The bounds of DOs and DON'Ts have been explicitly mentioned in Qur'an and many a hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Yet there are many a scholars who add to these restrictions and bounds from their own, most of the time making things Haram which have otherwise been declared Halal by Allah.
It may not be wrong to recall that such actions were also present during the formatting period of Islam, right in the times of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Since the newly reverted Muslims had long lived a boundless life, the newly placed restrictions irritated them and many would always be on the lookout to find any loophole to find a justification to still carryon with life style which contained many Haram things of the day of the ignorance.
Even after more than 1400 years after the advent of Islam, believers still find scholars and imams who instantly proclaim fatwas (religious decree) to label a thing Haram, which is otherwise allowed by Allah and mentioned in Qur'an, or otherwise. The so called liberalism creeping into the religion of Islam is the main reason, wherein the liberals want to show that Islam is same as boundless as other Divine religions which have been so much adulterated by additions and inventions to an extent that their faith seems to be doubtful.
For example, in Qur'an Allah lays down the criteria for eating meat of the animals, and forbids eating of pork, a slaughtered animal upon whom name of Allah was not taken at the time of slaughtering.
“He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, the flesh of swine and anything over which any name other than God’s has been invoked.” (Verse 115 Surah An Nahal)
Now there are some scholars who say that if the name of Allah was not taken at the time of slaughtering, one can take name of Allah "Bismillah" at the time of eating. This is inventing lies to commandment of Allah. If an animal has not be slaughtered as defined in Qur'an, it remains Haram no matter what is said thereafter. Likewise pork is forbidden to eat, thus no amount of justification can make it Halal. Yet there are liberal Muslims who are all the time on the lookout for an excuse to take on Haram and make it Halal for them.
For all such liberals, we share today the verses 116-117 of Surah An-Nahl (Chapter 16) which address important themes about truthfulness, lawful and unlawful actions, and the consequences of making false claims in the name of Allah. Here’s the translation and explanation of these verses:
Translation of Surah An-Nahl, Verses 116-117
Verse 116: "And do not say, concerning what your tongues assert falsely, 'This is lawful, and this is unlawful,' to invent lies against Allah. Indeed, those who invent lies against Allah will not succeed." Verse 117: "A brief enjoyment, and then for them is a painful punishment."
Verse 116 clearly shows that none but Allah has the right to declare a thing to be lawful or unlawful. Or, in other words, the right of making laws exclusively rests with Allah. Therefore, any person who will dare to decide about the lawful and the unlawful will transgress his powers. Of course, a person, who acknowledges the divine law as the final authority, may deduce from it whether a certain thing or action is lawful or unlawful.
The arrogation of the right of determining the lawful and the unlawful has been declared to be a falsehood on Allah for two reasons:
(1) Such a person, so to say, claims that what he declares to be lawful or unlawful, disregarding the authority of the divine Book, has been made lawful or unlawful by God.
(2) He means to claim that Allah has given up the authority of making lawful and unlawful and has thus left man free to make his own laws for the conduct of life. It is obvious that each of these claims will be a falsehood and a false imputation to Allah.
These verses emphasize the following key themes:
- Warning Against False Statements About Allah's Law: These verses caution against making false declarations about what is "halal" (permissible) and "haram" (forbidden) without valid authority from Allah. Islam teaches that only Allah has the right to determine what is lawful or unlawful for humans. Therefore, claiming something as permissible or impermissible without clear guidance from Allah is seen as "lying against Allah."
This instruction serves as a warning to not manipulate religious teachings to suit personal or societal preferences.
- The Consequences of Inventing Lies Against Allah: The verses make it clear that those who fabricate such lies "will not succeed." This refers not only to failure in this world, where people who manipulate religious principles often lead themselves and others astray, but also to their failure in the Hereafter, where they will face accountability.
The phrase "A brief enjoyment" signifies that any worldly gain or benefit derived from these false claims is temporary and insignificant when compared to the eternal consequences they will face.
- Punishment for Misleading Others in Faith: Those who deliberately make false religious rulings or manipulate divine laws for personal gain are warned of a "painful punishment." This highlights Islam’s emphasis on honesty, integrity, and the responsibility of those who speak on religious matters to ensure their guidance aligns with divine revelation.
Context and Relevance
These verses were revealed at a time when some people in the Arabian society were changing the dietary laws and other religious rulings for convenience, social status, or profit. For example, they might claim certain animals or foods to be halal or haram based on personal reasoning rather than divine command, leading people away from the true teachings of Islam.
In a broader sense, these verses remind Muslims to be careful with religious matters, particularly with declaring things lawful or unlawful without legitimate authority. The verses emphasize that Islamic teachings must be preserved accurately and that any personal gain derived from distorting religious principles is fleeting, while the punishment for misleading others in matters of faith can be severe in the Hereafter.
Overall, this passage reinforces the sanctity of Allah’s guidance and the responsibility of individuals to uphold truth in matters of faith and law.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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