‘O Allah, always lend to us the wisdom to do what is right by you, to ever speak truth to humanity and to act with justice in all our deeds.
May we never waiver nor default in our utter worship of you.
Masha Allah, we shall honour you forever, always praise you in the highest and tightly secure ourselves to your everlasting rope of love and mercy until end time.
—Adewale Adeeyo, OON

Halal & Haram

Allah, (S.W.T) has set limits to everything we do. Those who are informed about Islam know that there are dos and donts. HE has set out prohibitions which should not be violated. This is what we can summarily translate as Halal and Haram.

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Whatever Allah has permitted in His Book is allowed, and whatever He has prohibited is forbidden; whatever He has remained silent about is a concession, so accept the concession of Allah, for Allah is never forgetful.” Then he recited the aayah: “. . . and your Lord is never forgetful” [Maryam 19:64].

Avoiding that which has been forbidden is a duty, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whatever you have been prohibited to do, avoid it, and whatever you have been commanded to do, do as much of it as you can.” (Reported by Muslim, Kitaab al-fadaa’il, hadeeth no. 130, Abd al-Baaqi edition).

This is why we have decided to introduce the Halal and Haram column for the benefits of our readers.

“. . . And whosoever transgresses the set limits of Allaah, then indeed he has wronged himself . . .” (Talaaq 65:1]

“And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment.” (Nisaa’ 4:14)

Haram: Man wearing necklaces, bracelets, anklets or earrings 

Any semblance o man and woman in the opposite direction whether in speech, movement, appearance is haram. The Prophet said: “Allah has cursed the men who make themselves look like women and the women who make themselves look like men.” (Reported by Bukhaari; see al-Fath, 10/332).  The two sexes are not permitted to resemble one another in dress or by wearing anything that is specifically for the other sex. So, a man is not permitted to wear necklaces, bracelets, anklets or earrings, etc., as is widespread among hippies and the like.

Women are not permitted to wear things that are specifically for men, like shirts, except those specifically made for women etc. The evidence that the two sexes should not resemble one another in dress is found in the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Allah has cursed the man who wears women’s clothes and the woman who wear men’s clothes.” (Reported by Abu Dawud, 4/355; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5071).