Misconceptions about Qur’anic Laws

Allah has sent this religion and has given us laws that we should abide by. Allah says, 
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا 
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have made Islam as your religion.” (5:3) 

It is part of our belief that all the laws Allah has prescribed are beneficial to us. Allah created all of us and He knows what is good and bad for us. The things Allah told us to do are good for us and the things Allah told us to stay away from are actually bad for us. It is okay for one to ask about the wisdom behind each law, but as a starting point, we must acknowledge the fact that we obey Allah regardless of whether or not we understand the reasons and wisdom behind each law.  

Moreover, it is also important to understand that we actually cannot fully understand the reasons for every single law of Islam due to our own limitations. For example, Allah has ordered us to give an obligatory charity called zakah. One has to calculate 2.5% of his surplus income held for one year and give it to the poor and needy. We might understand the wisdom behind giving charity, which is to purify our wealth and lift people from poverty, but we generally might not understand why it is 2.5%. We just obey Allah and give 2.5%. Maybe in the future someone will use a software to do some calculation and conclude that if everyone gives 2.5% of their surplus income to charity then it will significantly reduce global poverty. But the main point is that, whether we understand or not why we give 2.5%, we just obey Allah and give it. One can give more examples, but the main point being made is that we might not fully understand the wisdom behind everything, but we should obey Allah regardless. It is also important to stress the fact that you have to look at all the laws of Islam for things to make sense. You cannot analyse one Islamic law on its own and expect to gain the full picture, but rather you have to see how everything is connected to one other.  

The first law I would like to discuss revolves around the topic of men and women. People accuse Islam as being barbaric and as a religion which degrades women; however, this is not true. In Islam, men and women are equal in the sight of Allah. The one who obeys and fears Allah more is the better one. Allah says, 
 إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ 
 “Verily, the most honourable of you in the Sight of Allah is the believer who has taqwa (piety and righteousness).” [49:13] 

Does the verse say men and women are equal physically? No. Does the verse say men and women are equal mentally? No. Does the verse say men and women have equal roles in every single section of the society? No. Does the verse say that men and women are identical? Of course not. So, if Allah does not want men and women to be identical, then would it make sense for all of the Islamic laws to be the same for men and women? Or would it make sense to have some laws that are the same for both genders and some laws that are only for men and some that are only for women? So, just to be clear, there are some laws that are applied to all the Muslims, regardless of gender. For example, both Muslim men and women have to pray, have to give Zakah, stay away from alcohol, not steal or cheat others. However, there are some laws that are for specifically for men and then there are some laws specifically for women. For example, it is an obligation for a father to provide for his family. If a women works, then it is fine and optional but it is a must for the man of the house to provide. Another example would be that it is not allowed for a man to wear real gold or silk, whereas it is totally fine for a woman to wear gold and silk.  

Ali Ibn Abu Talib reported that the Prophet ﷺ) took some silk in his right hand and some gold in his left, declaring, “These two are haram for the males among my followers.” [Ahmad] 

So as we can see, in Islam there are rules for both men and women and then there are some rules that are specifically for men and some specifically for women, but the closest of the two to Allah is the one who obeys Allah the most.  

One of the most controversial laws is associated with inheritance. When someone dies, his or her property is distributed amongst family members. Allah says,
 لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الۡوَالِدٰنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبُوۡنَ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ الۡوَالِدٰنِ وَالۡاَقۡرَبُوۡنَ مِمَّا قَلَّ مِنۡهُ اَوۡ كَثُرَ نَصِيۡبًا مَّفۡرُوۡضًا 
“Allah says, there is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large – a legal share.” (4:7) 

In Islam, a woman receives half of what a man receives. For example, if there was £100 inheritance, the son will receive £50 whereas the daughter will receive £25. From one perspective, one might say that this law is not fair or just. The response to this would be that the amount the daughter takes belongs solely to her, whereas the amount a man inherits has to be used for his family and he cannot use it solely for himself. For example, the full £25 goes to the daughter and she can spend it however she wishes. However, the £50 the son inherits, he has to use it to look after his mother and sister. So really, he cannot spend the £50 however he wishes, and he cannot spend it on himself. The money has to be spent looking after the mother and the sister, pay for the house, food and clothes. If I was to ask, would you rather take £25 and you can spend it on yourself or would you rather get £50 even though from that £50 you have will have to spend it on your mother and sister and for the household shopping, rent?  Which one would you choose? So, Allah gives a double amount to the man because he has gave the responsibility to look after the family, financially and in other ways to the man.  

Our conviction in the religion should increase when we realise the wisdom behind the laws of Allah. Is it not amazing how a book sent 1400 years ago can still be used in the 21st century and beyond? Is it not amazing how the Qur’an which was sent 1400 years ago has laws that can be practically applied and benefit humanity at large? Alhamdulillah that we have the religion of Islam.  

Some people accuse Islam of being boring and they accuse the religion of forbidding everything that is fun. For example, some say Islam forbids alcohol and therefore Muslims cannot enjoy themselves. Muslims have to fast for one whole month and so their life is boring. Our response to this is that it is true that Islam forbids alcohol. Allah says
,يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا 
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: ‘In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.’” [2:219] 

Allah forbids alcohol because it leads to a lot of harm. For example, it leads to liver diseases, different types of cancer, high blood pressure, strokes and many other disorders. A drunk person tends to be abusive and can become violent. The government spends millions of pounds trying to help people suffering from alcohol-related cases. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Allah has kept us safe by forbidding the consumption of alcohol and telling us to stay far from it. We also say to those who accuse Islam of being boring that just because alcohol is not allowed, it does not mean Islam does not allow us to have fun. Allah has allowed all the types of drinks; it is just alcoholic drinks which are not allowed. So Masha’Allah, you can have your mocktails, and your tropical juices, fresh coconut water, and more. Even when it comes to food, every type of food is allowed apart from a few which contain pork and other animal derivatives. When it comes to food and drink, majority of it is halal, so Islam is definitely not restrictive nor boring.  

Regarding fasting. Yes, Muslims fast for one whole month. The benefit of fasting is huge and to be honest doctors tell people to fast due to the huge number of benefits it brings. Some of the benefits of fasting are as follows 

- It aids weight loss 

- Improves the immune system 

- Helps fight cancer 

- Reduces inflammation which leads to various other diseases 

- Reduces blood pressure  

- Boosts brain function  

- Promotes the secretion of certain hormones that make one feel good  

- Delays ageing and extends longevity  

The benefits of fasting are many. So we say to those who laugh at Muslims regarding fasting, that fasting improves our lives and maybe they should try it out themselves. As we said at the beginning, the things Allah made haram are actually bad for us and the things Allah made halal are actually good for us. 

I will end the Khutbah by saying that some people will say a lot of bad things about Islam and our role should be to learn our religion and then explain it to others. If you do not know something, then ask someone who is learned. When you yourself are confused about something, find someone who studied the religion and ask. It is your religion, so you should know as much as it takes to remove doubt from your head and satisfy your heart. Find out the meanings, the reasons and the wisdom behind each and every part of our beautiful religion, Islam.