Islam_in_Focus_text

This act of prohibition is introduced by God for the spir-
itual and mental well-being of mari as well as for the moral
and material benefit of humanity. It is not an arbitrary action
or a self-imposed intrusion from God. On the contrary, it is a
sign of God's Interest in the welfare of humanity and an indi-
cation of His Good Care for man.
When God prohibits certain things, it is not because He
wants to deprive man of anything good or useful. It is be-
cause He means to protect man and allow him to develop a
good sense of discrimination, a refined taste for the better
things in life, and a continued interest in higher moral val-
ues. To achieve this, good care must be taken of man's spirit
and mind, soul and body, conscience and therefore, is not
deprivation but enrichment, not suppression but discipline,
not limitation but expansion.
To show that all prohibitions are acts of mercy and wis-
dom, two Islamic principles are worth mentioning in this
connection. First, extraordinary circumstances, emergencies,
necessities and exigencies allow the Muslim to do what is
normally forbidden. As long as these circumstances exist
and to the extent that he cannot help the situation, he is not
to blame if he fails to observe the moral rules of God (see
Qur'an, 2: 173; 5:3). Secondly, God has inscribed for Himself
the rule of Mercy: any who do evil out of ignorance, but
thereafter repent and amend their conduct, will be forgiven;
surely, God is Merciful and Oft-Forgiving (Qur'an, 6:54).