Islam for Women

News from the small Scandinavian country Finland (yet well known for NOKIA and Mika Hakkinen).  It used to be a hidden tolerant island and cultural conflicts sounded like echoes from overseas.

The Lebanese born Imam Chehab Khadr  of the local Helsinki Muslim community 

defended in an  Aamulehti  newspaper interview the notion that girls as young as nine years old could be wed into marriage with parental consent and that what is against the law some countries is permissible in others.  It followed on outcry in the country with unbelievable amount of feedback, blogger comments and phone calls what made him change his position the next day. 

Nobody could be fooled; words are cheap and even cheaper by the dozen. The damage is done and once again the image of Islam was badly tarnished in a place which is known to be very welcoming and tolerant.  They have for centuries a small Muslim community originating from the east with no problems whatsoever with human rights or marrying little girls. Today Muslim immigrant youth is causing trouble and controversy, mostly through the growing rape rate in bigger cities (mostly by Somalis) and  small time criminality like snatching ladies handbags in broad daylight. People do not walk in the streets at night time anymore!

My first reaction was that this man is mega stupid!  But he is a regular guest at state banquets, and TV talk shows. This middle aged man probably close to his fifties has been living large part of his life in a Western country with an excellent human and especially women rights record. Finland was the 1^st country in Europe to grant women voting rights and women make up almost half of the parliamentarians and they have a woman president in her second term already. I would have wished at least a little more openness of mind and some critical thinking.  

From a man in his position one would expect more common sense. How can he advocate Stone Age practices marrying little girls when there are lots and lots of unmarried young women waiting to get married?  A grownup man wishing to marry a six or even a nine year old girl is a man with sick fantasy, a pervert and a pedophile, there is no way around it.

This Imam went so far as saying that in Western societies youngsters at that age are involved in sexual acts but in Islam he is accepting it in a marriage. Not to mention that elsewhere hardly any 6 yr. or 9 yr. old girl is sexually active, so he was simply lying.

There is a HUGE  difference here: the first one is not acceptable although it happens occasionally  (mostly rape by someone close) - the latter one is sanctioned by higher authorities, and what is worse: sanctioned by God itself?!I went to find facts from Wikipedia.    What I found very shocking that Lebanon which is trying to appear the most modern and advanced Middle Eastern Muslim country has the worst record of women rights! Nine year old girls are children and sexual acts with them is pedophilia, married or not.  It makes me sick, this is not Islam.

From the list  of some countries with marriageable ages for male/female I pick up Lebanon, the former home country of this Imam: Lebanon: 18 for males and 17 for females; scope for judicial discretion on basis of physical maturity and wali’s permission from 17 for males and 9 for females; real puberty or 15/9 with judicial permission for Shi’a; 18/17 or 16/15 with judicial permission for Druze.   Nine years minimum age for little-girl-wives and this country is bragging to be a model to the Muslim Middle Easterners.    HOW can a 10-year old be a mother to an infant, or perhaps this possibility is not taken into consideration in those male chauvinistic minds?

In a few days I will write, Inshallah,    about the Prophept’s young wife Aisha. The Hadith’s suggest, that she was married to him at the age 6 yrs.  By Hadith’s  of which I am very critical about. They were collected as late 250-300 years after the death of the Prophet (p.b.u.H.). From 600 000 stories f.e. Bukhari selected 7,397 based on their truthfulness. Truthfulness? How can a lengthy recitation transmitted by word of mouth over half a dozen generations be truthful in every single word? Human mind is not a computer, it can err with the best of intentions.  

Prophet Mohammad discouraged in his lifetime writing down these stories in fear they would be confused with the Quran itself. Well, yes, it looks like it happened after all.There are several surviving written document from the lifetime of the Prophet from which we can reconstruct the events and we find that Aisha was in her late teens, probably early twenties when marrying as it happened in Medina after he Hijjra (emigration). Especially the shia-Muslims (most Iranians, half of the Iraqis, Persian Golf Emirates, part of Saudi Arabia, and Southern Lebanon) still hold on to this practice and what disturbs me most is that the media and especially the internet is full of hate speech regarding this matter and Islam is regularly called a “Pedophile Religion”. Opponents are using a very powerful image,  and it is working.

One of my favorite quotes is from the late  Dr. Lila Fahlman,  founder of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW):   “Hadith’s have ruined Islam. “

I am trying my very best to shake up and wake up the Muslims themselves into critical thinking ( it is our duty trying to change things we think are wrong) and at the same time trying to build bridges.

There is no other way. 

Mona

 

 

 

Yesterday we celebrated the International Woman’s Day.

 

 

The following news article, once again, one cannot read without wondering and getting really upset. This is NOT  Islam!

 

Saudis order 40 lashes for elderly woman for mingling

(CNN) — A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes, four months imprisonment and deportation from the kingdom for having two unrelated men in her house, according to local media reports.

According to the Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan, troubles for the woman, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, began last year when a member of the religious police entered her house in the city of Al-Chamli and found her with two unrelated men, “Fahd” and “Hadian.”

Fahd told the policeman he had the right to be there, because Sawadi had breast-fed him as a baby and was therefore considered to be a son to her in Islam, according to Al-Watan. Fahd, 24, added that his friend Hadian was escorting him as he delivered bread for the elderly woman. The policeman then arrested both men.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam called Wahhabism  and punishes unrelated men and women who are caught mingling.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, feared by many Saudis, is made up of several thousand religious policemen charged with duties such as enforcing dress codes, prayer times and segregation of the sexes. Under Saudi law, women face many restrictions, including a strict dress code and a ban on driving. Women also need to have a man’s permission to travel.

