Love of women- Dealing with lust— Sheikh Abd al-Hamid Kishk
Women are the goal of the sexual appetite and the focus of desirous looks and in them, the lower self-finds its repose. The Almighty says
“And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy.” (Quran 30:21)
Men spend most of what they earn on women and are their overseers because of their strength and their ability to protect them. If this appetite is confined within the limits prescribed by the Shari’a of Islam, it is a good thing and a blessing for society because it involves the establishment of the Muslim family on firm foundations of love, mercy, and affection. It is no wonder that one of the first commands which issued from the Almighty to Adam was:
“O Adam! Live with your wife in Paradise.” (Quran 2:35)
Allah did not say to him: “Live alone in the garden,” or “Live, you and your lover, in the Garden.” He said to him, “Live, you and your wife…” So Islam, the religion of Truth, calls for marriage and recommends it and urges it so that people will not be burdened with something they will not be able to bear. The sexual drive is a natural instinct which is beneficial if kept within limits but causes destruction and ruin if allowed free rein.
For this reason, Islam, with its true Shari’a, does not allow fornication. Fornication is a descent into vice, a plunge into a foul morass. Allah Almighty has connected the sin of fornication with idol worship and murder and He has made the punishment for, it to remain forever in the Fire in terrible, humiliating torment unless that is removed by sincere repentance, belief, and righteous actions.
Islam guides people to purification and purity. It establishes pure morals founded on fidelity and virtue. It flows like the pure sea to cleanse the earth of its filth, dirt and every impurity.
Allah put love of women before love of children. Love of children does not contain the same excess and extravagance as love of women. There are many men who exalt the love of women over the love of their children and so neglect their upbringing and deprive them of provision. There are many wealthy and powerful men who condemn their children to a life a poverty and abasement because they love another woman more than their mother. They become obsessed with such women and their passion distracts them from every duty. This is a great danger for society as a whole.
[Source: From the book, “Dealing with the lust and greed” p.13-14 (pdf)]
Ruling of women cutting their hair -Shaykh al-Albaani
Question: What is the ruling of a woman cutting her hair?
Answer: If the woman cuts her hair in order to resemble/imitate disbelieving or sinful women then it is not permissible to have this intention. If she cuts her hair in order to beautify herself for her husband, then I do not see anything that prevents her from doing so. There comes in Sahih Muslim* that the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) would cut their hair until it reached just below their earlobes.
From this Fatwa we benefit:
1. The permissibility of cutting the hair
2. The permissibility of cutting the hair in order to please the spouse
3. The evidence for this permissibility is found in Sahih Muslim*
4. The obligation of not resembling disbelieving women**
5. The impermissibility of also imitating openly rebellious/sinful Muslim women
6. A limit to how much is taken from the hair, which in this case is up to the earlobe
7. A woman’s hairstyle should not resemble men’s hairstyle
*In Saheeh Muslim Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan said:
“The wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to cut their hair until it came just below their ears.”
[Baab al-Hayd, 320]
**This point can be understood from the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
“He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.”
[Abu Dawud 16/1471]
Source: al-Fataawa al-Muhimmah: Chapter of Libaas wa Zeenah, p. 758.
Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariya to implement five commands – Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Imam Ahmad narrated that Al-Harith Al-Ash`ari said that the Prophet of Allah said,
(Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariya to implement five commands and to order the Children of Israel to implement them, but Yahya was slow in carrying out these commands. `Isa said to Yahya, `You were ordered to implement five commands and to order the Children of Israel to implement them. So either order, or I will do it.’ Yahya said, ‘My brother! I fear that if you do it before me, I will be punished or the earth will be shaken under my feet.’ Hence, Yahya bin Zakariya called the Children of Israel to Bayt Al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), until they filled the Masjid. He sat on the balcony, thanked Allah and praised him and then said, `Allah ordered me to implement five commandments and that I should order you to adhere to them.
1. The first is that you worship Allah alone and not associate any with Him.
The example of this command is the example of a man who bought a servant from his money with paper or gold. The servant started to work for the master, but was paying the profits to another person. Who among you would like his servant to do that Allah created you and sustains you. Therefore, worship Him alone and do not associate anything with Him
2. I also command you to pray, for Allah directs His Face towards His servant’s face, as long as the servant does not turn away. So when you pray, do not turn your heads to and fro.
3. I also command you to fast.
The example of it is the example of a man in a group of men and he has some musk wrapped in a piece of cloth, and consequently, all of the group smells the scent of the wrapped musk. Verily, the odor of the mouth of a fasting person is better before Allah than the scent of musk.
4. I also command you to give charity.
The example of this is the example of a man who was captured by the enemy. They tied his hands to his neck and brought him forth to cut off his neck. He said to them, ‘Can I pay a ransom for myself’ He kept ransoming himself with small and large amounts until he liberated himself.
5. I also command you to always remember Allah.
The example of this deed is that of a man who the enemy is tirelessly pursuing. He takes refuge in a fortified fort. When the servant remembers Allah, he will be resorting to the best refuge from Satan.)
Al-Harith then narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
(And I order you with five commandments that Allah has ordered me.
- Stick to the Jama`ah (community of the faithful),
- listen and obey (your leaders) and
- perform Hijrah (migration) and
- Jihad for the sake of Allah.
- Whoever abandons the Jama`ah, even the distance of a hand span, will have removed the tie of Islam from his neck, unless he returns. Whoever uses the slogans of Jahiliyah (the pre-Islamic period of ignorance) he will be among those kneeling in Jahannam (Hellfire).)
They said, “O Messenger of Allah! Even if he prays and fasts” He said, (Even if he prays, fasts and claims to be Muslim. So call the Muslims with their names that Allah has called them: `The Muslims, the believing servants of Allah.’)
This is a Hasan Hadith, and it contains the statement, “Allah has created and sustains you, so worship Him and do not associate anything with Him in worship.” This statement is relevant in the Ayat (2:21-22) we are discussing here and supports singling Allah in worship, without partners.
[Tafsir ibn Kathir, vol. 1]
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