Sunday, October 23, 2016

'Talaq': Use and Abuse of Divine Law

“And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people, and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted.” 

                 ----(An-Nisa 4: 36).

My Friday Sermon (Jumuah Khutba) today is on the subject of divorce (Al-Talaq).

Islam places great emphasis on marriage in the sense that it is a sacred contract that cannot be broken for vain and trivial reasons.

Although Talaq (divorce/ repudiation) is allowed, it must be considered that from among everything which is allowed, Talaq (divorce) is the most hated thing, the most abhorred by Allah and it is permitted insofar that it does no unjust damage. 

It should in no way be used as part of some ruse which acts as a pretext for divorce. It can happen that the husband does not like a particular behaviour of his wife and that he has had enough of her. This is not sufficient to justify his request for divorce (Talaq). He must not consider only the negative side of his wife but on the contrary he must assess her good qualities that may well be greater than the defects. A separation may as well have a detrimental effect on the behaviour of the couple’s children (if any) who may become easy prey for Satan.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Privacy Matters: Islamic Approaches

Islam does not rush to impose sanctions on its citizens indiscriminately. Instead, Islamic precepts are very firm in relation to the protection of the privacy of individuals which is considered sacred. Islam does not put up surveillance systems, police, cameras to film people and spy on them and scrutinize them through.

Abu Dawud and Al-Hakim reported from Zayd Ibn Wahb: Once a man said to (Abdullah) Ibn Mas’ud (ra): 

“This man, Al-Walid Ibn ‘Uqbah, seems to be drunk for the traces of wine appears on his beard.” Ibn Mas’ud replied: ‘We have been prohibited from spying (on Muslims) and finding faults (with them). But if something become manifests to us (i.e. Had Al-Walid come to us in the situation you have described), then we punish for it.’”

It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “When the ruler starts searching for the causes of suspicions among the people he perverts them.” (Abu Dawud, Al-Hakim).

We also note that the explicit prophetic teachings greatly encourage the believer to cover himself (i.e. to keep his mistakes and sins to himself) and to cover others. 

(Abdullah) Ibn Umar reported that after sanctioning the transgression of Maa’iz bin Malik Al-Aslami, the Messenger of God (pbuh) said: “Refrain from this blemish (fornication/ adultery) that God has forbidden. If however one of you is involved in it, it is covered by God’s secret (that is to say, let him keep for himself the secret without disclosing it) and (he should) repent to God. Indeed, anyone who informs us of his crime (i.e. confesses it) should be punished according to the Book of God.”

Friday, October 7, 2016

Man and the Battles of the Heart

“The day whereon neither money nor children will avail, except him who comes to God with a sound heart.” (Ash-Shu’ara, 26: 89-90).

On Judgement Day, only a sound (pure) heart (Qalbun Saliim) shall benefit man. By a sound heart, it means a heart that holds the faith taught by God and His prophets (as) and which is free of any form of polytheism (Shirk). It is also, like I am telling you a heart that is pure from all kinds of dirt, including disobedience.”

The heart is continually exposed to the seductions of this world. When the heart is imbued with the fear of God, it manages to resist these temptations. But in the absence of that awe, the heart will be corrupted and will push the individual to disobey his Creator.

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: Temptations will be presented to men's hearts as reed mat is woven stick by stick and any heart which is impregnated by them will have a black mark put into it, but any heart which rejects them will have a white mark put in it. The result is that there will become two types of hearts: one white like a white stone which will not be harmed by any turmoil or temptation, so long as the heavens and the earth endure; and the other black and dust-coloured like a vessel which is upset (turned upside down), not recognizing what is good or rejecting what is abominable, but being impregnated with passion.” (Muslim).

Man must throughout his life wage a merciless battle against the seductions and temptations of this world. To achieve this, he must strengthen himself through acts of worship.