Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Halal food and Slaughter

What is Halal?

Halal and Haram rules our lives without us knowing and it governs our behaviour. Here we wish to examine the different facets of Halal/lawful in our lives. Halal is something that is lawful to consume in terms of food or in terms of action, clothes, jobs and other things something to do.

Haram is the unlawful which is very easy in terms of food; pork, consumption of blood, unslaughtered meat and human products, any job that involves interest transactions and so forth.

Food

We advised a friend to look for the suitable for vegetarian signs about food. Due to packaging regulations food companies have to abide by what the ingredients they list or face prosecution.

My friends question do we have to look for them? As long as we check that there is no pork in them, should that no be sufficient? Well it would be in most cases but there are instances where we cannot know all the ingredients. Looking for the 'suitable of vegetarian' makes sense. You see there are ingredients such as E numbers which are not lawful/Halal. L-Cystine which is human hair is not lawful to consume. This is commonly found in pastry or wraps despite the suitable for vegetarian sign. Vegetarians seem to have little complaint  about eating human hair! Though it could be classed as highly disliked/makruh tahrima. As only the consumption of human flesh would be unlawful totally.

He was beginning to question a system that many had used for years. As it was, to my mind at least, a full proof method. Look for the suitable for vegetarian sign and then check the ingredients for alcohol, meat and pork.

Disagreements

There are other items such as rennet which there is disagreement on. The Shafi's do not allow it and the Hanafi's allow it. Hanafi's allow products or medicine which contain alcohol when they have had their intoxicant quality altered. Like in beans or sauces. This is the same for deodorant sprays or cremes, which is allowed because they are synthetic and not the fermented type. Though some scholars, from the indo pak region, do not allow it because of the word alcohol. As they do not differentiate between synthetic alcohol which is not the same as fermented alcohol. So be aware of this when you hear speakers.

Shoes and clothes

The tanning process cleans all animals that have been killed for their meat. (source Quduri ) Whether they have been Islamically slaughtered or not is irrelevant. The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was given leather socks of an animal that was not Islamically slaughtered and wore them. So its lawful for you to buy that leather jacket as long you do not act like the Fonz (see Happy days Tv show).

One thing that you have to be aware of is pig skin in leather products. This is very true about shoes. Now this is little tricky because you have to look for three dots together which is a sign of pig flesh. This link has some good information of how to spot pig flesh.  

If you find them then get rid of them because they will do your body harm. The only time in which pig meat is allowed is in a situation of life and death. For example there is no food except pork and if you do not eat it then you will die. Someone is lost in the desert for example. Then you can only eat what will keep you alive and no more; and you do not say bismillah/In the name of Allah.

Gold is lawful for women but unlawful for men. Why because it makes men effeminate. Silk is also unlawful in ties for men but they have to check if the silk is real or synthetic.

Also bear in mind soaps and washing materials. Please see Astonish cleaning products which are better for the environment and suitable for us.

Making the unlawful lawful

This is a dangerous game that some play. They think by saying bismillah changes the product or the thing from unlawful to lawful. Newsflash it does not change anything its unlawful nature stays the same. Also according to Abu Hanifah in Fiqh Al-Akbar, a person leaves Islam. Because of his desire to make the unlawful lawful. Like someone taking a bottle of wine and saying bismillah over it. It does not change it into Halal and you have committed a major sin! Major sins only make one leave Islam with this intention otherwise they do not. Someone who drinks alcohol has sinned but not left Islam. So do not play this game which is like playing with fire, literally in the next world.

Jobs

Jobs need to Halal also. Which means that you cannot involve yourself in interest, betting, any transaction of unlawful product, cheat or deceive when making transactions to the government or anyone else. You have to be honest or else that money is unlawful. Money is the only thing one is asked about twice; how we earned and spent it. All unlawful income belongs to the fire.

Non Muslims view of Halal/Haram

Now many of you reading this live in the west. So when we ask a non Muslim if something is Halal or not. Do not expect them to understand because in all likelihood they will have no concept of it. Of course why should they when we don't understand it! How could they? So it's better to declare yourself as vegetarian thus saving you from a puzzled look from a unsuspecting person. So bear that mind parents who have children in schools who are unable to differentiate between food. Tell the schools they are vegetarians and the job is done.

Also declaring yourself as tea totaled might save you from the office party where alcohol is consumed. Know that the only thing necessary for a disbeliever is faith and their sins can be forgiven if they accept Islam. But we will be punished if we do not explain our religion correctly. Explaining Halal and haram is easily done. 

Say that we can only consume meat that has been slaughtered  according to traditional methods akin to the kosher meat of the Jews. It's almost the same method which has been used for many century. We cannot eat pig meat because its deemed unlawful by the Quran and the Bible. As there are many toxins and diseases that are not removed after cooking at certain temperatures. Is this not a contributing factor to the rise of cancer in the west?

Non Muslims are advised to consider Muslims as vegetarians when they purchase food for them. Please do not offended when we refuse food because its not suitable for veggies.

Animal slaughter

Animals that are lawful to consume have to be traditionally slaughtered. This method sounds brutal but the animal is dead within three to seven seconds. When the throat is cut death is instantaneous. This is not the same as stunning because it does not cause death instantly. As the process (stunning) needs to be repeated and this causes great distress to the animal. 

That pre-packed piece of meat, in the supermarket, might have been distressed greatly before death. However when meat is slaughtered correctly is more humane than stunning. As the time of stunning is different depending on the size of the animal. There is a possibility that the animal might still be aware when it is cut up because the stunning is not as effective as slaughtering. The most humane way is to make sure that the animal does not suffer needlessly or for an extending period of time; both which are possible in stunning. 

When an animal is slaughtered death is within three to seven seconds because of heavy blood loss. And there is no need of repeating the process but with stunning there can be a need because the animal is not dead yet. Because of the uncertainty of stunning, the death and suffering of the animal have lead scholars to declare stunning highly disliked. As a consequence many non-Muslims do not eat meat because of the process than the conditions of the animals in abattoirs. So why should we as Muslims change from a method that is tried and tested? To a method many people do not like themselves!

At the same time someone can see the state of some slaughter houses and find a lot to be desired. This because of people who are more interested in profits rather doing the job correctly. The stunning concerns the chicken rather than other animals. 

Please note Muslims cannot eat meat that non Muslims sell in supermarkets. As it is not food from the people of the book as the meat is slaughtered by atheists therefore unlawful. There is no excuse in consuming this food. If you live far away from Muslims then make good use of a freezer. Personally I do not accept the reported news that some meat that supermarkets sell is halal.

Halal and pure

The Quran tells us to consume the "Halal and pure." Now these two parts are essentially one set of rulings; Halal and pure. Halal meaning lawful and pure meaning there is no harm to one health. Now you cannot separate the lawful from the pure by saying something is pure and therefore permissible. Nothing that is pure that is not Halal is not lawful. This is logical fallacy because it has to Halal and if it isn't then it's not lawful and its purity is disregarded!

Although there are times when something is Halal but not pure like that cheese burger dripping with fat! It might be Halal but it's not pure! A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips!

Foreigners

It's very difficult for people to come from the Muslim world to the west. Where everything was lawful to consume, to another world where you have to check everything. He is not used to checking anything, he just picked up what he wanted without giving it a second thought. So tell him what he needs to look for and advise him.

Eating at McDonalds in the west is clearly unlawful because they do not separate oils when frying nor do the Milk shakes contain lawful substances etc. But when you are in the Muslim world this picture changes. Because its lawful because government regulations do not allow anything Haram to be sold! So bear that in mind if you want it your way in Saudi! (Burger King motto!) With the exception of alcohol and supermarkets selling pork.

Further study

Please look into this field a little deeper by looking at the chapters of Hadar wa Ibah or Halal wa Haram in the books of fiqh. This is a very large section and it covers many fields. Ask a trusted scholar about further study in this field. We have not spoken deeply about means of earning a livelihood or other matters. Halal and Haram encompasses our entire lives and if we get this right; how great of an act of worship would that be!

Cursing/Swearing

This is something that can be heard wherever you go on this planet. You can hear on it on most media channels, especially movies and television. Many a time the people doing the swearing are the youth who seem to enjoy swearing as much as they enjoy eating! But have we considered the fact that it may be sinful to swear?

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The Muslim is he whom Muslims are safe from harm of his hand and tongue.” (Al-Bukhari 1/53, Muslim 1/65)

There are different narrations of this hadith which have people instead of Muslim and other has believers. This hadith means any harm that comes from the tongue this could be some of the following: Cursing, swearing, backbiting, slander and tale bearing. Swearing is a major sin it is not a minor sin because like other major sins it affects others as well as yourself.

Saying an offensive word affects the person who you said it, the one who heard it and the one who it was said to. It is not a major thing now that we hear so many people swearing all over the place.

Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) states that the Messenger of Allah (May Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “A believer does not falsely claim lineage; does not curse; is not lewd or obscene.” (At-Tirmidhi 1987)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was asked, "What is Islam?" He replied, "Gentle speech and feeding the poor." Imam Ahmed.

People also seem to think that it is okay to swear in another language and that somehow that does not count! It does count, swearing in any language counts and is counted. We do speak in dialects of the languages of our various peoples and they often contain rude, offensive and insulting language. This is extremely common sight that you may witness someone speaking in English then switching to his mother tongue to let rip on some people who do not understand him, then turn to them smiling! One of my English friends asked me what two people were saying and I told him that it was better off that he did not know. Why? Because they were swearing!

This is the main reason that we do not like the use of some dialects. They are littered with swearing and insulting language and if you want to join in the conversation then you have to join in on the sinning!

You see hearing is not something that you stop; even if you put your fingers in your ears you can still hear what someone says!

It is bad enough to swear at someone but swearing at a Muslim is even worse.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “To insult a Muslim is corruption and to wage war on him is disbelief.” (Bukhari 48, Muslim 64)

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Types of clothing, definition of nakedness/Awrah

Clothing is five types
1. Fard/Obligatory to cover the awrah/nakedness of a person. A males nakedness is between the navel and knees, including the knees. A females nakedness is her whole self excluding her hands and face. There is a dispute according to the feet, according to Ibn Abideen and his son the feet it is nakedness in the prayer and not outside but the other way around according to others. The nakedness of female Muslims between each other is the same as a male. As for a non muslim women this depends if she will describe her to other women, if she does then it’s not permissible.

There is no nakedness between wife and husband!

Mahrem is someone that you can never marry – ever!

The nakedness between these are the same as a males including, stomach, back and sides

Milk sister is the same as a sister but they cannot travel with each other

The levels of clothing:
1. The obligation of clothing is to wear what will protect you from the weather. You have to wear clothes appropriate to the weather, for cold weather wear warm clothes etc.

2. Mustahab/desired
Clothing that is in addition to the obligatory amount.

3. Mubah/Permissible clothing – permissible means that there is no sin or reward for that act
To wear beautiful clothing

4. Makruh/highly disliked clothing
Anything that shows arrogance, clothes that mimic the people of oppression, clothes beneath ankles to show arrogance, colours that are for women that men wear – this is depending on the locality and some clothing that the nakedness can be seen – if it's the colour of skin, too tight and see prohibited clothing.

5. Haram/prohibited clothing
Silk for men – it has to be more than four fingers stripes – the prohibition with silk is wearing it,
Symbols of other religions unless it is common then its highly disliked,
Clothes that are tight around the nakedness or show nakedness and shoes for women that make sounds.

Women can wear any type of rings.

Men can only wear a silver rings, the weight of ten grams of silver. To be worn on the ring or small finger,(either hand) if it’s worn on another finger then it’s highly disliked. (index or middle finger)

(All types of Gold Haram/prohibited for men)

To dress children in disliked or prohibited clothing is a sin for the parent not the child.

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Trust/Amanah and Deception/Khianah


A trust/ Amanah is to keep someones belongs safe

This can mean actual belongings or someones secret

When someone looks to both sides then speaks, he is giving you a secret

It is obligatory for you to keep someones trust

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “He has no faith who cannot keep a trust.” (Imam Ahmed)

Khianah is the antonym of Amanah/trust

It is prohibited to deceieve

Breaking your word without intention is okay but it’s sinful if he did not intent to do

Sura Saff 61:2 “O’ You who believe do not say what you do not do.”

Having a bad opinion
“O’ you who believe avoid most of conjecture as truly some conjecture is sinful.” Hujjarat 49:12

It is a major sin to think that Allah (the All-Forgiving) will not forgive you when you have committed a sin.

It is prohibited to have bad opinion about Muslim

“Beware of conjecture as most of conjecture is sinful.”

It is only permissible to have bad opinion if you know that someone is going to steal something

To have a good opinion about Allah (mighty and Majestic) is necessary/wajib.

Do not think badly about Allah (mighty and majestic)

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Types of permissible animals according the Hanafi school

Hanafi School divides food into three types
1. Insects – All Haram except Grasshoppers
2. Reptiles – Salamander is makruh/disliked
3. Rest of animals – birds, fish, etc. This is split into two types:
a) Predators/carnivores/birds of prey are Haram/prohibited
b) Herbivores –Dolphin makruh/highly disliked

Fish have two conditions
1. Whatever is known by the name fish
2. Arabs hate to eat it (not fish then)
Other water life that does not fit into this category are makhruh like prawns

It is disliked/makruh to eat camel/cow if they eat filth; you have to allow the chicken three days to eat clean food and the camel forty days.

Seven parts of an animal are Haram/prohibited to eat
1.the blood and arteries inside the meat
2. Male private area
3. Balls
4. Female private area
5. Glands
6. Bladder – large intestines and rectum
7. Spleen

There are three things that harm the body:
1. See effect -something that clearly effects the body like poison or eating glass is Haram/prohibited
2. Visible see the effect – does not kill – eating a rock – Disliked
3. Not visible straightaway but only hurts certain people – something that is better not to do

Animals that are slaughtered without pronouncing the name of Allah (wajib/necessary) are not permissible to eat if forgotten on purpose but if forgotten without intention then it’s okay.

When slaughtering three of the four must be cut, food tube, two arteries and air way

It is only permissible to eat haram/prohibited food in severe necessity. The definition of necessity is:
1. Without it you will die
2. Or you will lose the function of a limb – leg – five senses
3. Or you will have extreme pain

Kosher Jewish meat is permissible that is killed in the tradition way

The definition of dead meat/maitah is:
Any animal not slaughtered in Islamic way or an animal killed without being slaughtered

To train a hunting animal: it has to hunt something and not eat it three times and you have to send it saying Bismillah.

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Envy

The definition of envy/hasad is to when you want a blessing to be taken from someone but it has to be with the intention. If he rejects it then it is not envy.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Envy devours good actions like fire consumes wood.”

