Haram & Halal
Question:-
Are Tattoos Haraam (forbidden)? If so, why? And does it actually say anywhere exactly that Tattoos are haraam?
Comment:-
The Prophet is reported by Abu Huraira, to have said, "The effect of an evil eye is a fact." And he prohibited tattooing . Volume 7, Book 71, Number 636:
It is not difficult to see that tattoos are useless and frivolous, and that the motives behind them, to draw attention to oneself or to decorate oneself, thereby, increasing one's illusory worth rather than real worth, can hardly be regarded as virtuous.
So those people who go by an understanding of the general instructions of the Quran, tattoos may be regarded as forbidden. But for those people who have a literal and legalistic mind and wish to confine themselves to explicitly state instructions, tattoos are not forbidden in the Quran.
The same considerations apply to all other questions of vice and virtue, haram and halal.
Is it, for example, forbidden to torture people with electricity. The answer is no.
We ought not to be like the hypocrites and lawyer who look for specific statements in order that they can fulfill the letter but ignore the spirit, meaning or intention of the law.
In this connection, it should be pointed out that Islamic law recognizes five principles:-
The Virtues (Marufat) are classified as :-
1, Mandatory (Fardh and Wajib)
2, Recommendatory (Matlub)
The Neutral
3, Permissible (Mubah). Everything not expressly forbidden or disapproved of is permissible. It is not the case that everything not expressly allowed is forbidden.
The Vices (Mankurat) are classified as :-
4, Makruh ( disapproved )
5, Haram ( forbidden )
However, it is possible to distinguish 7 categories if we divide the Mandatory ones into those which are always required and those which are conditional, and if we divide the forbidden ones similarly. Theft, for instance is forbidden but someone in dire need may be forgiven for it. Killing is forbidden, but extreme provocation or self-defense may excuse it.
Question:-
One thing I don't understand is, how come almost, everything is prohibited? I have always been told listening and playing music is haraam, watching TV is haraam. Drawing pictures is haraam. and now I am told, that playing video games and watching sports is haraam. Cause both games have music, and promotes greediness in terms of the games points.? You know one thing that scares me the most, is that if I was to die right now, I would not be acceptable for Heaven.
Comment:-
There are many degrees in heaven and Hell a there must be if people are to be rewarded with justice according to what they do, and these deeds are judged by their intentions and faith. Some deeds are more seriously good or evil than others. It is also the teachings of the Quran that Allah is Merciful and Forgiving.
Consider the following verses:-
"And say not of what your own tongues pronounce, the lie: 'This is lawful, and this is unlawful', inventing against Allah a lie; verily, those who invent against Allah a lie shall not prosper. " 16:116
"O ye who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, nor transgress (or commit excess); verily, Allah loves not the transgressors." 5:87
"There is no crime in those who believe and do right, for having tasted forbidden food, when they fear (guard themselves from evil) and believe. So fear (do your duty to) Allah, and believe, and do what is right; and again fear (do your duty), and believe; and again fear (do your duty), and do good; for Allah loves those who do good." 5:93
"Say: Bring forward your witnesses to prove that Allah has forbidden these!" But if they do bring such witnesses, bear thou not witness with them; nor follow the vain desires of those who say Our Signs (revelations) are lies, and those who believe not in the Hereafter, or those who for their Lord make equals." 6:151
"Say: My Lord has only forbidden abominable (shameful) deeds, the apparent and the concealed, and sin (errors), and greed for that which is not right (trespasses against truth and reason), and associating with Allah that for (or to) which He has given no authority (or power), and saying about Allah that of which ye have no knowledge." 7:33
"He has only forbidden you carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than Allah; but he who is driven thereto (forced by necessity), neither craving nor transgressing due limits, then verily, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. " 16:115
Finally,
"If ye avoid great sins from which ye are forbidden, We will remit (or expel) your lesser offences (or all evil in you) and make you enter a noble gate." 4:31
"Allah desires for you what is easy (or reasonable), and desires not for you what is difficult, that ye may complete the prescribed period, and say, "Great is Allah," (or glorify Him) for that He has guided you; haply ye may give thanks." 2:185
"Therefore, keep your duty to Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend, it is better for your souls; and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful. " 64:16
"Say: O my people! Work in your manner (or work as and how you can), surely I too am working. But soon you will come to know." 39:39
I suggest that you do not make a burden out of religion. Read the Quran, avoid what is expressly forbidden, do what is expressly made obligatory, try to follow what is recommended and avoid what is not, do a much voluntarily as you can manage, and use your intelligence , given to you by Allah, about everything.
Concentrate your mind (a) not on yourself and the relatively trivial efforts and sacrifices you make, but (b) on the remembrance of Allah and the much greater bounties He has bestowed on you in that you were nothing and He has given you life and the faculties of hearing, seeing and hearts and all the resources and opportunities you enjoy, that you belong to Him. Cultivate (c) gratitude and love for Allah; (d) self-awareness and remember your own errors, inadequacies and failings, (e) keep in mind your goal and strive towards it. (f) Remember that Allah is Merciful and Forgiving.
Then that which was difficult becomes easy.
"Whomsoever Allah wishes to guide, He expands His breast unto the Surrender (Islam); but whomsoever He wishes to lead astray, He tightens and constricts his breast as though he were climbing steeply into heaven. Thus does Allah set dishonor on those who do not believe." 6:126
"Verily, those who believe and act righteously, their Lord guides them by their faith; beneath them shall rivers flow in the Gardens of Delight." 10:10
"Say: Truly, Allah leads whom He will astray, but guides unto Him those who turn in repentance. Those who believe and whose hearts have rest in Zikr (remembering or mention) of Allah. Verily, in Zikr (remembering or mention) of Allah do hearts find rest (comfort, satisfaction, fulfillment). " 13:27-28
"Verily, with difficulty comes ease! Verily, with difficulty comes ease! So when thou art at relieved, then still toil, and to thy Lord turn all thy yearning (or attention)!" 94:5-8
And remember :-
"Forsake the outer and inner sin, verily, those who earn sin shall be recompensed for what they have earned." 6:121
"The balance on that day is true, and those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful; but those whose scales are light, they it is who lose their souls, for that they did act unjustly by Our Signs (revelations, creatures)." 7:8-9
Somethings may have both good and evil feature or consequences. It is necessary to assess whether there is greater good or evil and act acordingly. But if it is posible to do something else which reduces the evil or increaes the good, then that act is also better.
"In them both is great sin and some profit to men; but the sin of both is greater than the profit of the same." They will ask thee what they shall expend in alms: Say: "The surplus (what is beyond need)." Thus does Allah manifest to you His signs; haply ye may reflect ." 2:219
And remember:-
"Say: O mankind! There has come to you the Truth from your Lord, and he who is guided by it, his guidance is only for his own soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a warder over you." 10:109
"Say: O my servants! Who have acted transgressed against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives all faults; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful." 39:53
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