Consumption of What is Unlawful Corrupts the Hearts

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Consumption of What is UnlawfulCorrupts the Hearts and Prevents
Supplications from Being Answered
There is clearly a strong relationship between the soundness or
corruption of a person's heart and his food and earnings. A person's
heart becomes corrupt when he earns what is prohibited and dares to
eat of it. The Prophet said in this regard: "Indeed, what is lawful is
evident, and what is unlawful is evident, and between the two are
matters which are doubtful and unknown to many people." Then he
followed this with: "Beware! In the body there is [a piece of] flesh
which, ifit is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt,
the whole body is corrupt. Behold, this [piece of flesh] is the
heart." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
The heart is like a king and the limbs are its subjects. They are good
when the king is good and corrupt when the king is corrupt.
Al-Munaawi stated that the Prophet spoke about the heart after
illustrating what was lawful and unlawful to indicate that consuming
what is lawful lightens and reforms the heart, while doubtful things
harden it.
A Warning against Eating the Unlawful
The Islamic Sharee'ah forbids its followers from consuming what is
unlawful, whether it is other people's money or rights, or foods that
Allaah The Almighty has declared prohibited. Allaah The Almighty Says
(what means): {And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or
sendit [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you
[to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, whileyou
know [it is unlawful].} [Quran 2:188]
Commenting on this verse, 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas and his father, said,
"This is regardinga person who is indebted with something, but there
is no evidence to prove that he is. When the creditor claims his
right, this person refrains from repaying it, and sues the claimer
although he knows that it is not his right and that he is sinful - and
thus he consumes what is unlawful."
Qataadah said, "O son of Aadam, know that the judgment of a judge does
not permit you what is unlawful. A judge passes a verdict according to
his observation and the testimonies of witnesses, and he is a human
and thus liable to make mistakes.Know that anyone who has been favored
with an invalid verdict will never have his case finished. Allaah The
Almighty will judge between him and the other partyon the Day of
Resurrection, givingthe latter a verdict far better thanthe former had
in this worldly life."
Unjustly Devouring the Orphans' Property
There are various forms of consuming what is unlawful, the most evil
of which is devouring orphans' property unjustly. This is strictly
prohibited in the Quran;Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And
test the orphans [intheir abilities] until they reach marriageable
age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgment, release their
property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly,
[anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as
guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee];and
whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then
when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them.
And sufficient is Allaah as Accountant.} [Quran 4:6]
In his commentary on this verse, Shaykh As-Sa'di said, "The verse
prohibits consuming the property of orphans while they are young, when
they can neithertake it from one nor prevent him from consuming it.
One can devour it while they are still young, before they are grown
and can take it or prevent him from consuming it. Many guardians who
do not fear Allaahand have no mercy upon or love for the children in
their custody do this. They find the opportunity, which they seize,
and thereby hasten to commit what Allaah The Almighty has prohibited.
Therefore, Allaah The Almighty forbids this act specifically."
Moroever, this verse is followed by severe warning to those who devour
the property of orphans unjustly. Allaah The Almighty Says(what
means): {Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are
only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a
Blaze.} [Quran 4:10]
The Prophet was the most concerned with the well-being of his Ummah
(nation) and with warding off evil from it. Therefore, he warned
Muslims against consuming the unlawful, including the property of
orphans. He said: "Avoid the seven destructive sins." One of which is:
"Devouring the propertyof orphans." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Consuming Riba
Another form of prohibition which many people consider trivial and
dare to indulge in is the consumption of Riba (interest, usury).
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {ButAllaah has permitted trade
and has forbidden Riba.} [Quran 2:275]
In forbidding the consumption ofRiba and warning against its
consequences, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have
believed, fear Allaah and give up what remains [due to you] of Riba,
if you shouldbe believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a
war [against you] from Allaah and His Messenger. But if you repent,
you may have your capital - [thus] youdo no wrong, nor are you
wronged.} [Quran 2:278-279]
Who Could Bear a War against Allaah The Almighty?
Additionally, Allaah The Almighty explains in the Quran that Riba is
ultimately going to be destroyed.Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): {Allaah destroys Riba andgives increase for charity.} [Quran
2:276]
Moreover the Prophet counted the consumption of Ribaas one of the
seven deadly sins.
There are many other forms of consuming what is unlawful, including:
theft, bribery, gambling, usurpation, fraud and deception, taking
booty before it is distributed, and excessive overcharging or
undercharging when selling or buying. We are not going to discuss in
detail each of these, however our intention is to warn generally
against consuming what is unlawful.
Supplications and the Consumption of the Unlawful
A person's means of living, whether lawful or unlawful, has adirect
impact on whether his supplications are answered. If a person
investigates his sources ofincome for the sake of eating what is
lawful, his supplication will be closer to being accepted and more
likely to be answered. If the person dares to eat what isunlawful, he
thereby causes his supplication not to be answered by Allaah The
Almighty.
