Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslaam Alykum,

Dear brother Burhan,

Having read many of your e-mails and various responses to people’s questions I felt naturally inclined to commend you for your sincere efforts in the propagation and teaching of Islaam.

May Allaah reward you for your efforts, guide you and grant you success both in this life and the hereafter, Ameen. However I have two troubling issues that I would appreciate you to address for me, they are as follows:

1)      I have a ‘Muslim’ classmate who wears a chain with a (Christian) cross around his neck, he claims it is for his own reasons and doesn’t care what others think.

2)      He doesn’t seem to understand as to why this is incorrect….could you help me explain to him, or tell me what to say to him?

3)      Could you please inform me about the Islamic ruling regarding cards, I have heard that they are discouraged for some reason, being at the least a waste of time however some of my friends need proof and an explanation, could you kindly supply me with such information.

Thank you,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Cross Chain and playing Cards

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I have a ‘Muslim’ classmate who wears a chain with a (Christian) cross around his neck, he claims it is for his own reasons and doesn’t care what others think. He doesn’t seem to understand as to why this is incorrect….could you help me
explain to him, or tell me what to say to him?

Every deen, religion or movement has its own symbol through which it is recognized, and it is no secret that a ‘cross’ is the symbol of Christianity. Our Christian brethren believe that Christ Jesus (a.s.) was crucified on a cross to forgive the sins of mankind; a belief which is absolutely and categorically refuted as fasle by the Lord Who Created, in His Last and Final Message of the Glorious Quran.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 157-158:

157 That they (the Jews) said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, Messenger of Allah"; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not.

158 Nay! Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

It is obvious that being a muslim, your classmate knows that a ‘cross’ is a recognized and accepted symbol of Chrisianity; and it does not behove and befit one who has professed belief in Allah and the Last Day to bear witness to, and honor the symbol of something he knows to be a falsehood.

It is the Sunnah and guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) that he would always differ and do things differently than what the polytheists did; so that Islam and its followers would develop and have their own identity in all matters.

Umm Salamah said: "The Prophet used to fast more often on Saturdays and Sundays than on the other days. He (saws) would say: 'They are the ‘eids’ (days of celebration) of the polytheists, and I love to differ from them.'"

Related by Ahmad, al-Baihaqi, al-Hakim, and Ibn Khuzaimah.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "The Jews and Christians do not dye, so differ from them."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn 'Umar related that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Differ from the polytheists: let your beards (grow)" and shave your moustache."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

If after being guided to the Truth of Al-Islam, if one still has or develops an inferiority complex about their deen compared to the deen of the polytheists and strives to copy or imitate or honor any of their symbols, then the Messenger of Allah (saws) warned that such a person would be counted amongst them on the Day of Judgment!

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4020 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who copies any people is one of them!’

Your Question: Could you please inform me about the Islamic ruling regarding cards, I have heard that they are discouraged for some reason, being at the least a waste of time however some of my friends need proof and an explanation, could you kindly supply me with such information.

Islam has permitted the believers to play good, healthy games; especially those which are beneficial to the physical health of the person. But even with these good healthy games, one should do so in limits and not get so engrossed in them so as to forget or delay the Remembrance of Allah Subhanah.

Games like Chess, Bridge and other card games, etc. fall into the category of ‘lagwaw’, or vain things or talks, or things that simply waste time, etc. Even though some of these games are promoted by the promoters as ‘intelligent’ and ‘mind-provoking’ games, they have no benefit to man or his environment. Although such activities do not explicitly fall in the category of the ‘haraam’, they are nevertheless severely disliked in the light of the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. Man has been given very little time to perform his test, thus the concept of ‘time’ should be held as expensive or valuable to the believers, and not something that needs to be spent in useless and non-beneficial activities. It would be better and purer for the believers, who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day, to abstain from such vain and non-beneficial activities.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 70 Surah Maarij verse 42:

42 So leave them (the disbelievers) to plunge in ‘lagwaw’ (vain deeds) and play, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have been promised!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 28 Surah Qasas verse 55:

55 And when they (the believers) hear ‘lagwaw’ (vain talk) they turn away therefrom and say: "To us our deeds and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Muminoon verses 1-3:

1 The Believers must (eventually) win through

2 Those who humble themselves in their prayers;

3 Who avoid ‘lagwaw’ (vain talk and deeds);

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 74 Surah Mudhatthir verses 40-47:

40 (They will be) in Gardens (of Delight); they will question each other

41 And (ask) of the Sinners:

42 "What led you into Hell-Fire?"

43 They will say: "We were not of those who prayed;"

44 "Nor were we of those who fed the indigent;"

45 "But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers;"

46 "And we used to deny the Day of Judgment"

47 "Until there came to us (the Hour) that is certain."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4839 Narrated by Ali ibn al-Husayn ; AbuHurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Part of a man's good observance of Islam is that he leaves alone what does not concern him."

In light of the above clear guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, all ‘lagwaw’ or vain deeds, acts, or talks which are not beneficial either to oneself, fellow mankind, or take one closer to their Lord Creator are useless and an absolute waste of time and effort; and it is part of a believers excellence that he strives to abstain from such vain deeds.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan