Response: Muslimah Marrying a Kafir, What is "Kufr" "Shirk" and "Iman" and the Tafsir of Verse 2:69
Written by Abul Layth & Edited by Abu Usamah
The following is a response I wrote regarding several issues raised within a post by Umm Yasmin on her blog. I have posted it here for several reasons: a) I am not certain that all of the response would go through on her blog b) there are many points of creed and law that I have made within it that may benefit others that may be interested in these issues c) It is going to take up to much space on her comments, May Allah bless her with good Amin!
Allah Will Forgive All of Your Sins : Tafsir 39:53
I recall hearing a christian once tell me that my religion, “Izlam”, was not a religion of forgiveness & mercy. In fact, in his view, it is impossible for God to forgive sins without “sacrifice”, as he saw it. No matter what verses I quoted him, ahadith (narratives of the Prophet Muhammad), or scholarly quotes, he was adamant that the Qur’an does not preach forgiveness of man’s sins. One can guide the donkey to the water, but can not make him drink. I believe that a single verse from the Qur’an can respond to the christian view, or anyone else’s view, that Islam is a religion that teaches God will forgive as long as one is sincerely repentant.
Allah says,
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Say, [God says], My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own excess, do not despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
The Principle of Ijmaa' (Consensus) in Islamic Law
Compiled by Abul Layth
Ijmaa’, or scholarly consensus, is a principle of Islamic law. A fundamental proof used in Islamic legal discourse. It is considered a secondary principle because it is based on the primary proofs, the Qur’an and Sunnah. The following is some simple research I have done in support of the usage of Ijma’ as a proof in Islamic legal debate.
Proof from the Qur’an:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ مَصِيراً
“And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.”
Baghawi's Tafsir of 5:5 ; Can we eat the meat of the christians, even though it may be slaughtered in the Messiah's name?
I recently wrote an article asking the question if Muslims would eat the food of the Jews and the Christians. I have no problem, personally, with eating the meat of the Jews, as their strict guidelines are within the realm of the shari’ah -at least it seems to me. However, the christians are a different story. Several factors pertain to their slaughtering that once did not: a) they shock animals to death and do not slaughter properly – at the kneck b) if they do slaughter at the kneck they do not mention Allah’s name – whether that be God, Dios, Dio (Italian), Deus (portugeus), Jumala, tentei (Japanese), Gud (Swedish), dieux (french), Mungu (swahili), etc. However, the question arises: ‘What if the christian slaughters in Jesus’s name? Is the food then Halaal?’
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Oh Allah! Turn our hearts to your Thikr, Make us not Blind! Explanations of Taha 124
Reflect! How many a moment have we chosen the mundane over the divine? Ask yourself; of the two which is worthy of our attention? Allah ta’alaa states,
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكاً وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى
قَالَ رَبِّ لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمَى وَقَدْ كُنتُ بَصِيراً
قَالَ كَذَلِكَ أَتَتْكَ آيَاتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا وَكَذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ تُنسَى
And whoever turns away from My remembrance (thikr)- indeed, he will have a depressed (Dankaa) life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind. He will say, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing? [ Allah ] will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.” [Sahih International's translation of Taha 124]