In this regard the Prophet said, "Indeed, Allaah is Good and He
therefore accepts only what is good. Allaah commanded the believers as
He commanded the messengers by Saying (what means):
• "O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness.
Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing." [Quran 23:51]
• "O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have
provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that
you worship." [Quran 2:172]
He then made mention of: "a person who travels widely, his hair
disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky
[and thus makes supplication saying]: "O Lord! O Lord!" But his diet
is unlawful, hisdrink is unlawful, his clothes are [of] unlawful
[means] and his nourishment is unlawful. How could his supplication,
then, be accepted?" [Muslim]
Imaam Ibn Katheer said, "Eating from what is lawful is a cause for
supplication and other acts of worship to be accepted, and eating from
what is unlawfulprevents the acceptance of supplication and other acts
of worship."
Ibn Rajab said, "Eating, drinking, or wearing what is unlawful
prevents supplication and other acts of worship from being accepted."
Consuming what is unlawful doesindeed prevent supplication and other
acts of worship from being accepted. Ibn 'Abbaas and hisfather, said,
"Allaah The Almighty does not accept the prayers of a person whose
belly contains something unlawful."
Ibn Rajab said, "If [one's] nourishment is unlawful, how can [his]
deeds be acceptable?"
Wahb ibn Al-Ward said, "Even if you worship Allaah endlessly, nothing
will help you until you scrutinize whether what is in your belly is
lawful or not."
In sum, a Muslim should be sure that this worldly life is not his end,
and that he will be reckonedin the Hereafter for any unlawful thing he
earns. In the Hereafter, accounts will not consist of money; rather
they will consist ofgood and evil deeds.
Therefore, everyone should fear Allaah and seek lawful sources for his income.
May Allaah The Almighty guide all of us to do so, and keep all Muslims
and us away from everything evil and unlawful.

Consumption of intoxicants & drugs: an Islamic perspective

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The young Muslims of today are facing an ever-increasing numberof
dilemmas. One of these is drugs. What does Islam have to say about it?
How should Muslimsregard drugs? To know this, we must see what the
Quran and theSunnah (prophetic tradition) say regarding intoxicants
and narcotics.
Allaah Almighty states in the Noble Quran what means: " O Youwho
believe! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters
[to other than Allaah], and divining arrows are but defilement from
the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may besuccessful." [Quran:
5:90]
Allaah Almighty has described using intoxicants, amongst otherthings,
as being appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan, and He has
commanded usto abstain from them. Allaah, thereafter, states in the
next verse, that which means: "Satan only wants to cause between
youanimosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert
you from the remembrance of Allaah and from prayer. So will you not
desist? [Quran: 5:91] This Aayah (verse) tells us how it is a
detestable act of Satan, because intoxicants, in addition to sowingthe
seeds of enmity, prevent one from the remembrance of Allaah.
Bear in mind that when the term intoxicant is used, it also
encompasses narcotics, because they too, among other things, result in
the loss of self-control. There are also many narrations stated by the
Noble Prophet with regards to intoxicants, such as:
1) Jaabir reported that the Noble Prophet said: "Whosoever drinks
wine, whip him. If he repeats it for the fourth time, kill him." He
(Jaabir) continued: "A man was later brought to the Prophet who had
drunk wine for the fourth time. He beat him, but did not killhim."
[At-Tirmithi & Abu Daawood]
The following Hadeeth (propheticnarration) clearly states that the
Noble Prophet prohibited intoxicants:
2) Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Every
intoxicant is Khamr (wine)and every intoxicant is Haraam (unlawful).
Whosoever drinks wine in this world and dies whilst having consumed it
and not having repented from it will not drink it in the next world
[i.e.in Paradise ]." [Muslim]
3) Jaabir narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Whatever
intoxicates in a greater quantity is also unlawful in a small
quantity." [At-Tirmithi, Abu Daawood & Ibn Maajah]
4) Abdullaah bin 'Amr reported from the Prophet who said: "One who is
disobedient to parents, gambles, is harsh after charity (i.e., he
reminds others of his charity to them) or is a habitual drunkard shall
not enter Paradise ." [Ad-Daarimi]
5) Ibn 'Abbaas reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "If a
habitual drunkard dies, he will meet Allaah like the one whoworships
idols." [Ahmad & Ibn Maajah]
In other narrations, Prophet Muhammad described intoxicants as:
1. The key to all evils.
2. The head of all errors and lapses.
3. The most terrible of major sins.
4. The mother of all atrocities.
5. The mother of all evils.
Why are drugs and intoxicants soabhorrent, awful, foul and vile in the
sight of Islam? Let us look at what the scholars have said regarding
the effects of drugs from worldly as well as religious perspectives:
Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-Makki narrates from some scholars thatthere are one
hundred and twenty worldly and religious detriments that result from
consuming hashish (Cannabis).
Not ten, or twenty, but one hundred and twenty harms occurdue to the
consumption of such drugs! Ibn Seenaa stated that large amounts of it
dries up semen (The fluid that carries sperm, thus rendering a
consumer of narcotics sexually impotent). Ibn Al-Beetaar stated: "A
group of people used it(drugs) and therefore became mentally deranged
(insane)."
Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:"All the faults, blemishes, and other bad
things in Khamr (wine)are present in hashish, and more,because the
majority of faults in khamr affect religion, but hashishaffects, to a
great extent, both religion and body."
Some might say that all drugs do not intoxicate, and that drugs like
heroin and hashish are only depressants which slacken and weaken the
mind. The answer to this lies is in the following statement:
Umm Salamah said: "The Prophet prohibited every intoxicant and Muftir
(every substance which slackens the mind)."
The unanimity of the Ummah (Muslim nation) on the prohibition of
narcotics is also narrated from many scholars. Imaam Az- Zarkashi
stated: "The consensus of the Ummah is narrated from several scholars
onthe prohibition of hashish; those scholars include Qiraafi and Ibn
Taymiyyah."
If that was not enough, Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah has further stated:
"Whosoever regards it lawful has become a Kaafir (disbeliever)."
The scholars of all four schools ofIslamic jurisprudence unanimously
agree that consuming anything intoxicating is Haraam. Certain plants
have also been included in this, as Imaam Rafee' clearly stated that:
"The scholars have included intoxicating plants, etc. within this
prohibition."
So far, the prohibition of drugs has been proven by means of the
Quran, Sunnah and Ijmaa' (consensus of scholars). It can further be
proved by Qiyaas (analogical deduction) i.e. logical reasoning. When a
person is intoxicated (or 'stoned' in street language) he does not
know what he is doing. He could easily kill someone or fornicate, etc.
In the same manner, to feed his habit, he will most probably haveto
steal. These are, without a shadow of doubt, unlawful. There is a
general rule that whatever leads to something Haraam (unlawful) is in
itself Haraam. Thus, drugs have been proven as Haraam by all four
sources of Islamic jurisprudence (Quran, Sunnah, Ijmaa' and Qiyaas).
What is the legal punishment for consuming drugs?
Imaam Al-Maawardi stressedthat by consuming plants, which cause
over-excitement (intoxication), the Hadd (legal punishment) will
become necessary, which, in this case, is eighty lashes.
Imaam Qiraafi states that all the scholars of his period agreed that
its consumption is Haraam.
However, there is a difference of opinion as to what punishment
becomes incumbent due to consuming drugs; either Hadd, because it
intoxicates or Ta'zeer (reprimand) because it corrupts the mind.
According to three prominent Imaams (Shaafi'i, Maalik and Ahmad),
consuming anything intoxicating, however small the amount, will bring
the legal punishment of eighty lashes to the person. However,
according to the Hanafi school, if an intoxicating amount has been
taken, then, according to Imam Muhammad, Hadd will be necessary.
According to Imaam Abu Haneefah and Imaam Abu Yusuf, he will be
reprimanded severely, but the Hadd will not beimposed.
Ta'zeer is such a punishment thatholds no specific amount and is for
the discretion of the Judge. We should note that according tosome
scholars, in certain cases, Ta'zeer could prove to be more severe than
the Hadd itself, such as when the person persistently commits the
crime.

Dought & clear, - She took some of her husband’s money without his knowledge to spend on her son’s marriage.

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shaykh, I arranged my son's marriage last year, and the expenses were
huge. I spent a great deal and my husband swore that he would not pay
any more costs, but I had not finished buying everything that was
needed for the marriage. My husband's money was with me and I do not
have any moneyof my own. So I had no choice but to take some money
from my husband's money that was with me, without his knowledge, and I
could not tell him. But byAllah, all I took I spent onthe costs of the
marriage. Now I do not know what to do? Am I asinner?
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
The father is obliged to help his son remain chaste by means of
marriage, especially if heasks him to do that and he has the need and
desire for it, so as to protect him from temptation and to maintain
his chastity.
See the answers to questions no. 83191 and 87983
Secondly:
One should be moderate with regard to marriage expenses and not go
beyond the bounds of moderation; the spending should not reach the
level of extravagance and wastefulness as is common among people
nowadays.
The scholars of the Standing Committee said:
Your spending half a million riyals on your daughter's marriage comes
under the heading of extravagancethat is forbidden and there is the
fear that youmay incur punishment because of that unless you repent to
Allah, may He be exalted, and give up this extravagance, because
wealth belongs to Allah, may He be exalted, and people are entrusted
with it. Islam has set out guidelines onhow to handle this wealth and
has forbidden extravagance and wastefulness. Allah, may He be exalted,
says (interpretation of the meaning): "And those, who, when they
spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, but hold a medium (way)
between those (extremes)" [al-Furqaan 25:67].
What is meant is: do not be extravagant by overstepping the limits of
generosity and spending on sinful things, and do not be miserly in
spending; Rather be in between that, i.e., between extravagance and
miserliness; adopt a middle path.
End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah, 16/220-221
Thirdly:
It is not permissible for awoman to spend her husband's wealth
exceptwith his permission, unless he is stingy towards her and her
children and does not fulfil his duty towards Allah by spending on
their maintenance as obliged. In that case it is permissible for her
to take from his wealth whatever is sufficient forher and her
children, on a reasonable basis.
See the answer to question no. 150250
If the husband has not been miserly towards hisson with regard to his
marriage and has spent on him in a reasonable manner, without being
stingy but in accordance with his financial situation, it is not
permissible for you to take anything from his wealth, even if it is to
spend on your son's marriage.
You mentioned that you had spent a great deal on this marriage. If
whathad been spent was sufficient for what is customary for someone
like your son, then he does not have the right to anything more than
that and what you took was a transgression against your husband's
wealth.
If it was in line with what is usually spent on marriage in your
country, for people of similar standing to you, then you have the
right to make up the costs for your son's marriage in a way that will
not adversely affect his father's wealth or be unfair to him.
What you must do is pay attention to the rights ofAllah to this wealth
and to the rights of your husband who is the owner of this wealth, as
well as the sanctity of the oath that he swore and what is in the best
interests of your other children.
You also have to repent and ask for forgiveness, and you have to tell
yourhusband what you did and ask him to forgive you and let you off.
But if you think it most likely that your relationship will be
adversely affected or that your husband will get angry and there will
be problems between you, then you do not have to tell him. With regard
to the extra money that you spent, if you have money of your own from
a salary, inheritance or the like, then you should pay back from your
wealth what you took from your husband's wealth without his
permission.
If you do not have any wealth, then repent to Allah and ask for His
forgiveness for that, andstrive to treat your husband kindly as much
as you can and pay attention to his rights, inthe hope that Allah will
forgive you and set things straight between you.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear, - The doctor prescribed medicine that contains narcotics; is it permissible for him to take it?.

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I know Islam forbids taking drugs, but what ifthe doctor prescribes a
stimulant called Adderall,which is to treat attention deficit and
hyperactivity? The doctor examined me thoroughly and I told him that I
did not want to take any medication, but he said that it is better in
my case to treatthe problem with medication. Is it permissible for me
to take this medicine? Did the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) take medicine or did something like this happen at his
time?
Praise be to Allah.
Adderall is the trade name for a stimulant medication that is believed
to work by increasing the amount of dopamine produced in the brain.
Studies have shown that Adderall works by increasing alertness and
focus, which is done by reducing feelings of tiredness in the user. It
isalso used to treat cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). Some types are included among medications that are restricted
because there have been cases of addiction or the possibility of
misuse.
For more information please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall
With regard to the ruling on using medicines that contain narcotics,
the basic principle is that they are not allowed and they are haraam.
But if it is used for medical purposes and there are no permissible
medications that could be used instead, then in that case it is
permissibleto use them, subject to certain conditions:
1. That the patient's need for this medicationis a case of
necessity or urgent need
2. That a trustworthy Muslim doctor should testify that this
narcotic medication is beneficial for the patient
3. That use of the medication should be limited to that which will
meet the need
4. That this medicationshould not cause the patient greater harm
than or harm equal to the harm because of which he is using it.
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the ruling on using pethidine or morphine, which are drugs
that have an intoxicating effect, in cases of necessity or need?
They replied:
If there is no other permissible substance that can be used to reduce
the patient's painother than these two substances, then it is
permissible to use eitherof them to reduce pain in the case of
necessity. That is on condition that using it should not lead to any
greater or equal harm, such as addiction to its use.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh 'Abd ar-Razzaaq 'Afeefi, Shaykh
'Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh 'Abdullah ibn Qa'ood
End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa'imah, 25/77, 78
See also the answer to question no. 176623
With regard to your question about whether something like this
happened at the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him), we have not come across any incident in which
sickness was treated with narcotics or intoxicants in particular at
the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
We would also advise you to consult a trustworthy Muslim doctor; if he
tells you that your case requires treatment and that thereis no
suitable alternativein your case apart from this type of medicine,
then there is nothing wrong with you using it,in sha Allah.
But if there is a permissible alternative, or it is a matter of what
is better, as we understand from your question, and it has not reached
the level of necessity or urgent need, then you are not allowed to use
it.