False Prohibitions in Islam: Are Pirates Haram?

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[29:68] Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD, or rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is Hell not a just retribution for the disbelievers? 

 

[6:150] Say, "Bring your witnesses who would testify that GOD has prohibited this or that." If they testify, do not testify with them. Nor shall you follow the opinions of those who reject our revelations, and those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, and those who stray away from their Lord.

 

[7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His creatures, and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.

 

There are so many things that Muslims have prohibited that has no basis in the Quran.

 

Dogs

 

The common belief among Muslims is that dogs are haram. They base this on a number of Hadith that make the following claims:

• That angels do not enter homes where there is a dog or angle
• That it is not only prohibited to keep a dog for anything other than guarding livestock or farm work, but if you do you will have you good deeds taken away from you
• That the saliva of a dog is najis (unclean) and if it touches a utensil it must be washed 7 times
• That if a dog, donkey, or women walk in front of someone who is doing Salat that it nullifies one’s Salat.

Do any of these claims have any merit according to the Quran?

Dogs occur three times in the Quran and each time debunks each of the previous claims

 

[5:4] They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to GOD's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention GOD's name thereupon. You shall observe GOD. GOD is most efficient in reckoning.

 

When a dog hunts does it use its paws or mouth to catch the food? Obviously it uses its mouth. Therefore this verse lets us know that God is telling us it is okay to eat the food that hunting dogs catch with us with their mouths. Meaning that there is no prohibition around the saliva of a dog.

 

There is a difference between choice and prohibition

 

In a choice someone can choose to do something - in a prohibition we are indicating that if we do something we will be committing a sin

 

Video with kids sharing an ice cream with a dog. I find that gross, you might not, but by no means is that a sin.

 

Sleepers of the Cave

[18:18] You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror. When the Quran uses the term “we” as in “we turned them to the right side and the left side” this means that the angels participated. So the angels entered their sanctuary despite the fact that there was a dog clearly sleeping among them.

 

[18:22] Some would say, "They were three; their dog being the fourth," while others would say, "Five; the sixth being their dog," as they guessed. Others said, "Seven," and the eighth was their dog. Say, "My Lord is the best knower of their number." Only a few knew the correct number. Therefore,do not argue with them; just go along with them. You need not consult anyone about this.

In these verses, God is emphasizing that it is not important how many there were but that there was a dog with them sleeping with them in the cave. Was the dog doing farm work or guarding livestock - no.

Petting Dogs

 

[7:176] Had we willed, we could have elevated him therewith, but he insisted on sticking to the ground, and pursued his own opinions. Thus, he is like the dog;whether you pet him or scold him, he pants.Such is the example of people who reject our proofs. Narrate these narrations, that they may reflect.

If it is prohibited to touch dogs then this would be a very strange example.

 

[3:78] Among them are those who twist their tongues to imitate the scripture, that you may think it is from the scripture, when it is not from the scripture, and they claim that it is from GOD, when it is not from GOD. Thus, they utter lies and attribute them to GOD, knowingly.

Is it Prohibited For Women to Show Their Hair in Public?

The word hijab in the context of dress code does not exist in the Quran.

What are the dress code for the women according to the Quran?

 

[24:31] And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. Theyshall not reveal any parts of their bodies / adornments (zīnatahunna), except that which is necessary(nursing mothers). They shall cover their chests, and shall (not relax this code)revealing their adornments (zīnatahunna)in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty.They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies / adornments (zīnatihinna).All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.

 

زين: Adornments, ornaments, jewelry, make appealing or pleasing

 

24	31	1	وَقُلْ	And say	waqul	ق و ل
24	31	2	لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ	to the believing women	lil'mu'mināti	ا م ن
24	31	3	يَغْضُضْنَ	they should subdue	yaghḍuḍ'na	غ ﺽ ﺽ
24	31	4	مِنْ	[of]	min	م ن
24	31	5	أَبْصَارِهِنَّ	their eyes	abṣārihinna	ب ص ر
24	31	6	وَيَحْفَظْنَ	and they should guard	wayaḥfaẓna	ح ف ظ
24	31	7	فُرُوجَهُنَّ	their chastity,	furūjahunna	ف ر ج
24	31	8	وَلَا	and not	walā	ل ا
24	31	9	يُبْدِينَ	they (to) reveal	yub'dīna	ب د و
24	31	10	زِينَتَهُنَّ	their adornments (bodies)	zīnatahunna	زين
24	31	11	إِلَّا	except	illā	ا ل ل ا
24	31	12	مَا	what	mā	م ا
24	31	13	ظَهَرَ	it is apparent / obvious / necessary	ẓahara	ظ ه ر
24	31	14	مِنْهَا	of it.	min'hā	م ن
24	31	15	وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ	And that they shall set forth / put	walyaḍrib'na	ﺽرب
24	31	16	بِخُمُرِهِنَّ	with their cover	bikhumurihinna	خمر
24	31	17	عَلَىٰ	over	ʿalā	علي
24	31	18	جُيُوبِهِنَّ	their bosoms	juyūbihinna	جيب
24	31	19	وَلَا	and not	walā	لا
24	31	20	يُبْدِينَ	they (to) reveal	yub'dīna	بدو
24	31	21	زِينَتَهُنَّ	their adornments (bodies)	zīnatahunna	زين
24	31	22	إِلَّا	except	illā	ا ل ل ا
24	31	23	لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ	to their husbands,	libuʿūlatihinna	ب ع ل

 

24	31	63	وَلَا	And not	walā	لا
24	31	64	يَضْرِبْنَ	they (shall) strike	yaḍrib'na	ﺽرب
24	31	65	بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ	with their feet	bi-arjulihinna	رجل
24	31	66	لِيُعْلَمَ	that it make known	liyuʿ'lama	علم
24	31	67	مَا	what	mā	ما
24	31	68	يُخْفِينَ	they conceal	yukh'fīna	خفي
24	31	69	مِنْ	of	min	من
24	31	70	زِينَتِهِنَّ	their adornments (bodies).	zīnatihinna	زين

 

Therefore adornment constitutes the boobs, hips, and butt

 

“you shall not reveal any parts of their bodies / adornments (zīnatahunna), except that which is necessary(nursing mothers).”

Quran promotes freedom of religion this does not mean that we can force people to dress this way, but believers should choose to dress in such a manner.

 

If they want to not abide by the Quran standard that is their prerogative and if they want to go beyond that is their decision.

 

[24:60] The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

 

24	60	8	فَلَيْسَ	then not (is)	falaysa	ل ي س
24	60	9	عَلَيْهِنَّ	on them	ʿalayhinna	ع ل ي
24	60	10	جُنَاحٌ	any blame	junāḥun	ج ن ح
24	60	11	أَنْ	that	an	ا ن
24	60	12	يَضَعْنَ	they put aside (relax)	yaḍaʿna	و ﺽ ع
24	60	13	ثِيَابَهُنَّ	their (outer) garments / robe,	thiyābahunna	ث و ب
24	60	14	غَيْرَ	not	ghayra	غ ي ر
24	60	15	مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ	displaying	mutabarrijātin	ب ر ج
24	60	16	بِزِينَةٍ	with an adornment (bodies).	bizīnatin	ز ي ن
24	60	17	وَأَنْ	And that	wa-an	ا ن
24	60	18	يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ	they shall maintain modesty	yastaʿfif'na	ع ف ف
24	60	19	خَيْرٌ	(is) better	khayrun	خ ي ر
24	60	20	لَهُنَّ	for them.	lahunna	ل

 

[33:59] O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their (outer) garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 

[7:31] O children of Adam, you shall be clean and dress nicely when you go to the masjid. And eat and drink moderately. Surely, He does not love the gluttons.

 

7	31	1	يَابَنِي	O Children (of)	yābanī	ب ن و
7	31	2	آدَمَ	Adam!	ādama	ا د م
7	31	3	خُذُوا	Take* [you all]	khudhū	ا خ ذ
7	31	4	زِينَتَكُمْ	your adornments (*be clean and dress nicely)	zīnatakum	ز ي ن
7	31	5	عِنْدَ	at	ʿinda	ع ن د
7	31	6	كُلِّ	every	kulli	ك ل ل
7	31	7	مَسْجِدٍ	masjid,	masjidin	س ج د
7	31	8	وَكُلُوا	and eat [you all]	wakulū	ا ك ل
7	31	9	وَاشْرَبُوا	and drink [you all]	wa-ish'rabū	ش ر ب
7	31	10	وَلَا	but (do) not	walā	ل ا
7	31	11	تُسْرِفُوا	you [all] be extravagant / gluttonous.	tus'rifū	س ر ف
7	31	12	إِنَّهُ	Indeed, He	innahu	ا ن ن
7	31	13	لَا	(does) not	lā	ل ا
7	31	14	يُحِبُّ	[He] love	yuḥibbu	ح ب ب
7	31	15	الْمُسْرِفِينَ	the extravagant ones / gluttons.	l-mus'rifīna	س ر ف

 

Dietary Prohibitions

 

[6:145] Say, "I do not find in the revelations given to me any food that is prohibited for any eater except:

(1) carrion,

(2)running blood, (blood poured forth)

(3) the meat (laḥma) of pigs, for it is contaminated, and

(4) the meat of animals blasphemously dedicated(uhilah)tootherthan GOD."

If one is forced (to eat these), without being deliberate or malicious, then your Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 

[6:146] For those who are Jewish we prohibited animals with undivided hoofs; and of the cattle and sheep we prohibited the fat, except that which is carried on their backs, or in the viscera, or mixed with bones. That was a retribution for their transgressions, and we are truthful.

Women who are menstruating cannot read Quran or do Salat

 

[2:222] They ask you about menstruation: say, "It is harmful; you shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during menstruation; do not approach them until they arecleansedof it. Once they arecleansedof it, you may have intercourse with them in the manner designed by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who areclean.”

 

2	222	1	وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ	And they ask you	wayasalūnaka	س ا ل
2	222	2	عَنِ	about	ʿani	ع ن
2	222	3	الْمَحِيضِ	[the] menstruation.	l-maḥīḍi	ح ي ﺽ
2	222	4	قُلْ	Say,	qul	ق و ل
2	222	5	هُوَ	"It (is)	huwa	ه و
2	222	6	أَذًى	harmful,	adhan	ا ذ ي
2	222	7	فَاعْتَزِلُوا	so keep away [you all] (from)	fa-iʿ'tazilū	ع ز ل
2	222	8	النِّسَاءَ	[the] women	l-nisāa	ن س و
2	222	9	فِي	during	fī	ف ي
2	222	10	الْمَحِيضِ	(their) [the] menstruation.	l-maḥīḍi	ح ي ﺽ
2	222	11	وَلَا	And (do) not	walā	ل ا
2	222	12	تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ	[you all] approach them	taqrabūhunna	ق ر ب
2	222	13	حَتَّىٰ	until	ḥattā	ح ت ت ي
2	222	14	يَطْهُرْنَ	they are cleansed.	yaṭhur'na	ط ه ر
2	222	15	فَإِذَا	Then when	fa-idhā	ا ذ ا
2	222	16	تَطَهَّرْنَ	they are clean,	taṭahharna	ط ه ر
2	222	17	فَأْتُوهُنَّ	then come to them	fatūhunna	ا ت ي
2	222	18	مِنْ	from	min	م ن
2	222	19	حَيْثُ	where	ḥaythu	ح ي ث
2	222	20	أَمَرَكُمُ	[He] has ordered you	amarakumu	ا م ر
2	222	21	اللَّهُ	God."	l-lahu	ا ل ه
2	222	22	إِنَّ	Indeed,	inna	ا ن ن
2	222	23	اللَّهَ	God	l-laha	ا ل ه
2	222	24	يُحِبُّ	[He] loves	yuḥibbu	ح ب ب
2	222	25	التَّوَّابِينَ	Those who turn in repentance,	l-tawābīna	ت و ب
2	222	26	وَيُحِبُّ	and He loves	wayuḥibbu	ح ب ب
2	222	27	الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ	those who purify themselves / are clean.	l-mutaṭahirīna	ط ه ر

 

[56:75] I swear by the positions of the stars. [56:76] This is an oath, if you only knew, that is awesome. [56:77] This is an honorable Quran.

[56:78] In a protected book. [56:79]None can grasp it except the sincere.

 

56	79	1	لَا	Not	lā	ل ا
56	79	2	يَمَسُّهُ	[he] (can) touch / grasp it	yamassuhu	م س س
56	79	3	إِلَّا	except	illā	ا ل ل ا
56	79	4	الْمُطَهَّرُونَ	the purified / sincere [ones].	l-muṭaharūna	ط ه ر

 

It is a statement not a commandment -

it doesn’t say thatyou shallnot touch,

it says none can grasp it except the sincere. 

God tells all believers to perform their Salat

 

[2:43] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and bow down with those who bow down.

 

[62:9] O you who believe, when the Congregational Prayer (Salat Al-Jumu'ah) is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of GOD, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew.

 

Menstruation does not nullify ablution

 

[5:6] O you who believe, when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the elbows, (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to the ankles.If you were unclean due to sexual orgasm, you shall bathe.If you are ill, or traveling, or had any digestive excretion (urinary, fecal, or gas), or had (sexual) contact with the women, and you cannot find water, you shall observe the dry ablution (Tayammum) by touching clean dry soil, then rubbing your faces and hands. GOD does not wish to make the religion difficult for you; He wishes to cleanse you and to perfect His blessing upon you, that you may be appreciative.

 

Music

 

[31:6] Among the people, there are those who uphold baselessHadith, and thus divert others from the path of GOD without knowledge, and take it in vain. These have incurred a shameful retribution.

 

[39:32] Who is more evil than one who attributes lies to GOD, while disbelieving in the truth that has come to him? Is Hell not a just requital for the disbelievers?

 

[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt. [6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. [6:116] If you obey the majority of people on earth, they will divert you from the path of GOD. They follow only conjecture; they only guess.