Monasticism in Christianity:
There is no monasticism in Islam or ecclesiastical hierarchy like there are in the other religions. Allah the Almighty disowned this act of the people of previous faiths. Allah the Almighty said:
“Then, We sent after them Our Messengers, and We sent ‘Îsâ (Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary), and gave him the Injeel (Gospel). And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy. But the monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allâh therewith, but they did not observe it with the right observance. So We gave those among them who believed their (due) reward; but many of them are Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).”
(Al-Hadeed 57:27)
The Prophet ((ﷺ strongly warned against that. He ((ﷺ said:
“Do not impose austerities on yourselves, so that austerities will not be imposed on you, for people have imposed austerities on themselves and Allah imposed austerities on them. Their survivors are to be found in hermitages and monasteries. (Then he quoted :) “Monasticism, they invented it; we did not prescribe it for them.”.”
(Sunnan Abi Dawûd)
Keep in mind that Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, was not a monk nor did he prescribe monasticism to his followers. He ordered his students to go to the nations to spread the religion of Allah and guide them to the Right religion (at that time, before Christians distorted their religion).
The scholar in Islam has a great responsibility. He needs to socialize with people, command them to do the good and forbid them to do the evil and guide them to the right path, as the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“Convey from me even an Ayah (Verse) of the Qur'an.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhâri)
He should also be a productive member of society and a good example for them. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“A believer who mixes with people and endures their annoyance is better than the one who does not mix with them and does not endure their annoyance.”
(Al-Bukhâri in Al-Âdab al-Mûfrad)
He should not be dependent upon others and ask for their help in earning his living, as the prophets, peace be upon them, used to work on their own, herd the sheep to make money for themselves and their families. The prophet Muhammad ((ﷺ was once asked:
“Have you ever shepherded sheep?" He said, "There has been no prophet who has not shepherded them."
(Sahih Al-Bukhâri)
Celibacy is better than marriage:
Paul says in 1 Corinthians (7:1-8): “1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman… 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am (i.e. celibate).”
Of course, these are the teaching of Paul himself and not the teachings of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, because they are against the instinct Allah has created humans with. Marriage is the tradition of the prophets, peace be upon them, and Allah the Almighty said:
“And indeed We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad) and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allâh’s Leave. (For) every matter there is a Decree (from Allâh).”
(Ar-Râ‘d 13:38)
Do the civilized societies agree with the words of Paul, that people shouldn’t marry or get children? Those words have only one result, which is the destruction of the humankind! Did Allah the Almighty want us to become extinct or build on the land and grow in it?
All of that is against the command of Allah the Almighty, Who said:
“And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely your Lord is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is Ghafûr (Oft-Forgiving), Rahîm (Most Merciful).”
(Al-An‘âm 6:165)
If someone demands celibacy from people and that they not be married, this will clash with the instinct inside them. It is a lust inside the human, like the lust of food and drink, but the Sharia of Islam made that lust to get satisfaction legally through marriage. Through that, affection, mercy and psychological stability occur for both partners in addition to the maintaining of the human race. Allah the Almighty said:
“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.”
(Ar-Rûm 30:21)
The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ used to call for marriage, urge others to marry, and strongly forbid celibacy. Ηe ((ﷺ said:
“Marry the one who is fertile and loving, for I will boast (about it) in front of the prophets in the Day of Judgment.”
(Sahih Ibn Hibbân)
The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ also encouraged the youth to get married to cut the path of immorality, because lust at the young age is found at its peak. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“O young men, whoever among you can afford the marriage (financially and physically), let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and protecting one's chastity. Whoever cannot afford it should fast, for it will be protectant for him from falling in immorality."
(Al-Bukhâri and Muslim)
What is greater than that is that he made marriage a way to earn good deeds and reward. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“‘When a man has sexual intercourse (with his wife) he gets a reward of Sâdaqah (charity).’ They (the Companions) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, when one of us satisfies his desire (with his wife) does he get a reward for that?’ He said: ‘You see, if he were to satisfy it illegally (with a woman who is not his wife), would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to satisfy it legally, he should be rewarded.’.”
(Sahih Muslim)
No divorcing:
Gospel of Matthew (5:31-32): (31It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ 32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.)
Did the civilized societies agree not to divorce or does the highest rate of divorces actually exist in many developed countries?! Were the Christians able to follow those teachings or did they consider them immoderate and inflexible?!
The practical reality says that there are many marriages that cannot last, and if such marriage continues despite the problems it has, then it will cause big harm and damage for both the husband and the wife, such harm that cannot be stopped but through a divorce. We read in the newspapers about some cases of women who murder their Christian husbands as a way of getting rid of them, because of their inability to get a divorce!
However, Islam permitted divorce in order to facilitate people when the companionship is impossible. Therefore, they separate from each other in a civilized way and marry whomever they want. Allah the Almighty said:
“Either hold them in marriage in a good manner or part with them in a good manner.”
(At-Talâq 65:2)
In the meantime, all the civilized countries followed the Islamic Sharia in that it permitted and codified the divorce and made it a civil divorce, away from the church’s authority that refuses divorce as a matter.
Beheadings
The beheadings of the enemies or the mutilation of the dead bodies are forbidden to be done in Islam.
‘Amr ibn Al-‘As and Shurahabil bin Hâsana sent ‘Ûqba to Abu Bakr carrying the head of Yianaq, one of the biggest enemies, when ‘Ûqba entered at Abu Bakr and presented what he had to him, Abu Bakr condemned this action. ‘Ûqba said to him: ‘O, Caliph, the Byzantines do the same at us (i.e. beheading the Muslims who fall into capture)!’ Then Abu Bakr said to him: ‘Are you following the example of the Persians and the Byzantines?!! No head should be carried to me. Suffice to send me the news only.’
(Ibn Hâjar Al-‘Asqalâni)
Some TV presenters of the Western media nowadays trying to attribute beheadings to Muslims. If these presenters refer back to history and read it, they will find that the opposite is the truth. How many beheadings were made in their countries until only some years ago? For example, we have seen a statue of a knight who holds a man’s head that he himself cut off, and in his other hand he holds a long sword, on the external walls of the Milano church. Have we seen such a sculpture on the walls of any mosque?! Sure NO.
Regarding what is seen from those few Muslims who publically slaughter some people and cut their heads off, this only represents personal individual acts that have nothing to do with Sharia. The objective of such an act is to achieve a dirty political agenda, to distort the picture of Islam and to keep the people away from it. Those people are well funded by third parties to do a movie scene with their expensive professional cameras, filming for example how they murder an innocent journalist, who had done nothing wrong and had never fought against them. Such people are spreading destruction in the land and not construction and peace. Allah says:
“And when he turns away, his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allâh likes not mischief.”
(Al-Bâqarah 205)
Someone may say: ‘But what about the flags these people are carrying and on which some Islamic phrases are written, isn’t this considered a proof that they are representing Islam?’. We answer to that by saying: ‘If someone has a small cheap car and he brings a logo of Mercedes car and sticks it on it, will this make his car a Mercedes?’ Sure NO. You have to compare their acts and the Islamic teachings, to find that they are away from each other.
Allah the Almighty say:
“And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allâh), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sâbirûn (the patient).”
(An-Nahl 126)
Islam and combating the slavery system
Islam fought the slavery system in every way. It commanded the liberation of slaves, and it promised a great reward for those who liberated their slaves, as this is also considered a reason to enter Paradise. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ says:
“He who emancipates a slave, Allah will set free from Hell every limb (of his body) for every limb of his (slave's) body, even his private parts.”
(Muslim)
Islam though did not prohibit the slavery system so that it would not completely collide with the practical reality; it was an international system which every country used, being an economic and financial system upon which every society depended. Similarly, Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, did not prohibit the slavery system. Islam prohibited every method through which people were enslaved, except for one method which is captivity during war. And that only on one condition, that if the Muslims’ leader wanted to impose slavery upon them. And since Islam narrowed down all the sources of slavery and made it possible only through one way, it also expanded the ways of liberation. Therefore, it made liberation an act of expiation for many sins the Muslim has committed, such as:
• Manslaughter: Allah the Almighty said:
“It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake; and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood-money) be given to the deceased’s family unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed); and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood-money) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed.”
(An-Nisâ’ 4:92)
• Perjury: Allah the Almighty said:
“Allâh will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten poor persons, on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave”
(Al-Mâ’idah 5:89)
• Az-Zihâr[31]: Allah the Almighty say:
“And those who make unlawful to them their wives by Zihâr and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other.”
(Al-Mujâdilah 58:3)
• Intercourse during Ramadan:
Abu Huraira reported that a person had intercourse with his wife during Ramadan (while fasting). He asked for the religious verdict (about it) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
‘Can you find a slave (or captive) (to grant him freedom)?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Can you afford to observe fasts for two (consecutive) months?’ He said: ‘No.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Then feed sixty poor men.’
(Sahih Muslim)
• Beating a slave: The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free.”
(Sahih Muslim)
What also confirms how concerned Islam is regarding the liberation of slaves is:
1- It legislated the contract of Al-Mukatabah: which is a contract between the owner and the slave, according to which the slave is freed in exchange for an amount of money agreed upon by them both.
Whenever the slave asks for his freedom, the owner must accept, and then both sign such contract. This is shown in the saying of Allah the Almighty:
“And those of your slaves who seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allâh which He has bestowed upon you.”
(An-Nur 24:33)
2- It legislated that people can spend their Zaka (annual obligatory charity) at freeing the slaves: Allah the Almighty said:
“Zakât (annual obligatory charity) are only for the poor, and the needy and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), and to free the slaves or the captives, and for those in debt, and for Allâh’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is ‘Alîm (All-Knower), Hakîm (All-Wise).”
(At-Tâubah 9:60)
The slavery system in the Bible
Deuteronomy (20:10-16): (10When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11 And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. 12 Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And when the Lord your God delivers it into your hands, you shall strike every male in it with the edge of the sword. 14 But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and all that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall plunder for yourself; and you shall eat the enemies' plunder which the Lord your God gives you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities which are very far from you, which are not of the cities of these nations.16 But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive.)
Exodus (21:7-8): (7 And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed.)
Exodus (21:5-6): (5 But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' 6 then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.)
Exodus (22:1-3): (1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.)
Islam and combating racism:
Islam cancelled all forms of discrimination among people through legislations that reject racism, castes or color bar among people. It made the preference between them based on how pious each one is. Allah the Almighty said:
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is the most pious. Verily, Allâh is ‘Alîm (All-Knowing), Khabîr (All-Aware).”
(Al-Hujurât 49:13)
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
“‘O people, verily, your Lord is One and your father Adam is one. There is no virtue of an Arab over a non-Arab or a non-Arab over an Arab, and neither red skin over black skin nor black skin over red skin, except regarding their righteousness. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is the most pious. Have I not delivered the message?’ They said, ‘Yes, you have, O Messenger of Allah.’ Then he said: ‘Those of you who are present inform the ones who are absent.’.”
(As-Silsila As-Sahiha)
While in the Bible we find the following statement:
The Gospel of Matthew (15:23-28): (23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and said, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.)
In this previous text, there is a clear and harsh response to whoever claims that Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, came for the salvation of the world, the crucifixion and redemption and so on. As he himself clarifies, he was not sent to you nor does he know you! But he was exclusively sent for the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy (23:19-20): (19 You shall not charge interest to your brother, interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. 20 To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you.)
The Islamic Sharia and its legalization of enjoying the life:
Clothes and cleanliness:
The Islamic Sharia orders every Muslims to be beautiful in every way, clothes, appearance, scent and words. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“Verily, Allah is beautiful, He loves beauty.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Jabir ibn Abd Allah narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ paid a visit to us, and saw a disheveled man whose hair was disordered. He said: ‘Could this man not find something to make his hair look better?’ He saw another man wearing dirty clothes and said: ‘Could this man not find something to wash his garments with?’.”
(Sunan Abu Dawûd)
Abu Al-Ahwas quoted his father saying:
“I came to the Prophet ((ﷺ wearing a garment that doesn’t fit my wealth and he said (to me): ‘Do you have any wealth?’ I replied: ‘Yes.’ He asked: ‘What kind is it?’ I said: ‘Allah has given me camels, sheep, horses and slaves.’ He then said: ‘If Allah has given you wealth, then let the effect of Allah's blessing and generosity be seen on you.’.”
(Abu Dawûd)
Jabir Bin Samurah said:
“I saw the Prophet ((ﷺ on a moonlit night, when he was wearing a red dress, so I kept looking once at the Messenger of Allah and once at the moon, and he looked better than the moon to me.”
(At-Tîrmidhi)
Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib said:
“The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ was a man of average height, having broad shoulders, with his hair hanging down on the lobes of his ears. He put on a red mantle over him, and never have I seen anyone or anything more handsome than him.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Abd Allah ibn Abbas narrated:
“When the Haruriyyah (Kharijites[32]) made a revolt, I came to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: ‘Go to these people to debate them.’ I then put on one of my best suit that was from Yemen. Abu Zumayl (a transmitter) said: ‘Ibn Abbas was handsome and of imposing countenance’. Ibn Abbas said: ‘I then came to them and they said: Welcome, Ibn Abbas! What is this suit of clothes?’ I said: ‘Why are you objecting to me? I saw over the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ the best suit of clothes’.”
(Abu Dawûd)
The Sharia considered spending money on what completes a Muslim’s elegance in every way, without wasting, nor profusion due to arrogance, as a way a Muslim is rewarded for. Allah the Almighty said:
“O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not those who waste by extravagance.”
(Al-A‘râf 7:31)
The Islamic dress:
There is no such thing called an ‘Islamic dress’ in Sharia, like what Sufis and Shia do, who, for example, dress up with special clothes of certain colors in a certain way such as green or black, etc. However, there are certain specifications for dressing up in the Islamic Sharia, which both Muslim men and women must abide by:
• The dress should not be similar to that of non-Muslims: for example, to wear something only Buddhists wear, or only Christians or Jews wear, such as the outfit of monks, priests and Rabbis. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.”
(Ibn Hibbân)
• The dress must cover the parts the Islamic Sharia has forbidden from showing: for them not be visible due to its shortness or transparency.
• The dress must be clean, elegant and presentable: The Prophet ((ﷺ, saw a man wearing dirty clothes and said:
“Could this man not find something to wash his garments with?”
(Sunan Abu Dawûd)
• The dress must be of good smell: so that people will not turn away from the person. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ prohibited eating garlic or onion before going to prayer:
“He who has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from us or our mosques.”
(Al-Bukhâri and Muslim)
• The dress must not be a dress of pride and vanity (Libas Ash-Shuhra): which is any weird dress for the society they live in, as when they wear it, society will feel strange. Or if the dress is inappropriate in form or contradict the good morals. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“Whoever wears a garment of pride and vanity (Libas Ash-Shuhra) in this world, Allah will clothe him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Sahih Abu Dawûd)
• The dress of women must not resemble that of men, and the dress of men must not resemble that of women: Abu Huraira said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed a man who puts on the dress of women, and a woman who puts on the dress of men.”
(Sahih Ibn Hibbân)
There are sayings of the Prophet (ﷺ) which indicate the importance of the Muslim paying attention to his appearance, and whoever wants to know more about this, there are books about dressing in Islam.
What we summarize from what has been previously mentioned is that the Islamic Sharia paid great attention to the Muslim’s cleanliness and his good appearance. Therefore, he should not let people turn away from him because of his bad appearance, uncleanliness and lack of elegance.
There is an important issue that might cause misconception regarding the Islamic Sharia for non-Muslims especially in the Western countries, which is that we find some Muslim foreigners or new Muslims in those countries, who might wear unusual clothes with the intention of making others know that they are Muslims. For example, they may wear a dark grey cloak, which is the cloak (Galabia) of the people of the Upper Egypt, whether they are Muslims or Christians, so, those Muslims who dress in such a cloak in Europe, don’t identify themselves as Muslims but as people coming from the Upper Egypt (while they are not). Or they might wear above this dark grey cloak (Galabia) a jacket of Western suit or a military jacket (despite the fact that they are not military men and they are not entitled to wear that jacket). Or, for example, one may cover his head with a strange turban or shawl in a strange way, while he should wear clothes that make people like him and that are source of comfort and contentment for them, and not wear something that will keep people away from him or will be a source of worry and doubt for them. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ was the best in appearance and scent, and everyone who saw him felt contentment and serenity.
We must differentiate between a certain dress for certain association or organization and a certain dress that is for a certain sect or group, which is established on a religious reason like what the Sufis and Shia do. As for the outfits of schools, universities, international and local organizations, these are defining outfits that are not based on a religious or sect basis, but they only define those who are affiliated to that side or work in it, so that is fine.
Food and drink:
Allah the Almighty said:
“Say (O Muhammad): "Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allâh, which He has produced for His slaves, and At-Taiyyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) things] of food?" Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them)." Thus We explain the Ayât (Islâmic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.”
(Al-A‘râf 7:32)
The Islamic Sharia permitted one to enjoy all kinds of food and drink, except for what has been forbidden by the Qur’an or the Sunnah. Allah the Almighty said:
“ Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maitah (the dead animals - cattle - beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns - and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal - unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) - and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub (stone-altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking luck or decision; (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of Allâh and sin).”
(Al-Ma’idah 5:3)
Allah the Almighty said:
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus Allâh makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought.”