Al Watan obtained the court’s verdict and reported it was partly based on the testimony of the religious police. In his ruling, the judge said it was proved that Fahd is not Sawadi’s son through breastfeeding.

The court also doled out punishment to the two men. Fahd was sentenced to four months in prison and 40 lashes; Hadian was sentenced to six months in prison and 60 lashes. In a phone call with Al Watan, the judge declined to comment and suggested the newspaper review the case with the Ministry of Justice. Sawadi told the newspaper that she will appeal, adding that Fahd is indeed her son through breastfeeding…

 

 

Please read on the right Panel also my other topics, like Women and Islam.

In Islam there is a punishment for adultery which must be witnessed by four people, a practical impossibility. But even then it is not a death penalty, or corporal punishment:

“And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death comes close to them or God opens some way for them.” (Q.4:15)

 

The punishment by flogging comes from the Hadith’s  and as my readers must know by now,  I am quite critical about  them.

Therefore modern scholars argue that Islam does not favor a harsh punishment, which was practiced before Islam. Like stoning to death was common as it was in  Christian Palestine, too.  We all are responsible for our deeds on the last day, when our good deeds are weighed against our bad deeds. Grandma mingling with two boys who go shopping for her is not a grave sin, in my humble opinion (sorry my sarcasm, cannot help it!)   

BUT:  there is a hash punishment for accusing chaste women, and I wish these religious fanatics will get their share on the last day:

Qur’an 24:23: “Surely those who accuse chaste believing women, unaware (of the evil), are cursed in this world and hereafter, and they shall have a grievous chastisement.”

Qur’an 24:2-4: “Those who accuse married women of adultery, then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they are wicked.”

Qur’an 33:58: “And those who speak evil things of the believing men and the believing women without their having earned (it), they are guilty indeed of a false accusation and a manifest sin.”

 

While reading this article I had to think of the gravest sins in Islam:

an invention (which is NOT based on the Quranic teaching) to the practice of faith is one of them.

 

I cannot imagine that God would not allow women to drive   or grandma to send her neighbor’s boys for shopping or stopping by for a chat -   a case like this, where she knows him all his life. In fact I believe the reason for not allowing women to drive  has not so much to do with them but much more with men, who harass women  - it is quite common in Saudi Arabia.

 

I pray to God to guide Muslims back to the right path!

HE gave us a free will and the ability think, and we should use that gift.  Common sense is all I wish.

 

Salaam

Mona

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

While watching World News and Mayhem on my TV screen I have long been intending to write about Democracy because the common assumption is that Islam and Democracy do not go well together. 

 

 We should not confuse tradition with religion.  In older democracies the path to this day was long and slow. Some reached it earlier, like in Britain the first step was as early as in 1215  known as the Magna Carta.  Other countries have followed.   Although one must sometimes wonder if democracy is the best way to govern.   It is always a compromise which naturally is not the best solution to problems.  And voters do not always choose the best candidate simply because of lack of knowledge and experience and they can be easily manipulated.  But there is no better way available and the rights and safety of individuals must be guaranteed.

In my opinion in the Quran  we have clear instructions for the early Muslim community to practice democracy:   “O you who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to God and the Apostle, if you believe in God and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.” (Q. 4:59)

“And their business is (conducted) through consultation among themselves.” (Q.42:38)

“God does not love the public utterance of hurtful speech unless (it be) by one to whom injustice has been done; and God is Hearing, Knowing.” (Q.4:148)

 

Traditionally, before Islam matters in the pagan Arabian Bedouin communities where already handled democratically. Clan elders discussed problems, set rules and practiced justice as they are still doing it among themselves in a smaller scale, because today we have governments and state laws. Like in almost all early human communities regardless of location worldwide.

It was much later than dictators have taken over motivated mostly by power and material gain. It is still a long way for many, but I am hopeful that matters will improve. In my opinion the key to success is education, education, education and especially that of the women. They are the ones who educate the children and their influence on the society is tremendous.

Unfortunately in many places religion have been used to segregate women from men denying them the basic human rights the Quran guarantees them! (Please read also the Topic No.6 on the right “Women and Islam”) 

As I already wrote, we should not confuse religion with tradition. I am quite critical about the Hadiths. They are orally narrated reports from the time of early Muslim community and were collected as late as 250-300 years after the death of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Bukhari, for example, examined 600,000 traditions of which he accepted only 7,397!

I have never forgotten an experiment we did in school, I was 11 years old (the last year before changing schools). At the beginning of class the teacher gave us a sentence or perhaps it was two sentences - a short story. We whispered it to each other and by the time bell was ringing for break the teacher asked the last pupil to tell what he had heard. We could not believe what from the story had become, it was unrecognizable!

I am not asserting, that this is the case with Hadith’s, but taken in account the time which passed (200-300 years) even the best-meaning and devoted believer can err. It is human, we are not computers that can record every word forever.  

In my opinion we should put less importance on the Hadith’s (put them in perspective) and more on the Quran, which gives us clear instructions and in this particular case we understand that Islam favors Democracy!  

 

Quoting the late Dr. Lila Fahlman   Founding President of the World Council of Muslim Women Foundation: “Man-written Hadith’s have ruined Islam and do not speak to human rights or to equality for men and women, but rather favour the enslavement of women.”…   “Any Muslim who finds the Qur’an difficult to understand would do best to spend his time on the Qur’an rather then on the Hadith’s, which can never surpass the Qur’an as the Hadith is man written.”

