, and clothe them by which you
clothe yourself, and do not beat them, and do not revile them.”
(Abu Dawud, Hadith 2137 and
2139)
Mu’awiyah
ibn Haydah
(r.a.)
narrated:
“I said: Allah’ s Messengerr,
how should we approach our wives and how should we leave them? He replied:
“Approach your tilt when or how you will, give her (your wife) food when you
take food, clothe when you clothe yourself, do not revile her face, and do not
beat her.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith
2189)
Islam recognizes that divorce
brings sorrows to many, if not all men and women.
For this reason, it admonishes men to avoid divorcing their wives. The Prophet’s advice on the issue of divorce should be borne
in mind. He says in the following Ahâdîth:
Abu
Hurairaht
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, "Allah has forgiven my
followers the evil thoughts that occur to their minds, as long as such thoughts
are not put into action or uttered. ” And
Qatada said, "If someone divorces his wife just in his mind, such an
unuttered divorce has no effect.” (Bukhari,
Vol. 7, Hadith 194)
Abu
Hurairaht
narrated
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “There are three things which, whether undertaken seriously or in jest,
are treated as serious: Marriage, divorce and taking back a wife (after a
divorce which is not final) .”
(Abu Dawud, Hadith 2189)
Mu’adh
ibn Jabal
(r.a.)
narrated
that Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
said to him, "Mu'adh, Allah has created nothing on the face of the earth
dearer to Him than emancipation, and Allah has created nothing on the face of
the earth more hateful to Him than divorce.”
(Tirmidhi, Hadith 3294 and
Daraqutni)
Muharib
narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said: “Allah
did not make anything lawful more abominable to Him than divorce.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith 2174)
To
further discourage divorce, the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.) likewise
admonishes women not to ask their respective husbands for divorce without
justifiable reason. He warns them of the sin that is associated with divorce
without strong reason as narrated in the following Ahâdîth:
Abu Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, "Women who withdraw themselves from their husbands and women who
persuade their husbands to divorce them for a compensation are hypocrites.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 3290 and Nasa’i)
Thawban
narrated that the Prophet said:
“If any woman asks her husband for divorce without some strong reason, the
odour of Paradise will be forbidden to her.”
(Abu Dawud, Hadith 2218)
In Islam, the wife is equally
granted the right to divorce her husband if her demand for divorce is
justifiable. That is, if the marriage does not prove to be functional and
effective because the husband neglects his responsibilities or no element of
love binds them to stay together. By the same token, if the wife is guilty of
open lewdness, the husband may resort to divorce. This
means that when things seem worst that peace and reconciliation between wife and
husband are next to impossible, divorce maybe inevitable. Allah says in
the following Qur’anic
Verses:
For those who take an oath for
abstention from their wives, a waiting for four months is ordained; if they then
return, Allah s Most Forgiving,
Most Merciful.
But if their intention is firm
for divorce, Allah hears And knows all things.
Divorced women shall wait
concerning themselves for tree months period. Nor is it lawful for them to hide
what Allah hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last
Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period,
if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the
rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of
advantage) over them and Allah s exalted in Power, Wise.
A divorce is only permissible
twice: after that, the parties should either hold together on equitable terms,
or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (men), to take back any of
your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be
unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. There is no blame on either of them
if she give something for her freedom. These are the limits ordained by Allah;
so do not transgress them if any do transgress the limits ordained by Allah,
such persons wrong (themselves as well as others).
So if a husband divorces his
wife (irrevocably), he cannot, after that, remarry her until after she has
married another husband and he has divorced her. In that case there is no blame
on either of them if they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep the
limits ordained by Allah. Such are the limits ordained by Allah, which he makes
plain for those to those who understand.
When you divorce women, and
they
fulfill the term of their I’ddah), either take them back on equitable
terms or
set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure
them, (or)
to take undue advantage; if anyone does that, he wrongs his own soul. Do
not treat Allah’s Signs as a jest but solemnly rehearse Allah’s favours
on you,
and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom for your
instruction.
And fear Allah, and’ know that Allah s well-acquainted with all things.
When you divorce women, and they
fulfill he term of their I’ddah), do not prevent them from marrying their
(former) husbands, if they mutually agree on equitable terms. This instruction
is for all amongst you, who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is (the
course making for) most virtue and purity amongst you. And Allah knows, and you
know not. (Qur’an 2:226,
232)
Again, when the husband and wife
cannot avoid divorce, it must be noted that Allah has commanded men
to show kindness
to women. The Qur’an has a whole chapter entitled “Divorce” (Al Talaq).
Verse One of Chapter 65 (Al-Talaq) clearly states:
“O Prophet! When you divorce
women, divorce them at their prescribed periods, and count (accurately) their
prescribed periods: and fear Allah your Rabb (Sustainer): And turn them not out
of their houses, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in case they are
guilty of open lewdness, those are limits set by Allah: and any who transgress
the limits of Allah, does verily wrong his (own) soul: you know not if perchance
Allah will bring about thereafter some new situation.” (Qur’an
65:1-7)
All
the above quotations from the Qur’an and the Sunnah show that Islam is indeed
the most practical solution to all sorts of problems, including domestic
problems among husbands and wives or families.
It discourages divorce among couples as it brings sorrows to the couples
themselves and corresponding problems to their children. When family problems
happen, society as a whole is affected. For
indeed, children of divorced parents oftentimes result to juvenile delinquencies
and drug addictions. At the same time, Islam as the most practical and rational
religion and way of life allows divorce for couples who could not mend their
differences. For why should couples
be allowed to stay forever when
they keep on fighting because of incompatibilities?
When misunderstanding and hatred instead of harmony and love exist among
parents, children develop negative outlook in life, leading them to juvenile
delinquencies and other social problems. Glory
be to Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, He has perfected Islam for us.
Indeed, even the law of divorce in
Islam is something that the whole humanity must ponder on and thank the
Almighty.
Prohibition of Drugs, Intoxicants and
Gambling
Islam is also the practical
solution to the problem on intoxicants and gambling. At first, the Muslims in
Medina were not prohibited to drink intoxicating wine or liquor, and to gamble.
When Muslims began to ask about drinking and gambling, the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
received the following revelation:
“They ask you
concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin, and some profit, for
men; but the sin is greater than the profit.” (Qur’an 2:226, 232)
While this revelation helped in
minimizing alcoholism among Muslims those days, they still continued to drink.
Many were even under the influence of liquor when they were in prayers. So,
another Qur’anic injunction from Allah was revealed
to the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
as follows:
“O you who believe! Approach
not pray ours with a mind befogged, until you can understand all1hat you say.”
(Qur’an 4:43)
The final revelation on the
prohibition of drinking wine and gambling says:
“O you who believe!
Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication) of stones, and (divination by) arrows are
an abomination of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such abomination, that you may
prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to
excite enmity and hatred among you, with intoxicants and gambling, and to turn
you away from tile remembrance of Allah and from Prayer: Will you not then
abstain?” (Qur’an
5:90-91)
With regards to drug addictions,
Islam recognizes that they are not only waste of resources but are harmful to
health and hence to the safety of the society as a whole.
Islam prohibits anything that causes harm to individuals and the society.
Therefore, drug addictions (even smoking) which medical experts confirm
harmful to health are prohibited in Islam. The following Qur’anic injunctions
tell us:
“And spend of your substance
in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your)
destruction.” (Qur'an, 2:195)
“O you who believe!
Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: but let there be
amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will: nor kill (or destroy)
yourselves: for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful!
If any do that in rancor and injustice, soon We shall cast him into the
Fire: and easy it is for Allah. If
you (but) eschew the most heinous of the things which you are forbidden to do,
We shall remit your evil deeds, and admit you to a Gate of great honour.”
(Qur'an, 4:29-31)
Observations tell us that drugs,
drinking wine and gambling indeed bring problems to the society as a whole.
Allah indeed says
that truth when He
tells us that they bring more harm than good to us.
Indeed, they lead people to evil deeds instead of good
deeds and righteousness, making them followers of Satan, the accursed.
Those who drink wine and/or engaged in drug addictions are
not in their real states of mind, they can do anything harmful or abominable to
the society as whole. How many
people died and commit dangers to others because of driving while in a state of
alcohol? How many committed rapes,
murders and other crimes just because of alcohol and
drug addiction problems? On the
issue of gambling, how many are
those who indulge themselves in robbery, graft and corruption, forgery and
other problems just because of gambling? Just
how many families are broken because of drug addictions, drinking wine and
gambling?
Had the West and elsewhere been
under Islamic rule, the problems of alcoholism in the United States, Soviet
Union and elsewhere in the world would have been minimized, if not eradicated.
