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What Can Muslims Do and Not Do

Arabic term meaning something that is forbidden in Islam

Haram (;[1] [2] Arabic: حَرَام‎, ḥarām, [ħaˈraːm]) is an Arabic term meaning 'forbidden'.[3] : 471 This may refer to: either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge; or, in direct contrast, to an evil and thus "sinful action that is forbidden to be done". The term also denotes something "set aside", thus being the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew concept קדוש‎, qadoš and the concept of sacer (cf. sacred) in Roman law and religion. In Islamic jurisprudence, haram is used to refer to any act that is forbidden by God and is one of five Islamic commandments (الأحكام الخمسة‎, al-ʾAḥkām al-Ḵamsa) that define the morality of human action.[4]

Acts that are haram are typically prohibited in the religious texts of the Quran, and the Sunnah category of haram is the highest status of prohibition. If something is considered haram, it remains prohibited no matter how good the intention is or how honorable the purpose is.[5] Sins, good, and meritorious acts are placed on the mizan (weighing scales) on the Day of Judgement and are weighed according to the sincerity of the doer.[6] [7] Views of different madhhabs can vary significantly regarding what is or is not haram based on the scholarly interpretation of the core religious texts (Quran and Hadith).[8]

Overview [edit]

Actions that are haram result in harm one way or another and are therefore considered a sin if carried out by a Muslim.[9]

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great harm and (yet, some) benefit for people. But their harm is greater than their benefit..."

By bringing up the word "benefit" as an opposite to "sin" verse 2:219 of the Quran clarifies that haram is that which is harmful. In fact, everything becomes meaningful with their opposite; e.g. if there is no cold we never understand what heat is. So sin is that which hurts us. When God says "Do not", he means "do not hurt yourself". An Islamic principle related to haram is that if something is prohibited or forbidden, then anything that leads to it is also considered a haram act. A similar principle is that the sin of haram is not limited to the person who engages in the prohibited activity, but the sin also extends to others who support the person in the activity, whether it be material or moral support.[10]

The five categories of الأحكام الخمسة, al-ʾAḥkām al-Ḵamsa or the hierarchy of acts from permitted to non-permitted are:[4] [11]

  1. واجب / فرض (farḍ/ wājib ) – "Compulsory"/"duty"
  2. مستحب ( mustaḥabb ) – Recommended, "desirable"
  3. مباح ( mubāḥ ) – Neutral, "permissible"
  4. مكروه ( makrūh ) – Disliked, "discouraged"
  5. حرام ( ḥarām ) – Sinful, "prohibited"

The two types of haram are:

  1. الحرام لذاته ( al-ḥarām li-ḏātihi ) – Prohibited because of its essence and harm it causes to an individual
    • Adultery, murder, theft
  2. الحرام لغيره ( al-ḥarām li-ġayrihi ) – Prohibited because of external reasons that are not fundamentally harmful but are associated to something that is prohibited [12]
    • Ill-gotten wealth obtained through sin. Examples include money earned through cheating, stealing, corruption, murder, and Interest, or any means that involve harm to another human being. Also, a deal or sale during Friday's prayers salat al-jumu'ah. It is prohibited in Islam for a Muslim to profit from such haram actions. Any believer who benefits from or lives off wealth obtained through haram is a sinner.
    • Prayer in a house taken illegally.

The religious term haram, based on the Quran, is applied to:

  • Actions, such as cursing, fornication, murder, and disrespecting your parents.
  • Policies, such as riba (usury, interest).
  • Certain food and drink, such as pork and alcohol.
  • Some ḥalāl objects, foods, or actions that are normally halal but under some conditions become haram. For example, halal food and drinks during the day in Ramadan or a cow or another halal animal that is not slaughtered in the Islamic way and in the name of Allah (God).
  • Certain inaction, such as abandoning the salah.

Culture [edit]

Linguistically, the root of the term haram [compare Ancient Hebrew herem, meaning 'devoted to God', 'forbidden for profane use'] is used to form a wide range of other terms that have legal implications, such as hariim (a harem) and ihraam (a state of purity). In addition, the same word (haram) is used in the Quran to denote the sacred nature of the Ka'ba and the areas of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.[13] This category of sacred, holy, and inviolable also includes spouses and university campuses.[14] As such, the legal use of the root ح-ر-م is based on an idea of boundaries between the profane and the sacred, as opposed to prohibitions, as is normally assumed.