 

 

 

 

Again and again while reading other blogs and forums the notion comes up, that Islam does not tolerate other faiths and that its main aim would be to convert others under Islam by violent means. As proof they quote isolated Hadiths and suras of the Quran . Nothing would be more wrong and against the spirit of Islam.

It is true, that believers are encouraged to invite people of other faiths to get to know Islam by good example and friendly discussions, but never by force.

As I wrote in the first part of this theme (pls. scroll this page down) the Prophet himself instructed believers not to harm people, who came under the government of the new Muslim state.

There are numerous suras of the Quran and Hadiths to prove this. Many more than there are others, which are taken out of context (from a war situation, when Islam was under attack).

And as always, the text of the Quran is more accurate than the Hadiths, which were sorted out according to their truthfulness as late as 250 years after the death of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Please read also on the right panel Topic No. 7  What the Qur’an says about… … other faiths.. tolerance and Hadith’s.

Freedom of Religious Assembly and Religious Autonomy:
Given consent by the constitution, the Jews had the complete freedom to practice their religion. The Jews in Medina at the time of the Prophet had their own school of learning, named Bait-ul-Midras, where they would recite the Torah, worship and educate themselves.
On one occasion, the Prophet received a delegation of sixty Christians from the region of Najran, then a part of Yemen, at his mosque. When the time for their prayer came, they faced the direction of east and prayed. The Prophet ordered that they be left in their state and not harmed.

There are also examples in the life of the Prophet in which he cooperated between with people of other faiths in the political arena as well. He selected a non-Muslim, Amr-ibn Umaiyah-ad-Damri, as an ambassador to be sent to Negus, the King of Ethiopia.

May God bestow upon us wisdom and tolerance to be able to tackle the problems the human race is facing in the near future.

. . . . .

“There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan (Devil) and believes in God he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and God is Hearing, Knowing.” (Q.2.256)

“God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loved those who are just.” (Quran, 60:8)

“Say, we believe in God and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to other prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” (Q.3:83)

If You have read other topics on the right you may have noticed, that I am quite critical about the Hadiths - the reports from the early Muslim community and the years thereafter. They were collected, sorted out and written down ca. 250 years after the death of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).

They reflect the customs and beliefs of that time and should not always be taken literally.

Science today has a more accurate picture f.e. of the universe than people had 1400 years ago. In some hadiths astronomical phenomena are explained in clearly unscientific manner, from falling stars to the moon splitting in two. People around the Prophet narrated these and for centuries they were taken literally.

Even if the Prophet did make all these statements, then they must be seen as his sincere belief what he thought was right. After all he was an ordinary man, as He himself stated on numerous occasions.

Please read also on the right panel the topic No. 8 Hadiths (reported Sayings by The Prophet) and No. 7 What the Qur’an says about… - The Creation of the Universe.

“O, assembly of the jinn (spirits) and the men! If you are able to pass through regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass through; You cannot pass through but with authority” (Q.55:32-37)

(Hubble space telescope image ‘Cat’s Eye Nebula”, an exploding star, NASA Oct.31st 1999 at: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap991031.html)

Unfortunately, very often the Hadiths take a more important role than the Quran itself in the daily life of the believers when it comes to practical decisions.

The holy Quran was revealed to the Phophet in a dream or in a dreamlike condition and Muslims believe it to be the Word of God, literally. Until today researchers have not found any scientific inaccuracy in it.

Ref. The Bible, The Quran and Science. By Maurice Bucaille

A Student to his father: Today, my science teacher brought a mobile model of our Universe with its Sun, Moon and the Planets in our class room. It was fun to watch our Earth spinning on its own axis and at the same time also around the orbit of our Sun. When our side of the Earth faces the Sun we have the Day, and the people living on the other side of the Earth have Night. This alternating Light and Darkness within a Day has been the eternal Law of the Nature. A Muslim students dialogue with his parents.

The Farewell Pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.) was a significant historical event in the Muslims life. Although thousands of Muslims witnessed the Farewell (last) Sermon given by the Prophet Muhammed (p.b.u.h.), the Hadiths books reported at least three versions of the same Sermon.

For an event witnessed by over 10,000 people an accurate narration should have been available, but it has not.

In the Shiite version of the Sermon it is narrated “the book of Allah and my family”, while in the Sunnite version it is “ the Book of Allah and my Sunnah”.

Only the version that talks about QURAN ALONE is the only one that does not contradict the QURAN and does not have any political motive behind it. It is the version ignored by the sects of the Sunnites and Shiites because it does not support their political agenda.

Here are the references to the three versions of the Sermon:

1) I leave with you Quran and Sunnah, Muwatta, 46/3
2) I leave with you Quran and Ahl al-bayt (meaning the family of the Prophet) , Muslim 44/4, Nu2408; ibn hanbal 4/366; darimi 23/1, nu 3319.
3) I leave for you the Quran alone you shall uphold it. Muslim 15/19, nu 1218; ibn Majah 25/84, Abu dawud 11/56.

Sunni-Muslims count ca. 90% of the beleivers while the Shia-Muslims are less than 10 %, the rest belong to smaller Sects.

Needless to say, that this has has opened the door to interpretations, which clearly contradict the Quran. And here we find the main reason for the dividing elements in Islam.

