hadith

Hadith Rejectors: Exposing a Hypocrites Movement

June 30, 2012 By Basem

And when it is said to them “Come, the Messenger of Allah will pray for your forgiveness”, they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance. [Qur’an, The Hypocrites, 63:5]

Today, many Western educated people in Islamic circles claim to be able to reinterpret Islam by reference to the Holy Qur’an only, disregarding the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) entirely. They strike at the very foundation of Islam on which it has been firmly based for the last fourteen centuries. In vain, they attempt to derive the vast way of life from their own conception, to enable them to live a life patterned on western Europe while fixing the label of Islam to it.

The spread of these so-called “modern” ideas would have incalculably disastrous effects on the thought and practice, and collective life of the world of Islam. This sect has gone further by innovating ideas even stranger to Islam to the extent that they seek to reinterpret even basic worship like prayer and fasting. These innovations pave a way where well established Islamic beliefs and acts of worship were questioned and argued about, then distorted or abandoned.

There is a driving force behind rejecting all ahadith; it comes from the disease of hypocrisy. It is a perfect balance of belief and disbelief in the religion. On one hand, the Qur’an is believed. Yet on the other hand, the Messenger is repelled. This insinuates a new social and religious order for the Muslims which is justified by misinterpreting the Book of Allah (glorified and exalted be He). They sometimes refer to themselves as “Quranists”. This is misleading because all Muslims believe in the Qur’an. So their distinction is not in affirming the Qur’an, but in rejecting the Hadith.

We shall comment on the most outrageous antics of present-day ‘progressives’, expose their hatred for Islamic teachings and report on the complete failure of their call.

Origins of the Sect

When it is said to them: ‘Come to what Allah hath revealed and to the Messenger’: thou seest the Hypocrites avert their faces from thee in disgust. [Qur’an, The Women, 4:61]

One of the movements within the hypocrites, even in the time of the Prophet, was to separate the Qur’an from the Messenger. When the Prophet would instruct something, the hypocrites would ask if it was in the Qur’an because they would not listen to it otherwise. They would even say this to the face of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).

These movements later formed sects that indulged in this practice, such as the Mu’tazilah from the 3rd Islamic Century. They gave precedence to intellect over the revealed texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The argumentation based on Greek philosophy is among innovations in the religion that created intellectual schisms in the Muslim nation and initiated deviant trends. This attitude set a precedent for all later groups who sought to make intellect and desire decisive over the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Later on, the history of these ideas took root in Orientalist critiques and attacks on Islam’s textual sources. One strategy of Orientalists has been to try to portray the hadith as inauthentic, thereby casting doubt onto the legitimacy of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). This paves a way to misinterpret Islamic texts in light of rational thought, modern values and even feelings and desires.

We can even look before the time of the Prophet to find sources of these ideas. A stark resemblance can be realized with the modernist movement in Christianity and Judaism. As a matter of fact, European modernist movements continue to provide much inspiration to their ‘Muslim’ counterparts, and therefore understanding the western-modernist helps us understand the objectives of those who seek to modernize Islamic teachings and values.

The modernist movement has origins in medieval Europe, whose basic view is that the religion should change according to circumstance. Modernism initiated a rationalist approach to the Bible that took a skeptical view of miracles and the historicity of biblical narratives. This approach attempted to evaluate the meaning of the Bible by focusing on the text alone and ignoring what the Church fathers had historically taught about it. The excesses of the Christian church in Medieval Europe and the view that the Church was a hurdle to social, scientific and cultural progress gave strength to the idea of the separation of the Church and the State – giving rise to secularism.

Modern European philosophers played an important role in forwarding Modernism, by using philosophy to integrate the Christian and Jewish scriptures with secular learning. Collectively these trends were seen as ‘progressive thinking,’ and it was forcefully argued that religion must be primarily caused and centered on the feelings of believers.

Modernist, neo-philosophers and secularists have succeeded in changing the face of Christianity to its very core. They have forced it to give into unlimited concessions, until even the most scandalous heretical action or statement is ignored. Everything seems to be permitted for everyone until there remains little to distinguish between a Christian and a secular humanist.

