Friday Nasiha

Al Takwir (The Folding Up)
Chapter 81: Verses 8-9

And when the female infant buried alive is questioned: For what sin was she killed.

Commentary:

Questioning the Female Infant Who was buried alive

The style of this verse reflects an intensity of rage and fury inconceivable in common life. The parents who buried their daughter alive, would be so contemptible in the sight of Allah that they would not be asked: “Why did you kill the innocent infant?” But disregarding them the innocent girls will be asked: “For what crime were you slain?” This would be a means of frightening her murderer.

Solution of Islam

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) not only abolished this evil practice of pre-Islamic era but also elevated the status of women as never seen in any society since the beginning of human civilization. This status is still not enjoyed by any child / girl / woman outside the Islam. This was achieved through such moral exhortations of the Prophet as:

1. “The person who is put to a test because of the birth of the daughters and then treats them generously, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

2. “The one who brought up two girls till they attained their maturity, will appear along with me on the Resurrection Day… Saying this Holy Prophet joined and raised his fingers.” (Bukhari)

3. “The one who has a daughter born to him and he does not bury her alive, nor keeps her in disgrace, nor prefers his son to her, Allah will admit him to Paradise.” (Abu Da’ud)

4. “The one who has three daughters born to him and, he is patient over them, and clothes them well according to his means, they will become a means of rescue for him from Hell.” (Bukhari, Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ibn Majah)

5. The Holy Prophet said to Suraqah bin Ju’sham: “May I not tell you about the greatest of charity?” Suraqah replied: "Sure, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet said: "Supporting your daughter who (after being divorced or widowed) returns to you when she has no one to support her except you." (Ibn Majah, Bukhari: Al-Adab al-Mufrad).

Modern Day Infanticide

People still practice infanticide through abortion and birth control for similar reasons as the Arabs before Islam did, mainly, fear of poverty and social pressure. Muslims are forbidden to practice such acts of monstrosity. There are several sayings of the Prophet that recommend Muslims to procure numerous children and warns them against birth prevention as a matter of policy and enduring practice.

[contributed by Br. Hassan Newaz and Rizwan Kadri, Toronto, Canada]
[compiled from "Towards Understanding the Quran" by Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, Juz 30, "Tafsir Ishraq al-Ma'ani" by Syed Iqbal Zaheer, Juz 30, p. 43-46, "Tafsir Ibn Kathir", Juz 30]

The Prohibition of Riba

"Wheat is exchanged for wheat in equal quantity and handed hand to hand; the surplus being riba... Money is to be exchanged with money, in equal quantity, hand to hand; the surplus being riba. Gold is to be exchanged with gold, in equal quantity and hand to hand; the surplus being riba."
[Muslim]

The Arabic term "riba" is derived from the verb "raba" which means "to increase, "to grow." The idea entailed in the notion of riba is that of an increase without a service or work given in exchange. It is an increase of capital by and on the capital itself.

This hadith points out that there is also a form of riba in situations of unequal exchange. This is the "the usury of exchange" or "on sales". From this hadith comes the idea of equality and simultaneity in exchange so that the terms of exchange between the two parties are very clear.

The prohibition of riba, which is the moral axis around which economic thought in Islam is elaborated, calls believers to express a categorical rejection of an order which has respect only for profit and which suppresses justice and humanity. In the same élan, this prohibition imposes upon them the need to think and elaborate a model, which ought to come near to respect for this injunction.

[Compiled from "Islam, the West and the Challenges of Modernity" by Tariq Ramadan, pp. 150-155]

A.H.(After Hijrah)

Hijrah means emigration. The Islamic calendar starts from the year Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) emigrated from the city of Makkah to Madinah, in 622 C.E.

Ahl al-Bait

Ahl al-Bait literally means 'the people of the house', a polite form of addressing the members of the family, including husband and wife. The words occur in the Holy Quran when angels came to give glad tidings to Prophet Abraham (S.A.W.) of a son at an old age. See Surah Houd (11:73). The term is also used to refer to the family of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, including his wives.

[Taken from SoundVision.com's "Glossary of Islamic Terms"]