Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir

 

Episode - 22

 

Ramadhaan - The Month of Self-Improvement & Islaah

[Part 1]

 

(Duration - 48 minutes)

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dear brothers and sisters in Islam and Humanity, Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, may the peace, mercy & the blessings of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) be on all of you. Welcome to the show ‘Ramadhaan - A Date with Dr. Zakir’, I am your host, Yusuf Chambers, and today we will be discussing ‘Ramadhaan – The Month of Self-Improvement & Islaah’ Part 1. Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh, Dr. Zakir.

 

Dr. Zakir: Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, as many other shows we have started off with definition of the terms and this episode will be none different in the sense that I’d like you to first inform us to define the term what exactly does Islaah mean especially in the context of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: Alhumdulillah was salaatu was salaam ala rasoolillah wa ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa ajma’een. Amma Ba’ad

 

A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem,

Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem, 

 

Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li 'Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli  

 

The Arabic word Islaah means to correct, it means to improve, it means to repair. Whenever one Muslim corrects another Muslim or he improves him, it is called as Islaah for example if a Muslim is making a mistake whether in offering Salaah or in any other acts of Islam or anything, if someone corrects him, its called as Islaah. 

 

And its mentioned in the Quran 

 

Surah Hood ch. no. 11 verse no. 88, 

 

“…My only desire is your improvement, is your betterment to the best of my power. And my success will only come from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and I trust in Him and I look up to Him”

 

I trust in Allah and I look up to Allah. So here we realize Shuaib (Alaihe Salaam) wanted to do Islaah to his people, it’s further mentioned in the Quran in 

 

Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 114, it says that 

 

“In their secret talks, there is no good except for a person who desires a good deed of charity or justice or reconcilement between two Muslims. If such a deed he does then secrecy is permissible and if someone does such a deed, seeking the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), he will get a reward which is very high” 

 

Otherwise normally secret talks most of the times its not good except for deeds of charity, of justice and reconcilement between 2 Muslims.

 

So here we realize that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), He says that one Muslim try and improve the other Muslim, you should do Islaah with him, you should correct him.

 

And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 110 

 

Kuntum khayra ommatin okhrijat lilnnas

 

“O ye Muslims you are the best of people evolved for mankind.”

 

Allah is giving us an honor and calling us Muslims as Khaira Ummah, best of people evolved for mankind and Allah continues

 

“ta’muroona bil ma’roofi watanhawna anil munkari watu’ minoona billa

 

“He is calling us the best of people because we are suppose to enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. “

 

If we do not enjoin what is good and if we do not forbid what is wrong we aren’t fit to be called as Khaira Ummah, we aren’t fit to be called as Muslims. 

 

So it is the duty of every Muslim that he should do Islaah and Da’wah and try and improve his fellow Muslim.’

 

And there is a Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 1 in the Book of Faith Hadith no. 79 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that 

 

“If any of the Muslims see anything which is abominable, anything which is wrong, he should stop it with his hand; if he does not have the strength to do that, he should stop it with his tongue. If he does not have strength to do that, he should at least abhor it in his heart, he should at least curse in his heart. And then he will have the least degree of faith.” 

 

Means if you abhor it in your heart, if you curse in you heart you are the lowest level of Momin. That’s the reason Islaah is a very important part the Muslims life.

 

Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair, Dr. Zakir. In terms of topic today of course its Ramadhaan, the issue of Ramadhaan, why is Ramadhaahn the preferred month of undergoing the process of self-improvement and Islaah?

 

Dr. Zakir: Ramadhaan in the best month of self-improvement as well as Islaah because Allah says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 183 

 

Ya ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo 

“O you who believe” 

 

“kutiba alaykumus siyam”

“Fasting is prescribed to you” 

 

“kama kutiba alal lazeena min qablikum”

“As it was prescribed to people who came before you”

 

 La’allakum tattaqoon

“So that you may learn self-restraint.” 

 

So if you fast, the main reason is to learn self-restraint, Taqwa, righteousness, piety, God Consciousness and we discussed earlier that the physiologists, they tell us that if you can control your hunger, you can control almost all your desires.

 

So in the month of fasting when we fast, InshaAllah, whatever deficiency we have, it’s the best opportunity to control them. Because if you can control your hunger, you can control almost all your desires. So all your desires which may be away from Islam, away from Allah and His Rasool’s commandments, this is the best opportunity, i.e. Ramadhaan is the month of self-improvement and Islaah.

 

Same way when we are doing Islaah, correcting another Muslim, who is also fasting it is the best time that he can agree with the improvement and best time to correct himself. 

 

Furthermore our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Musnad Ahmad Vol. no. 2 page no. 230 Hadith no. 7148 where the beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Ramadhaan is the month in which the gates of heaven, they are opened and the gates of hell, they are closed and the devils, they are chained”

 

So when the devils are chained there are less chances that you can be distracted and the are more chances that you can go on the straight path. There is less temptation from, the devil. That’s the reason it is the best time in the full year for a person to do Islaah and for a person to improve himself, both. This is the time where he can be least tempted by the devil and since the gates of heaven are open, it’s inviting you to towards the good and the gates of hell are closed so it is taking you away from the evil and the sin. 

 

And this Hadith is again repeated in 

 

Sunan Nasai in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 2106 that 

 

“In the month of Ramadhaan the gates of heaven are open, the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained” 

 

And it’s also mentioned in Sahih Bukhari vol. no. 2 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1901, where the beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Anyone who fasts in the month of Ramadhaan with belief and seeking the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), all his past sins will be forgiven.”

 

So imagine this is the best opportunity, may be a person is a sinner, he has done many mistakes and if he fasts the full month of Ramadhaan, all his past sins will be forgiven. So at least he feels like coming to the straight path. 

 

Otherwise a person who has sinned a lot will say “O I have sinned so much and what’s my chance is going to Jannah or how can I go to paradise? And how can I come on the straight path?” So Ramadhaan in the month where all his past sins can be forgiven and he can start his life afresh. 

 

So the best time for self improvement as well as doing Islaah, same with the other Muslim brother.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Well Dr. Zakir, it seems like you have explained that Ramadhaan is indeed a 30 days of training and for us to implement some good habits into our lives if we have to being falling into error and I ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to allow us all to take the use of that opportunity and really sokhomes some excellent deeds for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah, Aameen 

 

Yusuf Chambers: And could you at this stage just explain to us, could you define what exactly is a major sin?

 

Dr. Zakir: Major sin are those actions and deeds which has been forbidden by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) in the Qur’an and which has been prohibited by Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in the Sunnah, in the authentic Ahadith and which has also been clarified by the first generation of people around the Prophet i.e. the Sahabas. So if it’s prohibited by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and by the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is called as a major sin. 

 

And it is mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of 

 

Mustadrak Al Haakim Vol. no. 2 in the Book of Tafseer Hadith no. 3419, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that 

 

“Whatever Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has prohibited, you have to abstain from it and whatever he has permitted, you can indulge in that and in things which Allah is silent , that’s a concession for you. So take the concession of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) never forgets”

 

And the messenger, he recited the verse of the Quran of 

 

Surah Maryam ch. no. 19 verse no. 64 which says that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) never forgets.”

 

And it’s mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari vol. no. 4 (Book of Wasaya) Hadith no. 2766 that

 

“The Prophet (peace be upon him), he said that do you know which are the 7 destructive sins? The Prophet said that they are 

 

No. 1 Associating partners to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), or associating in worship anyone else besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

 

No. 2 practicing sorcery, that’s black magic 

 

No. 3 taking the life of a person who Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has made sacred unless for a just cause. 

 

And he further goes and says that eating Riba, interest and usury, eating the orphans property unlawfully, unjustly and 

 

he continues and says that showing your back to the enemies, fleeing away to the  battle field and the 

 

7th one that slandering chaste woman who are just believers.

 

So these are the 7 obnoxious sins mentioned by beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) but when Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, its mentioned in the commentary of 

 

Al Tabri Vol. no. 4 Hadith no. 9207 where 

 

“Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked that are major sins 7?  Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) replied 70 is a closer no. than to 7”

 

So these 7 sins mentioned by the Prophet they are just giving you outline which categories of sins are. That doesn’t mean there are 7 sins, there are many more, it gives an outline that sins related to Shirk, sins which have a Hadd penalty whether it be fornication, whether it be practicing black magic whether it be theft just giving a sample but according to Ibn Abbas, he says that 70 were the major sins

 

Yusuf Chambers: Well thank you for the answer Dr. Zakir. Can I burden you by asking you now to list, exhaustively the 70 major sins in Islam, is that possible?

 

Dr. Zakir: I’ll try InshaAllah. As I mentioned to you that according to the Hadith of Ibn Abbas which is mentioned in 

 

Al Tabri Vol. no. 4 Hadith no. 9207 that 

 

“Ibn Abbas (mnay Allah be pleased with him) he was asked that are the major sins 7? And he replied that 70 is a closer number than 7”

 

Imam Adh-Dhahabee (may Allah have mercy on him), he has written a book Al Qabair, the major sins and he has listed the 70 major sins from Quran and Hadith according to his understanding. There is no Quranic verse that these are the 70 major sins neither are there are there any Sahih Hadith which says that these are the 70 major sins but 

 

Imam Adh-Dhahabee (may Allah have mercy on him) he has compiled according to his understanding from the Quran and Hadith, the 70 major sins, according to his order, some people agree, some people disagree, it’s a different thing.

 

But since Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him ) said there are 70 sins, Imam Adh-Dhahabee (may Allah have mercy on him), he has listed the 70 sins according to his understanding as follows 

 

No. 1 according to him is associating partners with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), ascribing any partners, joining anything with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), that’s in worship.

 

No. 2 is murder 

No. 3 is practicing sorcery or black magic 

No. 4 is not praying 

No. 5 is not giving Zakaat by a person who has a wealth above the Nisaab level or equivalent to Nisaab level 

No. 6 A person not fasting in the month of Ramadhaan without a valid reason 

No. 7 a person not performing Hajj if he is able to do it, if he has the means and if health permits him and does not do Hajj, it is the 7th major sin

The 8th major sin is disrespect to parents

9th is abandoning the relatives 

10th major sin is adultery and fornication 

11th is homosexuality and sodomy 

12th is eating Riba, taking and giving of Riba, that’s interest and usury anyone who involves in Riba, he is doing a major sin 

13th is eating up the Orphan’s property unlawfully 

14th is lying against Allah and His messenger 

No. 15th is turning your back to the enemy, running away from the battle field when the enemy is there

16th is a leader who deceives his people and is unjust towards his people 

17th is being proud and arrogant 

18th is giving a false witness 

19th is having intoxicants, drinking wine, alcohol, drugs, etc. any Khamr, any intoxicants 

20th is gambling

21st is slandering a chaste woman 

22nd is stealing from the spoils of war 

23rd is stealing 

24th is highway robbery 

25th is taking a false oath 

26th is oppression 

27th is illegal gain 

28th is consuming wealth which has been acquired unjustly 

29th is suicide

30th is frequently lying 

31st is judging unjustly 

32nd is giving and taking of bribe 

33rd is a woman imitating a man and a man imitating a woman 

34th is being cuckold i.e. a husband of an adulteress 

35 is marrying a divorced woman in order to make her lawful for her previous husband 

36th is not being careful about once urine, to see too it that it doesn’t spill on the body etc. not being careful about once own urine 

37th is showing off 

38th is acquiring knowledge of the religion for the worldly reason and concealing this knowledge 

39th is betrayal of trust 

40th is recounting of favors 

41st is denying Allah’s decree 

42nd is listening to other people’s private conversation 

43rd is carrying tales  

44th is cursing 

45th is breaking of contracts 

46th is believing in fortuning telling and the astrologers 

47th is a woman who has bad conduct towards her husband 

48th is making statues and making paintings

49th is lamenting, veiling and tearing ones clothes or doing such acts when any calamity befalls him or her

50th is being unjust to others         

51st is overbearing to one’s wife or to one’s servant or to the poor or to the animals

52nd is offending one’s neighbor

53rd is offending and abusing the Muslims 

54th is offending the other people and being arrogant towards them 

55th of the major sin according to Imam Adh-Dhahabee is trailing a garment below the ankle in pride 

56th is wearing of gold and silk for the men

57th is a slave running away from the master 

58th is slaughtering animal who has been ascribed to anyone else besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

59 is ascribing one’s paternity to a father who does not belong to himself or to herself 

60th is arguing and disputing violently 

61st is holding of excessive water 

62nd is shortage in weight and measure 

63rd is feeling secured from Allah’s plan 

64th offending Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)’s righteous friends

65th is not praying in a congregation and praying alone without a valid reason 

66th is missing Jum’uah Salaah persistently without any valid excuse 

67 usurping the rights of the heir through bequest 

68th deceiving and plotting 

69 spying for the enemy of the Muslims and 

70th of the major sin is cursing and insulting the companions of the Prophet.

