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February 7, 2012

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ABORTION IN ISLAM

by salman on Jan 18, 2011 Allah, Family, Gifts, Islam Comments Closed • , , ,

ABORTION IN ISLAM:

In principle, the Quran condemns the killing of humans (except in the case of defense or as capital punishment), but it does not explicitly mention abortion. This leads Islamic theologians to take up different viewpoints: while the majority of early Islamic theologians permitted abortion up to day 40 of pregnancy or even up to day 120, many countries today interpret these precepts protecting unborn children more conservatively. Although there is no actual approval of abortion in the world of Islam, there is no strict, unanimous ban on it, either. Islam has not given any precise directions with regard to the issue of abortion. Hence it is not a matter, which has been clearly stated in the Shariah (Islamic Law) but rather an issue pertaining to the application of our knowledge of the Shariah.  Such application may vary in conclusion with a difference in the basic premises of one’s arguments.

The Quran clearly disapproves of killing other humans: “Take not life which Allah has made sacred” (6:151; see also 4:29. “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever)” (4:93). Allah (SWT) went even further, making unlawful killing of a single individual human being equal to mass murder of the whole of mankind:

“Because of that, We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation for murder or for spreading mischief on earth, it would be as if he killed all mankind. And who saved a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind.” (Al-Maidah, 5:32)

As to whether abortion is a form of killing a human, the Quran does not make any explicit statements. Only Surah 17:31 warns believers in general: “Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.”

There are those in Islam who oppose all abortions. A favored text to support this is: “Do not kill your children for fear of poverty for it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them.” (Surah, Al-An’ am, 6:151).  This Quranic reference is to killing already born children–usually girls. The text was condemning this custom.  The Arabic word for killing used in this text “means not only slaying with a weapon, blow or poison, but also humiliating or degrading or depriving children of proper upbringing and education.”  The text doesn’t explicitly address the abortion and therefore doesn’t close the argument on it.

The Quran says:

We created man from an essence of clay: then placed him, a living germ,

In a secure enclosure.  The germ we made a leech; and the leech a lump of

Flesh; and this we fashioned into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh;

Then we develop it into another creation. (Surah Al-Mu’minoon, 23: 12-14)

This verse reveals how the fetus is formed and transforms into a complete human being.

The elaborate process of the development of the first human being is given in the Quran as follows:

He who has made everything which He has created most good.  He

began the creation of man with(nothing more than) clay, and made

his progeny  from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised.

Then He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him some-

thing of  His Ruh(Life-Energy). And (with this) He gave you (the faculties

of ) hearing and sight and understanding. (Surah Al-Sajadah, 32:7-9).

During the development of fetus, the body received the Divine Ruh (Life-energy) and subsequently the human faculties of hearing, sight and understanding were developed.

There is no agreement among legal scholars – including those of the founders of the four schools of religious law of the early Islamic period – as to the exact point in time this happens, however.

Abortion

Islam’s approach to the issue of birth control and abortion is very balanced. It allows women to prevent pregnancy but forbids them to terminate it.  In case of rape the woman should use the morning after pill or RU486 immediately after the sexual assault in order to prevent the possible implantation of a fertilized ovum.  Modern technology (like ultra sound scan) has made it possible to know whether or not a child has a defect long before he is born. Some people justify the abortion of a defective fetus.

The Shari’ah allows abortion only when doctors declare with reasonable certainty that the continuation of pregnancy will endanger the woman’s life. This permission is based on the principle of the lesser of the two evils known in Islamic legal terminology as the principle of al-ahamm wa ‘l-muhimm (the more important and the less important). The Prophet said, “When two forbidden things come [upon a person] together, then the lesser will be sacrificed for the greater.” In the present case, one is faced with two forbidden things: either abort the unborn child or let a living woman die. Obviously, the latter is greater than the former; therefore, abortion is allowed to save the live person.

Permissibility of Abortion


“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong.” (17:31)

The abortion of a fetus from the mother’s womb is a different issue, since the sperm and egg have already met and fertilized what could become a human being. The scholars all agree that abortion is forbidden after the first four months of pregnancy, since by that time the soul has entered the embryo but it would allow the use of RU486 (the “morning-after pill”), as long as it could be reasonably assumed that the fertilized egg has not become implanted on the wall of the uterus. Most scholars say that abortion is legal under Islamic Shari’ah (law), when done for valid reasons and when completed before the soul enters the embryo. To abort a baby for such vain reasons as wanting to keep a woman’s youthful figure, are not valid.

“…And do not slay your children for (fear of) poverty — We provide for you and for them — and do not draw nigh to indecencies, those of them which are apparent and those which are concealed, and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except for the requirements of justice: this He has enjoined you with that you may understand.” (6:151)

Qur’anic verses misinterpreted

There are, however, some Qur’anic verses which prohibit infanticide:

“And do not kill your children for fear of poverty: We give them sustenance and yourselves (too): surely to kill them is a great wrong.” (17:31)

These verses in fact were revealed to forbid the pre-Islamic Arab practice of killing or burying alive a newborn child (particularly a girl) on account of the parents’ poverty or to refrain from having a female child. Perhaps in those days, people did not know safe methods of contraception and early abortion.

Embryonic development was central to the Muslim arguments on abortion. According to Muslim scholars, it is lawful to have an abortion during the first 120 days, but after the stage of ensoulment (after the soul enters into the fetus), abortion is prohibited completely except where it is imperative to save the mother’s life. After ensoulment, however, abortion is prohibited absolutely and is akin to murder.

The Hanafi scholars, who comprised the majority of orthodox Muslims in later centuries, permitted abortion until the end of the four months. According to them, a pregnant woman could have an abortion without her husband’s permission, but she should have reasonable grounds for this act. One reason, which was mentioned frequently, was the presence of a nursing infant. A new pregnancy put an upper limit on lactation, and the jurists believed that if the mother could not be replaced by a wet-nurse, the infant would die.

Abortion in Islam

Some Muslims argue that abortion is permissible if the fetus is younger than four months (120 days). They quote a statement from the Prophet (s) that refers to a human being starting as a fertilized ovum in the uterus of the mother for forty days, then it grows into a clot for the same period, then into a morsel of flesh for the same period, then an angel is sent to that fetus to blow the Ruh into it and to write down its age, deeds, sustenance, and whether it is destined to be happy or sad.

Assuming the Hadith to be authentic, scholars explain that the error comes from understanding that before the Ruh is blown into the fetus at 120 days, the fetus is not a living entity, and therefore aborting it does not amount to killing it. It therefore becomes clear that aborting a fetus before 120 days is still killing a living entity, let alone abortion after that presumed period.

Some Muslims argue that the only case when aborting a fetus, before or after 120 days, is allowed in Islam, is when a medical situation threatens the life of the mother, leaving only two options, to let either the other or the fetus survive, but not both. Scholars argue that such a case can only be determined by a specialist, trusted and committed Muslim doctor. They argue that the mother can have other children, whereas the child cannot make up for losing the mother.

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Alcohol in Islam

by salman on Feb 17, 2011 Allah, Health & Fitness Comments Closed • ,

Alcohol in Islam:

Islam’s holistic approach to health and well-being means that anything that is harmful or mostly harmful, is forbidden.  Therefore, Islam takes an uncompromising stand towards alcohol and forbids its consumption in either small or large quantities.  Alcohol is undoubtedly harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body.  It clouds the mind, causes disease, wastes money, and destroys individuals, families, and communities. Researcher has proven that there is a strong link between alcohol and gambling.  Drinking impairs judgment, lowers inhibition, and encourages the type of risk taking involved in gambling and dangerous activities.  God tells us in the Quran that intoxicants and gambling are abominations from Satan and orders us to avoid them.  (Quran 5: 90) (more…)

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Characteristics of a Pious Wife

by salman on Feb 28, 2011 Allah, Women Comments Closed • ,

Characteristics of a Pious Wife: (AHMAD)

A pious woman’s priority is to seek the pleasure of Allah. She tries acquiring the qualities of a good wife by following the examples of the Prophet(Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and obeying what is commanded in the Book of Allah. Complete obedience and adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet(Sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) and Quran is the best of a woman’s qualities.

Examples:
A woman is married for four reasons: for her wealth, for her fame, for her beauty and for her religion. So marry one for her religion and you will win. [Bukhari & Muslim] (more…)

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Equality of Human Beings

by salman on Jan 11, 2011 Allah, Islam, Knowledge, Peace, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Comments Closed • , , ,

Equality of Human Beings

Islam not only recognizes absolute equality between men
irrespective of any distinction of color, race or nationality, but makes
it an important and significant principle, a reality. The Almighty God
has laid down in the Holy Quran: “O mankind, we have created you
from a male and female.” In other words all human beings are brothers
to one another. They all are the descendants from one father and one
mother. “And we set you up as nations and tribes so that you may be
able to recognize each other” (49:13). This means that the division of
human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes is for the sake of
distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be
acquainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and
cooperate with one another. This division of the human race is neither
meant for one nation to take pride in its superiority over others nor is it
meant for one nation to treat another with contempt or disgrace, or
regard them as a mean and degraded race and usurp their rights.
“Indeed, the noblest among you before God are the most heedful of
you” (49:13). In other words the superiority of one man over another
is only on the basis of God-consciousness, purity of character and high
morals, and not on the basis of color, race, language or nationality,
and even this superiority based on piety and pure conduct does not
justify that such people should play lord or assume airs of superiority
over other human beings. Assuming airs of superiority is in itself a
reprehensible vice which no God-fearing and pious man can ever dream
of perpetrating. Nor does the righteous have more privileged rights over
others, because this runs counter to human equality, which has been
laid down in the beginning of this verse as a general principle. From the
moral point of view, goodness and virtue is in all cases better than vice
and evil.

This has been exemplified by the Prophet in one of his sayings thus:
“No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab
have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any
superiority over a black man or the black man any superiority over the
white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created
from clay” (al-Bayhaqi and al-Bazzaz). In this manner Islam established
equality for the entire human race and struck at the very root of all
distinctions based on color, race, language or nationality. According to
Islam, God has given man this right of equality as a birthright. Therefore
no man should be discriminated against on the ground of the color of
his skin, his place of birth, the race or the nation in which he was born.
Malcolm X, the famous leader of African Negroes in America, who had
launched a bitter struggle against the white people of America in order
to win civil rights for his black compatriots, when he went to perform
the pilgrimage, and saw how the Muslims of Asia, Africa, Europe,
America and those of different races, languages and colors of skin,
were wearing one dress and were hurrying towards God’s House-the
Ka’bah and offering prayers standing in one row and there was no
distinction of any kind between them, then he realized that this was the
solution to the problem of color and race, and not what he had been
trying to seek or achieve in America so far. Today, a number of non-
Muslim thinkers, who are free from blind prejudice, openly admit that
no other religion or way of life has solved this problem with the same
degree of success with which Islam has done so.

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Importance of Akhlaq

by salman on Feb 25, 2011 Akhlaq, Allah, Islam Comments Closed • , ,

Importance of Akhlaq:

The beauty of an Ummati is from their Akhlaq

Allah’s Nabi (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has intimated that each ummati of his is beautiful. But this beauty is not due to color or any such thing; rather the beauty of an ummati is from his (or her) Akhlaq (character). Allah Ta’ala has said that a person’s Akhlaq is a tremendous thing.