The problems of alcoholism, drug-addiction
and gambling prevalent among the
people in the developed countries of the world point to the fact that they are
unhappy. Glory be to Allah ,
the Muslims who follow the divine
guidance from Allah and the following Ahâdîth (teachings) from His
Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
are free from said problems and social
ills:
Abu Huraira
(r.a.)
narrated
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, "When an adulterer commits
illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing
it, and when a drinker of an alcoholic liquor drinks it, then he is not a
believer at the time of drinking it, and when a thief steals, then he is not a
believer at the time of stealing, and when a robber robs, and the people look at
him, then he is not a believer at the time of doing robbery.” (Bukhari,
Vol. 3, Hadith 655)
Jabir ibn
Abdullah
(r.a.)
narrated
that he heard Allah’s Messenger
(s.a.w.s.)
saying in the year of the Conquest (of Mecca) while he was in Mecca,
"Allah and His Messenger have made the selling of wine (i.e. alcoholic
drinks) unlawful.” (Bukhari, Vol.5, Hadith 590)
The
Prohibition of Suicide
In the non-Muslim parts of the
world, when problems go uncontrolled, many simply do not know what to do and
where to go. So, they kill themselves, as already discussed earlier. In
contrast, a non-Muslim historian Philip Hitti in his book History of the Arabs,
objectively emphasizes that suicide is rare in Muslim Lands. He says:
“In
this uncompromising monotheism, with its simple, enthusiastic faith in the
supreme rule of a transcendent being, lies the chief strength of
Islam. its adherents enjoy a consciousness of contentment and resignation
unknown among followers of most creeds.”
Islam considers life as a trust (amanah) from Allah .
Many good things that one possesses are, in fact, amanah
¾
his own mind, body and soul, his life-partner, his own children, his wealth and
the like. All of these belong to Allah alone. Thus, what right has one got to
take his life away. Allah says:
“O you who believe! Eat not up
your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you traffic
and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily
Allah hath been to you Most Merciful! lf any do that in rancour and injustice,
soon shall We cast them into the Fire: and easy it Is for Allah.” (Qur’an
4:29-30)
The Muslims know well that suicide is
absolutely prohibited by Allah . No Muslim commits suicide, because if he does, he will have
the Hell-fire as
his eternal abode. He takes
admonition from the following Ahâdîth of the Prophet r:
Abu Hurairah
(r.a.)
narrated that the
Prophet said: “He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling
himself in the Hell-fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing
himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-fire (forever).” (Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadith 446)
Jundab narrated
(r.a.)
that the Prophet
(s.a.w.s.)
said, “A man was inflicted with
wounds and he committed suicide, and so Allah said:
`My slave has caused death on himself hurriedly, so I forbid Paradise for
him.’” (Bukhari, Vol. 4,
Hadith 445)
CONCLUDING
REMARKS:
Indeed, the teachings of Islam
cater to humanity-at-large. All
problems affecting man and his environment can be solved through proper
implementation of Islamic Law. But, how can the current global problems be
solved through Islam, when Muslims themselves do not implement it? How can we
prove to others that we can solve their problems when we ourselves have more
problems to solve?
Now that the Muslim society is, in
general, at variance with real Islam, it is our duty to help rectify the
conditions we are in. Knowing that
Islamic Law was effectively implemented before, there is no reason why it cannot
be viably carried out now and in the future. By the Grace of Allah ,
Islamic revival is already in the offing, and Muslim men and women should have
strong commitment and conviction to cooperate along this path.
Muslims need to think “global” as members of the Ummah.
They should be able to break all barriers against their unity and
brotherhood. Muslims worldwide should continuously promote cooperation,
brotherhood and unity among themselves. Allah says:
“Help one another in
righteousness and piety, but help not one another in sin and rancor: fear
Allah: for Allah s strict in punishment.”
(Qur’an 5:2)
“The Believers are but a
single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two
(contending) brothers; and fear Allah that you may receive Mercy.”
(Qur’an 49:10)
All of us Muslims, both as is
individuals and as groups, should help carry out the task of Da’wah. We should persistently let the world knew that Islam is for
all mankind. As a universal
religion, it is the best way of life for all.
Alhamdullillah (Praise be to Allah ), the Almighty has guided us
to Islam. We should cherish
that mercy from Allah by behaving according to the teachings of Islam. We must strictly adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah, so that non-Muslims will learn and
appreciate the beauty of Islam. In other words, reviving the golden age of the
Ummah should start at home. We should imbibe in our families the real teachings
of Islam, so that we can reassert our identity as Muslims. We should see to it that
the immediate members of our families, our daughters, sons and wives, are
models of what Muslims should be. At the same time, we should also ask our
family members to help convey the message of Islam to others for indeed, Islam
is the solution to the world’s perplexing problems.
-Ashraf Hameed