So these were the 70 major sins that has been listed by Imam Adh-Dhahabee in his book Al Qabair i.e. the major sins based on the Hadith, based on the call of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that there are 70 major sins. 

 

This is his listing, his order but natural based on his understanding of the Quran and Sahih Hadith, there are scholars, those who do differ whether the major sins are 7 or they are 70 or they are 35 or they are 70 some of the people may disagree that some should not be in the major sins, thy should be in the minor sins, some may say that this is not a sin at all. So scholars do differ but on the whole Imam Adh-Dhahabee, MashaAllah, (may Allah have mercy on him) is a great scholar and this is the way how he has listed these but there is difference of pinion in it.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Okay. Well Jazak Allah khair for that and at the end of that round you scored 95%. Dr. Zakir for the benefit of the viewers who have listened to the 70 major sins that you have listed, could you explain what is the reward for the person who gets from abstaining from those major sins in this life? 

 

Dr. Zakir: Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 31 that 

 

“If anyone eschews from the most heinous of the things which are forbidden to do then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will expel out of you the evil in you and will make you enter the gate of honor.”

 

That means if you abstain from the major sins, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will take away all the other small-small sins and He will make you enter paradise. 

 

Allah repeats the message in Surah Shooraa ch. no. 42 verse no. 37 where Allah says that 

 

“if you abstain from the major sins and the shameful deeds and those who when they get angry, yet they forgive”

 

Talking about these people, those who’ll go to Jannah

 

It’s further mentioned in 

 

Surah Najm ch. no. 53 verse no. 32 that 

“If you abstain from the heinous sins, from the major sins and the shameful deeds, getting involved or indulging in small faults, in small sins, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is oft forgiving and Most Merciful” 

 

That means as long as you abstain from the major sins and even if you do these small faults and small sins, InshaAllah, Allah will forgive you and you shall enter Jannah. 

 

And there is a Hadith of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) mentioned in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 1 (Book of Purification) Hadith no. 450 which says that 

 

“The 5 daily prayers and from one Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer and one Ramadhaan to the next Ramadhaan, it is the period of expiation of your sins as long as you abstain from the major sins.”

 

That means if you abstain form major sins….. the 5 time you offer Salaah, one Friday Salaah to the other Friday Salaah, one Ramadhaan to the other Ramadhaan, all your sins will be forgiven as long as you abstain from the major sins.

 

So if you abstain from the major sins, InshaAllah, you shall enter Jannah. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: MashaAllah! That’s a very good reason to abstain. Over the remaining part of this programme and the following programme, InshaAllah we will be discussing some of those major sins although we haven’t got time to discuss all 70 and obviously offering some ways to avoid committing them repeatedly. Could you explain Doctor, what is the most deadly major sin of all major sins?

 

Dr. Zakir: The no. 1 major sin or the deadliest of all the major sins is associating partners with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) i.e. Shirk. Allah says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 48 that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) forgiveth not, if anyone associates partners with Him. If Allah pleases, he may forgiveth anything else.”

 

Allah repeats the message in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 116

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) forgiveth not the sin of joining other gods with Allah. Any other sin if he pleases, he may forgive for anyone who has joined gods with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has strayed away far.”

 

And there are various Sahih Hadith mentioning that the biggest of all the major sins is Shirk. 

 

It’s mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 9 (Book of Blood Money) Hadith no. 6871, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said;

 

The most major biggest sin is joining gods with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

 

Its further repeated in several Sahih Hadith including  

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 (Book of Witnesses) Hadith no. 2654 where the 

 

“Beloved Prophet asked the Sahaba that do you know which is the biggest of all the major sins? So the Sahabas replied Allah’s Messenger knows the best. So Allah’s messenger replied that joining gods with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).”                                

