Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims – 4

HEREAFTER – LIFE AFTER DEATH

 

Question

How can you prove the existence of hereafter, i.e. life after death?

Answer

1.   Belief in the hereafter is not based on blind faith?

Many people wonder as to how a person with a scientific and logical temperament, can lend any credence to the belief of life after death. People assume that anyone believing in the hereafter is doing so on the basis of blind belief.

My belief in the hereafter is based on a logical argument.

2.   Hereafter a logical belief

There are more than a thousand verses in the Glorious Qur’an, containing scientific facts (refer my book “Qur’an and Modern Science-Compatible or Incompatible?”). Many facts mentioned in the Qur’an have been discovered in the last few centuries. But science has not advanced to a level where it can confirm every statement of the Qur’an.

Suppose 80% of all that is mentioned in the Qur’an has been proved 100% correct. About the remaining 20%, science makes no categorical statement, since it has not advanced to a level, where it can either prove or disprove these statements. With the limited knowledge that we have, we cannot say for sure whether even a single percentage or a single verse of the Qur’an from this 20% portion is wrong. Thus when 80% of the Qur’an is 100% correct and the remaining 20% is not disproved, logic says that even the 20% portion is correct. The existence of the hereafter, which is mentioned in the Qur’an, falls in the 20% ambiguous portion which my logic says is correct.

3.   Concept of peace and human values is useless without the concept of hereafter

Is robbing a good or an evil act? A normal balanced person would say it is evil. How would a person who does not believe in the hereafter convince a powerful and influential criminal that robbing is evil?

Suppose I am the most powerful and influential criminal in the world. At the same time I am an Intelligent and a logical person. I say that robbing is good because it helps me lead a luxurious life. Thus robbing is good for me.

If anybody can put forward a single logical argument as to why it is evil for me, I will stop immediately. People usually put forward the following arguments:

   a.    The person who is robbed will face difficulties

Some may say that the person who is robbed will face difficulties. I certainly agree that it is bad for the person who is robbed. But it is good for me. If I rob a thousand dollars, I can enjoy a good meal at a 5 star restaurant.

   b.    Someone may rob you

Some people argue that someday I may be robbed. No one can rob me because I am a very powerful criminal and I have hundreds of bodyguards. I can rob anybody but nobody can rob me. Robbing may be a risky profession for a common man but not for an influential person like me.

   c.    The police may arrest you

Some may say, if you rob, you can be arrested by the police. The police cannot arrest me because I have the police on my payroll. I have the ministers on my payroll. I agree that if a common man robs, he will be arrested and it will be bad for him, but I am an extraordinarily influential and powerful criminal.

Give me one logical reason why it is bad for me and I will stop robbing.

   d.    Its easy money

Some may say its easy money and not hard-earned money. I agree completely that it is easy money, and that is one of the main reasons why I rob. If a person has the option of earning money the easy as well as the hard way, any logical person would choose the easy way.

   e.    It is against humanity

Some may say it is against humanity and that a person should care for other human beings. I counter argue by asking as to who wrote this law called ‘humanity’ and why should I follow it?

This law may be good for the emotional and sentimental people but I am a logical person and I see no benefit in caring for other human beings.

   f.     It is a selfish act

Some may say that robbing is being selfish. It is true that robbing is a selfish act; but then why should I not be selfish? It helps me enjoy life.

1.    No logical reason for robbing being an evil act

Hence all arguments that attempt to prove that robbing is an evil act are futile. These arguments may satisfy a common man but not a powerful and influential criminal like me. None of the arguments can be defended on the strength of reason and logic. It is no surprise that there are so many criminals in this world.

Similarly raping, cheating etc. can be justified as good for a person like me and there is no logical argument that can convince me that these things are bad.

2.    A Muslim can convince a powerful and influential criminal

Now let us switch sides. Suppose you are the most powerful and influential criminal in the world, who has the police and the ministers on his payroll. You have army of thugs to protect you. I am a Muslim who will convince you that robbing, raping, cheating, etc. are evil acts.

Even if I put forth the same arguments to prove that robbing is evil the criminal will respond the same way as he did earlier.

I agree that the criminal is being logical and all his arguments are true only when he is the most powerful and influential criminal.

3.     Every human being wants justice

Each and every human being desires justice. Even if he does not want justice for others he wants justice for himself. Some people are intoxicated by power and influence and inflict pain and suffering on others. The same people, however, would surely object if some injustice was done to them. The reason such people become insensitive to the suffering of others is that they worship power and influence. Power and influence, they feel, not only allows them to inflict injustice on others but also prevents others from doing likewise to them.

4. God is Most Powerful and Just

As a Muslim I would convince the criminal about the existence of Almighty God (refer to answer proving the existence of God). This God is more powerful than you and at the same time is also just. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Allah is never unjust
In the least degree”

        [Al-Qur’an 4:40]

5.     Why does God not punish me?

The criminal, being a logical and scientific person, agrees that God exists, after being presented with scientific facts from the Qur’an. He may argue as to why God, if He is Powerful and Just, does not punish him.

6. The people who do injustice should be punished

Every person who has suffered injustice, irrespective of financial or social status, almost certainly wants the perpetrator of injustice to be punished. Every normal person would like the robber or the rapist to be taught a lesson. Though a large number of criminals are punished, many even go scot-free. They lead a pleasant, luxurious life, and even enjoy a peaceful existence. If injustice is done to a powerful and influential person, by someone more powerful and more influential than he, even such a person would want that person perpetrators of injustice to be punished.

7. This life is a test for the hereafter

This life is a test for the hereafter. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“He who created Death
And life that He
May try which of you
Is best in deed;
And He is the Exalted
In Might, Oft-Forgiving”
          [Al-Qur’an 67:2]

8. Final justice on day of judgement

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Every soul shall have
A taste of death:
And only on the Day
Of Judgement shall you
Be paid your full recompense.
Only he who is saved
Far from the Fire
And admitted to the Garden
Will have attained
The object (of life):
For the life of this world
Is but goods and chattels
Of deception.”
          [Al-Qur’an 3:185]

Final justice will be meted out on the Day of Judgement. After a person dies, he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement along with the rest of mankind. It is possible that a person receives part of his punishment in this world. The final reward and punishment will only be in the hereafter. God Almighty may not punish a robber or a rapist in this world but he will surely be held accountable on the Day of Judgement and will be punished in the hereafter i.e. life after death.

9. What punishment can the human law give Hitler?

Hitler incinerated six million Jews during his reign of terror. Even if the police had arrested him, what punishment can the human law give Hitler for justice to prevail? The most they can do is to send Hitler to the gas chamber. But that will only be punishment for the killing of one Jew. What about the remaining five million, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine Jews?

10. Allah can burn Hitler more than six million times in hellfire

Allah say in the Glorious Qur’an:

“Those who reject
Our signs, We shall soon
Cast into the Fire;
As often as their skins
Are roasted through,
We shall change them
For fresh skins,
That they may taste
The penalty: for Allah
Is Exalted in Power, Wise”
          [Al-Qur’an 4:56]

If Allah wishes he can incinerate Hitler six million times in the hereafter in the hellfire.

11. No concept of human values or good and bad without concept of hereafter

It is clear that without convincing a person about the hereafter, i.e. life after death, the concept of human values and the good or evil nature of acts is impossible to prove to any person who is doing injustice especially when he is influential and powerful.

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims – 3

 

VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE ACTUAL PRACTICE OF MUSLIMS

 

 

 

Question:

 

 

 

If Islam is the best religion, why are many of the Muslims dishonest, unreliable, and involved in activities such as cheating, bribing, dealing in drugs, etc.?

 

 

 

1.   Media maligns Islam

1. Islam is without doubt the best religion but the media is in the hands of the westerners who are afraid of Islam. The media is continuously broadcasting and printing information against Islam. They either provide misinformation about Islam, misquote Islam or project a point out of proportion, if any.
2. When any bomb blasts take place anywhere, the first people to be accused without proof are invariably the Muslims. This appears as headlines in the news. Later, when they find that non-Muslims were responsible, it appears as an insignificant news’ item.
3. If a 50 year old Muslim marries a 15 year old girl after taking her permission, it appears on the front page but when a 50 year old non-Muslim rapes a 6 year old girl, it may appear in the news in the inside pages as ‘Newsbriefs’. Everyday in America on an average 2,713 cases of rape take place but it doesn’t appear in the news, since it has become a way of life for the Americans.

2.   Black sheep in every community:

I am aware that there are some Muslims who are dishonest, unreliable, who cheat, etc. but the media projects this as though only Muslims are involved in such activities. There are black sheep in every community. I know Muslims who are alcoholics and who can drink most of the non-Muslims under the table.

3.   Muslims best as a whole:

Inspite of all the black sheep in the Muslim community, Muslims taken on the whole, yet form the best community in the world. We are the biggest community of tee-totallers as a whole, i.e. those who don’t imbibe alcohol. Collectively, we are a community which gives the maximum charity in the world. There is not a single person in the world who can even show a candle to the Muslims where modesty is concerned; where sobriety is concerned; where human values and ethics are concerned.

4.   Don’t judge a car by its driver:

If you want to judge how good is the latest model of the “Mercedes” car and a person who does not know how to drive sits at the steering wheel and bangs up the car, who will you blame? The car or the driver? But naturally, the driver. To analyze how good the car is, a person should not look at the driver but see the ability and features of the car. How fast is it, what is its average fuel consumption, what are the safety measures, etc. Even if I agree for the sake of argument that the Muslims are bad, we can’t judge Islam by its followers? If you want to judge how good Islam is then judge it according to its authentic sources, i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith.

5.   Judge Islam by its best follower i.e. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh):

If you practically want to check how good a car is put an expert driver behind the steering wheel. Similarly the best and the most exemplary follower of Islam by whom you can check how good Islam is, is the last and final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Besides Muslims, there are several honest and unbiased non-Muslim historians who have acclaimed that prophet Muhammad was the best human being. According to Michael H. Hart who wrote the book, ‘The Hundred Most Influential Men in History’, the topmost position, i.e. the number one position goes to the beloved prophet of Islam, Muhammad (pbuh). There are several such examples of non-Muslims paying great tributes to the prophet, like Thomas Carlyle, La-Martine, etc.

Answer:

 

Guidelines on how every Muslim should spend his day and night – 2

Guidelines on how every Muslim should spend his day and night. 

By Hakimul Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi 
( rahmatullahi ‘alayh )

 

 

 

16. Do not search for the faults of others. Do not have evil thoughts about anyone. Instead, look at your own faults and try to put them in order.

17. You should be very particular in offering your salaat in the proper manner, at the proper time and with great concentration.

18. Always occupy yourself in the remembrance of Allah either with your heart or tongue. Do not be neglectful in this regard at any time.

19. If you experience any satisfaction in taking the name of Allah and your heart feels happy over this, then express your gratitude to Allah.

20. Speak in a nice and humble way.

21. Set aside specific times for all your different tasks and abide strictly to these times.

22. Consider whatever regret, sorrow or loss you may experience to be from Allah. Do not be despondent. Instead, think that you will be rewarded for this.

23. Do not think about worldly matters, calculations, profits and losses, etc. all the time. Instead, think about Allah.

24. As far as possible, try to help and benefit others irrespective of whether it be in worldly affairs or Dini matters.

25. Do not eat and drink too little to the extent that you become weak and fall ill. Nor should you eat and drink too much to the extent that you feel lazy in carrying out the different acts of ‘ibadah.

26. Do not have any desire or greed for anything from anyone except Allah. Do not allow your mind to wander towards any place thinking that you will be able to gain certain benefit or profit from there.

27. Be restless in your quest for Allah.

28. Be grateful for the favours that are bestowed  upon you irrespective of whether they are plenty or few. Do not be depressed with poverty and destitution.

29. Overlook the faults and mistakes of those who are under your control.

30. If you learn of any fault of someone, conceal it. However, if the person plans to cause harm to someone else and you learn of it, then warn the other person beforehand.

31. Be in the services of guests, travelers, strangers, ‘ulama, and the pious servants of Allah.

32. Choose the company of the pious.

33. Fear Allah all the time.

34. Remember  death.

35.  Set aside a certain time daily wherein you should think about all your actions for that day. When you remember any good action, express gratitude. When you remember any evil action, repent.

36. Don’t ever speak a lie.

37. Don’t attend gatherings that are contrary to the Shari’ah.

38. Live with bashfulness, modesty and fornearance.

39. Do not be conceited by thinking to yourself that “I have a such-and-such qualities in me”

40. Continue making du’a to Allah to keep you steadfast on the straight path.

 

Guidelines on how every Muslim should spend his day and night

Guidelines on how every Muslim should spend his day and night.

By Hakimul Ummah Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi 
( rahmatullahi ‘alayh )

Everyone spends his life-span but a pertinent question is: who fulfils the right of living?

Animals bereft of wisdom and intelligence also pass their lives. However, a human being endowed with wisdom and intelligence spends a much more excellent and superior type of life. Similarly, a disbeliever  also passes the days of his life wandering in the darkness of misguidance and deviation. However, his life is quite different from that of a Muslim who lives a secure, smooth life in accordance with the guidelines of divine revelation. The day and night of a disbeliever is spent in spiritual darkness whereas a Muslim spends his day and night in spiritual light. Hence, a pertinent question arises: how should every Muslim spend his day and night so that his life could easily be distinguished from that of a disbeliever ?

Every Muslim should spend his day and night as follows:

1. Acquire knowledge of the Din according to your needs. You could acquire this knowledge either by reading a book or by asking the ‘ulama.

2. Abstain from all sins.

3. If you commit any sin, repent immediately.

4. Do not hold back in fulfilling anyone’s right. Do not cause anyone physical or verbal harm. Do not speak ill of anyone.

5. Do not have any love for wealth nor any desire for name or fame. Do not concern yourself with extravagant food and clothing.

6. If someone rebukes you for your mistake or error, do not try to justify your action. Admit your fault and repent.

7. Do not embark on a journey without any dire necessity. This is because many unconscious and unintended acts are committed while on a journey. Many good deeds are missed out, there is a shortcoming in the different forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and you are unable to accomplish your tasks on time.

8. Do not laugh excessively nor talk excessively. You should take special precaution in not talking with ghayr mahrams (those with whom the observances of purdah is incumbent) in an informal way.

9. Do not go about repeating or mentioning an argument that may have taken place between two persons.

10. Always be mindful of the rules of the Shari’ah in everything you do. 

11. Do not display laziness in executing any act of ‘ibadah.

12. Try and spend most of your time in seclusion.

13. If you have to meet and converse with others, meet them with humility and do not display your greatness.

14. Associate very little with rulers and those who hold high positions.

15. Stay very far from the irreligious people.

 to be continued…

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims – 2

POLYANDRY

 

Question:

If a man is allowed to have more than one wife, then why does Islam prohibit a woman from having more than one husband?

Answer:

A lot of people, including some Muslims, question the logic of allowing Muslim men to have more than one spouse while denying the same ‘right’ to women.

Let me first state emphatically, that the foundation of an Islamic society is justice and equity. Allah has created men and women as equal, but with different capabilities and different responsibilities. Men and women are different, physiologically and psychologically. Their roles and responsibilities are different. Men and women are equal in Islam, but not identical.

Surah Nisa’ Chapter 4 verses 22 to 24 gives the list of women with who you can not marry and it is further mentions in Surah Nisa’ Chapter 4 verse 24 “Also (prohibited are) women already married”

The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in Islam:

1.   If a man has more than one wife, the parents of the children born of such marriages can easily be identified. The father as well as the mother can easily be identified. In case of a woman marrying more than one husband, only the mother of the children born of such marriages will be identified and not the father. Islam gives tremendous importance to the identification of both parents, mother and father. Psychologists tell us that children who do not know their parents, especially their father undergo severe mental trauma and disturbances. Often they have an unhappy childhood. It is for this reason that the children of prostitutes do not have a healthy childhood. If a child born of such wedlock is admitted in school, and when the mother is asked the name of the father, she would have to give two or more names! I am aware that recent advances in science have made it possible for both the mother and father to be identified with the help of genetic testing. Thus this point which was applicable for the past may not be applicable for the present.

2.   Man is more polygamous by nature as compared to a woman.

3.   Biologically, it is easier for a man to perform his duties as a husband despite having several wives. A woman, in a similar position, having several husbands, will not find it possible to perform her duties as a wife. A woman undergoes several psychological and behavioral changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle.

4.   A woman who has more than one husband will have several sexual partners at the same time and has a high chance of acquiring venereal or sexually transmitted diseases which can also be transmitted back to her husband even if all of them have no extra-marital sex. This is not the case in a man having more than one wife, and none of them having extra-marital sex.

The above reasons are those that one can easily identify. There are probably many more reasons why Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom, has prohibited polyandry.

 

This question and answer is extracted from Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims by Dr. Zakir Naik

 

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims

POLYGAMY

 

Question:

Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islam?

Answer:

Definition of Polygamy

1.  

Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited.

 

 

2.  The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says,”marry only one”.

The Qur’an is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.

In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (95% C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

3.  Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims

The report of the ‘Committee of The Status of Woman in Islam’, published in 1975 mentions on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal, Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there was no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and not the Hindu scriptures.

Let us now analyse why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife.

4.   Qur’an permits limited polygyny

As I mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says ‘marry only one’. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur’an:

“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.”

                                  [Al-Qur’an 4:3]

Before the Qur’an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says:

“Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women….”

                                 [Al-Qur’an 4:129]

Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife.

Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts:

         i.            ‘Fard’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

       ii.            ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged

      iii.            ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed

      iv.            ‘Makruh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged

        v.            ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

5.  Average life span of females is more than that of males

By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the pediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers.

6.   India has more male population than female due to female foeticide and infanticide

India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries, in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason lies in the high rate of female infanticide in India, and the fact that more than one million female foetuses are aborted every year in this country, after they are identified as females. If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as compared to males.

7.   World female population is more than male population

In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain has four million more females as compared to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males.

8.   Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical

Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. There is no other option. All those who are modest will opt for the first.

In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life.

Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to marry a married man or to become public property. Islam prefers giving women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second.

There are several other reasons, why Islam has permitted limited polygyny, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women.

 

This question and answer is extracted from Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims by Dr. Zakir Naik

 

 

Seruan dari orang-orang yang dipengaruhi oleh Barat untuk menghalang poligami

The call of westernized people to forbid polygamy

(Seruan dari orang-orang yang dipengaruhi oleh Barat untuk menghalang poligami)

Unfortunately, some people calling for Westernization in our Arab and Islamic countries have made use of what has happened because of the Muslims who transgress; they raise their voices asking for polygamy to be abolished completely. Day and night the disadvantages of polygamy are reiterated while silence is kept about the disadvantages of adultery and fornication, which is, unfortunately, allowed by local laws which rule over Muslim states nowadays. The mass media, especially films and serials, have played a serious role in spreading repulsive feelings toward polygamy, among women in particular, so that some of them would tolerate the husband when he commits adultery but not when he marries another.

(The Status Of Women In Islam by Prof. Dr. Yusof Al-Qaradawy)

Terjemahan:

Malang sekali, sesetengah orang yang menyeru Pengaruh Barat di dalam negara-negara Arab dan Islam kita telah mempergunakan apa yang telah dilakukan oleh orang-orang Islam yang telah melampau; mereka menaikkan suara-suara mereka menuntut supaya poligami dihapuskan secara keseluruhannya. Siang dan malam mereka mengulang-ulangi keburukan-keburukan poligami sementara keburukan-keburukan zina dan perhubungan di luar nikah dipandang sepi di mana lebih malang lagi zina dan pelacuran diterima oleh undang-undang tempatan di setengah-setengah Negara Muslim pada masa ini. Media massa melalui filem dan drama bersiri telah memainkan peranan yang serius di dalam menyebarkan perasaan supaya menolak poligami terutama di kalangan kaum wanita sehingga ada sesetengah wanita merelakan suami mereka melakukan zina tetapi tidak merelakan suami mereka berkahwin lain.

(Status Wanita Di Dalam Islam oleh Prof. Dr. Yusof Al-Qaradawy)

 

Dialog Tentang Poligami

Dialog ini dipetik dari internet tentang isu poligami.

Zul:  “Aslkm, Sila rujuk petikan dari suratkhabar baru-baru ini yang mengetatkan syarat untuk berkahwin lebih dari satu. Kalau kita lihat buku Fiqh Sunnah karangan Sayid Sabiq ianya sangat berbeza. Adakah ulama’ dulu tidak pandai dalam mengeluarkan sesuatu hukum bagi kepentingan umat Islam seluruhnya? Atau hukum ulama’ dulu tidak mengikut peredaran zaman, kolot, tidak moden? Ulasan Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi adalah selari dengan Sheikh Sayid Sabiq? Tidak adakah cendikiawan (intelek) Islam dalam dunia ini yang ingin membuat penyelidikan (research; MA atau PhD) tentang hikmah Allah membolehkan Muslim berkahwin lebih dari satu tetapi tidak melebihi empat? Siapakah kita yang hendak mengkritik apa yang telah diwahyukan oleh Allah? Allah Maha Mengetahui akan rahsia kenapa Dia membenarkan Muslim boleh berpoligami. Ini adalah peringatan untuk diri sendiri yang sangat dhaif ini. Maaf kiranya ada terkasar bahasa atau tersinggung perasaan. Wassalam.”

 

Petikan dari akhbar berbunyi:

1. Perkahwinan (kedua) hanya patut atau perlu atas faktor kemandulan, keuzuran jasmani, sengaja ingkar mematuhi perintah hak persetubuhan atau gila di pihak isteri;
2. Pemohon berkemampuan menanggung semua isteri dan tanggungannya termasuk yang bakal ditanggung;
3. Pemohon berupaya memberi layanan adil kepada semua isteri;
4. Perkahwinan tidak menyebabkan ‘darar Syarie’ atau bahaya yang menyentuh isteri mengenai agama, nyawa, tubuh badan, akal, maruah dan harta benda mengikut kebiasaan yang diakui hukum syarak; dan
5. Kuasa mahkamah mengkehendaki seseorang membuat pembayaran nafkah kepada isteri atau isteri-isteri yang sedia ada.

 

Zul:  ”Ada pembetulan tentang ayat ” Ulasan Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi adalah selari dengan Sheikh Sayid Sabiq?” sebenarnya dibaca ” Ulasan Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi adalah selari dengan Sheikh Sayid Sabiq.” Wassalam.”

 

Irfan:  ”Tak ada pembetulan pun! Atau saya tak nampak?!”

 

Zul:  ”Tanda soal (?) sepatutnya tidak ada. Hasil kajian saya, kedua-dua Sheikh mempunyai pendapat yang sama iaitu berpoligami disebabkan oleh sorry to say “strong sexual desire” atau mengikut seorang ustaz dalam kuliah yang saya ikuti “engine turbo”. Saya minta maaf sebab guna bahasa-bahasa yang begini. Tapi itulah hakikat yang Allah jadikan manusia ini seperti dalam Surah Al-Imran ayat 14. Cinta kepada wanita itu adalah kesenangan hidup dunia. Apa yang ada di sisi Allah itu lebih baik. Wassalam.”

 

Fandi:  “Assalamu ‘alaikum. Bagi saya itu bukan the only reason why poligamy! Kalau inilah reasonnya musuh Islam akan mengatakan bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. kuat nafsu. Sebenarnya setiap perkahwinan Rasulullah ada different reasons behind it. Bagi saya yang lebih utama adalah menjaga maruah dan kehormatan wanita. Dalam situasi maruah dan kehormatan wanita terjamin melalui poligami, maka poligami harus digalakkan. Namun dalam keadaan kehormatan wanita dan maruah wanita tidak terjamin dengan poligami maka sesuatu harus dilakukan agar poligami yang diharuskan oleh Islam itu dilaksanakan dalam keadaan yang terkawal, berperaturan agar hikmah poligami itu dapat dicapai dengan sempurna. Ini tidak menafikan dalam keadaan tertentu, banyak sebab-sebab lain yang mengharuskan poligami termasuk apa yang disebutkan oleh Zul tadi, namun sebab itu sahaja tidak sepatutnya menjadi satu-satu sebab mengapa berpoligami kerana hal itu adalah relatif bagi setiap individu.

 

Tanpa mengambil kira faktor kemampuan yang lain, keadilan dan dharar(mudarat) yang berlaku hasil dari poligami, maka poligami sebegitu adalah tidak selaras dengan kaedah Fekah, “Mengutamakan Maslahah umum berbanding Maslahah Peribadi”, “Menolak Mafsadah lebih utama dari Maslahah” dan lain-lain kaedah yang berkaitan. Apatah lagi maslahah yang ingin dicapai tersebut adalah maslahah peribadi semata-mata. Walaubagaimanapun, tidak dinafikan peraturan yang terlalu ketat dan tidak munasabah juga boleh membawa kepada mafsadah dan dharar yang lebih berat yang juga harus ditangani dengan sewajarnya. Inilah dilema sebenarnya di pihak penggubal undang-undang yang harus difahami oleh setiap dari kita dalam apa jua peraturan yang hendak dilaksanakan termasuk dalam kes Hudud, Qisas dan sebagainya. Wallahu a’lam.”

 

Zul:  “Aslkm, Sekadar satu perbincangan. Boleh tak sekiranya saya mengatakan bahawa masalah peribadi itu boleh menjadi masalah umum bila terdapat ramai peribadi yang mempunyai masalah yang sama atau yang sewaktu dengannya. Saya lihat banyak ayat-ayat Al-Quran yang diturunkan menyentuh masalah peribadi dan diselesaikan melalui wahyu untuk menjadi pengajaran kepada umat pada masa itu dan seterusnya sehingga hari Qiamat. Sebab itu saya mengambil rujukan dari Sheikh Besar seperti Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Sayid Sabiq yang melihat kepentingan umat Islam seluruhnya.

 

Lebih-lebih lagi masalah poligami ini sangat mudah difahami bagi yang orang yang telah berkahwin. Kalau seseorang yang belum berkahwin mungkin memahaminya secara teoritikal sahaja. Sekiranya mahu melihat perspektif individu maka bagaimana dengan perkahwinan pertama yang juga banyak masalah yang ditimbulkan oleh sesetengah individu yang mana sekiranya teori untuk menjaga kepentingan orang lain supaya tidak timbul masalah maka syarat-syarat harus diperketatkan juga bagi perkahwinan yang pertama maka ianya akan mengalami nasib yang sama seperti poligami di mana akan ada yang tidak layak untuk berkahwin bagi perkahwinan yang pertama.

 

Islam itu agama yang mudah di mana tidak semestinya seseorang itu perlu menjadi Profesor dahulu baru boleh memahami Islam hatta seorang pemandu teksi pun boleh memahami Islam asalkan ada yang boleh menerangkan dengan cara yang berhikmah maka boleh saja dia memahami Islam dan mempraktikkannya.”

 

Zul:  “Saya tidak faham kenapa hendak menyusahkan pensyariatan poligami ini yang sebenarnya sangat jelas sejelas bintang di langit adakah kerana takut ianya terkena kepada diri sendiri dan bukannya untuk menjaga maslahah umat. Kita lihat the first place kenapa Allah membenarkan orang lelaki Islam berpoligami di mana hikmahnya hanya Allah Taala sahaja yang tahu dan saya rasa kita boleh mencari, mengkaji hikmahnya terpulanglah kepada kita di antara hendak dengan tak hendak. Tapi realiti sekarang mungkin kerana takut dicop sebagai kuat nafsu maka tak ada orang berani hendak buat research tentang ini. Ini sebenarnya satu challenge. Kalau kita tak buat maka orang orientalis akan menghentam kita dengan meracuni fikiran generasi sekarang supaya melihat poligami ini sesuatu yang mesti dijauhi dan menimbulkan banyak problem kepada masyarakat.

 

Masyarakat barat hari ini tak memerlukan poligami kerana mereka telah jauh terpesong dari norma-norma agama dan mereka hidup lebih dahsyat dari haiwan dan they can stay together man and woman without marriage and they can even change their partners every week or even everyday without feeling guilty.”

 

Zul:  “Bila saya menulis ni bukannya saya tuju kepada seseorang tapi anggaplah ini sebagai suatu diskusi yang bertujuan untuk mencari keredhaan Allah. Dalam ilmu kejuruteraan, jika sesuatu hukum (law) itu sudah diputuskan maka ianya boleh dijadikan rujukan tapi bukan bermakna ianya tidak mengalami kesilapan kerana ianya adalah buatan manusia yang bersifat dhaif dan melakukan kesilapan. Hanya ketetapan dan hukum Allah sahaja yang perfect dan hanya Allah sahaja yang mengetahui hikmahnya. Wallahu’alam.”

 

Fandi: “Assalamu ‘alaikum. Memang tiada siapa yang boleh mempertikaikan bahawa pensyariatan poligami membawa hikmah besar kepada individu (lelaki dan perempuan), masyarakat, ummah dan agama. Dari segi teorinya beres, kita menentang sekeras-kerasnya pihak yang mempertikaikan pensyariatan poligami kerana poligami adalah ubat yang amat mujarab untuk menyelesaikan masalah ummah.

 

Cuma apa yang harus diperhalusi ialah perlaksanaannya dalam kontek sekarang kerana kita sedia maklum our legal framework is not Islamic. Oleh itu dalam isu poligami pihak2 tertentu wajib mengambil tanggungjawab melaksanakan peraturan-peraturan tertentu agar hikmah poligami itu dapat dicapai. Bayangkan jika setiap orang diberi kebebasan seluas-luasnya untuk berpoligami semata-mata berasaskan keperluan nafsu tanpa sebarang syarat dan peraturan, maka dalam keadaan umat Islam yang amat jahil dengan hukum hakam Allah, maka semua orang akan berlumba-lumba untuk berpoligami dan sudah tentu keadaan ini membawa dharar kepada masyarakat khasnya para wanita.

 

Walaubagaimanapun ini tidak bermakna kita bersetuju dengan syarat-syarat yang dicadangkan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu. Yang penting bagi saya ialah kesedaran ummah terhadap Islam dan hukum hakamnya supaya setiap individu yang ingin berpoligami faham akan hukum dan tuntutan poligami agar mampu mencapai hikmah pensyariatan poligami tersebut. Peranan kita menyedarkan masyarakat. Kalau ada antara kita yang mampu berpoligami, tidak salah untuk kita buktikan dan tunjukkan kepada masyarakat bahawa poligami itu mampu membawa kebahagiaan kepada individu, ummah, agama dan negara. Wallahu a’lam.”

 

Zul: “Saya rasa jika undang-undang poligami ini dilaksanakan yang sepatutnya menurut Islam, ianya tidak akan menimbulkan masalah kepada kaum wanita atau masyarakat kerana kita yakin yang mana poligami ini dibenarkan oleh Allah Taala adalah untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan ummah dan menjaga kedudukan kaum wanita untuk semua umat Islam dan pada setiap zaman. Bukankah dengan poligami maka kedudukan sorry to say wanita-wanita janda akan terjamin, juga sorry to say wanita-wanita yang agak berumur akan berteman kerana naluri mereka berkehendakkan teman hidup, dan juga sorry to say wanita-wanita yang muda pun akan dapat melahirkan zuriat dengan cepat dan ramai sekiranya ada rezeki. Bukankah kaum wanita lebih ramai sekarang ini berbanding dengan kaum lelaki? Walaupun tak ada statistik tapi rasanya gitulah. Saya rasa kalau seseorang itu berkahwin kerana nafsu itu tidak menjadi masalah sebab ianya masih disalurkan on the right track (halal). Sebab kuat nafsu jugalah Allah membenarkan 2, atau 3, atau, 4 saya rasa walaupun this is not the only reason. Wallahu’alam.”

 

Zul: “Aslkm, “The problem is sekiranya undang-undang poligami ini disekat atau dipayahkan aplikasinya maka semuanya terlibat samada orang baik atau tak berapa baik. Ini seolah-olah kita menidakkan undang-undang itu sendiri. Sebab itu kita perlu tengok juga kepada Islam yang asal. Bukan bermakna bila kita bergelar profesor kita saja yang pandai. Ulama’-ulama’ dulu-dulu lagi intelligent, mereka menghafal banyak hadis, buku, Al-Quran tak payah ceritalah dalam dada dan terbukti keikhlasan mereka sehingga ada yang sanggup masuk jel dan ramai yang syahid kerana mempertahankan pendirian mereka. Dari sudut masalah dulu dan sekarang lebih kurang sama saja, orang lelaki dulu dengan sekarang sama saja, kita makan nasi dia makan roti, makan juga jadi nak kata fatwa zaman dulu tak sesuai dengan sekarang saya kurang setuju.”

 

Fandi:  “Assalamu ‘alaikum. “Saya rasa isu ini sama jugak dengan perkahwinan pertama. Islam mengharuskan kahwin asal saja sudah mencapai baligh tetapi mengapa peraturan semua Negara Islam menetapkan umur yang dibenarkan berkahwin? Kalau nak ikut apa yang disebutkan oleh ulama’ dulu dalam kitab-kitab mereka, asal saja baligh, biar sahajalah sapa nak kahwin, kahwinlah, tak perlu ada apa-apa peraturan mengenai umur dsbnya. Mengapa di Malaysia perkahwinan wajib didaftarkan? Mengapa kena ada ujian darah? Mengapa…? Mengapa…? Mengapa….? Bukan soal ulama’ dulu tak intelligent tapi zaman berubah, suasana berubah, perlaksanaan sesuatu hukum pun harus berubah.  La yunkar taghayyur al-ahkam bi taghayyur al-azman. Ini bukan bermaksud fatwa dulu tak boleh pakai, kita yakin apa yang difatwakan dan ditulis oleh ulama’ dulu adalah mutiara yang harus dijadikan sandaran dan panduan untuk kita semua. Tidak timbul soal Islam asal atau Islam sekarang, tapi soal perlaksanaan hukum Islam wajib mengambil kira suasana semasa, sebab itulah peraturan-peraturan perkahwinan dilaksanakan. Tetapi tidak bermakna kita setuju dengan semua peraturan yang telah dan akan dilaksanakan. Cuma tidak salah dari sudut pandangan Fekah untuk menetapkan peraturan seperti menetapkan umur tertentu untuk perkahwinan demi menjaga maslahah ummah dan agama. Perkara yang sama boleh diaplikasikan untuk isu poligami, tak salah dibuat peraturan. Kita harus faham bahawa mengenakan peraturan yang tidak pernah dikenakan oleh orang terdahulu, jika ianya berasaskan kepada fatwa yang memenuhi syarat-syarat fatwa berasaskan kepada sumber hukum dan dalil yang sahih adalah tidak bercanggah dengan kehendak Syariah. Cuma jangan kita faham, apa sahaja yang tidak difatwakan oleh ulama’ dulu sebagai tambahan kepada hukum “Islam asal” dan bercanggah dengan kehendak Syariah dan Islam! Itu amat merbahaya. Soal fatwa itu kita setuju atau tidak itu boleh dibahaskan dan dibincangkan dan common untuk semua isu. Kalau mereka mengeluarkan fatwa yang salah, jika melalui proses yang betul mereka mendapat satu ganjaran, kalau fatwa mereka betul mereka mendapat dua ganjaran. Pokoknya, perbezaan pandangan di kalangan cerdik pandai Islam adalah perkara biasa dan ini tidak bermakna satu pihak mesti benar satu pihak mesti salah. Soal ulama’ dulu masuk jel atau Syahid kerana mempertahankan pandangannya, itu saya tak berani nak komen. Wallahu a’lam.”

 

Zul:  ”Aslkm, Saya nak minta tolong seseorang menghuraikan ayat ini “Kalau mereka mengeluarkan fatwa yang salah, jika melalui proses yang betul mereka mendapat satu ganjaran, kalau fatwa mereka betul mereka mendapat dua ganjaran.” dengan berdasarkan persoalan berikut:-

1. Siapakah “mereka” yang boleh mengeluarkan fatwa?

2. Apakah maksud “melalui proses yang betul”?

3. Adakah ijtihad berbentuk lokaliti (baru) tanpa mengambil kira ijtihad ulama’-ulama’ lain yang mu’tabar yang mana ijtihadnya (ijtihad ulama’ muktabar telahpun ada sebelumnya) telah sedia ada dan relevan dengan subjek yang dibincangkan boleh diambilkira?. Wallahu a’lam.”

 

 

Masa Itu Kehidupan

Masa. Ramai orang bercakap tentang masa. Ada pepatah mengatakan “Masa Itu Emas”. Maknanya betapa mahalnya harga masa itu sehingga dinisbahkan dengan nilai emas. Jam di tangan kita, tidak kira samada di kiri atau kanan tangan kita akan sentiasa berdetik walaupun kita tidak menghiraukannya. Masa tetap berlalu.

Bagi pelumba F1, masa yang dihabiskan di “pit stop” amat berharga bagi mereka kerana masa yang digunakan untuk mengisi minyak, menukar tayar atau apa-apa keperluan kereta F1 itu menentukan mereka berada di nombor 1 ataupun hanya berpuas hati dengan nombor 7 atau nombor 10.

Dalam peperiksaan penting bagi seseorang pelajar pula masa menjadi ukuran samada pelajar itu berjaya dengan cemerlang ataupun tidak. Ya. Itulah masa. Amat penting di dalam kehidupan kita. Pepatah arab mengatakan al-waqtu hayah bermakna “masa itu kehidupan”. Setiap detik masa yang berlalu itulah kehidupan yang kita lalui di dunia ini. Manusia hidup lebih kurang 60 atau 70 tahun. Ada yang umur panjang sampai 80, 90 tahun. Tapi ada meninggal dunia semasa muda remaja 20an, 30an atau 40an. Walaubagaimana panjang atau pendek sekalipun umur yang manusia ’spend’ di dunia ini ianya hanya sekejap jika dibandingkan dengan kehidupan di akhirat nanti. Satu hari di akhirat adalah 1000 tahun di dunia. Jadi sekiranya manusia hidup 60 tahun di dunia maka di akhirat hanyalah 60/1000 hari atau 0.06 hari sahaja di akhirat. Sangat pendek masanya.

Sehubungan dengan itu, adakah kita asyik mengejar keseronokan dunia sahaja sehingga melupakan bekalan yang perlu kita bawa untuk ke akhirat kelak. Penulis menggunakan perkataan bekalan kerana kita di dunia ini adalah seperti pengembara yang singgah sekejap di kawasan rehat kerana untuk berehat seketika sebelum menyambung perjalanan yang jauh. Cuma berbeza di kawasan rehat kita berehat untuk makan dan minum atau melelapkan mata sekejap tetapi pada hakikatnya di dunia ini kita tidak ada masa rehat yang panjang bila mengenangkan bekalan yang belum mencukupi iaitu merupakan amal ibadat dan pengabdian kita kepada Allah Taala. Pengabdian atau ubudiah kita kepada Allah Taala itulah sebenarnya menjadi tujuan kita hidup di dunia ini. Allah Taala tidak menjadikan jin dan manusia melainkan untuk mengabdikan diri kepadaNya semata-mata. Sebab itu Allah Taala menjadikan kita bukan untuk bermain-main tetapi untuk kita beribadat kepadaNya semata-mata dan tidak menyekutukanNya dengan sesuatupun.

Bekalan apakah yang patut kita sediakan untuk perjalanan kita di negeri akhirat nanti? Tentulah banyak perkara yang boleh kita lakukan. Di antaranya ialah:-

1. Menunaikan segala yang fardhu dan wajib ke atas diri kita seperti solat, puasa, zakat, haji dan sebagainya,
2. Berusaha melakukan perkara-perkara sunat seperti solat sunat, puasa sunat, bersedekah, menolong fakir dan miskin dll,
3. Solat berjemaah di masjid atau surau terutama solat subuh,
4. Memperbanyakkan membaca Al-Qur’an. Berusaha mengkhatamkan Al-Qur’an dalam masa sebulan,
5. Infaq di jalan Allah. Memberi bantuan kewangan untuk kerja-kerja yang berfaedah kepada masyarakat terutama orang-orang yang memerlukan pertolongan,
6. Merenung dan memikirkan tentang alam semesta. Mengkagumi kehebatan Allah sebagai Pencipta alam semesta,
7. Berusaha mendalami dan memahami fikrah atau ideologi Islam yang sebenar sebagaimana yang dikehendaki oleh Allah Taala.
8. Semoga Allah Taala memberi kita taufiq dan hidayahNya untuk kita mengamalkan semuanya kerana kita tidak tahu bilakah kita akan dipanggil bertemu denganNya. Amin.