Thanks be to Allah for
allowing the Halal, and disallowing the Haram. It is a mercy to the believers.
I do testify that there is only one god with no partners, it is Allah. He made
in the halal a good substitution for the hararm. He gave human nature its
right to enjoy the good which will satisfy its needs and fulfils its demands.
That also kept the human nature away from the bad destroying to the individual
and society. I also testify that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah, the best
example to be followed (may PPBU).
Dear Muslims, Islam
determined the authority that can decide what is allowed and what is forbidden
to be Allah alone. The Quran took it against the people of the book (Jews and
Christians) that they gave this authority to their priests. Aya 31 of surat
Tawba explained how they took their priests as gods. When some Christian
argued that they Jews and Christians did not worship their priest, the prophet
(PPBU) said, “Of course they did, They forbid them the halal and allowed them
to do the haram, and they followed them to that. And that is worshipping
them”. Islam specifically called upon Muslims who prohibit what is halal to
refrain from that because they make things tight for ordinary Muslims due to
their rigidity.
Islam has shown what is
halal and what is haram in some detail. It is always Ok to do what is clearly
halal, and there is no permit to do what is clearly haram. In some areas the
line between Halal and haram becomes blur. Such area is the suspicious area.
It is advisable in Islam to avoid such suspicious areas. Letting oneself acts
in a suspicious area will lead one to sometimes unknowingly stray into the
haram. Satan will find it easer pulling those into the haram.
Islam talks about two
concepts: the right action and correctness of the heart. That is making right
the exterior and the interior of oneself. The prophet divided all things into
three parts:
1) the clear halal like
eating all allowable foods like plants fruits etc.
2) the clear haram, like
adultery, alcohol theft etc.
3) the suspicious acts.
Those acts have some features of halal and some of haram. Both sides had
arguments for it and therefore it remained unclear to most people. Such
suspicious situations are quite clear to those who understand the shariaa
(ÇáÔÑíÚÉ). Allah said “Ask the people of the knowledge (Quran) if you do not
know”.
Satan operates with
humans at different levels. And works to move a human from one level to the
next. Satan makes wonderful for a human to do the right thing, and keeps
persuading him or her until they move the haram. He starts by the minor of
haram, then moves to the major harams. Then satan will try and get them to
abandon the religion of Allah all together. For Allah has warned his slaves
from following the steps of Satan and falling victim to his enticements. The
Islamic basic guidance rule is “the obligation to block what leads to haram”.
For example, the free mixing of men and women, and the unaccompanied company
of a man and a woman, because they may be the rout to adultery. Or for some
employee accepting presents from clients which may be interpreted as bribes.
The human heart turns
more than a boiling pot. One duaa off the prophet (PPBU): “Lord of all hearts,
keep my heart fixed unto your religion”. Indeed, being good or bad depends a
lot on the heart. Allah says: “That day that no money and no siblings will be
of any value to anyone, Except those who come to Allah with a good heart” Ayah
88-89 of surah Shuaaraa. What is bewildering is that people do not look after
their hearts as they do with their other organs. If they sense the start of a
sickness they rush to doctors. But they don’t seem to care to refresh their
hearts from solidifying. Before Allah puts a stamp on it when it then becomes
harder than a rock. A real believer pays attention to his/her heart, blocks
all doors of haram to it. Watch over it. For the degraders of a heart are a
lot. One should indulge into remembering Allah and praising Allah whenever one
feels the heart is getting harder. To keep it on the right path of guidance
and goodness. We ask Allah to keep our hearts righteous, and make it operate
in its obedience. We ask Allah to show us the right and make us follow it. And
show us the badness and make us avoid it. And all thanks be to Allah.