 

Joining in worship somebody else besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and there are several verses in the Quran which also gives the same message that Shirk is one of the most deadliest, it is the deadly sin.

 

Allah says in Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 72 

 

innahu maeen yushrik billah

 

“Anyone who associates partners with Allah” 

 

faqad harrama Allahu alayhi aljanna

 

“Allah will make Jannat Haraam for him, paradise will be forbidden for him 

 

wama/wahun nar wama lilzalimeena min ansar

 

“And fire shall be his dwelling place and he shall have no helpers in the hereafter.”

Allah says in Surah Luqman ch. no. 31 verse no. 13 

 

“Join not in worship with Allah any other god…… 

 

Join not in worship other gods with Allah for anyone who does false worship, it is the highest of the wrong doing”

 

That means the biggest sin in Islam, it is Shirk, associating partners with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

 

Allah’s Messenger further says in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 4 (Book of Zuhd) Hadith no. 7114, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) says that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) said that, I am alone self sufficient and do not require any associate and anyone who does any deed for someone else as well as for Myself, I renounce that deed for the person who he has associated.”

 

That means Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) does not require any associate, He alone is self sufficient. Therefore Shirk is the biggest sin in Islam.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Well JazakAllah Khair, for the answer, Dr. Zakir and I’d further like to see that we do see a lot of this sin being committed by amongst the other non-muslim community, is it true to say that Muslims are free from committing this sin, do they commit this sin as well? 

 

Dr. Zakir: Unfortunately besides the non-muslims there are many Muslims who also commit this Shirk, this deadliest of all the major sins and many a times, many Muslims, they call upon people other than Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). They ask them for the ultimate help, you know they seek the ultimate help from people other than Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). They pray to people other than Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and Allah clearly mentions in the Quran and tells the people to abstain doing such things, 

 

Allah says in Surah Fathia ch. no. 1 verse no. 5 

 

Iyyaka na’budu wa-iyyaka nasta’een

 

“Thee alone we worship, Thee alone we ask for help” 

Allah says inn Surah Gaafir ch. no. 40 verse no. 60

 

“Ask Me and I will answer your prayer.”

 

Allah says in Surah Isra ach. No. 17 verse no. 23 that 

 

“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him” 

 

It’s mentioned in Surah A’raaf ch. no. 7 verse no. 194 that 

 

“All those who worship besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) they are like servants like unto you”

 

That means they are like normal, they are like servants of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) like we are servant, even those who you call upon besides Allah even they are servants of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

 

There are many verse in the Quran guiding us that you should not ask for the ultimate help or pray to anyone besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) 

 

Allah says in Surah AhQaaf ch. no. 46 verse no. 5 that 

 

“Indeed they have strayed away; those who call to other than Allah and these people they will not be able to answer until the Day of Judgment and neither do they hear their call and prayer.”

 

Allah says in Surah Hajj ch. no. 22 verse4 no. 73 that 

 

“All those who you call upon, all those who you worship besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) if all of them gather together, they will not be able to even create a fly.”

 

Leave aside creating a human being and help them, they cannot even create a fly 

 

“And if the fly snatches away some food, they will not even be able to get it back. Feeble are those who petition, feeble are those to whom they pettish.”

 

And Allah’s messenger further says in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 6 (Book of Tafseer) Hadith no. 4497, Allah’s Messenger says that 

 

“Anyone who dies invoking to anyone besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and does not repent before dying then he will be entered into hellfire.”

 

He will surely go to hell. Means anyone who dies doing shirk and dies as a Mushrik, he will go to hellfire.

 

So this is a sin which many Muslims unfortunately, they indulge in this sin and the other common thing which leads to Shirk is if you slaughter anything in name of anyone besides Allah even this is indirectly Shirk. And many Muslims, they unfortunately indulge in this practice which leads to Shirk like some Muslims when they buy a new house, they want to slaughter an animal in the name of a Jinn, you know, the Jinn may have possessed, to please the Jinn, they want to dig a well, they slaughter in the name of the Jinn and they do such practices which are alien to Islam and 

 

Allah says in the Quran in no less than 4 different places. In 

 

Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse no. 173

Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 3 in

Surah An’aam ch. No. 6 verse no. 145 and in 

Surah Nahl ch. no. 16 verse no. 115 

 

Hurrimat alaykumu almaytatu wad damu walahmul khinzeer wama ohilla lighayrillah bihi

 

“Forbidden to you for food are dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine and any food on which any name besides Allah’s name is taken.”