And it is the Hadith books, where extremist find justifacation for their attacks on civilians and innocent bystanders while the Quran clearly forbids such actions. And suicide is strongly prohibited in Islam. Please read more on the right panel under the topic No. 7 What the Qur’an says about… and No. 8  Hadiths (reported Sayings by The Prophet)

“… and do not aggress; God dislikes the aggressors.” (Q.5:87)

“You shall not kill any person - for God has made life sacred - except in the course of justice, and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority, so let him not exceed the just limits in slaying; surely he is aided.” (Q.17:33)

“If they seek peace. Then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that hear and know all things.” (Q.8.61)

“.. Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no excuse to fight them.” (Q. 4:90)

“.., we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people.” (Qur’an 5:32)

” That (shall be so); and he who retaliates with the like of that with which he has been afflicted and he has been oppressed, God will most certainly aid him; most surely. God is Pardoning, Forgiving.” (Q.22:60)

“…You shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant.” (Q. 7:199)

“…… You shall not kill - God has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand.”(Q. 6:151)

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The following is the first - the Sunni-Muslim version of the Last Sermon (it was Delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat ):

O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don’t know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived…

Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in zakat. Perform hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O Allah that I have conveyed your message to your people.

The Western media is portraying women in Islam as the symbol of subordination of women ‘par excellence’. This picture is so complete that even an attempt to scratch it is in vain. Unfortunately, many journalists choose to rely on wellknown stereotypes. Muslims count over 1 billion in the world alltogether and naturally many sects, small and large, have split from the moderate mainstream Islam, which constitutes ca. 90 % (called the “Sunni”-Muslims). In most Muslim countries today women are advancing and exercising their rights by participating in politics, education, working as judges, professors, doctors etc.

I warmly recommend the following web page to all my readers … since you came to my page you should not miss that one. There you will find proof that it was the Judeo-Christian Tradition that truly oppressed women and it is the Islamic teaching where you find equality and companionship between a man and a woman… And the Veil is not an Islamic invention!

“Women in Islam versus Women in the Judaeo-Christian Tradition” by Prof. Sherif Abdel Azim, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Another enlightening text can be found on www.religioustolerance.org, “Is the Bible infallible, inerrant, free of error?”

Reported Sayings, Hadith’s by Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.):

 

 

 

“Do treat your women well and be kind to them, for they are your partners and committed helpers.”"I am leaving you with the Book of God and Sunnah (=example) of his prophet. If you follow them, you will never go astray.”“Verily, this religion (Islam) is simple and easy to follow, whoever makes it hard will only be overwhelmed by it..”

” Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”

 

 (all four from the farewell speech on his last Hajj, which makes them a final verdict.) 

 

“I am the closest of all people to Jesus, son of Mary, in this world and the Hereafter; for all prophets are brothers, with different mothers but one religion.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, “O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?” He [the Prophet Muhammad, p.b.u..h.] replied, “Whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’, faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animals, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have.” - Sahih Bukhari

“My Sustainer has given me nine commands: to remain conscious of God, whether in private or in public; to speak justly, whether angry or pleased; to show moderation both when poor and when rich; to reunite friendship with those who have broken it off with me; to give to him who refuses me; that my silence should be occupied with thought; that my looking should be an admonition; and that I should command what is right.”

“There is no compulsion in religion…”

“The major sins are associating other objects of worship with God, disobedience to parents, murder, and deliberate perjury.”

“God is gentle, and He loves the adoption of a gentle attitude in all matters.” (related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim

)“Don’t bear aversion against one another and don’t be jealous of one another and be servants of Allah.”  - Abu Huraira

“If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him.” - Sunan of Abu-Dawood

“There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he speaks lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays his trust.”

“The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Emigrant is he who abandons what God has prohibited.”

“He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a true believer.“

“You are not a true believer if you harm your neighbor.”

“Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms and prayers? Making peace between one another: Enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.”

“No Muslim is allowed not to talk his brother for more than three consecutive days. The better one is the one who starts the greeting.”

“God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.”

“Be merciful to those who live on Earth so that the One in Heaven may be merciful to you.”

“God is most compassionate to those of His servants who are themselves compassionate.”

“Actions are judged according to their intentions and every person will be dealt with (in the Hereafter) according to what he intends.”

“Modesty and faith are twins. One who gives up one has to lose the other too.”

“A person who believes in God and the Hereafter should speak about good things or else should keep quiet.”

“Keep away of ill-thinking, because ill-thinking is the greatest falsehood.”

“If anyone buys a garment for ten dirhams among which one is unlawfully acquired, God Most High will not accept prayer from him as long as he wears it.”

“If anyone keeps goods till the price rises, he is a sinner.”

“If anyone withholds grain for forty days thereby desiring a high price, has renounced God and God has renounced him.”

“It is not lawful for a Muslim to sell such a commodity that has a defect, except that the defect is shown to the buyer.”

“If anyone accepts others belongings meaning to pay back, God will pay back for him, but if anyone accepts them meaning to squander them, God will on that account destroy his property.”

“Gold is to be paid by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates and salt by salt, like for like, payment being made on the spot. If anyone gives more or asks for more, he has dealt in usury. The receiver and the giver are equally guilty.”

“When a man makes a loan to another, he must not accept a present.”"If anyone claims what is not his, he does not belong to us, and let him come to his seat in hell.”

“All the evils can be found in a believer, except dishonesty and falsehood.”

“He who goes out in search of knowledge is in God’s path till he returns.”

