Islam's Reformers .pdf

elief (îmân), it is necessary to perform the acts of worshiptaught in the branch of fiqh, i.e. to do the commands of theSharî’at and to abstain from what it prohibits. One shouldperform namâz five times each day without reluctance andslackness and in compliance with its conditions and ta’dîl-iarkân. He who has as much money as nisâb should payzakât. [1] Imâm-i a’zâm Abû Hanîfa says, “Also, it is necessary topay the zakât of gold and silver which women use asornaments.”We should not waste our valuable lives even onunnecessary mubâhs. It is absolutely unwarrantable to waste iton harâm. We should not busy ourselves with taghannî, singing,musical instruments, or songs. We should not be deceived bythe pleasure they give our nafses. These are poisons mixedwith honey and covered with sugar.We should not commit giybat. Giybat is harâm. [Giybatmeans to talk about a Muslim’s or a Zimmî’s secret fault behindhis back. It is necessary to tell Muslims about the faults of theHarbîs, about the sins of those who commit these sins in public,about the evils of those who torment Muslims and who deceiveMuslims in buying and selling, thereby helping Muslims tobeware their harms, and to tell about the slanders of those whotalk and write incorrectly about Islam; these are not giybat.Radd-ul-Muhtâr: 5-263)].We should not spread gossip (carry words) among Muslims.It has been declared that various kinds of torments would bedone to those who commit these two kinds of sins. Also, it isharâm to lie and slander, and must be abstained from. Thesetwo evils were harâm in every religion. There will be very heavypunishments for them. It causes great blessings to be secretiveabout Muslims’ defects, not to spread their secret sins and toforgive them their faults. One should show compassion forone’s inferiors, those under one’s command [such as wives,children, students, soldiers] and the poor. One should notreproach them for their faults. One should not hurt or beat orswear at those poor persons for trivial reasons. One should notviolate anybody’s property, life, honour, or chastity. Debts toeveryone and to the government must be id. paBribery,accepting or giving, is harâm. However, it would not be bribery[1] Please see Endless Bliss, V, 1, for zakât.- 312 -