 

So if you have any food on which any name besides Allah’s name is taken, it is equivalent to Shirk, it is haraam.

 

Even if you slaughter any animal in the name of anyone besides Allah, it is a Shirk, it is prohibited in Islam.

 

Allah says in Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 160 

 

“If Allah helps you, none can overcome you, if Allah forsakes you who is there then who can help you. So let the believers put their trust in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).”

We have to put our full trust in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and only Him and no one else. 

 

And Allah says in Surah Kawthar ch. no. 108 verse no. 2 

 

Fasalli lirabbika wanhar” 

 

That 

 

“Turn to thy Lord in prayer and sacrifice.”

 

Sacrifice is only due to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). Prayer is only due to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

 

And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 3 (Book of Adhai) Hadith no. 4878, where the beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Allah curses the one who sacrifices in the name of anyone besides Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).”

 

So unfortunately some of the Muslims not directly get involved in this major sin which is the biggest sin in Islam i.e. Shirk.

 

Yusuf Chambers: May Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) make this month, the month of correction as we are talking about Islaah…

 

Dr. Zakir: And this is the best month where if we are involved in any of the sins, any of the major sins or minor sins, we can correct ourself and if our Muslim brother is doing the sin we can do Islaah to him because the Shayateen, they are chained. So the best time they can accept the message, there will be less diversion from the truth and the Khutuwatush Shaytaan is less and because of fasting, our Taqwa is at the highest level. So may Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) guide all of us.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Aameen, Aameen. Especially in this month of course. Dr. Zakir, in your list you mentioned that the unlawful killing of innocent people is one of the major sins, now unfortunately the media often portrays the Muslims as promoting the killing of innocent human beings, could you just clarify exactly what is the Islamic perspective on this killing of innocent human lives? 

 

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) clearly mentions in 

 

Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 32 that 

 

“If anyone kills any other human being, unless it be for murder or for spreading corruption in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity.”

 

The Qur’an is very specific, if anyone whether Muslim or non-muslim kills any other human being whether Muslim or non-muslim unless it be for murder or spreading corruption in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity. So killing any innocent human being is prohibited in Islam. What the media portrays that Islam promotes killing innocent human beings etc, terrorism, is totally a misconception. 

 

And most of the religions, they do say that killing innocent people is wrong but Islam goes a step further and continues in the same verse in 

 

Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 32, continues and says that 

 

“If anyone saves any human being, it is as though he has saved the whole nation.”

 

That means if you save one human life whether Muslim or a non-muslim, it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity. 

 

So Islam not only condemns killing innocent human beings, it promotes saving the lives of human beings.

 

Allah further says in Surah An’aam ch. no. 6 verse no. 151 that 

 

“Take not life which Allah has made sacred unless by way of justice or law.” 

 

That means killing as I mentioned of a human being, you cant kill an innocent human being but if a human being commits murder but natural, it doesn’t mean that anyone can go and take revenge or can retaliate and kill the murderer or if someone is spreading corruption you cannot go and kill him, you have to take him to the law. And if its an Islamic country, take him to a court of Islamic law, take him to a Qazi and he will pronounce the judgment that if he deserves to be killed, he will be put to death. But that doesn’t mean that any Muslim can take the law in his own hand. He should go to the Islamic court of law, if its an Islamic country or to the law of that country. And in general as I mentioned killing any innocent human being, it is prohibited and that’s what is mentioned by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 9 (Book of Blood Money) Hadith no. 6871, the Prophet said 

 

“The biggest of the major sins are

1st associating partners with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

No. 2 is taking a life or murdering or killing any innocent human being” 

 

So generally you cannot kill any human being, whether Muslim or a non-muslim, there are many other verses which says specifically that you should not kill Muslims also. General law says not killing any innocent human being, there are specific verses which say that you should not kill Muslims.

 

Allah says in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 93 that 

 

“if anyone intentionally kills a believer, he will be in hellfire forever, to abide therein for ever and Allah’s curse and wrath will be on him. And he will get a dreadful penalty”

 

for killing any believer unless for a cause that is mentioned, unless he commits murder or corruption, killing is prohibited.