“The search of knowledge is an obligation laid on every Muslim.”

“The one who would have the worst position in God’s sight on the Day of Resurrection would be a learned man who did not profit from his learning.”

“Powerful is not he, who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he, who controls himself in a fit of anger.”

“Do not consider any act of kindness insignificant, even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.”

“The man who is most hateful to God is the one who quarrels and disputes most”

“You will recognize the believers in their having Mercy for one another, and in their Love for one another, and in their Kindness towards one another; like the body, when one member of it hurts, the entire body hurts.”

“The prophet said: ‘Religion is sincerity’. We said: ‘To whom?’ He said: ‘To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk’. “

“God does not judge according to you bodies and appearance but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.”

“There is a reward for kindness to every living thing.”

“God has ordained kindness (or excellence) in everything. If killing is to be done, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife, and putting the animal at ease.”

“Cleanliness is part of faith…”

“Ask God for certainty (of faith) and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!”

“He who is involved bringing up daughters, and accords benevolent treatment towards them, they will be protection for him against Hell-fire.”

“O you young men! Whoever is able to marry should marry, for that will help him to lower his gaze and guard his modesty.”"When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion, so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half.”

“The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best character and the best of you are those who are best to their wives”

“The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best and kindest to his wife.”

“This world is nothing but temporary conveniences, and the greatest joy in this world is a righteous woman”

“Whoever marries a woman solely for her power and position, God will only increase him in humiliation. Whoever marries a woman solely for her wealth, God will only increase him in poverty. Whoever marries a woman because of her beauty, God will only increase him in ugliness. But whoever marries a woman in order that he may restrain his eyes, observe cautiousness, and treat his relations kindly, Allah puts a blessing in her for him and in him for her.”

“When a man gives his daughter in marriage and she dislikes it, the marriage shall be annulled.” (Once a virgin girl came to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and said that her father had married her to a man against her wishes. The Prophet gave her the right to repudiate the marriage.

)“Khansa’ b. Khidham reported that her father gave her in marriage, after she had became a widow. She disliked it and came to the Prophet. He annulled the marriage.”

“The widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until their order is obtained, and the virgin shall not be married until her consent is obtained.”

A report from Ibn Abbas states that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: “A previously married woman is more a guardian for herself than her guardian and a virgin should be asked permission about herself, and her permission is her silence. “

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: “A grown-up girl shall be asked permission about herself. If she is silent, it is her permission; and if she declines, there shall be no compulsion on her.” (Muslim).

“A believer is a brother of a believer. Hence it is not lawful for him to bargain upon the bargain of a brother, nor propose for (the hand of a girl) after the marriage proposal of his brother, until the latter (voluntarily) withdraws theproposal.”

Some Muslim wives complained to him that their husbands had beaten them. Hearing that, the Prophet categorically stated that: “Those who do so (beat their wives) are not the best among you”

Abu Huraira reported that a person said: “Allah’s Messenger, who amongst the people is most deserving of my good treatment?” He said: “Your mother, again your mother, again your mother, then your father, then your nearest relatives according to the order (of nearness).”

Narrated by Abu Dhar: “I abused a man by calling his mother with bad names. The prophet said to me: ‘O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names? You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of that which he eats and dress him of that which he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them.” (more under the topic ‘Slavery’)

Narrated Anas: “None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri: “Allah’s Messenger said, ‘If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then God shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and an evil deed will be recorded as it is unless God forgives it.”

“Do not prevent the bond-maids of God from (going to) God’s mosques.”

“If someone’s wife asks his permission to go to the mosque, he should not deny it to her.”

Narrated Abu Huraira: “Allah’s Messenger said: ‘Whoever observes Saum (fasts) during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.’ “

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The Prophet said: ‘Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but to try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by offering the prayers in the mornings, afternoons and during the last hours of the nights.’ “

Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) stood and asked his companions to stand up when a funeral procession passed by. When the companions said it was the funeral of a Jew, the prophet said: “Is he not a human being?”

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr: “The prophet said, ‘A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands. And a Muhajir (Emigrant) is the one who gives up (abandons) all that Allah has forbidden.’ “

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The prophet said: ‘O Muslim women! None of you should look down upon the gift sent by her she-neighbor even if it were the trotters of the sheep (fleshless part of legs).”

Narrated Abu Huraira: “The prophet said, ‘I shall accept the invitation even if I were invited to a meal of a sheep’s trotter (fleshless part of legs), and I shall accept the gift even if it were an arm or trotter of a sheep.”

Narrated Abu Huraira: ” The Prophet said: ‘When your servant brings your meal to you then if you do not let him sit and share the meal, then he should at least be given a mouthful or two mouthfuls of that meal or meal or two meals, as he has prepared it.”

Narrated Abu Bakrah: “I heard Allah’s Messenger saying: ‘When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire.’ I said: “O Allah’s Messenger! It is alright for the murderer but what about the murdered one?’ Allah’s messenger replied: ‘He surely ha the intention to kill his companion.’ “

Narrated Um Kulthum bint Uqba that she heard Allah’s Messenger saying: ‘He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar.”