Causes of envy: it brings sins forth, it takes a person towards hell without being tried.

One scholar said that it takes a person away from intercession (of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on the day of judgement).

Envy returns to the envier in two ways
1. In the world – he is stressed
2. In the afterlife – oppressing someone who will pick up your good deeds

Imam Ghazali (may Allah show him mercy) said, “It is envy, even if you do not act upon it.”

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Do not be envious of one another...” (Muslim)

Envy is the first sin committed on earth by Satan on the sons of Adam ( upon him peace)

The envier goes against Allah (mighty and majestic) on these points
1. His provision
2. Decree
3. The envier is Miserly
4. Undeserving
5. Helps satan

(Allah can give dunya to those he loves and those he does not love. Possessing that which is perishing is not a sign of love!)

Ghibta is a kind of envy in which you want the same as the other person but you do not wish that person to lose his blessing (permissable).

If you want to be like a scholar then is permissible but in worldly matters, to be like someone, is prohibited.



(Please see Halal and Haram label for other notes on this series or Sheikh Atabek's label.)

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Repentance/Tawba



“Repent to Allah, together.” The Light 24:31

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever is taken into account is punished.”

If we are offered our sins we will be forgiven (on the day of judgement) but if our sins are counted we will be punished


Sincere repentance is to repent and to reject the sin inwardly and outwardly


To repent you must return to Allah (mighty and majestic) and be sorry for what you have done, make intention not to return to it


Repentance is intention and determination


The conditions of repentance
1. Cease the sin
2. Have regret
3. To make intention not to return to it
4. To give someone’s rights back, if it is between you and other people

Repenting from major sins is necessary and repenting from minor sins is desired

Mutaziltes and Khawarij saw that minor sins needs repentance and major sins need expiation/Kafar

A sin can be between you and Allah (mighty and majestic) or it can be between you and people

Stolen items from someone must be returned or you must ask for forgiveness for hurting someone; ask Allah to forgive you; Supplicate for that person

If you backbitten or hurt someone and it did not reach him then do not go to tell him, just repent to Allah (mighty and majestic).

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Generosity, Waste money and love of the world

The definition of generosity is to give more than what is necessary, with the intention that it is for Allah or to lower miserliness without excessiveness.


One of the audience said it is to give more than what could be expected


The highest level is pay out when in need yourself; this is ethar


Greed is punishable so we should try to remove it


Whoever dies upon doing something is resurrected upon it


Israf is to give out when it is necessary to keep on prohibited
Israf is prohibited by consensus



“Verily spendthrifts are brothers of satans.” Isra 17:27



A bad death is:
1. Die disbeliever
2. Die sinning
3. Die of an extreme illness



Gambling, wasting on food that you do not eat both are kinds of israf


Israf is caused by: ignorance, lack of intelligence, showing off, laziness, ashamed – because of the clothes of last year and weak faith



Love of the world/Dunya


You can want to help others or yourself


“The world is a place; for he without a place.”


Only the mad gather it!

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Pride/Kibr, Ujib/self content, izzat al-Nafs/Self pride, humbleness/Tawad’u




Satan is described as having pride when he disobeyed the order to prostrate to Adam (upon him peace) The Heffer 2:34

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The arrogant and vainglorious will be resurrected like ants, on the Day of Judgment, they will stepped upon.” Tirmidhi – the weight of the people will be linked to their weight says Hakim at-Tirmidhi

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever has a small piece of arrogance in his heart will not enter Paradise.” Bukhari

Kibr/Arrogance is to consider yourself better than someone else. To punish people because of your knowledge is arrogance

Ujub/Self pride is when you know that you are doing something and no one else

The difference between arrogance and Ujub/Self pride is that Arrogance is over people and Ujub is in yourself.

(To feel you are better can be normal if have more knowledge but to act up that is the sin)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) described arrogance as, “Pride is to reject the truth and to debase the people.” (Muslim)

Arrogance is by consensus is prohibited

Sins are two kinds
1. Bodily
2. From the heart

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) would make major pilgrimage he would announce him presence so if anyone had a questions they could come to him - this is not pride as people needed his knowledge

Examples of arrogance
1. Someone who likes others to stand for him
2. Reject a poor persons invitation and accept a rich persons
3. He does not support relatives
4. Never thank people
5. Reject the truth

The definition of self respect/ Izzat al-Nafs is do something that causes you to be disrespected. Note knowledge does not obey anything so a student should not put himself into a bad place. This is wajib/necessary.

(it is an act of worship to be arrogant to someone who is arrogant)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A Muslim does not humiliate themselves.”

It is a sin to be humble to a proud person

Fudail ibn ‘Iyad (may Allah be pleased with him) defined humbleness as, “Humbleness is to lower yourself for the truth and to follow it.”

Humbleness is to see yourself as worse than everyone

Humbleness is necessary

Da’a to humiliate yourself lower than who you are this is prohibited.

Umar Ibn Abdulaziz (may Allah be pleased with him) was the leader of the Muslims during the Ummayyad Dynasty 680-750 (he ruled for about two and a half years). He was trying to find someone in the masjid and he tripped up on someone he said, "Are you a donkey." He said, "No, I am Umar."

Someone who is humble for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will be raised up

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Patience, reward, gratitude and acceptance




“Certainly those who observe patience will be given their reward in full without measure.” The troops 39:10

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever is afflicted in his wealth or health and does not complain; then it becomes Allah’s responsibility to reward him.” Tabarani

“Ayyub called out to his Lord, “I have been afflicted with harm and you are the most merciful of the merciful.” The Prophets 21:83



Please note that the Prophet Ayyub (upon him peace) did not complain despite his loss of health, family and wealth

The definition of patience is to withhold yourself in calamities

There are three types of patience/Sabr
1. Restrain yourself in calamities
2. Continue to obey
3. To restrain yourself from sin

Without patience someone will not be able to do much

(We know all the rewards for everything except patience - we do not know the reward of patience except that there is no account for it.)

Jaza’/impatience which is to fail to restrain yourself during tribulations by words or actions

Difficulties are: Expiation (for previous sins), Punishment (remove sins), Raising rank (one of the signs of this is to be comfortable with a problem or worship is easy


Sheikh Abdulqadir Al-Jilani stated about tribulations:
1. If it is punishment then you will not be able to bear it,
2. To be not pleased by it means it was an expiation for minor sins
3. If you are content then it is to increase your rank



Gratitude/Shukr is to be grateful; to know the gifts and accept

The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever is not thankful for a little will not be thankful for plenty.” (Imam Ahmed)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever does not thank the people has not thanked Allah.” Imam Ahmed and Tirmidhi

By thanking a person you are not doing Shirk, you are just thanking the giver

Rida/Acceptance is:
1) accepting inside but not outside,
2) acceptance internally and externally

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Definition of ordering good and forbidding evil



“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.” The Family of Imran 3:104




“The best community raised for the benefit of humanity; commanding right and forbidding wrong, and believing in Allah." The family of Imran 3:110




The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand. If unable to, then let him change it with his tongue. If unable, then with his heart. And that is the weakest degree of faith." (Muslim)

Abu Hanifa (may Allah show him mercy) gave the following explanation of this prophetic narration: 1. The one who should change it with their hand are the leaders or judges/Qadi
2. The tongue – scholars
3. Heart – normal person


Ibn Abbas said, “Leave them if they do not stop.”


The definition of commanding the good is to stop people doing wrong and helping in good deeds

The levels are: Hand, tongue and heart


One cannot hate the person but you can hate the sin


If you can stop someone by using the tongue then you cannot use your hand!


The condition are: intention, Know the proof – Quran and Hadith not ignorance, be patient


Use soft words, be kind and use knowledge



“And speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear.” Taha 20:44


It is forbidden to use harsh words or expose someones sins

There was one a leader who came to the Khutba/Friday sermon of an Imam. When the imam saw him he became very harsh in his sermon towards the leader. After the prayer the leader called the imam to partake in some food. He then said to the Imam, “We are not as bad as Pharaoh and you are not as good as Musa.” After this the Imam became very soft...

We are forbidden to pry on someone’s sins


“O’ you who believe, abstain from many of the suspicions. Some suspicions are sins. And do not be curious (to find out faults of others), and do not backbite one.” Al-Hujjarat 49.12

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Cursing



“Whoever harms my friend, I declare war upon him.” Muslim

“Cursing a Muslim is like killing him.” (Muslim and Bukhari)


One of the biggest sins is to curse someone’s parents

These are prohibited by consensus:
1. It is an act of disbelief to curse a Prophet
2. It is a major sin to curse a companion
3. To insult a scholar is a major sin which can lead to disbelief

It is permissible to curse those who you know died upon disbelief, you cannot curse a particular person but you can curse murders and likewise oppressors

The main reason for someone who curses is bad character

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Arguing, swearing, insulting and ridiculing

“The most abhorrent person according to Allah is the most argumentative.” (Bukhari)

Argumentation is a sign of misguidance,

It is enough for an oppressor to argue all the time

Argumentation is defined as any speech that includes the criticism of someone and include the following:
1. Context, sentence
2. Meaning
3. Intention

Arguing is only permissible:
1. For a scholar – sound knowledge, sources and know subject
2. Faithful and secure
3. Support the truth

Thing that it is not permissible to argue about:
1. The Ayat Mutashabihat/Unclear verses of the Quran
2. About the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
3. Divine decree and
4. Stars, Astrology and black magic

Conditions of argumentation are:
1. That you have to be sure about the subject,
2. Not raise your voice,
3. Let him finish,
4. Do not backbite or tale bear,
5. Do not insult or hurt him,
6 do not argue with your teacher
7. Do not wait for him to make an error.
8. do one to one and gently

Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Most arguing is prohibited.”

Swearing, insulting and ridiculing are all Haram/prohibited; as your curse, swearing returns to you
(Swearing is something many overlook sometimes they do not swear in one language but they may swear in another language. It is bad for the person saying the swearword as it is for the listener. The great character of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was that he never swore, ever. So try to remember that next time you get an urge to vent your anger verbally. Try to use other words that do not insult or offend, it does take time to remove these from your system so keep trying.
Ridiculing and insulting are prohibited)


Ponder the following the prophetic narration

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “To insult a Muslim is corruption. To wage war on him is disbelief.” (Muslim and Bukhari)

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Tale bearing/Namima

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A tale bearer will not enter paradise.” (Bukhari)
Tale bearing is to convey speech from one person to another with an intention of harming them

Imam Ghazali described tale bearing as, “To uncover something that someone dislikes.”

Imam Nawawi (may Allah show him mercy) described tale bearing as, “Transmitting speech from someone to someone else to cause discord.” (see additional notes at the end of the post)

The nature of backbiting is to uncover a secret that should remain a secret

Why do we avoid backbiting?
1. Not to have two tongues
2. Not to have two faces
3. To enter paradise

One of the reasons for tale bearing is for someone to pretend that they are your friend

If you hear tale bearing you should:
1. You should not believe it
2. Forbid it
3. Dislike it
4. You should not think badly about the person who he is transmitting from

(One of the righteous had a man come to him to tell him tales that someone he claimed to hear. The Righteous man said, “Was Satan not able to find anyone else but you to tell me this?”)

To remove this from yourself you need to write down who and what you wrote about then repent over it before sleeping. Then pray the prayer of repentance (two rakats/units). Then repeat this everyday for forty days until you can mange ten days without it. If you go back to it then repeat this procedure.




(the following was an email sent to us and a request to add this information)

Talebearing (Namima)

"Imam Nawawi says:Having summarily mentioned that talebearing (namima) is unlawful, with the evidence for this and a description of its nature, we now want to add a fuller explanation of it.

Imam Abu Hamid Ghazali says, “Talebearing is a term that is usually applied only to someone who conveys to a person what another has said about him, such as by saying, 'So-and-so says such and such about you.'

In fact, talebearing is not limited to that, but rather consists of revealing anything whose disclosure is resented, whether resented by the person who originally said it, the person to whom it is disclosed, or by a third party.

It makes no difference whether the disclosure is in word, writing, a sign, nodding, or other; whether it concerns word or deed; or whether it concerns something bad or otherwise. The reality of talebearing lies in divulging a secret, in revealing something confidential whose disclosure is resented.

A person should not speak of anything he notices about people besides that which benefits a Muslim to relate or prevents disobedience. Anyone approached with a story, who is told, 'So-and-so says such and such about you,' must do six things:

(1) disbelieve it, for talebearers are corrupt, and their information is unacceptable,

(2) tell the talebearer to stop, admonish him about it, and condemn the shamefulness of what he has done;

(3) hate him for the sake of Allah Most High, for he is detestable in Allah's sight, and hating for the sake of Allah Most High is obligatory;

(4) not think badly of the person whom the words are supposedly from, for Allah Most High says, 'Shun much of surmise' (Koran 49:12);

(5) not let what has been said prompt him to spy or investigate whether it is true, for Allah Most High says 'Do not spy' (Koran 49:12);

(6) and not to do himself what he has forbidden the talebearer to do, by relating it to others.”


(ibid 471-72)[Taken from “The Reliance of the Traveler”]

“A Muslim slave is better than a polytheist.”

“A Muslim slave is better than a polytheist.”
Quran - the Heffer 2:221

The prohibition of the female Muslim marring the non Muslim male is not about actions alone. The belief of Muslim is better that the non Muslim on any day of the week and on the most important day, the last day.


One of the principles of the sacred law is that it protects lineage and religion. A Muslim woman who marries a non Muslim man risks losing her religion and the religion of the child. A child that is brought into this environment can be nothing but mixed up and this could lead to disbelief.
This is not about being far or equality because men are allowed but look at the results. Many Muslim men who marry non-Muslim women have lost their children to disbelief.


Faith is the most important factor here and there cannot be any skating around the issue. If a Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim male then this is a major sin. As long as she does not believe that what she is doing is permissible then she is still a Muslim but if she says it is permissible then she has left Islam.


We have reached a time where there are many single female Muslims and do not forget that there are many single male Muslims.


A Muslim man has to respect the religion of his non-Muslim wife, he believes in her Prophet, Moses, Jesus and Yahya (upon them all peace). He respects her book and he has to by sacred law to pay for her daily needs: food, housing etc. A non-Muslim man on other hand doesn't believe in her Prophet or religion. So he could cause her to loss in her religious action. For example he might prevent her fasting because he doesn't like it or he might stop her praying. He may also refuse to pay for any of her daily needs; he is not obliged to do this. A person may find a non Muslims character better than a Muslims but what they have to bear in mind is that the non Muslim belief is what is important. Also do you want that person to be with you in paradise? Ask them to accept Islam even if it is just verbally.


The non Muslim female is able to complain to a shariah council because of her Muslim husband but neither the non Muslim or the Muslim wife (married together) have recourse in a shariah court of law as their marriage is not valid.

Also, how do they deal with the issues when a non-Muslim wants to bring alcohol and pork into the home? How can children be protected from these? When they see their parents do haram would not this encourage them to do similar?

So the reason here is that the non-Muslim man cannot fulfil her rights either worldly or religiously. If he did then he would be Muslim. This is in order to protect the woman from harm.


All this is academic because Allah (mighty and majestic) has stated in the Quran that:

"Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But God beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.”
The Heffer 2:221


The Quranic passage is clear marry a disbeliever and you are approaching the fire whilst God is calling you to paradise.


At the same time I do have a lot of sympathy for single brothers and sisters but we cannot sell ourselves short. A partner from the Indo - pak world, despite all their apparent problems, is better than a disbeliever. Although, this is a secondary option that must be considered.


Most important of all we should not sit here and debate the Quran - this is prohibited for people to do. If there is an unclear meaning then we go to the scholars but what we do not need to do this seen as the meaning is clear.

Please note we cannot abrogate a ruling of the Quran as this is God's ruling for us. What would we be if we ignore this ruling? Who are we following then? The whims of our caprices?


If you are a Muslim lady in this situation then ask your husband to convert even if he just says it verbally and does not act on it. This will change your whole situation and if he will not convert to save your marriage then was he worth it in the first place?

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Backbiting/Ghiba


“Do not backbite each other, would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?” (49:12)

“Woe betide every backbiter, derider.” (104:1)

Backbiting is defined as mentioning someone in a way that they would not like. You have to mention their name or the person who you are talking about has to know who you are talking about; if they do not know who you are talking about then it is not backbiting.
(Some of the scholars say if that person was behind you and heard what you had to say, would it hurt him? If it does then it is backbiting.)

We should stay away from backbiting because there is a hadith/prophetic narration when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he saw people cutting themselves with cooper nails during the heavenly ascent.

Other hadith/prophetic narration

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do you know what backbiting is?”
They said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.”
He said: “It is to mention about your brother something that he would dislike having mentioned about him.”
Someone asked, “O Messenger of Allah! What do you say if what you said about him was true?”
He replied: “If what you said about him is true, then you have backbitten him. If what you said about him is false, then you have slandered him.” [Muslim (2589)]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever can guarantee to me what is between his two lips and what is between his two legs, I can guarantee for him Paradise.” [al-Bukhârî (6474)]

Backbiting is a major sin in Islam, Haram/prohibited – it is punished for and cause punishment in the grave.

Some scholars say backbiting is worse than illegal fornication/Zina because if someone commits Zina then it’s between them and Allah (mighty and majestic) but backbiting is between you and others

It is not permissible to listen to backbiting, the listener is like the speaker

What situations allow you to backbite?
1. When someone has harmed you and are complaining to someone about your problem but this is with the condition that you are talking to someone who can stop it. i.e. Authorities.
2. To someone who can order that person to stop, such as a scholar
3. To advise a student that to study with a scholar but this is only about what directly affects the student.
4. When you are asked about someone to warn them (to marry or do business with).
5. To call someone by a name that comes from a defect in him but he does not mind
6. About a bad person who sins openly

The Reasons for backbiting are many:
1. Pride
2. A group think they are better than another
3. To jest
4. Envy
5. Debase

Etc...

If you hear someone backbiting then you must:
1. stop them or leave them
2. reject it in your heart – if you remain sat there

Part of repentance from backbiting is to pray for that person (this will remove the sickness from the heart)

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Lying, false testimony, false accusation

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked, “Can a Muslim be a coward?” He replied, “Yes.”
“Can a Muslim be miserly?”
“Yes.”
“Can a Muslim lie?”
“No.”
Imam Malik in Al-Muwatta

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A Muslim can have any kind of characteristic except cheating and stealing.” (Ibn Abi Dunya)

The importance of learning about lying is to avoid it

There are three types of characteristics that makes someone a hypocrite/Munafiq as described in hadith
1. If he speaks he lies
2. He cannot be trusted
3. Breaks his promises.

There is can be two further types:
1.Nifaq ‘Alami/hypocrisy in action; this is when someone refuses to do something
2. Nifaq ‘Aqali/Rational hypocrisy; this is to know something and to refuse it

Lying is defined as purposely and intentionally not telling the truth

The worst lie types of lies (in order of greatness) are:
1. Someone lies about Allah (Mighty and Majestic) when they something is halal/permissible and haram/prohibited in the shariah/sacred law
2. Lying about the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) fabricating prophetic narrations/hadith
3. False testimony
4.Lying about dreams: on the day of Judgement he will ordered to do the impossible

Only number one constitutes as an Act of disbelief the others are major sins but do not cause disbelief.

Excuses that make lying permissible:
1. To bring to parties or brothers together
2. During war
3. Sometimes a man can lie to his wife, if he knows that the truth can hurt her. For example someone can say that they are looking for another job because he lost his job. It is permissible to lie as long as it does not hurt someone.
Yes it’s better not to lie

Tawriah is to say that you have done something when the other person will understand something else. This is only permissible sometimes not all the time.