(Al-Bâqarah 2:219)
Also, it forbade immoderation. Allah the Almighty said:
“and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not those who waste by extravagance.”
(Al-A‘râf 7:31)
It clarified the right way to eat and drink, which guarantees –by Allah’s permission- the safety of the body from diseases. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ says:
“No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep (of his stomach’s space) one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing.”
(At-Tîrmidhi)
Permissible entertainment:
Life in the Islamic Sharia is not like some may think it is, that it is far from enjoyment and permissible entertainment. Hândhala Al-Usaidi (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
“I met Abu Bakr and he said: "How are you O Hândhala?" I said, " Hândhala has become a hypocrite". He said, "Subhan Allah[33], what are you saying?" I said, "When we are in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he reminds us of the Hell-fire and Paradise, we feel as if we are seeing them with our very eyes, and when we leave him (ﷺ) and we go back to our homes, we get busy with our wives, our children, our business, so, we forget much (of the things that pertain to the Hereafter)." Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, I also experience the same thing". So, Abu Bakr and I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Hândhala has turned into a hypocrite." Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "What has happened to you?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, when we are in your company, you remind us about the Hell-fire and Paradise, till we feel as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but when we go away from you, we get busy with our wives, children and business, so, we forget much (of the things that pertain to the Hereafter)." Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you remain after you go home at the same state you were at while you were in my presence and you keep busy with the remembrance of Allah, the angels would shake hands with you while you are at your beds and in your roads; but O Hândhala, it should be one hour (for worshipping) and one hour (for our worldly affairs)". The Prophet (ﷺ) said this thrice.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Therefore, the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ clarified in this saying (hadeeth) that permissible entertainment and recreation is required for the soul to regain its energy and vitality.
The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ showed his friends the ethics of joking, fun and entertainment when they asked him:
"O Messenger of Allah, you joke with us!" The Prophet replied ((ﷺ, "Yes, but I do not say but the truth."
(Sunnan At-Tîrmidhi)
As the joking can be through saying, it can also be through action. Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
‘Whenever a resident of the wilderness, whose name was Zâhir, visited the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ, he brought with him present from the wilderness, (vegetables etc.) for him ((ﷺ. When he wanted to leave the city and go back, the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ used to present him with provisions from the city. Once the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said, "Zâhir is our wilderness, and we are his city." Once while Zâhir was selling his merchandise, the Prophet ((ﷺ approached him, and caught him from the back while Zâhir could not see who caught him. Zâhir said, "Who is this? Leave me." But when he saw with the corner of his eye that it was the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ, he straightened his back and began pressing it to the chest of the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ then said (as a joke with him), "Who will purchase this slave?" Zâhir replied, "O Messenger of Allah, if you shall sell me, you will be selling a defective thing, and you will earn a very small sum. (because Zâhir, may Allah be pleased with him, was not handsome)" The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said, "No, you are not defective thing at the Sight of Allah (or he may have said ‘but you are at the Sight of Allah very valuable).’.”
(Sahih Ibn Hibân)
Etiquette of joking in Sharia:
▪ Joking must not harm any person, nor offend him, as the Messenger ((ﷺ said:
“It is not lawful for a Muslim to frighten a Muslim.”
(Mûsnad Âhmad)
▪ Joking must not get him out of the circle of honesty, for example when a man lies to make others laugh, as the Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“Woe to him who while speaking says a lie, to make people laugh thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him!”
The Islamic Sharia also permitted entertainment and enjoyment on the condition that it is permissible, such as shooting bow and arrows, and riding horses. The Messenger of Allah ((ﷺ said:
“All things that a Muslim man does for entertainment are in vain (i.e. he will not be rewarded for them) except for shooting arrows, training his horse and playing with his wife, for these are things that bring reward.”
(Sûnnan ibn Mâjah)
It also permitted everything that keeps the body in good health and shape, such as swimming, fencing and wrestling.
“Once the Prophet ((ﷺ wrestled with a man who was known for his power, his name was Rakana. Rakana said: ‘If you beat me, I will give you a sheep and if I beat you, you shall give me one.’ The prophet ((ﷺ beat him, and Rakana said: ‘Come one more time.’ The prophet ((ﷺ beat him for the second time, and Rakana said again: ‘Come one more time.’ The prophet ((ﷺ beat him for the third time. Then, Rakana said: ‘What should I tell my family? I can say about the first sheep that the wolf ate it, and the second sheep got lost, but what can I say about the third one?’ Then the Prophet ((ﷺ told him: ‘We wouldn’t gather the two things over you, to beat you in wrestling and to take your sheeps. Keep your sheeps.’.”
