General
From Issue: 287 [Read full issue]
| Living the Quran |
Muhammad
A Muslim's kindness, respect and good treatment are not limited just to his parents, spouse and children, but extend to his relatives, all of whom he should treat well. In the Quran, the word used is arham (literally, "wombs"), which refers to relatives to whom a person is linked by ties of blood, whether they are his heirs or not. Islam has recognized the ties of kinship in a way that is unparalleled in other religions or "isms"; it enjoins Muslims to uphold the ties of kinship and condemns the one who breaks this tie. For the true Muslim, the fact that rahm is often mentioned in the Quran in conjunction with belief in Allah and good treatment of parents, is enough to confirm its status and importance. Hence kind treatment of relatives comes one degree below to the kind treatment of parents on the scale of human relationships as defined by the Quran; from there, kindness and respect extends to encompass all those needy members of the greater human family. Upholding the ties of kinship is one of the major principles of Islam, one of the fundamentals that this religion has promoted from the first day the Prophet, peace be upon him, began to preach his message. It is one of the most characteristic features of Islamic law. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Islam Guarantees Security Islam guarantees security of life and property. Its commandments aim to guarantee the security of life, the security of property, the security of, in addition to physical health, mental and spiritual health, the security of chastity, and the security of belief. Therefore, it strictly prohibits murder, theft, robbery and plundering, and also usurpation and interest or usury and gambling, alcohol, every kind of illicit sexual intercourse, anarchy and propagation of atheism. The Arabic original of 'belief' is iman and means giving security. Therefore, a mumin (believer) is the one who never cheats and from whose tongue and hand all people are in utmost security. He never lies, never breaks his word, and never breaches a trust. He is convinced that the one who has killed a man is as if he killed the whole of mankind. When God's Messenger was raised as a Prophet, there was in Arabia no security, neither of life or property, nor of chastity or health, nor of belief, nor indeed in the rest of the world. However, he had to establish absolute security in every aspect of life. Once, he had said to Adiy ibn Khatam: A day will come when a
woman will travel, riding in a litter, from Hira to Makka and fear nothing
except God and wolves. By dispatching military expeditions through the desert, God's Messenger also aimed to establish security therein and wanted to show to everyone, friend and foe, that security was not possible but by Islam. Source: |
| Blindspot |
Music and Islam There is quite a lot of debate in the Muslim world today about the permissibility of music and singing in Islam. Given the rise of pop music in the last several decades, almost to the status of a religion among teenagers, you can well imagine the conversation in most Muslim homes at night. ("Why can't I go to the concert, Mom?") The reason that music is a concern at all in Islam has to do with its effects on people. When a person is caught up in a song, he or she is oblivious to almost everything else. Songs also teach, and the lessons may not be the most proper ones to learn. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, forbade public dancing and the solo performances of women singers. He also declared certain types of instruments off-limits, such as flutes and stringed pieces, equating them with having the ability to make people forget God and to get lost in the passions of the flesh. He predicted that in the end-times female singers would be popular, and people would be more into music than religion. The problem with female singers is that some male listeners might begin to lust after them. This creates disharmony in the home as men begin to compare their wives with the flashy singer, and their eyes may start to wander. Women can become influenced to emulate the singer as well, and soon you have a maddening circle of adultery and promiscuity that is out of control. Few people would deny that certain singers become raunchier (and less clothed) year after year. The music business sometimes seems to border on being a purveyor of sex and pornography. Islam tries to nip it all in the bud. Drums and other percussion instruments are allowed, and group singers, especially children, are encouraged. Traveling songs, poetry, celebration music, and the like are all allowed. The basic rule is that music should not be suggestive, immoral, or lewd. If it meets a wholesome standard, as defined in Islamic morality, then sing as much as you like! Source: |