Colloquially, the word haram takes on different meanings and operates more closely as a dichotomy with halal, which denotes the permissible. In Arabic-speaking countries, saying "haram" can mean 'what a shame' or 'what a pity' (this meaning has been adopted by Modern Hebrew slang as well and is alike to the Italian use of peccato). The term can be used formally as a method for chastising strangers who behave inappropriately, or between friends as a form of teasing. The word is also used to instruct children in how to behave by telling them that harming other children or animals is haram, among other things.

The binary concepts of halal and haram are used in a number of cultural phrases, most notably ibn (boy) al-halal and bint (girl) al-halal. These phrases are often used to refer to appropriate spouses in marriage, and stand in contrast to ibn al-haram or bint al-haram, which are used as insults. In this case, the term haram is used to mean ill-mannered or indecent, instead of strictly meaning 'unlawful'. Halal and haram are also used in regards to money (mal). Mal al-haram means ill-gotten money, and brings destruction on those who make their living through such means.[15]

These cultural interpretations of what is haram influence and are influenced by the legal definitions used at the local level. This means that popular conceptions of haram are partly based on formal Islamic Jurisprudence and partly on regional culture, and the popular conceptions, in turn, change how the legal system defines and punishes haram actions.[16]

Forbidden categories of actions [edit]

Food and intoxicants [edit]

In Islam, prohibitions on illegal acts or objects are observed by Muslims in accordance to their obedience to the Quranic commands.[17] In Islamic law, dietary prohibitions are said to help with the understanding of divine will.

Regarding haram meat, Muslims are prohibited from consuming flowing blood.

Meats that are considered haram, such as pork, dog, cat, monkey, or any other haram animals, can only be considered lawful in emergencies when a person is facing starvation and their life has to be saved through the consumption of this meat.[18] However, necessity does not exist if the society possesses excess food. Haram foods do not become permissible when a person is in a society with excess food because the Islamic community is like a single body supporting its members, and should offer halal foods to the fellow Muslim.[19] Certain meats are deemed haram if the animal is not properly slaughtered. A halal slaughter involves a sharp knife that the animal should not see before it is slaughtered;[20] the animal should be well-rested, watered and fed before the slaughtering, and the slaughtering should not take place in front of other animals.[20] This preparation is done in order to serve the Muslim population. The proper slaughtering process involves a single cut across the throat, quick and as painless for the animal as possible. During the slaughtering process, Allah's name should be recited, by saying "Bismillah" in order to take the animal's life to meet the lawful need of food.[21] [22] Animals that are slaughtered in a name other than Allah are prohibited because this goes against Tawhid.

There are a number of Quranic verses regarding the prohibition of meat in Islam:

He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swineflesh, and that which has been immolated to (the name of) any other than God. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! God is Forgiving, Merciful.

How should ye not eat of that over which the name of God hath been mentioned, when He hath explained unto you that which is forbidden unto you unless ye are compelled thereto. But lo! many are led astray by their own lusts through ignorance. Lo! thy Lord, He is Best Aware of the transgressors.

Alcoholic intoxicants are prohibited in Islam. Khamr is the Arabic word for alcoholic drinks that cause intoxication.[23] According to Salafi theologians and their puritanical interpretations, the Prophet declared that the prohibition was not only placed on wine, but also on beer and other alcoholic beverages that intoxicate a person. The Prophet also forbade the trading of these intoxicants, even with non-Muslims. It is not permissible for a Muslim to import or export alcoholic beverages, or to work in or own a place that sells these intoxicants.[24] Giving intoxicants as a gift is also considered haram.[25]

Other intoxicants, such as tobacco, paan, dokha, and khat have been deemed forbidden by some scholars.

Vanilla extract, gelatin, and some types of soy sauce are also forbidden due to their containing alcohol, or other forbidden ingredients such as pig parts.

There are also a number of hadith regarding the prohibition of meat and intoxicants in Islam:

In an incident narrated by Rafi ibn Khadij, Muhammad told Muslims who wanted to slaughter some animals using reeds,

Use whatever causes blood to flow, and eat the animals if the Name of Allah has been mentioned on slaughtering them ...

—Bukhari

Allah's Messenger forbade the eating of the meat of beasts having fangs.

—Narrated by Bukhari, Narrated Abu Thaʻlabah

The Prophet said: "Allah has forbidden alcoholic drinks. Whoever this verse reaches while they still possess any of it, they are not to drink nor to sell."

—Narrated by Abu Saʻid, Muslim

Marriage and family life [edit]

Islam is very strict in prohibiting zina, whether it be adultery or sexual intercourse between two unmarried individuals. Zina is considered to lead to confusion of lineage, leniency in morals, disconnection among families, and unstable relationships.[ citation needed ] It is also considered haram to look at members of the opposite sex with desire.[ citation needed ]

There are Quranic verses on the prohibition of fornication:

And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way.