(Ghâiatu Al-Marâm)
PART VIII
The Christian and Jewish Sharia
• Examples of the Christian and Jewish Sharia from the Bible.
Cutting off the hand penalty in the Holy Bible.
Penalty of adultery in the Holy Bible.
Death penalty in the Holy Bible.
Freedom of belief in the Holy Bible (penalty of apostasy).
Law of jealousy in the Holy Bible.
PART VIII
The Christian and Jewish Sharia
Is the Old Testament the Holy Book of Christians and Jews as well
Before getting into some examples of the Christian and Jewish Sharia, we want to know whether the Old Testament is the Holy Book for both Christians and Jews or not! Throughout my conversations with some Christians, I found at the beginning that they showed great enthusiasm regarding the fact that the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, is the revealed Word from God which is not distorted and cannot be changed nor lost. After reading to them some texts from the Old Testament, they quickly recant and say, ‘You can ask Rabbi about those texts, as I am not Jewish’. They reach to a point where they sometimes disown the Old Testament as a whole and say that ‘All of that was before the coming of Jesus Christ and that after he came, everything changed’. Of course, this explanation is unacceptable and irrational, as no Christian can be a Christian unless he believes in the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament equally. This is clear and obvious for Christians. Considering this, if one of the Christians says that he or she does not believe in the Old Testament and only believes in the New Testament, then he is a disbeliever in Christianity! Whoever wants to make sure of that should ask one of the priests and to see what he will say to him!
As it was mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew (5:17-19), that Jesus, peace be upon him, said:
“17 Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Now, let’s take some examples of the penalties that were mentioned in the Bible:
Cutting off the hand penalty in the Holy Bible
Deuteronomy (25:11-12): (11 If two men fight together, and the wife of one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of the one attacking him, and puts out her hand and seizes him by the genitals, 12 then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her).
Penalty of adultery in the Holy Bible
Leviticus (21:9): (9 The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the harlot, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire)!!!!!
Deuteronomy (22:20-21): (20 But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, 21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house. So you shall put away the evil from among you).
Deuteronomy (22:22): (22 If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman).
Deuteronomy (22:23-24): (23 If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones).
Gospel of Matthew (5:27-29): (27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell).
Leviticus (20:10-15): (10 The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. 11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. 13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. 14 If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. 15 If a man mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal).
This previous verse continues to mention many penalties such as, the death penalty for the woman who slept with an animal, or the man who saw the nakedness of his sister or slept with a menstruating woman, or the one who saw his aunt’s nakedness, or the one who slept with his uncle’s or brother’s wife etc.
One can say: but did not Jesus Christ cancel the penalty of adultery, which is death by stoning and make it a crime without penalty instead? Wasn’t it said in the Gospel of John (8:7): (7 He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her)?
We answer that, saying that Christian theologians agreed that this story is untrue and that it has been added to the Bible in the tenth century [34], therefore it cannot be counted on. Besides that, Jesus Christ himself said that he didn’t come to cancel the law of Moses.
Gospel of Matthew (5:17-18): (17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law until all is fulfilled.)
In other words, if Jesus Christ was with us today, he would have stoned any woman who committed adultery based on the Sharia of Moses, peace be upon him.
Death Penalty in the Holy Bible
Paul say in his letter to the Hebrews (10:28): (28A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.)
Exodus (21:12-25): (12 He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death… 14 But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die. 15 And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 17 And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 22 If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.)
Exodus (22:18-20): (18 You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death. 20 He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.)
Genesis (9:6): (6Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed.)
Numbers (35:31-33): (31 Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are: for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him who shed it.)
Exodus (32:26-28): (26 then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, "Whoever is on the Lord's side, come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. 27 And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. 28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.)
Deuteronomy (21:18): (18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. 20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones.)
Freedom of belief in the Holy Bible (apostasy)
The Gospel of Luke (19:27) mentions that Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, said: (27 And as for those who were against me, who would not have me for their ruler, let them come here, and be put to death before me.)
Deuteronomy (13:12-16): (12 If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 13 Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods" '-which you have not known- 14 then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16 And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the Lord your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again.)
Deuteronomy (7:1-5): (1 When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you… 2 and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. 3 Nor shall you make marriages with them... 5 But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.)
Ezekiel (9:4-7): (4 and the Lord said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it. 5 To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple. 7 Then He said to them, "Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!" And they went out and killed in the city.)