Narrated Sahl bin Sa’d: “Once the people of Quba’ fought with each other till they threw stones on each other. When Allah’s Messenger was informed about it, he said, ‘Let us go to bring about a reconciliation between them.’ “

Narrated Abu Bakrah that he heard Allah’s Messenger saying: “A judge should not make a judgement between two persons when he is in anger. “

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “Avoid suspicion, for suspicion is the gravest lie in talk and do not be inquisitive about one another and do not spy upon one another and do not feel envy with the other, and nurse no malice, and nurse no aversion and hostility against one another. And be fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. “

Narrated Ma’qil bin Yasar: “I heard the Prophet saying: ‘Any man whom Allah has given the authority of ruling some people and he does not look after them in an honest manner, will never have even the smell of Paradise.’ “

“God grants a respite to the oppressor, but when He finally seizes him, He will not let him escape.”

“The God’s messenger (p.b.u.h.) passed a mixed company of Muslims, polytheists who worshipped idols and Jews and he gave them a salutation.”

“None of you must point a weapon at his brother for he does not know whether the devil may draw it out while it is in his hand as a result of which he will fall into a pit of hell.”

“Feed the hungry, visit the sick and free the captive.”"By Him in Whose hand my soul is, a man does not believe till he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.”

“Wealth is not in vast riches but wealth is in self-contentment.”"One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.”

“If anyone of you sees something objectionable, he should change it with his hand, but if he cannot, he should change it with his tongue, and if he cannot he should do it in his heart, that being the weakest form of faith.”

“If people knew what I know about the dangers of being alone, no rider would travel alone at night.”

“God’s messenger, Mohammad, (p.b.u.h.) did not come to his family during the night, but was accustomed to enter only in the morning or in the evening.”

“God’s messenger, Mohammad, (p.b.u.h.) used to arrive from a journey only in the daytime during the forenoon, and that when he arrived he went first to the mosque where he prayed two Raka’s, after which he sat in it and gave audience to the people.”

“God’s messenger, Muhammad, (p.b.uh.) used to keep to the rear when traveling and urge on the weak. He would take some up behind him and would make supplication for them all.”

“Anas said: I served the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) for ten years and he never said to me, ‘Shame!’ or ‘Why you do such and such?’ or ‘Why did you not do such and such.’ “

“Jabir said that when God’s messenger (p.b.u.h.) was asked for anything, he never said, ‘No.’ “

“Abu Huraira told that when God’s messenger (p.b.u.h.) was asked to invoke curse on the polytheists he replied, ‘I was not sent as one given to cursing; I was sent only as a mercy.’ “

“Hind, daughter of Khadija from her former husband, says about the Prophet (p.b.u.h.): ‘Kind of heart, he was nice and sweet-tempered. He never liked to displease or cause offence to anybody. He thanked even for trifling favours. He took whatever food was placed before him, without making any adverse remark. He never got angry for anything concerning his own person, nor did he think of taking revenge or letting down anybody, but if anyone opposed what was just and right, he used to get sore and helped the right cause with all his might.”

“When a Muslim plants a plant, anything eaten of it or stolen from it, until the Day of Resurrection, is accounted as charity for him.”

“The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: ‘Whomsoever Allah intends to do good, He gives right understanding of religion, and knowledge is maintained only through teaching.’ “

Narrated Abu Hurairah: “I heard the Prophet saying: ‘If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him?’ They said, ‘Not a trace of dirt would e left.’ That is the example of the five Salat (prayers) with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds.’ “

Narrated Omar: ” I heard the Prophet saying, ‘do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Maryam (Mary), for I am only a slave. So, call me the slave of Allah and His Messenger.’

“During the reign of Omar (2nd successor to the Prophet p.b.u.h.), women participated in law making. Omar made a proposal of a certain regulation concerning marriage. A woman in the mosque stood up and said: “Omar, you can’t do that.” Omar did not tell her, “Shut up, you are a woman, you have nothing to do with politics, etc.” He asked, “Why?” She made her argument on the basis of Quran. In front of everybody, Omar stood up and said, “The woman is right and Omar is wrong,” and he withdrew his proposal.That was the spirit in the early days of Islam. In the most authentic collection of Hadith’s, Bukhari, a section is devoted to the participation of women, not only in public affairs, but in the battlefield, too and not only as logistical support. Women carried arms, and when there was great danger to the Muslims, they volunteered to participate even in the battlefield.

 

Hadith’s narrated by Lady Aisha:

 “Whenever Allah’s Messenger was given a choice of one of two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, as long as it was not sinful to do so, but if it was sinful to do so, he would not approach it. Allah’s Messenger never took revenge (over anybody) for his own sake but (he did) only when Allah’s Legal Laws and Bindings were outraged in which case he would take revenge for Allah’s sake.”

“The Prophet used to talk so clearly that if somebody wanted to count the number of his word, he could do so.”

“Allah’s messenger never talked so quietly and vaguely as you do.”

“Aisha reported, ‘The Jews came to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and said, ‘Death overtake you! may Allah curse you and may Allah’s wrath descend on you. He (the Prophet) said: ‘Gently, O A’isha! Be courteous, and keep thyself away from roughness.”

“Allah’s Messenger used to accept gifts and used to give something in return.”

“Aswad said, I asked A’isha, ‘What did the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) do when in his house?’ She said, ‘he served his wife’, meaning that he did work for his wife.”

“God’s messenger (p.b.u.h.) used to patch his sandals, sew his garments and conduct himself as anyone of you did in his house.”

“Aisha was asked: ‘What did the Prophet used to do in his house?’ She replied, ‘He used to keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for As-Salat (prayer), he would go for it.”

“Allah’s Messenger said: ‘When a woman gives in charity some of the foodstuff (which she has in her house) without spoiling it, she will receive the reward for what she has spent, and her husband will receive the reward because of his earning, and the storekeeper will also have a reward similar to it. The reward of one will not decrease the reward of the others.’ “

“How praiseworthy are the women of Ansar that their modesty does not prevent them from attempts at learning and the acquisition of knowledge.”

Narrated Aisha that “Barira came to seek her help in her writing of emancipation (for a certain sum) and at that time she had not paid anything for it. Aisha said to her, ‘Go back to your masters, and if they agree that I will pay the amount of your writing of emancipation and get your Wala, I will do so.’ Barira informed her masters of that but they refused and said, ‘If she (i.e.Aisha) is seeking Allah’s reward, then she can do so, but your Wala will for us.’ Aisha mentioned that to Allah’s messenger who said to her: ‘Buy and manumit her, as the Wala’ is for the liberator.’ Allah’s Messenger then got up and said, ‘What about the people who stipulate conditions which are not present in Allah’s laws? Whoever imposes conditions which are not present in Allah’s laws, then those conditions will be invalid, even if he imposed these conditions a hundred times. Allah’s conditions (Laws) are the truth and are more solid.”

“The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for (Aisha’s) hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said: ‘But I am your brother.’ The Prophet said: ‘you are my brother in Allah’s Religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry.’ “

Narrated (Aisha) that the Prophet said to her, “You have been shown to me twice in my dream. I saw you pictured on a piece of silk and someone said (to me), ‘This is your wife.’ When I uncovered the picture, I saw that it was yours. I said, ‘If this is from Allah, it will be accomplished.’ “

“I said: ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Suppose you landed in a valley where there is a tree of which something has been eaten and the you found trees of which nothing has been eaten, of which tree would you let your camel graze?’ He said: ‘(I will let my camel graze) of the one which nothing has been eaten before.’ (the sub-narrator added: Aisha meant that Allah’s Messenger had not married a virgin besides herself.

)“I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet as much as I did of Khadijah (the first wife of the Prophet) though I did not see her, but the Prophet used to mention her very often, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women-friends of Khadijah. When I sometimes said to him, ‘(you treat Khadijah in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except Khadijah’, he would say, ‘ Khadijah was such and such and from her I had children.’ “

“Once Hala bint Khuwailid, Khadijah’s sister, asked permission of the Prophet to enter. On that, the Prophet remembered the way Kahdijah used to ask permission, and that upset him. He said, ‘O Allah! Hala!’ So I became jealous and said, ‘What makes you remember an old woman amongst the old women of Qureish, (with a toothless mouth) of red gums who died long ago, and in whose place Allah has given you somebody better than her ?”

Here is one Hadith which makes us smile, and the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) to appear very human to us. Narrated Lady Aisha: “Allah’s messenger was fond of honey and sweet edible things and it was his habit that after finishing the Asr (=afternoon) prayer he would visit his wives and stay with one of them at that time. Once he went to Hafsah, the daughter of Omar and stayed with her more than usual. I got jealous and asked for the reason for that. I was told that a lady in her folk had given her a skin filled with honey as a present, and that she she made a syrup from it and gave it to the Prophet to drink (and that was the reason for the delay). I said, ‘By Allah, we will play a trick on him (to prevent him delaying so).’ So I said to Sawdah bint Zam’a, ‘The Prophet will approach you, and when he comes near you, say: ‘Have you taken Maghafir (=a bad-smelling gum)? He will say: ‘No’. Then say to him: ‘Then what is this bad smell which I smell on you?’ He will say to you, ‘Hafsah made me drink honey syrup.’ Then say:’ Perhaps the bees of hat honey had sucked the juice of the tree of Al-Urfut.’ I shall also say the same. O you, Safiya, say the same.’ Later Sawdah said: ‘By Allah, as soon as he (the Prophet) stood at the door, I was about to say to him what you had ordered me to say because I was afraid of you.’ So when the Prophet came near Sawdah, she said to him: ‘O Allah’s messenger! Have you taken Maghafir?’ He sad: ‘No.’ She said: ‘Then what is this bad smell I detect on you?’ He said: ‘Hafsah made me drink honey syrup.’ She said: ‘Perhaps its bees had sucked the juice of Al-Urfut tree.’ When he came to me, I also said the same, and when he went to Safiya, she also said the same. And when the Prophet again went to Hafsah, she said: ‘O Allah’s messenger! Shall I give you more of that drink?’ He said: ‘I am not in need of it.’ Sawdah said: ‘By Allah we have deprived him (of it). ‘I said to her: ‘Keep quiet!’. ” : )

 

Narrated (Abu Salama): “Aisha said that the Prophet said to her, ‘O Aisha! This is Jibrael (Gabriel) and he sends his (greetings) salutations to you.’ Aisha said, ‘Salutations (greetings) to him, and Allah’s Mercy and Blessings be on him,’ and addressing the Prophet she said, ‘You see what I don’t see.’ “

Narrated Aisha: “I heard Allah’s Messenger saying, ‘The angels descend in the clouds and mention this or that matter decreed in the heaven. The devils listen stealthily to such a matter, come down to inspire the foretellers with it, and the latter would add to it one hundred lies of their own.”

“When the Prophet became seriously ill and his decease became aggravated he asked for permission from his wives to be nursed in my house and he was allowed. He came out with the help of two men while his legs were dragging on the ground.”

“I listened to the Prophet before his death while he was leaning his back on me and saying: ‘O Allah! Forgive me, and bestow Your Mercy on me, and let me meet the companion.’ “

“The Prophet died while he was between my chest and chin. So I never dislike the death agony for anyone after the Prophet.”

“Allah’s Messenger died when he was sixty-three years of age.”

 

Finally a few Hadith’s about the law of  War and Peace in Islam:

“There is no compulsion in religion…”

Muslims were prohibited from taking anything from the general public of a conquered country without paying for it. When the Muslim army occupied an area of the enemy country, it did not have the right to use things belonging to the people without consent.

“The Prophet has prohibited the believers from looting and plunder” (Bukhari)

“Do not destroy villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle.”

“Do not kill any old person, any child or any women” (AbuDawud)  

 

“Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance ofParadise.”(Muslim)

“Do not kill the monks in monasteries” and “ do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship.” (Ibn Hanbal)

“Do not attack a wounded person.”“No prisoner should be put to the sword.”

“The greatest sins are to associate something with God and to kill human beings.”(The above Hadith’s are from the most quoted collections of Bukhari and Muslim.)

 

Main sources of Hadith’swere collected and sorted 250-300 years after the Hijjra to Medina:

Sahih al-Bukhari (d. 256 after Hijjra = 870 A.D., 246 years after the death of the Prophet, p.b.u.h.) most quoted

Sahih Muslim (d. 261 after Hijjrah = 875 A.D. ), second most quotedSunan Ibn Majah (d. 273 after Hijjrah = 887 A.D. )

Sunan Abu Dawud (d. 275 after Hijjrah = 888 A.D. )

Jami Al Dirmithi (d. 279 after Hijjrah = 892 A.D. )

Sunan al-Nisai (d. 303 after Hijjrah = 915 A.D. )

These collections are quoted by Sunni Muslims, which constitute ca. 90% of the believers.

The Shiite Islam (small minority of Islam, less than 10 %) accepts onlytraditions traced through Ali’s family.

 The major Shiite collections are those of al-Kulini, al-Babuya al-Qummi, and al-Tusi.

 

Quoting Shariah: The Islamic Law. by Abdur Rahman I. Doi, 54   “In preparing their collections, these Traditions obviously used a critical technique to decide what they would include and what they should reject. Bukhari, for example, examined 600,000 traditions of which he accepted only 7,397. The purpose was to assemble a body of traditions which would serve as a rule of life for practicing Muslims, so their primary interest was in selecting such traditions as would give clear guidance concerning what Muslims belief and practice should be, what things were permissible and approved, and what were not permissible and disapproved.”Encyclopedia, Hadith“

Hadith , a tradition or the collection of the traditions of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, including his sayings and deeds, and his tacit approval of what was said or done in his presence. The term, which literally refers to an individual tradition, is also used as a synonym of sunna, the normative custom of the Prophet and his companions, and as the name of a scholarly discipline.

Hadith, as a discipline, consists of two branches, the first concerned with the validation of the individual traditions through the process of biographic examination of its chain of transmitters back to the Prophet (isnad), and the second concentrating on the actual content of the validated traditions (matn) as a source of religious authority.

Since the formalization of Islam, this source of authority has been viewed as second only to the Qur’an. Hadith currently exists in two main sets of collections, corresponding to the Sunni and Shiite division within Islam. Sunni Islam recognizes as authoritative the collections of Bukhari and Muslim followed in importance by those of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, an-Nasai, and Ibn Maja. Shiite Islam accepts only traditions traced through Ali’s family. The major Shiite collections are those of al-Kulini, al-Babuya al-Qummi, and al-Tusi.”

 

QuotingAdil Salahi (Arab News, London, June 12th, 2000):

“… I was provided with a written text from a book entitled ‘Maqam-e-Hadith’ by Mr. Pervez stating that there is firm evidence suggesting that there should be no written text to rival the Qur’an. He quotes three instances of the erasing of the Hadith. The first is an order by the Prophet to his companions to erase any statement of his they might have written down. The second speaks of Abu Bakr asking his daughter to bring him any Hadith written down and then destroying it.  The third speaks of Omar asking all Muslims to bring over all that they had of Hadith written down and when it was collected, he ordered that it should all be burned.While this raises doubt about the very existence of Hadith, it is clear in conflict with what we have learned that the Qur’an and the Hadith are the sources of he Islamic faith, its principles and details… no Muslim, not even the most articulate defender of the position of Hadith, puts Hadith on the same level with the Qur’an.

 

There is no such thing as a rivalry between the Qur’an and the Hadith in any sense whatsoever…God tells us in the Qur’an: ‘Whatever the Prophet bids you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it.’ (59:7) He also says in more than one Sura: ‘Obey God and obey the messenger.’ (24:54)

And He says: ‘Whoever obeys the messenger obeys God.’ (4:80)

….If we were to disregard the Hadith and claim that it has no position in Islamic legislation, how are we to implement God’s orders? …Every statement must be taken within its context. 

 

This the Prophet said in the early days of Islam, when the Arabs, mostly unlettered people, were receiving the message directly from him, and the Qur’an was in the process of revelation.The Prophet feared that in the situation that applied at the time that the Hadith might have been confused with the Qur’an. Therefore, he wanted to ensure that what was written was only the Qur’an. The Hadith was meant to be learned and reported verbally..

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Shariah: The Islamic Law, Abdur Rahman I. DoiEncyclopedia, Hadith“Muhammad: Man and Prophet : A Complete Study of the Life of the Prophet of Islam”, by Adil Salahi