Today I am at fault – I was late and I apologize for it. Your prayer has been delayed by 15 minutes and my conscience is reproaching me. I ask your forgiveness since apologizing is also a part of Akhlaq (character). May Allah forgive us for our bad Akhlaq (character). Akhlaq is that you do not cause the slightest suffering to the creation of Allah; Allah’s Nabi (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) himself gave a beautiful definition of it in the hadith:
“Love for your brother what you love for yourself.” (more…)

1 Views : 62

Islam The Religion of Peace and Tolerance

by salman on Feb 18, 2011 Allah, Knowledge Comments Closed • , ,

Islam: The Religion of Peace and Tolerance

Muslims who have given Islam a bad name. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad himself has said “a person who kills a person unfairly, or who neither kills someone who had rebelled nor became a source of violating peace amongst the people nor created disorder in the land, it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind. In other words to kill a person without any cause is according to God Almighty like the murder of the entire human race.” This tells us that without peace, Islam cannot truly be followed according to the proper way that it has been taught by the Holy Prophet (SAW). (more…)

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Islamic Economics

by salman on Jan 26, 2011 Allah, Finance, Marketing Comments Closed • ,

Islamic Economics:

Islamic banking is based on the principles of Islamic economics — an economic framework in accordance with Islamic law (Sharia’h).

There are two types of Islamic economics:

  • Caliphate , the Islamic form of government representing the political unity and leadership of the Muslim world (Islamic political framework)
  • Assuming the political framework is non-Islamic, therefore, seeking to integrate some prominent Islamic tenets into a secular economic framework. (more…)
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Miracle of mekkah ( Mecca )

by Abdullah on Aug 18, 2010 Allah, Islam, Miracle, Muslims Comments Closed • , ,

0 Views : 33

Mothers In Islam

by salman on Jan 8, 2011 Allah, Better life values, Family, Islam, Knowledge, Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Women Comments Closed • , , ,

Mothers In Islam

All praise is for Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammed, May Allah send peace and blessings upon him.
After Allah and his Messenger May Allah send peace and blessings upon him, the most beloved and respected person to a Muslim should be his mother! Allah has given the mother such status that He says,

Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.


Narrated Abu Huraira:

A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Your mother.” The man said. “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said, “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your father.”
(Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 2)
Obedience and respect towards your mother is a very important duty in Islam and is similar to performing Salaah and keeping fast. To hurt your mother in any way is the second biggest sin and those who commit this evil sin will be harshly punished by Allah in the hereafter or maybe even in this world!
Your mother is not a Prophet, nor is she an angel; she’s just a human like you and I, so why has Allah ordered you to be obedient towards your mother and why does your mother have such a high status in Islam?
Allah loves and cares for us more than anybody else, and he especially loves those people who love and care for others. Similarly, he becomes very angry with those people who hurt other people in any way. Allah the All-Knowing, knows that in this world nobody is more loving and caring towards another person than the way that a mother is towards her child. Only Allah and his Messenger May Allah send peace and blessings upon him love you more than your mother!
Only Allah knows what your mother does for you, He sees your mother feeling pain whilst she tries to give you whatever you want. He sees your mother’s love and kindness. Pleased by your mother’s actions, Allah has given her a very high status and many virtues and rewards.

Allah also sees that many of us are not thankful to our mothers. He sees many of us being disobedient towards them. Therefore, Allah has ordered us to be good towards our mothers; he has not advised us but ordered us; we have no choice; therefore we have to be good towards our mothers! To encourage us to do this, Allah Taa’la has promised paradise for those of us who are obedient towards our mothers. At the same time, Allah has threatened to severely punish those of us who do not listen to our mothers or hurt them in any way.

But what does your Mother do for you? She only cooks and cleans! So why do you need to be thankful to your Mother?
Apart from Allah, nobody knows what our Mother really does for us.

10 Wonderful reasons to be

grateful to your mother

1. Your mother carried you for 9 months bearing pain upon pain.

2. During this time, she could not eat becuase of you! She could not sleep because of you!
3. When you were a baby, she spent every minute of her life looking after you!
4. She only slept when you slept! She only ate after you had eaten!
5. She was patient and loved you even when you cried all night and when you cried all day !
6. She taught you how to walk, how to speak, how to eat, she taught you how to live!
7. When you fall ill, she looks after you!
8. She always cooks and prepared food for you !
9. She buys you whatever you ask for !
10. She loves you unconditionally !

These are just a few things that our Mothers do for us; they do so much more of which we do not know about. However, one thing that your Mother does for you, that nobody else in the world does, is that she worries about you from the bottom of her Heart.

So what is it she worries about ?

She WORRIES about your food!
She WORRIES about your clothes!
She WORRIES about your health!
She WORRIES about your education!
She WORRIES about your future!
She WORRIES about your whole life !

Allah has ordered us, in various places of the Holy Qur’an, to be good to our mothers. He has told us to look after them even more when they are old and weak. He has taught us to be gentle to our mothers and speak to them in a nice manner. He has also told us to supplicate to Him for our Mothers with this prayer,

RABBIR-HAMHUMA KAMA

RABBAYANI SAGHEERAH

Transalation :

My lord, have mercy upon my

parents, the way they had mercy

upon me when I was young)

The Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him has also ordered us to be good to our mothers. He has told us about the great rewards for that person who is good to his mother. He has described the mother as being a ‘door of paradise.’ He has also warned us of severe punishments for that person who is disobedient to his mother.

10 Easy Ways To Enter Paradise

1. LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER
2. HELP YOUR MOTHER
3. SMILE AT YOUR MOTHER
4. BE THANKFUL TO YOUR MOTHER FOR WHATEVER SHE DOES FOR YOU
5. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR MOTHER
6. ALWAYS ASK YOUR MOTHER IF YOU CAN HELP HER WITH ANYTHING
7. BUY YOUR MOTHER GIFTS
8. BE GOOD TO YOUR MOTHER’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS
9. STUDY HARD AND LEAD A GOOD LIFE SO THAT YOUR MOTHER IS HAPPY
10. ALWAYS PRAY FOR YOUR MOTHER, ESPECIALLY AFTER EVERY SALAAH.

Warning :

Those who are disobedient to their

mothers will burn in hellfire.

However hard we try, we can never repay our mothers for what they have done for us, but we can at least try, and also ask Allah to repay them for us. Our mothers are indeed a great blessing from Allah. We should appreciate and value this blessing as much as we can. Whilst our mothers are alive, we have a golden opportunity to guarantee ourselves paradise and also success in this world.

Reminder :

We will only truly realise the value

of our mothers when they are no

longer with us – when they have

passed away, but then it will be too

late!

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Music & Singing (Composed by Mufti Muhammad Ibn Adam, Darul Iftaa, UK)

by salman on Jan 20, 2011 Allah, Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Radio, Youtube Comments Closed • , , ,

When a person commits a sin (May Allah save us all) believing that a sin is being committed and feels regret and remorse in the heart, then this is far better than committing the sin and believing it to be lawful (halal). In the former situation, only one sin is being committed, and it is very likely that the individual may repent out of the remorse felt in the heart. In the latter case, however, in addition to the sin being committed, there is the greater sin of trying to justify it. Normally, such an individual does not receive the guidance to repent from his sin. (May Allah save us all, Ameen)

Music & Singing:

Music is a direct ploy of the non-Muslims. One of the main causes for the decline of the Muslims is their involvement in useless entertainment. Today we see that Muslims are involved, and at the forefront perhaps, of many immoralities and evils. The spiritual power which once was the trait of a Muslim is nowhere to be seen. One of the main reasons for this is music and useless entertainment. The case with music and unlawful singing is the same. It has been decisively prohibited in Shari’ah, as the evidences mentioned further along will illustrate. Yet there are individuals who are not ready to believe that it is unlawful (haram). (more…)

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