Misunderstood Prohibitions
Is it forbidden to pay interest, e.g. on a home loan?
Many Muslims believe the law regarding interest applies to both people who charge interest and pay interest. However, the Quran makes it clear that what is forbidden is only the charging of interest or usury.
Definition of Riba
To understand the meaning of riba, Verses 2:278–279 give us a good understanding of what riba is.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَO you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains of interest (Arabic: baqiya min riba), if you should be believers. (2:278)فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ۖ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُءُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لَا تَظْلِمُونَ وَلَا تُظْلَمُونَAnd if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your capital sums (Arabic: amwaalikum) — [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. (2:279)
The Arabic word “amwaalikum” means “your capital sums”. In most cases, this means your original or principal amount of money that you lend someone. If you charge someone interest, then you will receive your original loan amount + interest. Mathematically, the equation would read
Original Loan Amount + Interest = Total
The verses above instruct people to give up what remains of interest and to repent and if they do so, they can keep their capital sums or the original money they lent to someone.
Trade vs Usury
Making a profit from trade is different from making a profit from usury. According to verse 2:275, trade is allowed but usury is not.
الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا ۗ وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا ۚ فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَThose who consume usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Satan has confounded by his touch. That is because they say: “Trade is like usury,” but God has permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for God (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein. (2:275)
Example of trade
If you buy a product for x and sell it for x + 10 (profit), then that is trade.
Example of riba
If you lend someone 5 apples and one month later expect 7 apples in return, then the excess of 2 apples constitutes riba.
If you or a bank loans some money to someone with an interest rate (beyond currency inflation), then the profit from interest constitutes riba.
Capital sums
According to verse 2:279, a creditor is entitled to their capital back. Therefore, if the commodity lent is money, then it’s reasonable to expect the creditor to receive capital plus inflation since the value of money changes over time.
Exorbitant interest
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَO you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful.(3:130)
Some people may use verse 3:130 to define usury as exorbitant interest. However, this verse merely indicates that usury, excessive or not, is forbidden. It is verses 2:278–279 which provide a suitable definition for riba.
Paying interest
There is no prohibition against paying interest. The prohibition is strictly and specifically limited to receiving interest.
Is it forbidden (haram) to have a pet dog? Are dogs impure?
Many Muslims believe that dogs are impure and cannot be taken as pets. However, there is no such law in the Quran. On the contrary, there is actually much evidence to indicate that dogs can be had.
The cave sleepers and the dog
In chapter 18 (surah kahf) of the Quran, there is a story of the cave sleepers who had a dog with them. The were not out hunting but rather fleeing religious persecution (18:20). They all slept for hundreds of years. Not only did God keep the sleepers safe, He also kept the dog safe allowing it to stretch its paws over that long period of time (18:18). These sleepers were righteous and guided people (18:13). If dogs were forbidden and impure, why did God tell this story of righteous people who had a dog sleep with them?
Hunting dog
In verse 5:4, God says that we can eat what our hunting dogs catch.
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ ۖ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ ۙ وَمَا عَلَّمْتُم مِّنَ الْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِينَ تُعَلِّمُونَهُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ فَكُلُوا مِمَّا أَمْسَكْنَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِThey ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, “Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting dogs which you train as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allah upon it, and fear Allah.” Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (5:4)
The word “hunting dog” in Arabic is “mukallibiin”. Unfortunately, many translators of the Quran translate this word as one of hunting animals, beasts, birds of prey, hunting creatures, falcons, and predatory animals. The word “mukallibiin” clearly comes from the word “kalb” which Arabic speakers all know to mean “dog”. According to the Edward Lanes Lexicon, the word “mukallibiin” means “a dog trained and accustomed to hunt”.
Is it forbidden (haram) to have statues and images?
Many Muslims believe that having statues or images of living creatures is forbidden. However, there is no such law in the Quran as long as you don’t worship them.
Worshipping statues is forbidden
In verses 21:51–52, we see proof that specifically worshipping statues is forbidden.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَAnd We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgement before, and We were of him well-Knowing. (21:51)إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَٰذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَWhen he said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoted?” (21:52)
God allowed prophet Solomon to make statues
The word for statues used in the verse above is “tamatheel” (singular: timthaal). This word is also used in 34:13 which describes prophet Soloman instructing his jinn to make statues, among other things.
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِن مَّحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَاتٍ ۚ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُThey made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], “Work, O family of David, in gratitude.” And few of My servants are grateful. (21:51)
If making or having statues was forbidden, why would a prophet of God (Solomon) allow it as described in the Quran? Since the Quran is from God, then God must allow the making and having of statues.
It should be clear from the two examples above that it isn’t the making or keeping of statues that is forbidden but rather what the statues are used for.
Same religion, different prophets
Some Muslims may argue that having statues was allowed during the time of some prophets but not allowed in others such as the time of prophet Muhammad. This argument is unsupportable since, again, there is no mention in the Quran that statues are forbidden. Furthermore, we know from verse 42:13 that the same religion was inspired in all the prophets.
شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰHe has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus … (42:13)
We also know from verse 41:43 that nothing was said to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that was not said to the Prophets before him.
مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ وَذُو عِقَابٍ أَلِيمٍNothing is said to you, [O Muhammad], except what was already said to the messengers before you. Indeed, your Lord is a possessor of forgiveness and a possessor of painful penalty. (41:43)
Don’t prohibit what is lawful
Additionally, in verse 5:87 we are prohibited from making unlawful something which God has made lawful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَO you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. (5:87)
Is it forbidden (haram) for muslims to listen to music or sing?
Many Muslims believe that they are not allowed to listen to music and sing. However,
- there is no such law in the Quran
- this belief originates from the hadith which is not God’s law
- God forbids judging by anything other than the Quran (6:114, 45:6, 68:36–38)
- God forbids inventing false laws in the name of God (5:87, 16:116)
- Whoever judges by other than the Quran is a disbeliever (kafir) (5:44)
Prophet David was given the Psalms (Zabur) which consists of 150 hymns or songs including lamentations, songs of thanksgiving, hymns of praise, wisdom psalms, royal psalms, and others of a mixed composition.
إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًاIndeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Zabur (book of Psalms). (4:163)
It is well attested within Jewish tradition, that the psalms were sung in front of the Tabernacle and subsequently in the reign of Prophet Solomon (pbuh), they were sung from the steps of the Temple when it was completed.
According to verse 34:10, the mountain and birds sang in an echoed manner (Arabic: awwibi).
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا ۖ يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَAnd We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], “O mountains, repeat / echo [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].” And We made pliable for him iron, (34:10)
According to verse 21:79, the mountains and birds praised God in a raised voice (Arabic: yusabbihna) along with David.
فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَAnd We gave understanding of the case to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to celebrate Our praise, along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that]. (21:79)
Although the chanting of the Psalms of prophet David were sung to glorify God, this still doesn’t imply any prohibition on any other type of music or singing. Of course, keeping with the spirit of the Quran, one would understandably agree that listening or singing music that is indecent should be considered inappropriate and unacceptable. However, this does not equate to prohibiting all music or singing.
Is it forbidden to wear make-up or get cosmetic surgery?
Some Muslims believe that getting cosmetic surgery is forbidden is Islam because it would result in one changing God’s creation. Some will even go so far as to say that wearing makeup is forbidden. Let’s see what the Quran says about this.
Male and female
In the following verses, we see that God created everyone from one person (soul). From that person, God created that person’s mate, and from the two of them (male and female), He created many men and women.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً …O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. …. (4:1)يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا…O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. …. (49:13)
Prohibition against homosexuality
It should be obvious to everyone that God created man and woman as mates based on human anatomy and the reproductive process. This is also indicated in verse 53:45. So, it is no surprise that homosexuality is forbidden, as indicated in verse 7:81.
وَأَنَّهُ خَلَقَ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَىٰAnd that He creates the two mates — the male and female — (53:45)إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَIndeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.” (7:81)
Changing God’s creation
In verse 4:119, we read that Satan intends to mislead all of mankind and in one way, he will influence people to change God’s creation. Since literally everything in the universe is God’s creation, what is meant by “change God’s creation” is up for debate. However, considering the prohibition against homosexuality and the proof that God intentionally created man and woman for a reason, it would make sense that what is meant by “change God’s creation” is to have a sex change operation, or to change man to become a woman and vice versa.
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًاAnd I (Satan) will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah.” And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss. (4:119)
Best of molds or best of stature?
Verse 95:4 is often translated as “We have certainly created man in the best of molds”. This would suggest that each human was shaped (molded) perfectly so they shouldn’t change anything about their mold (body shape), e.g. using cosmetic surgery. However, other translations translate the world “taqweem” to mean “standing / stature”. Considering the root meaning of the word, it becomes clear that the correct meaning is not “mold” but rather “stature”. Additionally, we can easily prove that “mold” is not the correct meaning by just seeing the many babies born with birth defects, e.g. a cleft lip. Surely, no one in their right mind can say that a baby born with a cleft lip, for example, was created in the best shape / mold.
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍWe have certainly created man in the best of stature; (95:4)
Righteousness from the soul
In verses 91:7–10 we see that righteousness has to do with your soul rather than your physical body. How you look physically, be it attractive or not, or how you choose to make yourself look, e.g. style your hair, wear make up, or get cosmetic surgery, has nothing to do with righteousness with regards to Islam. Your physical body is constantly changing. When you die, your body will decompose however, your soul will be intact.
وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّاهَاAnd [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness, He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]. (91:7–10)
Examples
Of all cosmetic surgeries performed, the most popular by far is probably the nose job. This should come as no surprise since of all facial elements (eyes, nose, mouth, chin, cheek, etc), the one thing that varies the most is the nose. Some noses are naturally very small, or very big, or crooked, or just plain asymmetric. Being at the center of the face, it’s hard to not notice one’s nose, and if one’s nose is unbalanced in size and shape relative to the rest of the face, it results in an inharmonious facial appearance. In addition to that, it could cause unhealthy psychological problems if the subject is too bothered by their nose deformity. This could lead to feelings of unhappiness as well as low self-esteem.
Another natural physical deformity is the cleft lip. According to the CDC, 4,440 are born with a cleft lip in the United States. This is obviously worse than a crooked nose because the deformity is much more noticeable leaving a huge gap above the lip.
Hair loss is another common issue plaguing many men and some women. Though this isn’t something that originates at birth, it’s obviously not something that people intentionally cause to happen. The fact that many people naturally experience hair loss is a big issue that affects one’s appearance. No one would intentionally get a haircut such that they are bald on top but full of hair on the sides, yet this is a common result of certain types of hair loss. Unsurprisingly, this would result in a very unbalanced face both from the front and sides, and consequently could cause significant psychological problems not to mention the hassle of trying to style your hair every morning when the density of it is vastly uneven.
Considering the examples above of naturally-occurring defects and their effect on one’s psychological well-being, would it be right to tell people that they can’t fix the huge gap above their lip, for example, because God created them that way? Though some extreme religious scholars may say so, they would likely change their mind if they themselves or their own kids suffered from such deformities. Ultimately, what matters the most in the view of Islam is righteousness, which is why God revealed verses such as 7:26 where He says that the clothing of righteousness, i.e. your behavior, matters more than your physical appearance, i.e. what type of clothes you wear or how you style your hair or whether you improve your appearance temporarily with make-up or permanently with cosmetic surgery.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَO children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts (shame) and as adornment. the clothing of righteousness — that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember. (7:26)
Lastly, if God has not prohibited something, such as cosmetic changes, then according to verse 5:87, no one is allowed to prohibit it.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَO you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. (5:87)
