By Haroon Balogun

AGAINST the erroneous view that shariah (the Islamic law), is difficult simply because Muslims refused to changed it under the guise of constitutional review in line with divine commandments. Yet there is abundance of evidence to proof that the law given to the followers of Prophets of Allah-(AS), before Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was difficult than the one given to this nation.

The problem is that many of the followers of those Prophets altered the divine law of those earlier Prophet (AS) to suit their selfish desire. Therefore, the following are some of the evidence to support this fact by Sheikh Ibn Bazz and other writers.

Selfishdesire

Allah has made the Shari‘ah much easier and relieving to this nation. He says: he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant with the Children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. The Prophet (SAW) also said: I was sent with the lenient Hanifiyyah (i.e. the True Religion of Islam). Allah sent him with a lenient Shari‘ah that does not include loads, shackles, or any hardships. He says: and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship.

In the past laws preceding the Shari‘ah of our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), people were not permitted to perform Tayammum (dry ablution) when they ran out of water. They would then delay their Salat and combine them until they find water, then perform Wudu’ (ablution), and offer their Salat afterwards, but Tayammum was prescribed in this Shari‘ah brought by Prophet Muhammad. When there is no water, people can simply perform Tayammum and offer their Salat.

This is one of many other aspects of simplifications.  Furthermore, each Prophet was sent only to his people whereas Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent to the Jinn (creatures created from fire) and mankind, Arabs and non-Arabs, and Allah has made him the Last Prophet. Over and above, those who preceded us used to offer their Salat either in their churches, mosque, or places of worship, whereas the Islamic Shari‘ah permits a person to offer Salat everywhere.

Dry ablutionand praying

Whenever Salat becomes due, you can offer it where you are— in deserts, wastelands, or any part of this earth according to the Prophet’s saying (SAW): The land has been made a Masjid and a pure place for me (i.e. for dry ablution and praying). The Islamic Shari‘ah brought by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a simplified and comprehensive one that has no hardships or restraints, among which is the facilitation for patients by exempting them from the obligation of fast~ they are permitted to eat and compensate for the days missed.

A traveller is permitted to combine the quatrain Salat and delay fasting Ramadan and then make up for these days as well according to Allah’s Saying: and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe fasts must be made up] from other days.

A person may offer Salat while sitting if standing becomes difficult and unbearable, lying down on one side if they are unable to sit, or lying on their backs if they are unable to lie down on one side as authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah in the Sunnah. Apart from this, allowing them to eat from a dead animal when necessary and to stay alive when lawful food is unavailable to escape death.