Modern Reality

Modernists look to the West and try to reinterpret the “old religion” with modern science and modern times; however, their premises and assumptions are wrong. They fail to realize that Islamically, an advanced society is not measured by material progress, but rather the one that shows the most obedience to the commands of Allah (glorified and exalted be He) and has a better understanding of the Deen. This is why in matters of the Deen, the later generations have to refer back to the understanding of the first generations of Islam, which were much more advanced and pure in their religious understanding. In fact, the current societies have the things of the old societies (such as homosexuality, etc.) as mentioned in the Qur’an.

Lost in Translation

The people did not become ignorant and begin to differ until they abandoned Arabic terminology and adopted the terminology of Aristotle. It should be well understood that this sect is entirely devoid of the essential knowledge required for expressing any opinion about Islam. The Qur’an has been studied in translation without any solid grounding in the Arabic language. The books of Hadith and the earliest sources of Islamic Law have not been studied at all; even Islamic history is only known at third or fourth hand. History is blatantly contradicted and logic is flouted, as if these two essentials of intelligent human thinking are of no value. Indeed, they are of no value to those who wish to put forward pure fictions of their imagination as truth, for history and logic are their worst enemies.

A Complete Religion

Hadith-rejectors usually use the below verse to say that the Qur’an alone is sufficient:

One day We shall raise from all peoples a witness against them, from amongst themselves: and We shall bring thee as a witness against these (thy people): and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide a Mercy and Glad Tidings to Muslims. [Qur’an, The Bee, 16:89]

The problem is they usually leave out the first part of this verse, leaving the verse out of context. Prophet Muhammad is a witness against his people. So his understanding of the Qur’an is the true understanding that was intended by Allah (glorified and exalted be He). Indeed the Qur’an is complete, but are we complete? This is why Allah illustrated the Qur’an through the Messenger. We are commanded to follow his examples and interpretations of the Qur’an to understand the true inner meanings as it was intended.

Allah has told us of four functions of the Prophet, of which only the first refers to the Qur’an, “reciting His revelations”; the other three are “purifying”, “teaching the Book” and “teaching Wisdom”. These four functions have been described as the purpose for which God has sent the Messenger, and God’s guidance to man will be fulfilled and completed by all and not by one only.

A similar (favour have ye already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our Signs, and sanctifying you, and instructing you in Scripture and Wisdom, and in new knowledge. [Qur’an, The Cow, 2:151]

The explanation by the Messenger is not only needed by people at the time of the Prophet, but by all subsequent generations until the last day. Rather, the greater the distance in age from the time of the Prophet, the greater the need to solve differences in understanding by reference to the original state of affairs.

(We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought. [Qur’an, The Bee, 16:44]

Furthermore, the above verse also gives instructions about the order in which the Qur’an should be understood. First the Messenger explains Allah’s revelation clearly to mankind and then they give thought. People are not free to let loose their thoughts and speculate about the message of the Qur’an whilst ignoring the teachings of the Messenger.

Our religion is truly complete and this includes everything that came with it: Qur’an and Sunnah. Anything that came after the death of the Messenger is innovation.

Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swine-flesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols. And (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion AL-ISLAM. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. [Qur’an, The Table Spread, 5:3

Best of Nations

”And We have made you the best nation so that you bear testimony against mankind.” [2:143]

Allah (glorified and exalted be He) states in the Qur’an that we are the best of nations and a witness over humanity. This implies that there should be no possibility of agreeing on a mistake in a fashion of collective consensus of the Ummah (ijma`). Hadith-rejectors would have you believe that their ideas are logical and normal, but their marginal ideas are outside the collective reasoning of the Ummah.

Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear signs; for them is a dreadful penalty.― [Qur’an, The Women, 3:105]

Authenticity of Hadith

Hadith-rejectors shed doubts on the validity of the process by which ahadith are declared as authentic or fabricated. Their uncertainty is a result of their ignorance or lack of correct appreciation for the science of hadith verification, which is more comprehensive than information brought forth by western literature of modern times.

To accept the Qur’an and reject the Hadith on the basis of reliability defies reason. We have received both the Qur’an and the Hadith through the same channels. The same people who transmitted the Qur’an from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) also transmitted the Hadith. They are reliable believers, to say the least, who are actually protected until the Day of Judgement in the Qur’an.

The vanguard (of Islam)― the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds― well― pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the Supreme Felicity. [Qur’an, The Repentance, 9:100]

In this verse, Allah (glorified and exalted be He) is saying that the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Mecca to Medina) and the Ansar (the people of Medina) and those righteous people that came after them have been promised heaven. If these people supposedly fabricated the Hadith, how can Allah promise heaven to them? As a matter of fact, they are the same people who also passed the Qur’an down to us.

It is important to note that the Hadith is passed on to us by “Mutawattir” narrations. Mutawattir narrations are narrations that have been transmitted by so many people that it would be impossible for all of the transmitters to fabricate such a narration. It is not believable that ALL those Muslims could have corrupted Islam, especially if they were promised paradise by Allah (glorified and exalted be He).

Follow the Leader

Lo! those who disbelieve and turn from the way of Allah and oppose the messenger after the guidance hath been manifested unto them, they hurt Allah not a jot, and He will make their actions fruitless. O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger, and render not your actions vain. [Qur’an, Surah Muhammad, 47:32-33]

Allah (glorified and exalted be He) tells us in the Qur’an that we have no real faith unless we obey the Messenger without any doubts. We know the Qur’an is timeless and for Muslims until the Day of Judgement, so following the Messenger includes us.

We sent not a Messenger but to be obeyed, in accordance with the Will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to themselves come unto thee and asked Allah’s forgiveness and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. But no, by thy Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction. [Qur’an, The Women, 4:64-65]

Prophet Muhammad did not come just to hand us the Qur’an like some delivery person. Allah (glorified and exalted be He) could have dropped the Qur’an on a mountain and have mankind stumble on it if this was the case.

Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, thou would have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah, such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that they may reflect. [Qur’an, The Exile, 59:21]

Instead, Allah (glorified and exalted be He) sent down the Qur’an on Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) and indeed it humbled him to be the best example to walk the face of the earth. How can anyone think they can practice or understand the Qur’an better than the Messenger?

Say: “O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He that giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believed in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided.” [Qur’an, The Heights, 7:158]

Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah. [Qur’an, The Combined Forces, 33:21]

Say: “If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an, The Family of Imran, 3:31]

The Messenger was sent as a leader of the Ummah until the Day of Judgement. Modernists put themselves and their logic as their leader instead; an arrogant practice that results in the idolization of oneself.

No, by your Lord, they will not become true believers until they put you [Muhammad] as a ruler in that which they dispute. [Qur’an, The Women, 4:65]

O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final determination. [Qur’an, The Women, 4:59]

The Messenger of Allah plays a vital role in Islam even today. Without this, we are left with nothing but opinions of moderate, extremist and arrogant “scholars” who try to elevate themselves over the Messenger.

O Ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger; but fear Allah: for Allah is He Who hears and knows all things. O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not. [Qur’an, The Rooms, 49:1-2]

Not only are we commanded to follow and emulate the Prophet, but to also respect and honor him. The hypocrites say disgusting things about the Prophet in public and in private. This contradiction with the Qur’an proves they do not read or understand it.

“In order that ye (o men) may believe in Allah and His Messenger that ye may assist and honour Him and celebrate His praises morning and evening.” [Qur’an, The Victory, 48:9]

Allah and His angels, send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! send ye blessings on him and salute him, with all respect. [Qur’an, The Combined Forces, 33:56]

And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. [Qur’an, The Pen, 68:4]

Conclusion

It is quite clear from the numerous above-mentioned verses that there is no room in the Qur’an to disregard the teachings and examples of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). The movement of hadith-rejectors is nothing more than a movement of hypocrites trying to destroy Islam, as was done to other religions. The Qur’an cannot be changed, which drives the enemies of Islam to other tactics.

If you wish to be firm upon the truth and upon the way of the Ahlus-Sunnah before you; beware of the theological rhetoric and of disputation, arguing, analogy and debating about the religion with hadith-rejectors. Listening to them, even if you do not accept from them, throws doubts into the heart. This is sufficient for you to be destroyed. There has never been any heresy, innovation, innovated sect or misguidance except through rhetoric, disputation, argumentation and analogy. These are the gates of innovation, doubt and heresy.

They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah: truly evil are their deeds. [Qur’an, The Hypocrites, 49:1]

“Hadith Rejectors Quranists are a Hypocrites Movement by Nouman Ali Khan”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUjUFP89oc

References

Debunking The “A’isha Child Marriage” Myth

May 28, 2012 By Sarah

UPDATE April 2019: This post was originally published in 2012, and has gone through many revisions. However, in recent years, Sh. Omar Suleiman and the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research have conducted an impressive, in-depth study of this topic. So we have completely updated this page to reflect this groundbreaking research and the articles and videos they have published.

It’s important to note that for over 1400 years, the age of Aisha (ra) was never a topic of discussion. It’s only in recent years that Islamophobes have brought it up as a point of debate, and unfortunately it has also become a cause of doubt among Muslims.

The following video is the conclusion of a 4-part collection titled, “More Than Just a Number: Perspectives on the Age of Aisha (ra)”. In it, Sh. Omar Suleiman does an excellent job of breaking down this hotly debated topic, including the historical context of the time, and helps us end this debate, once and for all.

You can read the complete collection at this link: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/series/more-than-just-a-number-perspectives-on-the-age-of-aisha/

The Status of Women in Islam

September 1, 2010 By Sarah 4 Comments

Perhaps one of the most controversial topics when it comes to Islam, is that of the status of women. It seems that everyone thinks they know everything there is to know about this topic, but I’ve yet to see a mainstream debate about this issue which actually included a Muslim in the conversation… or better yet, a Muslim woman!

I was approached by a very dear friend of mine who needed help in debunking some utterly false and downright hateful claims made by Christian Evangelical, Franklin Graham, in an interview which recently aired on CNN. I’ll spare you the excruciating pain of actually watching the interview, so I’ve outlined his main “points” below and will attempt to respond to each of them with credible references from the Qur’an and Hadith – the only true sources for Islamic jurisprudence.

However, before getting into that, it’s important to note that throughout the 11 minute interview, Mr. Graham never once took the time to actually refer back to the Qur’an or Hadith (as I will do in this post). He never once referred to a specific personal experience he’d had with any of the millions of Muslims living in his own country – the U.S., or the 1.6 billion other Muslims scattered across the globe. No, his one reference to anything remotely related to Islam was when he held up the cover of a TIME magazine which showed a picture of an Afghani girl who tragically had her nose cut off by her father because she fled an arranged marriage…and this is not at all a reference to Islam, but a in fact a reference to one incident in one country involving one family, who happens to be Muslim. Oh yes, he also referred to his ‘extensive experience’ of ‘helping Muslims’ in Muslim countries, but he never once mentions who, when, where…again, completely baseless.

The importance of this endeavor to counter these false accusations against Islam as a religion is due to the widespread uneducated, misinformed, and at times, downright ignorant, images that are portrayed about Islam in the mainstream media. If some heinous, cruel act is committed in some remote corner of the world, it goes completely unnoticed… until someone gets wind that the perpetrator says he’s a Muslim. This over-generalized, painting with a broad stroke of the brush has got to stop! It’s time to look at the facts, the source, and the truth. Below are some of Mr. Graham’s false statements about the status of women in Islam:

Women are the personal property of men
This one is a favorite of those who are truly uneducated about Islam. For if one reads the Qur’an, one will immediately realize that women and men are full and equal partners in humanity. Women are neither the ‘property’ of men, nor are they an object to be owned, bought, sold, used, kept, or any other outlandish term used to describe them. Allah (swt) explains to us exactly how women are to be treated (and not treated):

O You who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at time of marriage) you have given them, unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good. (Qur’an, 4:19)

Allah (swt) also makes it clear that the only difference between a man and woman in the sight of Allah, is one’s good deeds and awareness of Allah (swt):

Indeed the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious. (Qur’an, 49:13)

Whoever does right, whether male or female, (all) such will enter the garden. (Qur’an, 40:40)

And for those who wonder why the Qur’an seems to only be addressed to men, Umm Salama (one of the Prophet’s wives) asked the same question, after which a long passage was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) clearly addressed to both men and women in every line, stating the responsibilities and rewards for both men and women:

For Muslim men and women – for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God’s praise – for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward. (Qur’an, 33:35)

Women have no rights in Islam
Another favorite, yet completely false statement, disproven only by the word of Allah (swt):

O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you. (Qur’an, 4:1)

Contrary to what characters like Franklin Graham would have you believe, Islam grants the women the right to an education, as clearly stated by the Prophet (pbuh):

To seek knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim. (Related by Ibn ‘Adiyy, Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Tabarani)

The Holy prophet had keen interest in the education of women. His own wife, A’isha (ra) was highly learned and he is reported to have said to his companions: Learn half of the faith from A’isha. After the death of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) his companions frequently asked her for guidance in matters on which there was a difference of opinion and she was considered an authority on many vital issues and a large number of authentic traditions were narrated by her.

Islam also guarantees the rights of women to work, to own property and have wealth. Regarding the right to work and earn a living:

And in nowise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn: But ask Allah of his bounty. For Allah hath full knowledge of all things. (Qur’an, 4:32)

Islam also grants women the right to their lawful inheritance. Neither a woman’s father nor her husband can lay claim to her rightful share of inheritance:

From what is left by parents, and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large-a determinate share. (Qur’an, 4:7)

The Qur’an also states:

Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females…(Qur’an, 4:11)

The above verse is very controversial, since at first glance, it seems that this verse does not benefit women, when in fact, the opposite is true. The man is legally obligated to maintain and care for his wife, children, parents, and any other relatives in need of assistance. The woman, on the other hand, is exempt from these legal obligations, so her share of the inheritance is hers alone. She doesn’t have to contribute to the maintenance of the family if she chooses not to and no one can take that inheritance away from her.

Before Islam, a woman was not only deprived of her inheritance but was herself considered as property to be inherited by man.

Women have no rights to divorce
For some reason, many believe that all a man has to do is say “I divorce you” three times and the marriage is dissolved, without any consideration or consent from the woman. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the Qur’an not only encourages reconciliation as much as possible (especially when the couple has children), but it also orders two witnesses to witness the divorce before God:

Once the interim is fulfilled, you may reconcile with them equitably, or go through with the separation equitably. You shall have two equitable witnesses witness the divorce before Allah. This is to enlighten those who believe in Allah and the Last Day. Anyone who reverences Allah, He will create an exit for him. (Qur’an, 65:2)

The ‘interim’ referred to in the above verse is the required 4-month ‘iddah’ or cooling-off period after a divorce is declared:

Those who intend to divorce their wives shall wait four months (cooling off); if they change their minds and reconcile, then Allah is Forgiver, Merciful. If they go through with the divorce, then Allah is Hearer, Knower. (Qur’an, 2:226-227)

There are 2 reasons for this, (1) to clarify whether the woman is pregnant or not. If she is pregnant, the husband is responsible for the wife’s maintenance until the child is born. Furthermore, if the woman who is divorced has a young child, she can nurse the child for up two years and the father must maintain both the woman and her child. (2) Iddah also functions as a cooling-off period during which the relatives and the community will try to help reconcile the couple.

Furthermore,

Divorce may be retracted twice. The divorced woman shall be allowed to live in the same home amicably, or leave it amicably. It is not lawful for the husband to take back anything he had given her. However, the couple may fear that they may transgress Allah’s law. If there is fear that they may transgress Allah’s law, they commit no error if the wife willingly gives back whatever she chooses. These are Allah’s laws; do not transgress them. Those who transgress Allah’s laws are the unjust. (Qur’an, 2:229)

And when you divorce women and they reach their prescribed time, then either retain them in good fellowship or set them free with liberality, and do not retain them for injury. He who doeth that hath wronged his soul. (Qur’an, 2:231)

Islam condones violence against women
Islam condemns violence in all forms both against men and women. In pre-Islamic Arabia violence against women was rampant and began at birth in the form of infanticide. The Qur’an not only prohibits this practice explicitly, it also mocks those who view the birth of a female child with contempt:

When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice) they decide on? (Qur’an, 16:58-59)

Another form of violence against women prohibited by Islam is that committed by husbands against their wives. Islam requires that husbands treat their wives with respect and it prohibits any form of physical or emotional abuse. The Quran requires that spouses treat each other with love and mercy.

And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts); verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. (Qur’an, 30:21)

Moreover, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

I recommend that you treat women with goodness. The best of you are those who treat their wives the best. (Tirmidhi)

One verse in the Qur’an that is repeatedly referred to in order to justify using violence against women is the following:

As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) refuse to share their beds, (and last) tap them (lightly) [‘wadribuhunna’]; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). (Qur’an, 4:34)

This verse in no way condones abuse or violence against women at all! If it did, it would be in contradiction with the numerous other verses that call for peaceful, equitable and loving relationships between husband and wife. In fact, the Qur’an also gives women the right to leave a marriage if she fears abuse from her husband:

If a wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best; even though men’s souls are swayed by greed. But if ye do good and practise self-restraint, Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (Qur’an, 4:128)

The falsehood of associating verse 4:34 with violence against women is a blatant lie that the Qur’an warns us against:

Behold! How they invent a lie against Allah! But that by itself is a manifest sin! (Qur’an, 4:50)

This doesn’t even take into account that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the best example of a man, never once hit, beat, or laid a hand on any of his wives or daughters. Because of this, many scholars take the ‘tap them (lightly)’ [Arabic: ‘dribah’] to be interpreted as valid as ‘to walk away’. A man should walk away from a situation that angers him in order to cool off and show his disapproval. Even if this translation/interpretation is not based on overwhelming consensus, the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet (pbuh) makes it clear that beating or abuse of any kind against one’s wife is unacceptable since it goes against the Islamic spirit of justice and compassion.

Islam condones ‘honor killings’
There is no such concept as “honor killings” in Islam. Islam holds every life and soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgression upon it. Islam in no way allows people to take the law into their own hands and administer justice, as doing so would simply lead to chaos and lawlessness. Any judgement passed down whether to sanction killing or any other punishment should be issued by an authoritative court (ie: the justice system). Individual persons are not allowed to just sanction killing when and where they please as this leads to ruling by the laws of the jungle. In a civilized society, there are a rules and regulations that govern these sanctions so a Muslim is in no way justified to sanction these so-called “honor killings”.

Say: “Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from”: join not anything with Him; Be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want;― provide sustenance for you and for them;― come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom. (Qur’an, 6:151)

Like other religions, Islam strictly prohibits killing and murder without any justified cause. In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) states:

Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully. we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law). (Qur’an, 17:33)

The Qur’an even goes further as to say that killing is something that should be warded off completely:

But recite unto them with truth the tale of the two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from the one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill thee. (The other) answered: Allah accepteth only from those who ward off (evil). Even if thou stretch out thy hand against me to kill me, I shall not stretch out my hand against thee to kill thee, lo! I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. (Qur’an, 5:27-28)

The Qur’an points out that the same God of the Children of Israel is the same God of the Qur’an, and the values continue:

On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if whoever kills a soul – unless for another soul or for corruption (vice and mischief spread) in the land – it is as if he had slain the whole of mankind. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved the whole of mankind. (Qur’an, 5:32)

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) also says:

He who is not merciful to people Allah will not be merciful to him. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

You possess two qualities that Allah loves. These are clemency and tolerance. (Al-Muslim)

Honor killings are based on ignorance, immorality, and a complete disregard for human life and the rule of law. It’s an unfortunate reality that these killings take place both in the Muslim world, as well as other corners of the world and should be abolished through education and disciplinary measures. However, before we can wipe out these awful, heinous crimes against humanity, we must first recognize that these acts have no place or justification in Islam, a religion that advocates peace, harmony, and the sanctity of every life on this earth.

This article has aimed to cut through some of the dominant stereotypes concerning the status of women in Islam. Of course, this is in no way an exhaustive list, but indeed one that covers the most common statements uttered by misguided individuals who believe they are speaking the truth. There are almost 2 billion people on this earth who follow the religion of Islam. Women, men, old, young, black, white, Arab and non-Arab – they all subscribe to the same peaceful ideals and values that together, form the basic way of life that is Islam. It’s the fastest growing religion in the world and the second largest religion both in the U.S. and the world.

For people to actually believe that close to 2 billion of their fellow human beings follow a faith that advocates some of the heinous, unmentionable practices that they falsely attribute to Islam, there is a real problem with they way those individuals view the world around them. We cannot let the actions of a few ignorant, misguided individuals (who happen to call themselves Muslims) dictate our views and judgements about the entire religion of Islam. There are over a billion other Muslims who stand 100% against all of these purely cultural, tribalistic practices, but nobody ever asks what we think or what we believe.

It’s time to start looking at the original sources. It’s time to start asking questions instead of passing uneducated judgements. It’s time… to ask a Muslim!