AlMujtaba Islamic Articles > Contemporary Issues

Jihad: Struggle Against One’s Self or Holy War?

By: Hanif Mohamed

When most people hear the word jihad the first thing that comes to mind is Holy War by Muslims against all non-Muslims. Is this the actual meaning of jihad, or has this term been misused? How was jihad defined by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)¹, the prophet of Islam? How has jihad been used by Muslims after the death of Muhammad (pbuh)? Has the media presented the Islamic or an alternative meaning of jihad to the public? Is jihad the struggle against one’s self or is it holy war? One fifth of the human population² has taken Islam as their way of life and it is very important that the real concept of jihad in Islam is presented in its truest form. Jihad means struggle and the greatest struggle is against the self.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 7

WAYS TO SAFEGUARD FROM SODOMY:

The following are guidelines which Islam has given to safeguard oneself from the wicked act of Sodomy:-

Cover your shame and do not expose your private parts infront of others.

Some people have the tendency of uncovering their private parts particularly infront of the members of their own sex. It should be borne that according to Islam, to expose one’s private parts or to look at others is Haraam.

“Say (O Muhammad) to the believing men to lower their eyes and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily Allah is aware of what they do.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 6

PUNISHMENT OF SODOMY IN ISLAM:

Last week we looked at the punishment prescribed by the Islamic Sharia’h for a person, who either confesses four times before an Islamic Qadhi about his indulgence in sodomy or four just witnesses who had seen him committing the act with their own eyes testify in consonance.

One who commits sodomy shall not die without being punished in the same manner as the people of Prophet Lut (as) were punished.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 5

PUNISHMENT OF SODOMY BY THE ISLAMIC COURT:

Since sodomy is a greater sin than adultery and its evils are worse, the punishment of sodomy, in accordance with the Islamic Sharia’h is also more severe. Islam prescribes capital punishment for the active as well as the passive partner in the crime. If both are adults and sane, both of them have to be killed. The active partner has to be beheaded with the sword or killed by stonning or burnt alive or thrown from a height with the hands and the legs tied. It is at the descretion of the Islamic Qadhi (Judge) to determine the method. Similarly, the method adopted for the death of the passive partner is also determined by the Qadhi. According to Ameerul-Mu’mineen (as), a person who has committed this sin must also be burnt after being killed.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 4

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said: “penetrating the anal opening is a greater sin than penetrating the vagina. Certainly Allah destroyed a complete nation (people of Lut) because they indulged in sodomy. Allah has not destroyed even one man for adultery”. (al-Kaafi)

The question which many people, especially the youth, ask today is: Why does Islam condemn homosexuality & lesbianism when research today shows that it is an ‘inborn tendency’?

AZ-ZINAA (FORNICATION/ADULTERY) - PART 5

We are discussing the rules of precaution from Zinaa. The four rules discussed previously were:

Do not even go near to what will lead you to Zinaa. Lower your gazes from forbidden things.
Do not be alone in the company of a Non-Mahram.
Muslim women must observe Hijaab.
When one attains puberty, one should get married.

Those who cannot marry early due to genuine reasons, have two options:

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 3

Although the Mass Media today potrays Sodomy as a natural act, according to Islam, it is a horrible crime. There are three reasons for this which have been stated in verses 80, 81 and 82 of the 7^th Chapter known as Surah al-A’raaf in the Holy Quran:

AZ-ZINAA (FORNICATION/ADULTERY) - PART 4

We are discussing the rules of precaution from Zinaa. The three rules discussed in the previous Friday Learning Zones were:

Do not even go near to what will lead you to Zinaa. Lower your gazes from forbidden things.
Do not be alone in the company of Non-Mahram.
Muslim women must observe Hijaab.

RULE NO.4

When one attains puberty, one should get married.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 2

Last week we looked at the origin of Sodomy. It goes back to the days of Prophet Lut (as) whose nation was misled into this behaviour by Shaytan and how Allah (SWT) destroyed them by showering rain of stones upon them.

According to Islam, Sodomy is a horrible crime which is worse than Zinaa (Fornication & Adultery).

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said: “…Certainly Allah destroyed a complete nation (people of Lut) because they indulged in sodomy. Allah has not destroyed even one man for adultery”. (Wasael ash-Shia’h)

AZ-ZINAA (FORNICATION/ADULTERY) - PART 3

Rule no.1

for precaution from Zinaa, as mentioned in the last Friday Learning Zone, was Do not even go near to what will lead you to Zinaa. Therefore lower your gaze from forbidden things.

This rule applies to both, men and women. There are numerous traditions in this regard.

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as): “There is no man who is not to some extent guilty of fornication. The fornication of the eyes is the evil glance, the kiss is the fornication of the lips and touching a Non-Mahram woman is the fornication of hands”.

SHURB AL-KHAMR (ALCOHOLIC DRINK) - PART 4

NO CURE IN WINE

Ibn Abi Yazoor once told Imam as-Sadiq (as): “I am suffering from a disease. When the pain intensifies I drink some wine of grapes and he pain subsides”. Imam (as) said, “Do not drink. It is Haraam; It is nothing but Shaitan who is preying upon you to involve you in sins. When he loses all hope of making you drink he will leave you”. Ibn Abi Yazoor returned to Kufa and stopped drinking wine when in pain. He bore the pain for some days and eventually, as the Imam (as) had said, his pain receded and he never suffered from it again.

AL-LIWAAT (SODOMY) - PART 1

THE ORIGIN OF SODOMY:

Sodomy, also known as Homosexuality & Lesbianism, originated from the people of Prophet Lut (as).

Prophet Lut (as) was a maternal cousin of Prophet Ibrahim (as) and his own sister Sara was also the first wife of Prophet Ibrahim (as). He was sent as a prophet to the people of Mutafikaat, a complex of five towns, Sodom being the largest.

The people of Mutafikaat were very wicked and extremely niggardly. The road connecting Egypt with Syria went through their towns. The travellers on this road usually had to break their journey and stay in their towns which the inhabitants did not like.

AZ-ZINAA (FORNICATION/ADULTERY) - PART 2

The Holy Prophet (saw) had said: “After me when Zinaa will increase, sudden deaths will also increase”.

He (saw) also said: “Zinaa causes depravity and destitution, and because of it, populated places become deserted”.

It is reported from Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as): “On the day of judgement, a (very) foul smell shall be released by the command of Allah (SWT) and all the people will become restless because of it so much so that it will become difficult to breath. Then a caller will proclaim: O people of Mahshar! Do you know what this stench is? They will reply: We do not know! However this stink is causing great discomfort. (They shall be told): This is the bad smell from the sexual organs of those who committed ZINAA and died without repenting for their sins. Allah (SWT) curses these people, you too invoke curse upon them. The there will not be a single person who would not say: O’Allah! Send your curse (anger) upon these fornicators”.

SHURB AL-KHAMR (ALCOHOLIC DRINK) PART 3

WHY ALCOHOL IS FORBIDDEN? (continued…)

In the last few articles, we looked at one reason why Alcohol is forbidden in Islam and we said that it was because of the adverse effect it has on the health & life of an individual. The second reason is:

ALCOHOL LEADS TO FAWAAHISH:

“Fawaahish” in arabic language is the plural of “Fahsha” which means Indecency. It implies an extremely evil act.

AL-GHINAA (MUSIC) - PART 3

In traditions, prevelance of music has been mentioned as one of the signs before the re-appearance of our 12^th Imam, Imam al-Hujjah (aj).

“And you shall see that music will be so prevalent that no one will dissuade others nor will he find in himself the need to do so. And you shall see that music would be openly played even in the two sanctuaries (the city of Makkah and Madinah)”.

This is evident in our present age where obscene music is openly played in the markets, on the streets, in shops and houses and even in the cars and no one bothers to forbid or prevent it !

AZ-ZINAA (FORNICATION/ADULTERY) - PART 1

Islam strictly forbids Zinaa. It is haraam and a major sin to indulge in this shameful and destructive act, and those who do so, severe punishment has been prescribed by Allah (SWT) for such people.

QURAN:

“And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do not slay any soul which Allah has forbidden except for a cause that is just, and who do not commit ZINAA - and whosoever does this shall meet the wages of sin. The torment will be doubled for him on the day of ressurection, and he shall live forever in disgrace”. (25:68/69)

“Do not approach ZINAA; verily it is a shameful act and an evil way”.

(17:32)

SHURB AL-KHAMR (ALCOHOLIC DRINK) PART 2

“They ask you about intoxicants and the games of chance. Say: In both of them there is a great sin (Ithm) and means of profit for men, and their sin is greater than their profit”. (2:219)

Ayatullah Abdul Hussein Dasti Ghayb (r.a) writes in “Gunahaane Kabeerah” thus:

It is explained in “Tafseer al-Meezaan” that (the two arabic words in Quran) ‘Dhamb’ and ‘Ithm’ are synonyms that denote a condition a condition wherein the person involved is deprived of reason. He has no inclination for deeds of virtue nor can he maintain an amiable disposition. ‘Ithm’ is a type of sin, the evil effects of which become apparent in the person and he is absolutely doomed.

Al-Museeqa (Music) - Part 2

The late Ahmed H Sheriff in his article entitled “Al-Ghinaa War-Raqs” meaning “Singing & Dancing” writes:

When Prophet Adam (as) died, his disobedient son Qabil (the one who killed his brother Habil) and Shaitaan became happy. Together they built some musical instruments to celebrate the death. So all musical instruments now used in singing and dancing have their origin from there.

Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as) has said:

“Angels do not even enter a house that has wine, drum, tambourine or a flute. Even the prayers of the Inhabitants of this house are unacceptable. They are deprived of Barakah meaning blessings”.

SHURB AL-KHAMR (ALCOHOLIC DRINK) - PART 1

Literally Khamr means a covering, anything that covers up another. However, it refers to Alcoholic drinks like wine and liquor which causes intoxication thus covering up the functioning of human intellect and sense of reasoning.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM:

The Holy Quran says:

“O you who believe ! Surely intoxicants (Khamr) and games of chance (Maysir) and sacrificing to stones set up (Ansaab) and diving by arrows (Azlaam) are only an uncleanness, the Satan’s work; shun it therefore that you may be successful”. (5:90)

Al-Museeqa (Music) - Part 1

The late Ahmed H sheriff in his article entitled “Ghinaa War-Raqs” writes:

The Arabic word Ghinaa means music. It is an art of combining sounds into such a style pleasing to the ear and satisfying to emotions. It is prolongation and vibration of sound with variation of the pitch to such an extent that people may say that he or she is singing.

GHINAA IN QUR’AN

“Among the people there is he who purchases Lahwal-hadeeth to lead (others) astray from the path of Allah, without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such as these there shall be an ignominious punishment.”

(31:6 Qur’an)

AL-QIMAAR (GAMBLING) - PART 3

WHY IS GAMBLING FORBIDDEN?

“The Shaitaan only desires to cause enmity and hatred to spring in your midst by means of intoxicants and games of chance and keep you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer, will you then abstain (from them)?”

(5:91 Qur’an)

A gambler makes lot of easy money and therefore, he also looks for ways and means for self-indulgence to splurge his ill-gotten wealth. Besides, the gambler who wins is so obsessed that he wagers more around larger profits and on the other hand, the loser is equally obsessed to win back what he has lost. Such compulsive obsessions have usually disastrous consequences.

AL-QIMAAR (GAMBLING) - PART 2

People have been gambling in many parts of the world since centuries ago. It had existed in Arabia during the time of jahiliyyah – age of ignorance.

Once the Holy Prophet (saw), before proclaiming prophethood, was passing through the bazaar –market in Makkah where he saw how people gambled. He saw how Aas bin Hasham bet with Abu Lahab all his belongings one after another and losing them all. In the end, he was left with only his slaves and slave-girls whom he also placed in the stake hoping to win, but he also lost them all. Finally, still hoping to win and recover his losses, he placed himself on bet in slavery for ten years with his counter-part.

AL-QIMAAR (GAMBLING) - PART 1

Al-Qimaar means to bet, to gamble, whereby one wins the money or thing put on stake while others lose. It is to play for winning more money and taking a risk through speculation, with a desire to get something for very little or nothing.

This is Haraam (unlawful) and considered as a major sin in Islam.

Alcohol

The prohibition of alcohol is questioned in the minds of many people. Unfortunately, many youths, high school students, college students, and other adults enjoy the short term benefit of alcohol to justify their intake.

Those of use who only know to stay away from drinking alcohol should now know why. Let us take a look at this medically. A doctor was asked questions, and he answered accordingly.

A female Muslim's views on Terror in London

By Nahla Abbas Al-A'raji

Thursday, the 7^th of July, 2005 was a typical hot summer morning in London. I woke up and decided to get to work by bus and not to rush into a stuffy hot train. At half past 7, I got on my first bus journey on number 83 where I sat on a nice cozy seat right at the front, people were talking, children laughing in the background a baby held by her mother smiling innocently at me. As I play with the baby and make funny faces at her, I think to myself how hard the world will be in your generation…

Interview: Islam & Terrorism

For this months issue, the Advent Editorial Team interviews one of AIM’s Religious Advisors; Sayyid Nabil Al-Haidari. Sayyid Al-Haidari has for many years been active in lecturing and research on various topics associated with Islamic affairs. He is at present monitoring the current state of affairs of the Muslim community in the wake of new terrorist attacks in the West and is an advocate of building stronger relations between different faiths. In this interview, the Advent has questioned Sayyid Al-Haidari on the relationship of Islam with terrorism.

Islam and the Question of Violence

Seyyed Hossein Nasr

Despite the presence of violence in many regions of the world ranging from Ireland to Lebanon to the Pacific Basin and involving many religions from Christianity to Hinduism, the Western world associates Islam more than any other religion with violence. The Muslim conquest of Spain, the Crusades - which were not begun by Muslims -, and the Ottoman domination of eastern Europe have provided a historical memory of Islam as being related to force and power. Moreover, the upheavals of the past few decades in the Middle East and especially movements using the name of Islam and seeking to solve problems of the Muslim world created by conditions and causes beyond the control of Muslims have only reinforced the idea prevalent in the West that in some special way Islam is related to violence.

Pages: 1