 

It’s further mentioned in the Hadith of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), its mentioned in

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 1 in the Book of Faith Hadith no. 31, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that

 

“If 2 believers fight amongst themselves with swords and if one believer kills the other believer, both the murderer and the murdered person, they will go to hell. So the Sahaba asked the Prophet that we can understand that the murderer goes to hell, why does the murdered believer goes to hell? So the Prophet said that the murdered person also had the intention to kill the believer that’s the reason both will go to hell.”

 

And it’s further mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 9 (Book of Blood Money) Hadith no. 6862, the beloved Prophet said that 

“A believer is at liberty and free until he unlawfully takes the life on another human being.” 

 

That means taking the life of any human being whether Muslim or non-muslim is prohibited and condemned in Islam. It is one of the biggest major sins; it comes no. 2 in the 70 major sins.

 

Yusuf Chambers: May Allah protect us from making such an error in our lives, InshaAllah. So for the benefit of the viewers, Dr. Zakir, could you explain why the practice of black magic is prohibited and is one of the major sins in Islam?

 

Dr. Zakir: In Islam black magic is Kufr, it is Kufr in Islam and it has been labeled as one of the major sins in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 4 (Book of Wasaya) Hadith no. 2766 where the beloved Prophet said that 

 

“The 7 most destructive sins are and the first he said that joining gods with Allah i.e. Shirk 

No. 2 is murder 

No. 3 is practicing black magic i.e. sorcery” 

 

So Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), he has labeled black magic, practicing sorcery as one of the major sins in Islam. And Allah says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Baqarah ch. no.2 verse no. 102 that 

 

“They learn things which harm, not which bring profit to others.” 

 

So totally this black magic only brings harm and does not bring gain or profit to anyone. 

 

It’s mentioned in Surah Ta Ha ach. No. 20 verse no. 64 which says that

 

“However much the magicians, however much skills they have, they will never be successful.”

 

Success will never be there however skillful they are. 

 

And it’s further mentioned in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 102 that 

“Sulaiman (Alaihe Salaam), did not disbelieve, it is the Shayateen, it is the devils who disbelieved because they practiced black magic and other things which were sent on the city of Babylon to the 2 angels Harooth & Maarooth but these 2 angels, they never did Kufr, they never disbelieved and they never practiced black magic but they always told the people that we have been sent as a trial, as a test so do not disbelieve and do not practice the black magic.” 

 

So black magic is Kufr in Islam and the punishment for a person who practices black magic is death penalty. But unfortunately there are many Muslims who indulge in black magic, many of the Muslims, they go to a person who does black magic in order to take revenge from someone, in order to hurt an enemy which is totally haraam in Islam, it’s totally prohibited 

 

Unfortunately some of the Muslims when black magic is done on them, they go to the magicians asking them to save them from the black magic, the best person to seek protection is from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)  

 

And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has reveled the Mu’awwadhathain, the last 2 Surahs of the Quran, Surah no. 113 i.e. Surah Falaq and Surah no. 114 i.e. Surah Naas 

 

Qul a’oozu bi rabbil falaq

 

“Say I seek refuge in the Lord of the Day Break” 

 

Qul a’oozu bi rabbin nas

 

“Say I seek refuge with the Lord of Dawn” 

 

And it says in Surah Falaq that I seek refuge “from the people who practice black magic” and Surah Naas ch. no. 114 “from those who whisper and withdraw” 

 

So these 2 Surahs were specifically revealed as a relief, as a protection from black magic. So black magic is one of the major sins in Islam. And indulging in it directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah. Dr. Zakir, last question today, last but not the least, what does Islam say about the respect given to parents. 

 

Dr. Zakir: As we mentioned that disrespect to parents in no. 8th in the 70 major sins in Islam according to Imam Adh-Dhahabee and its very sinful to disrespect parents therefore there are various verses in the Quran and the Hadith which show emphasis on respecting the parents. 

 

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Israa ch. no. 17 verse no. 23 and 24, Allah says that 

 

“We have ordained that you worship none but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), that you be kind to your parents and if one of them or both of them reach old age, don’t say a word of contempt to them, don’t say ‘Uff’ to them but address them with honor and lower to them your wing of humility and pray to the Lord that Bless them as they cherished me in childhood.”

 

That means if your parents’ reach old age, one of them or both of them you cant even say ‘Uff’ to them. 

 

Further it’s mentioned in the Quran in Surah An’aam ch. no. 6 verse no. 151 where Allah says

 

“Be good to your parents”

 

And He says in several verses of the Quran especially your mother, 

 

Allah says in Surah Nisa ch. 4 verse no. 1 

 

“Respect the womb that bore you” 

 

Allah says in Surah Luqman Ch. No. 31 verse no. 14 

 

“We have enjoined on the human beings to be good to their parents. In travail upon travail did the mother bore them and in years twain was the weaning.”

 

Allah says in Surah Ahqaaf ch. no. 46 verse no. 15 

 

“We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to their parents, in pain did the mother bore you and in pain did she give you birth.” 

 

So here Allah says respect your parents especially the mother. And there are various Ahadith talking about respecting the mother. It’s mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. No. 8 in the Book of Aadaab, Book of Manners ch. no. Hadith no. 5971 

 

“A man comes to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) and asks him that who deserves the best companionship in this world, the Prophet says “Your Mother” the man asks after that who, the Prophet repeats “your mother” the man asked after that who? Again the Prophet says, the third time your mother. The man asked, after that who? Then the Prophet said your father.” 

 

That means 75%, ¾ of the companionship, goers to the mother, 25%, ¼ goes to the father, in short the mother gets the gold medal, she gets the silver medal and she gets the bronze medal the father has to be satisfied with the mere constellation prize. 

 

So these are the teachings in Islam as far as resp0ect to parents are concerned and a mother gets a 3 times more companionship, thrice more companionship than the father.

 

It’s further mentioned in the Hadith of 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 4 (Book of Jihaad) Hadith no. 3004

 

“A man came to the Prophet and sought his permission to go to Jihaad i.e. fighting in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), in the battlefield, the Prophet asked him he said that you go and serve your parents, showing the importance in serving parents and being dutiful towards one’s parents is more important than going for Jihaad, fighting in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).”

 

If your parents require you, it’s more important for you to serve your parents than to go for Jihaad, fight in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) 

 

Same message is given in Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 8 in the Book of Aadab Hadith no. 5970 that 

 

“A person asked that which deed is dearest to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)? And the Prophet said that offering the 5 prescribed prayers at the earliest time. The man asked after that which is the dearest deed? Prophet said being dutiful towards your parents, the man asked after that which, the Prophet said fighting in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), doing Jihaad.”

 

So here we realize that after offering prayers at their prescribed time, at the earliest time, the next thing Allah likes is being dutiful towards your parents, respecting your parents, being obedient to your parents then comes Jihaad in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).

 

It’s mentioned in Musnad Ahmad (Vol. no. 2) Hadith no. 5372, the Prophet said that

 

“Three types of people who will be deprived from going to paradise, the first is one who drinks intoxicants, no. 2 one who is disobedient to his parents and no. 3 one who does shameful deeds on behalf of the family.” 

 

So all these 3 people will be deprived paradise therefore disrespecting the parents is one of the major sins in Islam.

 

Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah khair once again, Dr. Zakir Naik for your answers today. I think we’ve got plenty of ammunition to give the brothers and sisters, the viewers at home, some food for thought about what to do in the next 10 days or so. InshaAllah pass that message on to as many brothers and sisters that are not watching Peace TV today. JazakAllah Khair.

 

Brothers and Sisters as I have said plenty of ammunition, plenty of advice, plenty of good advice on that from Dr. Zakir today on the topic ‘Self improvement in the month of Ramadhaan and Islaah’ so please brothers and sisters do take heed and act upon the advice. You’ve got at least another 10 days but you’ve got your whole life, InshaAllah, ahead of you to implement these beautiful gems of Islam that Dr. Zakir has given you today and will continue to give you over the next 10 days of Ramadhaan, InshaAllah. 

 

And tomorrow brothers and sisters do join us at the same time, tomorrow, when we will be discussing the second part of 

‘Ramadhaan – The month of self-improvement and Islaah.’ 

 

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!