Allaah created all human beings from Prophet Adam [AS]. He had initially created Adam [AS] himself from dust. The first person that he created immediately after that was his wife and our mother; Hawwa. Allaah says; "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from single person [Adam], and from him [Adam} He created his wife [Hawwa], and from them both he created many men and women; and fear Allaah through Whom you demand [your mutual rights}, and [do not cut the relations of] the wombs [kinship}. Surely, Allaah is Ever an AII Watcher over you." [Q4: 1]
After creating both of them i.e. Adam and Hawwah, Allaah made it possible. for them to have children. Each time Hawwah became pregnant and was going to give birth she had a set of twin; a male and a female. Adam [AS] would marry the female of a set of twins to the male of another set of twi n. Are you surprised at this? Yes! That was happened a brother would marry his own sister. This is so Because that is the only way the existence of we mankind could continue.
From this arrangement Allaah made different kind of people, nations, tribes, races, etc. spread over many parts of the world. Allaah says; "O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that may know one another. Verily the most honourable of you with Allaah is that [believer} who has At- Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqun [the pious}. Verily, Allaah is All-Knowing, AII Aware". [Q49:13]
What is apparent from this narration and the verses that we have quoted above is that all mankind from whatever part of the world that we come from, are brothers and sisters through our forefather Adam [AS]. However, at a point Allaah made it that some people are closer than the others; the people of the same tribe are see themselves as being more related than people who are not from the same tribe. Also, people who are from the same tribe but are from different families see themselves as being more related than those from other families and therefore they have some things that they can do with such people and some things that they can not do with them. They see themselves as brothers and sisters. Who is your brother or sister ?
As mentioned above, all mankind came from Adam [AS] and therefore all of us are brothers and sisters. However, Allaah has made true brotherhood to be in the religion of Islam. Therefore, even if a person is not from your tribe or immediate family but he is a Muslim, that person is your brother or sister. And your brother in faith is even closer to you than who is your blood relative but who is not a Muslim! Allaah says; "The believers are nothing else than brothers [in Islamic religion]. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear AIlaah, that you may receive mercy." [Q49:10]. Also, the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of AIlaah be upon him] said, Muslim is a brother of another Muslim"[Bukhari]
Interaction between people
The interaction between Muslims should be guided by what Allaah and His Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] says. We should follow them strictly so that we can live a good life and even a better Hereafter when we die. The six rights of a Muslim One of the things that makes the interaction between the Muslims to be good and make us live with love and harmony among ourselves is to know the right of our Muslim brothers and give it to them.
Basically, the Prophet [peace and blessings of. Allaah be upon him] told us of about six rights that a Muslim has over another Muslim. The Prophet [peace and blessings of A1laahbe upon him] said: Muslim has six obligations to another Muslim. I What are these?" they asked. He replied: "To greet another Muslim when you meet him; to respond when he invites you; to give him your (sincerest) advice when he seeks it; to say "Yarhamuka Allaah" [may Allaah have mercy upon you] when he sneezes and says "Alhamdulillah" [may Allaah be praised]; to visit him when he falls ill; and when he dies, to attend his funeral." [Muslim) This hadith shows what the interaction or relationship between Muslims should be as well as the right that a Muslim has over another Muslim. What about non-Muslims; Just like the Muslims have rights on themselves, the non-Muslims also have their rights that the Muslims should fulfill with regards to our interaction with them.
Allaah and His Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] advised us to be good and kind to them and not harm them. Allaah says; "Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity" [Q 60:8)
Male and female interaction: The normal thing in our environment and everywhere that we go is a scene where a young man meets a young lady and the next thing you see is; the young man throws his arm open and the young lady gives him a hug and may even compliment it with a kiss.
If the people are not very enthusiastic [or civil] they may just shake hands and a smile to compliment that. This happens almost everywhere you go and it involves both the old and young. Though things like this are not part of our culture in the country, anybody who does not do it now is seen as backward, illiterate, or uncivilized. But what does Islam say about this and generally, male and female interaction.
Allaah views all Muslims male and female as one brotherhood. Allaah says; "The believers are nothing else than brothers [in Islamic religion}. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allaah, that you may receive mercy." [Q 49:10]. However, Allaah has placed a limit to the interaction despite the fact that He has called us brothers [and sisters). These are some of them;
1.Being In seclusion: It is not permissible for a male and a female who are not mahram [someone whom one can not get married to such as your father, brother, uncle, [for the females] etc.] to be in seclusion i.e. all by themselves without a etc.] to be in seclusion i.e. all by themselves without a third person. This happens very often but Allaah has forbidden this for us. The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "No man should stay with a lady in seclusion except in the presence of a Dhu-Muhram." [Bukhari]. Also, the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said; ~ man does not stay in seclusion with a woman except that the third of them is Shaytan" [Tirmidhi]
From these two sayings of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] we can see clearly that it is forbidden to be in seclusion with someone that is not our mahram. It also shows from the second hadith that when the two of them are in seclusion Shaytan begins to whisper a lot of evil thoughts into their mind which may make them commit a greater sin. May Allaah save us from that! [Aamin]
2. Shaking hands: Shaking hands with a person of the opposite sex may look like something that is harmless and some may say that there is no big deal about it. However, listen to what Allaahs Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] say about it; "Umayma bint Ruqayqa said, "I went to the Messenger of Allaah [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], with the women who took an oath of allegiance with him in Islam.
They said, Messenger of Allaah! We take a pledge with you not to associate anything with Allaah, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to kill our children, nor to produce any lie that we have devised between our hands and feet, and not to disobey you in what is known. The Messenger of Allah, [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, In what you can do and are able. ,,, Umayma continued, "They said, Allaah and His Messenger are more merciful to us than ourselves. Come , let us give our hands to you, Messenger of Allaah! The Messenger of Allaah, [peace and blessings of Allaah], said, I do not shake hands with women. My word to a hundred women is like my word to one woman. " [Muwatta]
A stab in the head!: The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him also said; "If one of you were to be stabbed in the . head with an iron needle, it would be better for him than touching the hand of whom he is not permitted to touch" [Tabarani] .
Now let us ask ourselves this. Question; Am I willing to withstand the pain of an iron needle being forced into my head just for touching the hand of a person of the opposite sex?!1 would not want that! These two ahadith shows the prohibition of shaking hands with people of the opposite sex, though shaking of hands is the recommended way of greeting in Islam.
Even if you heart is as clean as snow and it is not it is still not permissible for you to do this 3. Hugging and pecking This is a higher level when compared to shaking hands. This is a higher level of civilization. Initially this habit was strange to our culture and no one was doing it. However, nowadays, it has become and has come to be seen as a symbol of civilization! This is also not permissible. In simple logic if shaking hands with the people of the opposite sex is not permissible then hugging such people and pecking or kissing will be worse. Clearly hugging and pecking will only make evil thought to arise in the mind of the people involved and this could lead to a greater evil. Relationship This is also something that is very common among young people.
This is a situation whereby a young boy and girl who claim to love themselves and share things exclusively between themselves and neither of the two partners would not want any other person to share that thing with them. This clearly is also forbidden for many reasons;
A. It leads to zina [fornication] and fornication is haram: Many young people who engage in boyfriend ,girlfriend relationship end up committing fornication which Allaah has forbidden for us. As boyfriends and girlfriends these people want some moments that they can be together in privacy. If this continues for a long time it may lead to both of them committing zina. May Allaah save us from that! Allaah says concerning a relationship like this; "And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is fahishah [i.e. anything that transgress its limits: a great sin], and an evil way [that leads to Hell unless Allaah forgives the person]." (Q 17:32] There is no doubt that keeping boyfriends or girlfriends is a means of going near zina.
B. Diseases in the corner: Often, most people who engage in boyfriend-girlfriend relationship eventually end up most of the time end up committing zina and if eventually they fall into it, they may end up contracting sexually-transmitted diseases, including the deadly HIV/AIDS.
C. You cant handle it!: People who engage in this kind of relationship end up separating. Sometimes this causes some emotional trouble especially for the girl. This is not healthy for them as it may affect them in their more serious affairs such as education, work etc. So what this means is that the people who engage in this are not emotionally qualified to handle such a relationship.
D. One hundred strokes: In the law of Islam, if a person who is not married commits illegal sexual intercourse and he is caught, he will be given one hundred strokes in the public glare of the Muslims. Allaah says; "The fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them with a hundred stripes, let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by AIlaah, if you believe in AIlaah and the Last Day. And Jet a party of the believers witness their punishment. "[Q 24: 2]
With all that have been said about the boyfriend girlfriend relationship we can see clearly that this relationship will bring about nothing but punishment and regret. And what is more? If a person escapes the punishment of hundred strokes in this world, he should remember that Allaah sees him and he might get punished by Allaah in the Hereafter for it. What do we do? Someone may ask that as young people it is natural for Them to feel like that, what can they do so as not to fall into this deadly trap of Shaytan? The answer to this can be found in the advice that the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] gave to some of his companions; narrated Abdullah; We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever.
So Allaah's Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power."[Bukhari]
This is an advice from the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him}that if we can put into practice will help preserve our chastity until we are fully ready to marry. May Allaah continue to protect us and guide our steps on the path of Islam [Aamin] Allaah created all human beings from Prophet Adam [AS]. He had initially created Adam [AS] himself from dust. The first person that he created immediately after that was his wife and our mother; Hawwa.
Allaah says; "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from single person [Adam], and from him [Adam] He created his wife [Hawwa], and from them both he created many men and women; and fear Allaah through Whom you demand [your mutual rights}, and [do not cut the relations of] the wombs [kinship]. Surely, Allaah is Ever an AII Watcher over you." [Q4: 1] After creating both of them i.e. Adam and Hawwah, Allaah made it possible. for them to have children.
Each time Hawwah became pregnant and was going to give birth she had a set of twin; a male and a female. Adam [AS] would marry the female of a set of twins to the male of another set of twi n. Are you surprised at this? Yes! That was happened a brother would marry his own sister. This is so Because that is the only way the existence of we mankind could continue. From this arrangement Allaah made different kind of people, nations, tribes, races, etc. spread over many parts of the world. Allaah says; "0 mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that may know one another. Verily the most honourable of you with Allaah is that [believer} who has At- Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqun [the pious}. Verily, Allaah is All-Knowing, AII Aware". [Q49:13]
What is apparent from this narration and the verses that we have quoted above is that all mankind from whatever part of the world that we come from, are brothers and sisters through our forefather Adam [AS]. However, at a point Allaah made it that some people are closer than the others; the people of the same tribe are see themselves as being more related than people who are not from the same tribe. Also, people who are from the same tribe but are from different families see themselves as being more related than those from other families and therefore they have some things that they can do with such people and some things that they can not do with them.
They see themselves as brothers and sisters. Who is your brother or sister ? As mentioned above, all mankind came from Adam [AS] and therefore all of us are brothers and sisters. However, Allaah has made true brotherhood to be in the religion of Islam. Therefore, even if a person is not from your tribe or immediate family but he is a Muslim, that person is your brother or sister. And your brother in faith is even closer to you than who is your blood relative but who is not a Muslim! Allaah says; "The believers are nothing else than brothers [in Islamic religion]. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear AIlaah, that you may receive mercy." [Q49:10].
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited