The concept of halal and haraam in Islam

The concept of halal and haraam in Islam

The concept of halal and haraam in Islam

  The concept of halal and haraam in Islam is an important issue of the present day. One of the reasons why people went astray in the age of ignorance is also halal and haraam. They were so confused in this matter that they declared halal as haraam and haraam as halal. They used to attribute this evil deed to Allah.

In the matter of halal and haraam, different religions have coined their own terms. Christian monks made human life difficult. It was also haraam for them to wear nice clothes and adorn themselves. According to him, it was even illegal to wash one's feet and enter the bath.

 On the other hand, Mazdak, a Persian religion, raised the slogan of complete immorality. To him, everything was permissible, even playing with honor and dignity, which man considers sacred.

Similarly, the disbelievers of Makkah had their own way of dealing with halal and haraam. They also made some things halal and some haraam of their own free will. And the irony is that they also attributed this act to Allah.

Oddly enough, it was permissible for them to kill their daughters, to sacrifice their children in the name of idols. But they forbade themselves pure things like fields and animals.

Islam is Allah's favorite religion. While this religion provides us with guidance in every aspect of life, it also provides clear teachings in matters of halal and haraam. The teachings that lead to moderation in human life. The following are some of the principles laid down by Islam in the matter of halal and haraam:

(1) All things are actually permissible:

The first the principle that Islam has laid down about halal and haraam is that all things are permissible unless there is evidence of their haraamness. Only those things about which we find any evidence from the Qur'an or authentic Hadith will be haraam.

 Allah said هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا Allah Who has created for you all that is in the earth. (Surat al-Baqara, 29)That is when Allah has created everything for you. So why will Allah forbid you from taking advantage of these things by forbidding them? That is why the scope of haraam things in Islam is very narrow. And for haraam things, it is very important to find evidence from the Qur'an or authentic Hadith. If we don't find an argument, that thing will remain.۔

Hazrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: «الْحَلَالُ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ، وَالْحَرَامُ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ، وَمَا سَكَتَ عَنْهُ، فَهُوَ مِمَّا عَفَا عَنْهُ» What Allah has declared halal in His Book (Qur'an) is halal. And what is declared haraam in his book (Qur'an) is haraam. And he who is silent about it is one of those for whom (Allah) has forgiven. (Sunan Ibn Majah and its chain of transmission are Hasan. Hadith No. 3367)

(2) It is the right of Allah to make anything haraam or halal:

God has all the power. Everything belongs to him. Therefore, it is only right for Allah to make or forbid anything halal. And whoever tries to interfere in this right of Allah, he is committing shirk. There is no doubt in the disbelief of a person who makes anything halal or haraam by his personal opinion without any argument.

Allah has refuted in the Qur'an this act of the polytheists in this matter of halaal and haraam. Allah said: قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مِنْ رِزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ۔ O Prophet! Say (to the polytheists): "What do you think of that which Allah has sent down to you out of the provision?" You have made it halal and haraam. (O Prophet, ask them) Did Allah allow you to do this or do you make false accusations against Allah? (Surah Yunus, verse no. 59)

(3) Haraam things are harmful:

Allah loves His servants very much. He has done many favors to His servants. It is the right of Allah to make whatever He wills lawful and whatever He wills unlawful. There is no question of any objection to this authority of Allah. It is a requirement of His Lordship. But it is Allah's love for His servants that He has forbidden those things which are harmful to man.

One of the clear principles of Islam in the matter of halal and haraam is that the purely beneficial things are halal. Purely harmful things are haraam. Things that benefit more than they are harmful are also halal. And those things which are more harmful than good are haraam. Allah said: يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِمَا۔(O Prophet) These people ask you about alcohol and gambling. Say it! Their sin is great. And (although) there is a benefit for the people. (But) their loss is more than their benefit. (Surat al-Baqara, verse no. 219)

Similarly, Islam forbade pork. At the time, people considered it haraam because of its filth. But modern research has shown that its meat contains dangerous germs that are extremely dangerous to human health.

Although modern research and science do not prove the expediency of Islam. But we need to consider the things that are forbidden by Islam as haraam. For us, this expediency is enough that Islam has forbidden this thing.

(4) What causes haraam is also haraam:

In the matter of halal and haraam, Islam has also laid down a principle that whatever causes haraam is also haraam. Therefore, adultery alone is not haraam. On the contrary, obscene songs, the nakedness of women, mixing of men and women are also haraam because all these things lead a person to adultery.

 That is why the Prophet (PBUH) cursed all those who take an interest, those who give and those who write. Therefore, whatever causes one to help in haraam is also haraam.

(5) Good intentions cannot make haraam lawful:

  In Islam, the intention is central to everything. Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) narrates that He heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying: إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى۔ Deeds depend on intentions. Every person gets what he intended. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 01)

 That is if a person eats food with the intention that it will strengthen the body. And with that power, he will worship Allah. So eating this person's food will also become a virtue. In the same way, if a man has intercourse with his wife to attain chastity, then this act of his will also become worship for him. In Islam, both the purpose of the goal and the purity of its means are required.

 If a person takes interest or bribe with this intention and builds a mosque with this money, then this act of his will remain haraam. His good intentions cannot make his haraam deeds lawful. Because he has adopted an illegitimate way to achieve a higher goal. Which is not acceptable in any case.

Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا۔ O people! Allah is pure and loves only that which is pure. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1015)

We have put before you some of the principles that Islam has laid down regarding halal and haraam. May Allah protect us from haraam and grant us the ability to choose halal. Amen!
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