The Madrasah System - Dignity of The Muslim Community

The Christian community has the Church, the Jewish community has its Synagogue, the Hindu Community has it's Mandir, the Sikh community has the Gurdwara and the Buddhists have their Temple and so on. But the Muslim community not only has the Masjid but also the educational Madrasah.

Alhamdulillah, Allah Taa'la has blessed Muslims with such a great bounty where children from as young as five learn to read the Qur'an, Islamic Tariqh (history), Adab & Akhlaq (Manners and Etiquettes), Hadith (Traditions of the Holy Prophet SAW), Fiqh (Basic Islamic Rulings) and much more. This also is where children complete Hifz (the memorisation of the Holy Qur'an). This in itself is a miracle of Allah; and indeed - the Madrasah system is also a bounty which through the efforts of our Pious Predecessors for hundreds of years, has educated us and has saved many of us from becoming completely neglectful and ignorant of our Deen.

How many Jews can read the Torah in its original Hebrew text? How many Christians can read the Bible in its original Aramaic text? How many Sikhs and Hindus can read their respective books in their original text?

Today more than 80% of Muslims can read the Holy Qur'an in its original Arabic text. A very significant portion of this reason is through the blessings of the Madrasah which even your local "Ustazs" owes a great deal to. Through the Madrasah, an individual bases his or her moral values which carries them throughout their life.

Unfortunately, nowadays we do not value the Madrasah as much as our predecessors did. Islamic education is being disregarded. Instead of sending our children to the basic Madrasah to gain the necessary Islamic knowledge and practice, we would rather send them to an after-school homework club, piano classes or to football practice. We have this attitude and tend to think that when our son or daughter has completed the recitation of the Holy Qur'an once or twice, then their Islamic education is complete.

It is a shame that we do not truly realise and appreciate the spiritual benefit of the Madrasah. As soon as a child steps out of the house, he or she becomes exposed to various kinds of evil temptations and mischief. The child falls prey to the tricks of the Shaytaan. As soon as they enter environments where there is little respect for teachers, and the child sees the area as a place where unsanctified flirtation becomes a thing of the norm; swearing becomes a core part of the limited vocabular; slander and backbiting become the discussions of the day. So many other vices become part of the child's everyday life.

But when a child comes home, does Wudhu, then goes to the Madrasah, they become safeguarded from these Shaytaani practices, and they sit in such an environment where the words of Allah are recited in glory, Stories of the Prophets AS are orated, Sunnahs are explained and revived into their lives. What can be a more virtuous gathering than this?

It is for this reason that the pious Ulama plead all parents to not withdraw their children from specified religious education at a young age.

Be Careful Of What You Purchase / Read / Promote / Sell

Almighty Allah Ta'ala has created human beings in pairs, males and females. Every male and female by human nature is attracted to the forms, shapes and colour of the opposite sex.

Similarly males and females are attracted to some outstanding feminine and masculine qualities respectively. Attraction to the opposite sex has its positive factors, for example, marriage, procreation etc. as well as negative factors which includes every illicit and licentious relationship of incest, rape, masturbation, adultery, prostitution, etc.

Human beings by nature are prone to commit evil, therefore the sensitive instinct of attraction has to be regulated by the perfect Divine Laws of Our Creator, Allah Ta'ala who is all knowing about the nature of mankind.

The Quran and Ahadith are replete with orders that protect one from becoming a victim of the negative factors of attraction to the opposite sex, hence the institution of Hijaab for females, the prohibition of talking to males with an alluring tone, the prohibition on women to apply perfume and exit the home, the command for males and females to lower their gazes, etc. Since human beings are prone to evil, they revolt against such laws that requires them to suppress their desires.

In the prime stages of Islam, when Rasulullah SAW began reciting and propagating the Qur'an, which requires a believer to suppress one's desires and submit to the Laws of Allah Ta'ala - a mushrik Nadr ibn Haris conspired to import foreign literature to Makkah having unIslamic contents in them in order to impede the propagation of Islam.

Almighty Allah Ta'ala has condemned such literature in the Qur'an:

"And among men are those who purchase lahwal hadith (futile talks) which misleads from the path of Allah Ta'ala without knowledge, for them is a painful punishment.' (Surah Luqman: Ayat 6)

Even today, disbelievers propagate their culture and practices by publishing such literature and circulating them as widely as possible. The reason behind the conspiracy is that a human being is stealthy. Just as he is sensitive to the different seasons of the year, so too is he sensitive to people's character and conduct and can be influenced to assume and imitate other people's evil character and conduct. Such evil and immoral behaviour then become his principles of life and govern every aspect of his life.

Allah Ta'ala has pointed out the consequences of such literature as deviating one from the path of Allah. Such literature has the potential of actually depriving one of his Islamic values and morals.

Allah Ta'ala mentions in the Qur'an:

"Verily those people who love to spread evil among the believers, for them is a painful punishment." (Surah An-Nur: Ayat 19)

The different types of contemporary magazines, available today promotes the western culture of freedom and are filled with every type of evil, to the extents of swingers club, pornography, sex over the phone, contact numbers for prostitutes etc. Such literature also falls in the category of lahwal-hadith (futile talks) which deviates one from the straight path. The negative factors in such magazines outweigh the possible positive factors in them, for example baking tips, etc. Such beneficial information could be made available through other avenues.

It is not permissible to sell, purchase and read such magazines. The income from selling such books will be Haraam.

Sports - Playing & Making A Living

With regards to the above, this question has been asked to the traditionalists among the scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah, and they have answered accordingly:

Any past time sports or games, inclusive of whether on video, computer, etc. will fall under the category of Lahw and La'ab (useless and past-time). This will thus make them not permissible.

Allah Ta'ala - the Creator of our Universe - declares in the Noble Qur'an:

"I have not created Man and Jinn except for (the purpose) of worship."(Surah 51:Verse 57)

When our Maker and Rabb whom we, the creation are accountable to, invariably states our purpose in this world, then our objective will be just that despite any human being thinking otherwise.

No creation can change this directive. Having said that, the Noble Qur'an on no less than five places warns about this worldly life - that this life is but a sport and a past-time. The two words used are 'lahw' and 'la'ab' which the Jurists have defined as games, sports, and past-times.

Basically 'lahw' and 'laáb' do not bring any benefit and together takes one away from the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala and the Hereafter.

Nabi Muhammad SAW advised the Ummah:

"Everything with which a man plays is unlawful, except his shooting of arrows, his training his horse and playing with his wife." (Tirmidhi No.1637, Abu Dawud No.2513, Ibn Majah No.2811 and Hakim Vol.2 Pg.104.

A Narration in Baihaqi (Vol.10 Pg.15), Tabrani (Vol.2 Pg.193) and Sunanul Kubra of Nasai (Vol.5 Pg.302) adds: "and a man's learning how to swim."

Aishah RA that she had raced Nabi SAW and beat him. Later on when they raced again Nabi SAW beat her. Narrated by Ibn Majah (1979) and Ahmad (24163)

Nabi SAW once wrestled Rukanah RA and overpowered him. Narrated by Abdur Razzaaq (Vol.11 Pg.427)

Some Ulama explain that this cannot be used as proof of the desirability of wrestling as Rukanah RA had requested the wrestling bout to ascertian whether Nabi SAW was a true prophet or not. However, there are other narrations that show that wrestling was common amongst the Sahabah RA and they practised it in front of Nabi SAW without him objecting to it. A narration in Sharhu Ma'ani'il Aathar of Tahawi (Vol.3 Pg.219) mentions that Samurah ibn Jundub RA wrestled an Ansari youngster in front of Nabi SAW with the permission of Nabi SAW.

The above ahadith mention archery, horse riding, swimming, running and wrestling. Imam Nawawi RA mentions that the ahadith show that one should learn usage of all the different types of weapons, as well as exercising ones limbs for jihad, in addition to racing ones horse etc. (Sharh Muslim Vol.2 Pg.143)

We thus learn that we should exercise our bodies to keep fit. We should also learn how to use the different forms of weapondery available today.

Nevertheless, the common sports of today, soccer, crickets, rugby, etc. are not permissible due to the so many un-Islamic factors in them which are vert clear even without explanation. Those sports today are all about money, hence, the media, intermingling, neglect of religious duties, etc. in Islam, the purpose of sports is to maintain a healthy body. If that is contaminated with any un-Islamic factor, it will not be permissible.

Also for women, in brief, sports is permissible for females provided laws of Hijaab are adhered to. It is also necessary these sports are beneficial and not harmful to one’s body, mind and soul.

As a whole - the Muslim Jurists have commented that a sport/game :

a) which has no religious OR worldly benefit is not permissible
b) which has worldly or religious benefit is subjected to the following conditions:

i) that none of it should be contrary to the Shari'ah
ii) that it (the sport/game) should not resemble the sport/games specifically identified with other religious communities e.g. Yoga;
iii) which may have some worldly and/or religious benefit but includes an impermissible act e.g. modern wrestling (exposing the awrah).

Due to the many evils in contemporary sports, it is not permissible to earn one's living through that.

Dude Slams Ulama On Chess

I had this in my notes. Just to share.

Question From Dude:

Chess is not a waste of time. I don't agree with you. You state "chess and games of its like are generally addictive and in addition to it are a complete waste of valuable time". I am living proof that chess is not a waste of time. When I was a child, at about 5 years old, my dad taught me chess. I played it several hours a day, and went to many competitions. I gave it up at the age of 16. Chess really set the foundations in my mind. It is a game of logic, tactics, and problem solving. All these things have been forged into my mind, and is part of my everday behavior. I study at one of the UK's top universities now. All of it was down to chess (and Allah of course).

Answer From The Scholars Of Islam:

The actual reason for the prohibition of chess is not because it has no benefit. The prohibition, in fact, stems from the Ahadith. (One of them) Nabi SAW said:

"Whoever plays blackgammon or chess is as though has immersed his hands into the blood of pig." (Nasbur Raayah: Volume 4)

There are many actions, which, in spite of having benefit are prohibited because the harms outweigh its benefits. Allah mentions about wine:

"the wrong in them is greater than the benefit." (Al-Baqarah: Ayat 217).

Similar is the case of chess, even it has certain benefits, but the harm is greater than the benefit which causes a person to spend hours and even days at a time on it, thus, distracting a person from his purpose of creation which is to worship his creator.

According to the Shafi’i Mazhab, it is permissible on condition that it does not prevent from performing your Fardh (compulsory) duties because it sharpens the mind. However, if you are a Hanafi, you are bound to follow the Hanafi ruling.

Further Explanation On The Game of Chess - Benefits vs Harm

It is fairly obvious that there are many benefits that a person can obtain from playing chess. Below is further explanation summarised from the fuqaha:

The actual reason for the prohibition of chess is not because it has no benefit. The prohibition, in fact, stems from the Ahaadith.

To reiterate, Nabi Muhammad SAW said:

"Whoever plays backgammon or chess is as though has immersed his hands into the blood of pig." (Nasbur Raayah: Volume 4)

There are many actions, which, in spite of having benefit are prohibited because the harms outweigh its benefits. For example - even in the Qur'an, Allah mentions about wine:

"...the wrong in them is greater than the benefit." (Al-Baqarah 217).

Similar is the case of chess, even it has certain benefits, but the harm is greater than the benefit.

The game causes a person to spend hours and even days at a time on it, thus, distracting a person from his purpose of creation which is to worship his Creator.

According to the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence however, the game of chess is permissible on condition that it does not prevent a person from performing his / her Fardh (obligatory) duties - because it sharpens the mind.

The problem exists however in drawing the line of when a person loses conscious of his obligations. Fardh duty also includes praying in the mosque five times a day with congregation for all fardh solat except for certain allowable excuses. It is best to avoid when a person is unsure of what will become of his time, energy and thinking. Especially in this age of confusion and corruption.

Playing Chess Is Haraam?

Rasulullah SAW said:

"Whosoever plays chess, it is as though he soiled his hands in the blood of swine." (Nasbur-Raayah: Volume 4: Page 274)

So here the prohibition is general and clear. As part of a rational explanation to this, chess and games of its like are generally addictive and are a complete waste of valuable time.