Allah swt tells us what process two people should adopt while lending/borrowing money.
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:
In the
begining of Quran we read the Ayaat in which Allah swt tells us what process
two people should adopt while lending/borrowing money. In a later place in
Surah Nisa Allah swt says to women that they shall cover themselves while going
out. My question is that how would we know that one of these commands is Faraz
and the other is just recommendation. For instance if a muslim woman doesn`t
cover properly then we consider her to be doing a sin while we don`t say the
same for lenger or borrower. Jazak Allah for providing the answer.
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Answer:
Obligatory voluntary
commands diff
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.
Respected brother in Islam, May Allah Subhanah bless you
and increase your quest for knowledge for asking such an interesting question
in the deen.
By studying the exact Declarations of the Glorious Quran
and how exactly did the Messenger of Allah (saws) implement the Guidance, the
scholars and jurists in Islam have developed a science and a method to
differentiate which amongst the Commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws) are
obligatory to follow, and which amongst them are voluntary. This science developed by the scholars and
jurists of Islam is known as the ‘Usool of Fiqh’ or the ‘Principles of Islamic
Jurisprudence’.
Allow us to relate a simple example from the Glorious
Quran which would Insha Allah makes this point of differentiation between the
obligatory and voluntary a little more clearer:
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah
Maidah verses 1-2:
1 O ye who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for
food) are all four-footed animals with the exceptions named: but (hunting) animals of the chase are
forbidden while ye are in the Sacred Precincts or in pilgrim garb: for
Allah doth Command according to His Will and Plan.
2 O ye who believe! Violate not the Sanctity of the Symbols of Allah
nor of the Sacred Month nor of the animals brought for sacrifice nor the
garlands that mark out such animals nor the people resorting to the Sacred
House seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the Sacred
Precincts and of pilgrim garb, hunt;
and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the
Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and
piety but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is
strict in punishment.
In Verse 1, Allah Subhanah specifically and categorically
prohibits the believers to hunt animals while they are in the Sacred Precincts
of Makkah, or when in the state of ‘ehram’ for pilgrimage….and then in the
middle of Verse 2, Allah Subhanah Declares that when one is clear of the Sacred
Precincts and taken off their ‘ehram’ to hunt….
Does that mean that every believer who leaves the Sacred
Precinct or takes off their ‘ehram’ MUST hunt??? Or is it merely a permission that they MAY
hunt, if indeed they wish to do so???
One of the ‘Principles of Jurisprudence’ adopted by the
scholars is that when a Command is given after a specific Command of
prohibition, the latter Command would not be considered an obligation, but
rather a permission.
There are several such principles adopted by the scholars
and jurists when determining which Commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws)
should be considered as obligatory and which amongst them may be taken as
voluntary…..and the determination of the scholars is entirely based upon the
Declarations of the Quran and the Sunnah, and more often than not, how exactly
did the Messenger of Allah (saws) understood and implemented the Guidance in his
life.
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