يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡأَهِلَّةِ‌ۖ قُلۡ هِىَ مَوَٲقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱلۡحَجِّ‌ۗ وَلَيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرُّ بِأَن تَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ‌ۗ وَأۡتُواْ ٱلۡبُيُوتَ مِنۡ أَبۡوَٲبِهَا‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ O (سورة البقرة ۱۸۹)

"THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THE NEW MOONS. SAY: THEY ARE INDICATIVE OF TIME FOR THE PEOPLE, AND OF THE HAJJ. AND IT IS NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT YOU COME INTO YOUR HOUSES FROM THEIR BACK SIDE BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THAT ONE FEARS ALLAH. AND COME TO THE HOUSES THROUGH THEIR DOORS. AND FEAR ALLAH SO THAT YOU MAY BE SUCCESSFUL. (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:189)

Part 1

The words used by the Holy Quran with regard to the moon clearly indicate that lunar calendar is the preferred calendar in Islam, particularly in relation to those acts of worship that are specific to certain months or dates for example the months of Ramadan and Hajj, the days of Hajj, and Muharram and Ashura.
Continued...
From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE


The Shariah has opted for the lunar calendar because it is based on something every sighted person  can see on the sky and be informed accordingly. Regardless of whether a person lives in the city, the jungle or the mountains, everyone can see for themselves when the lunar month starts and when it ends. This is in contrast with the solar calendar which depends on meteorological equipment and mathematical calculations which are not easily accessible to a lay person.

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

Part 11

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

The blessed Companion, Abdullah ibn Umar RAA reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ once gave a sermon in which he said:

"O Emigrants, I seek the refuge of Allah Almighty against five traits of character lest they should grow into you:
firstly, against immodesty, for when immodesty prevails in a people they are hit by plagues, epidemics, and such new diseases that their ancestors hadn't even heard of them;
secondly, when a nation gets into the habit of not measuring properly when selling something they are hit by famine, price hikes, rigorous labours and over-work, and oppressive rulers;
thirdly, when a community stops paying Zakah they are deprived of rain;
fourthly, when a community breaks its covenant with Allah Ta'alah and Rasool allah SAW then Allah Ta'alah gives power to unknown enemies over them who confiscate what belongs to them without any justification, and
fifthly, when the rulers of a community stop making their judgment according to the guidance of the Book of Allah, and when Allah's injunctions stop making sense to them, then Allah Ta'alah creates mutual hatred and disputes between them. (This narration has been reported by Ibn Majah, al-Bayhaqi and others, and al-Hakim has called it Sahih according to the standard set by Muslim)

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

Part 10

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

The blessed Companion Muadh ibn Jabal RAA reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

"No servant of Allah shall move a step on Doomsday until he is made to answer four questions;

firstly, about his life, what did he spend it doing,

secondly, about his youth, what activities did he spend his youth in,

thirdly; about his wealth, how did he earn it and where did he spend it, and

fourthly; about his knowledge, to what extent did he act on it." (Al-Bayhaqi, Targhib)

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

Part 9

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

The blessed Companion Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masud RAA reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

"By Him who has power over my life, no servant of Allah becomes a Muslim unless his heart and his tongue become Muslim, and until his neighbours become safe from being hurt by him. And when a person acquires Hara'am (impermissible) income and then gives it in charity, that is not accepted; and if he spends out of it, it stays deprived of blessings; and if he leaves it behind for his inheritors, it becomes his baggage for taking him to Hell. Surely, Allah Almighty does not erase an evil deed with another evil, but does erase evil deeds because of good deeds."

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

Part 8

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

The blessed Companion Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas RAA requested the Holy Prophet ﷺ to pray for him s that he may become one of those whose prayers are accepted. Rasool Allah SAW said:

"O Sa'ad, make your food Halal (permissible) and pure, and you shall become one whose prayers are accepted. And by Him in whose hands Muhammad's life rests, when the servant of Allah puts into his mouth a grain of Hara'am (forbidden) into his mouth, none of his deeds are accepted for the next forty days. and the person whose body has been raised on Hara'am food, that body deserves to be in Jahannum (Hell)."