Those who invoke not, with God, any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit fornication – and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.

In terms of marriage proposals, it is considered haram for a Muslim man to propose to a divorced or widowed woman during her Iddah (the waiting period during which she is not allowed to marry again).[26] The man is able to express his desire for marriage, but cannot execute an actual proposal. It is also forbidden for a Muslim man to propose to a woman who is engaged to another man.[27]

It is considered haram for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.[28]This is due to the idea that the man is the head of the household, the one who supports the family, and the man is considered responsible for his wife. Muslims do not believe in giving women to the hands of those who do not practice Islam and having them responsible over Muslim women because they are not concerned with protecting the rites of the religion.[29] [30]

Divorce [edit]

According to Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, implementing a divorce during a woman's menstrual period is prohibited because during such a period, sexual relations are considered haram, so it is possible that the idea of divorce came to a man's mind due to sexual frustration or nervous tension.[31] It is also not considered permissible for a Muslim to take an oath of divorce, which involves stating that if a particular event does not occur, then there will be a divorce. This also includes threatening a spouse if they do not do something, then they will be divorced.[32] According to the shariah, the most suitable time for a divorce is when the woman has finished her menstrual period.It is haram to have zina* before the time given to a woman who is still in divorcing period.

Business ethics [edit]

Riba, any excessive addition over and above the principal, such as usury and interest, is prohibited in Islam in all forms. Interest goes against the Islamic pillar of Zakat which allows wealth to flow from the rich to the poor. Riba is prohibited because it keeps wealth in the hands of the wealthy and keeps it away from the poor. It is also believed that riba makes a man selfish and greedy.[33] [34]

All business and trade practices that do not result in a free and fair exchange of goods and services are considered haram, such as bribery, stealing, and gambling. Therefore, all forms of deceit and dishonesty in business are prohibited in Islam.[33] [35]

There are a number of Quranic verses that relate to the prohibition of unethical business practices:

O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubling and quadrupling (the sum lent). Observe your duty to God, that ye may be successful.

God hath blighted usury and made almsgiving fruitful. Allah loveth not the impious and guilty.

Many Islamic jurists and religious bodies including Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta[36] of Saudi Arabia have considered MLM trade to be prohibited or haram, the reasons behind which are as follows: In this process, followings are related – exchange without labor and labor without exchange, contract on another contract or condition on another condition, similarity with Riba (interest), similarity with gambling, widespread uncertainty of profits and losses, not everyone benefiting equally, financial fraud and torture, lying and exaggeration, etc.[37] [38]

Inheritance [edit]

It is considered haram for a father to deprive his children of inheritance. It is also haram for a father to deprive the women or the children of a wife who is not favorable to him an inheritance. Additionally, it is haram for one relative to deprive another relative of his inheritance through tricks.[39]

Clothing and adornment [edit]

In Islam, both gold adornments and silk cloths are prohibited for men to wear but are permissible for women as long as they are not used to sexually attract men (other than their husbands). The prohibition of these adornments is part of a broader Islamic principle of avoiding luxurious lifestyles.[40]

It is considered haram for both men and women to wear clothing that fails to cover the body properly (which stated in clothing guidance, the term "aurat/awrah") and clothes that are transparent. Additionally, Islam prohibits excess beautifying that involves the altering of one's physical appearance. Physical alterations that are considered haram such as tattoos, shortening of teeth, cosmetic surgery etc.[41]

Islam also prohibits the use of gold and silver utensils and pure silk spreads in the household in order to avoid luxurious lifestyles in the home.[42] Statues are also prohibited in homes, and Muslims are prohibited from participating in making statues because it negates Tawhid.[43]

Shirk [edit]

It is considered a sin for a Muslim to worship anyone other than God, which is known as shirk.

The following is a Quranic verse on shirk:

Say: I am forbidden to worship those on whom ye call instead of God. Say: I will not follow your desires, for then should I go astray and I should not be of the rightly guided.

The following is a Hadith relating to the practice of shirk:

It is reported on the authority of Ibn Masʻūd that Muhammad said: "Whoever died while supplicating another deity besides God, will enter the Fire."

—Narrated by Bukhari

See also [edit]

  • Outline of Islam
  • Glossary of Islam
  • Index of Islam-related articles
  • Ahkam
  • Al-Jamia, Shiʻah text which contains all the details of haram things.
  • Christian dietary laws
  • Ḥ-R-M (triconsonantal root of these words in Arabic)
  • Haram (site) (linguistically related Arabic word for "protected place")
  • Kashrut, Jewish dietary rules
  • Makruh
  • Mitzvah in Judaism incorporates similar notions
  • Sharia
  • Treif, the Yiddish word for non-kosher
  • Taboo
  • Word of Wisdom, the LDS dietary rules
  • Ja'fari jurisprudence

References [edit]

  1. ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN978-1-4058-8118-0.
  2. ^ "haram adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes". Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  3. ^ Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi (26 March 2016). The Laws of Islam (PDF). Enlight Press. ISBN978-0994240989 . Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b Adamec, Ludwig (2009). Historical Dictionary of Islam, 2nd Edition . Lanham: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 102. ISBN9780810861619.
  5. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 26.
  6. ^ American-Arab Message – p. 92, Muhammad Karoub – 2006
  7. ^ The Holy City: Jerusalem in the theology of the Old Testament – p. 20, Leslie J. Hoppe – 2000
  8. ^ The Palgrave Handbook of Spirituality and Business – p. 142, Professor Luk Bouckaert, Professor Laszlo Zsolnai – 2011
  9. ^ Faruki, Kemal (March 1966). "Al-Ahkam Al-Khaimah: The Five Values". Islamic Studies. 5: 43.
  10. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 22.
  11. ^ Gibb, H. A. R. (editor) (1960). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill. p. 257. CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Mahbubi Ali, Mohammad; Lokmanulhakim Hussain (9 February 2013). "A Framework of Income Purification for Islamic Financial Institutions". Proceeding of Sharia Economics Conference: 109.
  13. ^ McAuliffe, Jane Dammen (2001). "Forbidden". Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an. 2: 224–225.
  14. ^ Al Jallad, Nader (2008). "The concepts of al-haram in the Arab-Muslim culture: a translational and lexicographical study" (PDF). Language Design. 10: 80.
  15. ^ Al Jallad, Nader (2008). "The concepts of al-halal and al-haram in the Arab-Muslim culture: a translational and lexicographical study". Language Design. 10: 81–84.
  16. ^ Nanji, Azim A, editor (1996). The Muslim Almanac: A Reference Work on the History, Faith, Culture, and Peoples of Islam. Detroit: Gale Research Inc. p. 273.
  17. ^ Siddiqui, Mona (2012). The Good Muslim. Cambridge University Press. p. 88.
  18. ^ Samiullah, Muhammad (Spring 1982). "The Meat: Lawful and Unlawful in Islam". Islamic Studies. 21 (1): 75.
  19. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 46.
  20. ^ a b Chaudry, Dr. Muhammad Munir; Regenstein, Joe M. (2009). "Animal Welfare Policy and Practice: Cultural and Religious Issues" (PDF). OIE: Organisation for Animal Health. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  21. ^ Samiullah, Muhammad (Spring 1982). "The Meat: Lawful and Unlawful in Islam". Islamic Studies. 21 (1): 76.
  22. ^ Samiullah, Muhammad (Spring 1982). "The Meat: Lawful and Unlawful in Islam". Islamic Studies. 21 (1): 77.
  23. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 67.
  24. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 68.
  25. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 70.
  26. ^ "UK interfaith unions rise".
  27. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 171.
  28. ^ "UK interfaith unions rise".
  29. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 179.
  30. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 180.
  31. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 207.
  32. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 208.
  33. ^ a b Samiullah, Muhammad (Summer 1982). "Prohibition of Riba (Interest) & Insurance in the Light of Islam". Islamic Studies. 2. 21: 53.
  34. ^ Samiullah, Muhammad (Summer 1982). "Prohibition of Riba (Interest) & Insurance in the Light of Islam". Islamic Studies. 2. 21: 54.
  35. ^ Samiullah, Muhammad (Summer 1982). "Prohibition of Riba (Interest) & Insurance in the Light of Islam". Islamic Studies. 2. 21: 58.
  36. ^ "فتوى اللجنة الدائمة بشأن التسويق الشبكي – إسلام ويب – مركز الفتوى". www.islamweb.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  37. ^ Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed (2004). Islam: Questions and Answers – Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings: Transactions – Part 7. MSA Publication Limited. ISBN978-1-86179-461-1 . Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  38. ^ Manjur Elahi, Muhammad; Tajul Islam, Muhammad; Muhammad Zakaria, Abu Bakr (18 May 2011). "The provisions of network marketing in Islamic jurisprudence – Bengali – Muhammad Manjur Elahi". IslamHouse.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  39. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 226.
  40. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 82.
  41. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 85.
  42. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 96.
  43. ^ Al-Qardawi, Yusuf (1999). The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. American Trust Publications. p. 99.

External links [edit]

  • Laws of Islam concerning food

What Can Muslims Do and Not Do

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haram