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I am not sure what will happen to our generation in the next decades. The world is becoming more and more polluted. Probably, they will not be able to set their eyes on the various species of beautiful animal and plants exist today.
Clouds bearing acidic compounds, seas contaminated with toxic, forest devastation and polluted air. That is the kind of life looming over them. They probably will not be able to make out the meaning of the beauty of nature, the clear cold water of a river, the beautiful greenness of trees, clean sea and fresh cool air. To them, the world is all about pollution. They will probably not be able to understand the beautiful poetry illustrating nature’s beauty inherited from the previous generation. Even more, they will probably regard it as a mere imagination of the writer or a history that will never repeat itself. It is even highly unlikely for them to create art reflecting the natural beauty of the world. That is only possible if they are capable to use their imagination just as the painters these days are imagining a world that is vibrant with colors like the land of Fairytopia. That is the consequence when pollution conquers the world. The future generation will say that the world is naturally dirty. They will not know that the world is not created dirty, that it has actually been polluted by humankind. It is similar with the issue of halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden). The world is originally full with things that are halal and not haram. Everything in this world was created for humankind except for a few things that are forbidden as a way to test our devotion to Allah as well as for our own benefit. Because of that, if we were to pick up a piece of paper and list down all the types of food and drinks that are forbidden by Allah, the list will be very short. Probably, it will not even fill up the whole page. However, if we were to list down all the things that are halal, surely we will not cover everything even after using up tens pieces of paper. Therefore, the principle in Islam is that “The fundamental ruling of all matters or things is harus (permissible)” rather than haram. Thus, based on this principle, all kinds of food, drinks and action are permissible as long as there is no evidence forbidding it. It is not the principle of Islam to deem everything haram until it is proven halal. Only in matters of ibadah (acts of worship) does Islam forbid its followers from performing until proven that it is allowed by the authoritative texts of al-Quran and al-Sunnah. This is to prevent fabrications in religion and the misuse of the name of Allah to justify one’s fabrication. As for matters concerning the daily affair, one can eat and drink or do anything as long as there is no evidence indicating that it is forbidden in Islam. I always use this example to illustrate this line of reasoning. If we find an animal that we do not have any knowledge of its name, are confident that it will not harm us if we eat it, thus – although its name is unknown to us – the ruling is that it is halal to eat. This religion is easy and full with blessing. Allah says (translated as): “Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you In exceeding measure, (Both) seen and unseen?…” (Surah Luqman: 20). He also says (translated as): “It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth…” (Surah al-Baqarah: 29) Allah also says (translated as): “And He has subjected to you, as from him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect.” (Surah al-Jathiah: 13) Thus, the sphere of halal in Islam is too wide while the sphere of haram is too small and too little. Even if Allah decrees things as haram such as gambling and alcoholic drinks, that is based on His Wisdom for the wellbeing of humankind. In addition to that, it is also a test to humankind to symbolize our devotion to Him. Every matter and action is permissible unless there are authoritative texts that prohibit it. The Prophet s.a.w said, “Whatever that Allah permits in His Book is halal. Whatever that Allah forbids, it is haram. Whatever that Allah gives His silence to then it is excused. Accept His pardon for Allah does not forget anything.” He then recited the saying of Allah (translated as): “… and Thy Lord never doth forget.” (This hadith was reported by al-Hakim and al-Darqutni and ranked as sahih (sound) by al-Albani) Anyone who studies the authoritative texts of al-Quran and al-Sunnah will find how few are those decreed as haram by Allah and how many are those given silence by Allah without any ruling. Those are all considered as halal matters as His Pardon to this ummah. Therefore, I am perplexed by those who say that in Islam, most things are forbidden to be eaten, drunk and done. I say that is a false claim. In Islam, most things are allowed to be done, eaten and drunk. The halal is abundant while the haram is little. As for those decreed as haram, there are abundant of its substitute. Alcoholic drinks are haram but there are so many other non-intoxicating drinks decreed as halal. Gambling is haram but giving out gifts, rewards and the likes of it is allowed. Zina (extramarital sex) is haram but marriage is advocated in Islam. Fortunetelling is haram but Muslims are taught to perform the istikharah prayer (the prayer for seeking guidance). Pigs and dogs are haram but so many other animals are halal. And the list goes on. Why do people assume that Islam is stiff? Whereas only a few are decreed as haram and it is only for the wellbeing of humankind. Furthermore, it even comes with so many substitutes. READ MORE HERE
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