How to remove lies from ourselves:
1. Keep a pen and paper handy – when you lie – write it down
2. At night review it and ask for forgiveness for every lie
3. Pray the forgiveness prayer (two units/Rakats) and cry. Then tear up the paper, do this for forty days then see if you can go without lying for ten days. When you lie again repeat the process.

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Innovation/ Bid’a




The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever innovates a new action will have it rejected.” Bukhari


Also


“All innovations are misguidance and every misguidance is in the fire.” Nisa’i



In the Arabic language Bid’a means innovation, something is done with previous presidence



Innovation/Bid’a is the scared law has to meet two conditions


1) A new action has not been done by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)


2) Which has no roots in Islam
To meet one condition is not enough it has to meet both to be innovation



The Wahabi/Selafi scholars only accept the first condition



A different description of innovation/bid’a is to fabricate an action about religion that did not occur during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)



It has to be about Islamic law not lifestyle and it has to oppose Islamic law, a law that is currently present



Bid’a/Innovation can be good/Hassana or acceptable


1. The hadith, “The one who innovates a good innovation has the reward of it and those who follow.”


2. Tarawiah (Prayers after the night prayer in the month of Ramadan) was done individually at the same time in the masjid, during Umar ibn Khattab’s khaliphate he ordered and them to follow one Imam; when Umar came into the masjid and saw the unity of the Muslims he said, “What a blessed innovation.”


3. Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) made two calls to prayer/Adhans for Friday/Jumma congregational prayer. One when the Imam comes out and the second one at the khutba/speech (after the bayan).



Bid’a Hassana/good innovation is of two kinds


1. Wajib/necessary: the rules of Arabic grammar which are sourced from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) when he said, “Words are: nouns, verbs and particles.”


2. Mustahab/desired: write number of ayats/verses, to build a place away from the masjid to teach –madrasa or university



A rule that illustrates this is, “Something you need to perform a necessary action; is itself necessary.”



Izzudeen ibn Abdussalam (may Allah show him mercy) said, “Check if the innovation supports Islam; if it does then it’s okay.”



Bid’a Sayyiah/ sinful innovation is two kinds


1. Haram/Prohibited: to make creation equal to creator, Quran has 40 parts and calling Muslims disbelievers


2. Makruh/highly disliked: to over decorate a masjid



As long as the innovation has root in Islam (it has a traceable act) then it is Bid’a Hassana



Some scholars of the Sunna namely Imam Malik, Imam Bayhaqi and Imam Ibn Rajab say there is only one bid’a; they mean bid’a haram not bid’a hassana



Imam Ghazali (may Allah show him mercy) said, “One of the biggest sins is to call someone a disbeliever, innovator or a hypocrite.” From his book Minhaj Al-‘Abideen


Imam Shaf'i states in Kitab al-Umm, "There are two kinds of innovation; praiseworthy innovation and blameworthy innovation. Whatever agrees with Prophetic practice is praiseworthy and what is against it is blameworthy."


If someone has called anyone any of the above; then he must seek that persons forgiveness.

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Shirk/polytheism or idolatry

“Dear son do not associate partners to Allah, Truly idolatry is a great injustice.” Luqman 31:12


“Allah does not forgive idolatry, yet he will forgive other than that, to whomever he pleases.” The Women 4:48

Shirk in the Arabic language means to co share or to share


In the sacred law it means to make a partner to God, in essence or worship

There are six types of Shirk:


1. Shirk Istqlal: Autonomous idolatry – to belief in separate deities i.e. Zoroastrians


2. Shirk Tab’ad: separate idolatry – to say God is one of three


3. Shirk Taqrib: approximate idolatry – to say that they are worshipping idols to get closer to God.


4. Shirk Taqlid: Imitative idolatry – to follow fathers


5. Shirk Falsafa: idolatry of the philosophers – to believe that there is a power other than God


6. Shirk Al-Gharad: idolatry of intention – this is carry out actions for other God, in intention

The first four are considered as disbelief/kufr


The fifth: we have to find out: a) if he believes that something has independence power then it is kufr, b) if they believe that they have a power by God then this is innovation/Bi’da
The sixth is a sin

Shirk/idolatry is minor and major.


One to five are major idolatry and number six in minor because of the hadith that it is minor idolatry when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) warned the companions. The Prophet said, "I only fear for you minor idolatry.” The companions asked, “What is minor idolatry?” He replied, “Ostentation.” (Imam Ahmed Musnad 23119)



According to other scholars they state idolatry is three kinds:


1. Idolatry in Lordship/Rububiyyah by two things: a) to deny God and say he is created, b) to say someone can create other than God.

2. Idolatry in Uluhiyyah: this is worship of other things, this is major and the minor shirk has been explained before


3. Idolatry in names and attributes of God, this is of two types: A) to consider something similar to God, someone can forgive other than him. B) To make god similar to creation