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The logic behind womens SHAHADAT being HALF of a mans .

Can I / Should I go to Hajj if I have loans outstanding against me?

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Answer:

Witness of woman half of men

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 none 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: The logic behind womenʼs SHAHADAT being HALF of a manʼs .

Allah Says in the Glorious Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 36 (part):

…and the male is not like the female!

Allah Subhanah declares in His Glorious Quran that the male is ‘not like’ the female, and He, in His Supreme Wisdom and Knowledge has made one to excel the other.

It would be absolutely incorrect and unfair for a society to treat as ‘equal’ what the Creator has declared as unequal! The so called modern-educated but ignorant and un-Godly societies which have tried to challenge and reverse the bestowed nature and declare the men and women as equal have paid an enormous price in the forming of their families, in their homes, and in their lives!

Contrary to popular belief, men and women are not created equal by the All-Wise, All Knowing Lord; but rather, they are balanced! For the test period of this one transitory life, each has been given a set of duties and responsibilities by Allah Subhanah best suited according to their bestowed nature. Thus Allah Subhanah has decreed a separate but balanced test for the man and the woman in the life of this world, each according to its bestowed nature.

The societies which have propagated the ‘equality’ amongst the sexes have obviously not understood the nature of the man and the woman like the One Who Created their nature! The Creator has bestowed on the man and the woman ‘balance’ so that they may complement each other; but the ignorant and un-Godly society insist on making them ‘equal’ so that they may ‘compete’ against each other! Thus for them to declare ‘equality’ when the Creator has declared them ‘balanced’ is outright incorrect and unfair!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 282:

282 O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate but let him fear his Lord Allah and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient or weak or unable himself to dictate let his guardian dictate faithfully. And get two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as ye choose for witnesses so that if one of them errs the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah more suitable as evidence and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves; but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witnesses whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm) it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah; for it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things.

The bestowed nature of women is such that she is blessed by her Creator with much more emotions and compassion than the men, and the Lord Most Gracious, in His Mercy and Grace, has saved her from being put in a situation of undue trial by being called for as a witness, where one has to state and relate the absolute truth and facts devoid of any partiality, leanings, emotion or compassion.

If there are men witnesses available, one should not call upon the women to bear witness to the financial contract; but in a situation where one is unable to assemble two male witnesses, Islam has permitted that two women may be called as witness and the wisdom behind this Command is related by none other than the One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise: ‘so that if one of them errs the other can remind her.’

It is only in specific situations like financial transactions where the Lord has guided that two female witnesses may be brought forth as against one male witness; but in all other civil or criminal cases where a witness is required like murder, theft, rape, adultery, slander, etc., Shariah Law would accept the witness of one women equivalent to the witness of one man.

Your Question: Can I / Should I go to Hajj if I have loans outstanding against me?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verses 96-97:

Undoubtedly the first House of Worship ever to be built for mankind is the one which is at Makkah. It was blessed, and made the center of guidance for all the peoples. In it are clear Signs; there is a spot where Ibraheem used to worship; and it is the Sanctuary, and whoever enters it becomes safe and secure. Allah has, therefore, a right on the people that the one, who can afford to reach the House, should perform Hajj there. And the one who disobeys (this commandment should know that) Allah is Self-Sufficient, and does not stand in need of anyone.

Allah Subhanah has made the pilgrimage of Hajj obligatory on every sane, adult believer who has the financial and physical means to reach the House at least once in their lifetime. This pilgrimage of the Hajj is so sanctified that it is listed as one of the five pillars upon which the deen of Islam is built!

If one does not have the necessary finance to afford the Hajj journey or stay, then Hajj would not be deemed obligatory for such a person; nor would the Lord Most Merciful, Most Gracious hold such a person accountable for not performing the Hajj.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.15a

Abdullah ibn Abi 'Awfa relates: "I asked the Prophet (saws) about a man who has not performed Hajj, 'Should he not get a loan to perform Hajj?' The Prophet (saws) replied: 'No'”

Related by Al-Baihaqi.

If one does not posses the necessary provisions to perform the Hajj, such a person will be excused by Allah Subhanah for not being able to perform the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage. If one took out a loan especially to perform the Hajj, although the Hajj of the person would be deemed valid, but one would have acted against the clear guidance and command of the Messenger of Allah (saws)…..and thus severely disliked.

But if one has the necessary provisions and can afford the Hajj journey and stay, and one also possesses the physical abilities to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, then one is indeed eligible to go to Hajj and perform this obligatory duty unto their Lord.

The taking of a loan by itself does not make one ineligible to perform the Hajj, but it is the taking of a loan only so that one may fulfill the Hajj expenses which is severely disliked and forbidden by the Messenger of Allah (saws).

Thus if there is one who has an outstanding loan, and one is paying one’s installments due on their outstanding loan according to their agreed schedule with the lender, and one has the financial and physical ability to afford the Hajj journey and stay, one would be liable and eligible to perform the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage unto their Lord.

What is forbidden and severely disliked in Shariah is that one who cannot afford the Hajj journey and stay, and one takes a loan specifically to pay for their Hajj expenses....this is severely disliked and forbidden in Shariah.

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