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

Part 7

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

In another Hadith the Holy Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said to the blessed Companion Abdullah ibn Umar RAA:

"There are four traits, if these are in you and you have nothing else in the world, they shall suffice you. Those four traits are:

1. Safeguarding an Imanah (trust),

2. telling the truth,

3. good morals, and

4. being particular in eating what is Halal."

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوٓاْ أَمۡوَٲلَكُم بَيۡنَكُم بِٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدۡلُواْ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلۡحُڪَّامِ لِتَأۡڪُلُواْ فَرِيقً۬ا مِّنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (سورہٴ البقرہ: ١٨٨)

"AND DO NOT EAT UP EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY BY FALSE MEANS, NOR APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES WITH IT TO EAT UP A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE SINFULLY, WHILE YOU KNOW." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:188)

In Islamic law all transactions known as void, invalid or sinful have some defect inherent in the deal. At times, it could be plain fraud, at others, a return for some unknown entity or act. On occasions, someone's rights are usurped or self-interest in promoted by bringing loss upon others, or it is a violation of the rights of the general public. A very important reason why interest, gambling and their likes have been prohibited is that they are harmful to the public interest. They lead to a few people becoming rich while the masses end up being poorer. That is why these transactions have been declared Hara'am (impermissible) even with the consent of both the parties because these harm the whole society.

Part 2

It is worth noting that the Holy Quran uses the word ’اموالکم‘ (amwalakum) which means 'your property'. This expression hints at the fact that those who encroach upon the property of others  must remember that the other person would also have the same sort of love and concern for his property as the encroacher has for his own. If they encroached upon your property how much would it have hurt you? Keep that in mind when you are thinking of encroaching upon theirs.

Part 3

This verse was revealed in the background of a particular event which relates to a land dispute between two of the noble Companions (Sahaba). The case came up for hearing in the court of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. The plaintiff had no witnesses. The Holy Prophet SAW asked the defendant to take an oath in accordance with Islamic legal norm. He was all set to take the oath when the Holy Prophet SAW recited the following verse before him:

"Surely, those who take a small price out of the covenant of Allah and out of their oaths, for them there is no share in the Hereafter." (3:77)

When the Companion heard this verse which warns those who try to take over someone's property through a false oath, he abandoned his intention to take that oath and surrendered the land to the plaintiff. (Ruh al-Ma'ani)

Part 4

In the case of a person knowingly making a false claim Rasool Allah ﷺ has said:

"I am human and you bring your disputes to me. May be one of you is more eloquent with his case than the other and I decide in his favour on the basis of what I hear from him. So, should he get anything from what is the right of his brother, he should not take it because, in that case I shall be allocating him a piece of land from Hell." (Bukhari and Muslim from Umm Salmah RAA)

In this Hadith Rasool Allah SAW has made it clear that even if a Muslim Judge delivers a judgment under some misunderstanding in which the legal right of one party is unlawfully given to another party, such a judgment will not render that thing Halal for the other party. If someone succeeds in procuring something belonging to someone else through a court by fraud, false witnesses or false oath, that object or property will stay Hara'am for him.

Part 5

The Holy Quran says that, "O messengers, eat of the good things and be righteous in deeds. I am aware of what you do." (23:51)

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE has said that this verse alludes to it a person can do righteous deeds only if what he eats and drinks is Halal. Rasool Allah ﷺ has made it clear in a Hadith that the address in this verse is not to the Prophets alone, but to all Muslims. Towards the end of this Hadith Rasool Allah SAW said that the prayer of a person who eats Hara'am is not answered. Rasool Allah SAW adds that their are many people who make a lot of effort in Ibadah (prayers), then raise their hands in prayer and say, 'O Lord, O Lord', but what they eat is Hara'am, what they drink is Hara'am, what they wear is Hara'am, how can their prayers be accepted?"

Part 6

In another Hadith Rasool Allah ﷺ has said, "One who ate Halal, followed the Sunnah, and did not hurt people, will go to Paradise." The blessed Companions said, "O Messenger of Allah, right now these things are common in your community. Most Muslims observe these strictly." He said, "Yes! In future too, in every age, there will be people who shall abide by these rules." (The Hadith has been reported by Tirmidhi and he calls in Sahih)

لَّيۡسَ ٱلۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةِ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلۡمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِى ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَٱلسَّآٮِٕلِينَ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّڪَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُواْ‌ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ فِى ٱلۡبَأۡسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَحِينَ ٱلۡبَأۡسِ‌ۗ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ (سورہٴ البقرہ:١٧٧)

"RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT THAT YOU TURN YOUR FACES TO THE WAST AND THE WEST; BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THAT ONE BELIEVES IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY, AND THE ANGELS AND THE BOOK AND THE PROPHETS, AND GIVES WEALTH, DESPITE ITS LOVE, TO RELATIVES, AND TO ORPHANS, THE HELPLESS, THE WAYFARER, AND TO THOSE WHO ASK, AND (SPENDS) IN (FREEING) SLAVES AND OBSERVES THE PRAYERS AND PAYS THE ZAKAH; AND THOSE WHO FULFIL THEIR PROMISE WHEN THEY PROMISE AND OF COURSE, THE PATIENT IN HARDSHIPS AND SUFFERINGS AND WHEN IN BATTLE! THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TRUE AND THOSE ARE THE GOD-FEARING." (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:177)

"SO WHOEVER IS COMPELLED BY NECESSITY, NEITHER SEEKING PLEASURE NOR TRANSGRESSING, THEN THERE IS NO SIN ON HIM. VERILY, ALLAH IS MOST-FORGIVING, VERY MERCIFUL. (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:173)

In terminology of The Shariah Mudtar (مضطر) is someone whose life is in danger. Ordinary pain or need cannot qualify a person to be known as Mudtar. So, for a person whose hunger has driven him to a point beyond which he must either eat or he would die, he can eat what would be Hara'am for other people, on two conditions. Firstly, the aim should be to save life and not to enjoy eating. Secondly, he must eat only as much as would serve to save his life; eating more than necessary is still prohibited for that person.

From Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ڪُلُواْ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِلَّهِ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ إِيَّاهُ تَعۡبُدُونَ (١٧٢) إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلۡمَيۡتَةَ وَٱلدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ ٱلۡخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ بِهِۦ لِغَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٍ۬ وَلَا عَادٍ۬ فَلَآ إِثۡمَ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (١٧٣) سورہٴ البقرہ

"O THOSE WHO BELIEVE, EAT OF THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU AND BE GRATEFUL TO ALLAH, IF (REALLY) YOU ARE O WORSHIP HIM ALONE. HE HAS ONLY FORBIDDEN YOU: CARRION, BLOOD THE FLESH OF SWINE AND THAT UPON WHICH A NAME OTHER THAN 'ALLAH' HAS BEEN INVOKED. SO WHOEVER IS COMPELLED BY NECESSITY, NEITHER SEEKING PLEASURE NOR TRANSGRESSING, THEN THERE IS NO SIN ON HIM. VERILY, ALLAH IS MOST-FORGIVING, VERY MERCIFUL. (SURAH AL-BAQARAH:172-173)

In verse 172 it has been forbidden to eat Hara'am, while at the same time it has been permitted to eat what is Halal, along with being urged to be grateful to Allah Ta'alah for it. The reason is that just like eating Hara'am promotes bad moral attributes, leads to loss of interest in Ibadah, and makes prayers ineffective, eating Halal brings spiritual enlightenment, leads towards high morals and a distaste for poor moral attributes, leads to increased interest in Ibadah, leads to the thought of sin becoming revolting, and leads to acceptance of prayers.

Allah Ta'alah has told all His Prophets to eat from what is good and do what is righteous:

"O MESSENGERS, EAT OF THE GOOD THINGS AND DO THE RIGHTEOUS." (23:51)

Similarly, eating Halal increases the chances of prayers being accepted, while eating Hara'am reduces it. The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said that there are many people, tired and dressed, who extend their hands in prayer before Allah fervently calling 'O Lord, O Lord, yet Hara'am is what they eat, Hara'am is what they drink, and Hara'am is what they wear, how then, under these conditions, could they hope to have their prayers accepted?' (The Sahih Muslim, and Tirmidhi as quoted by Ibn Kathir)

Adapted from Ma'ariful Quran, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE