Blessed Friday to You, Honorable Believers!
Our Lord Almighty enjoins in the verse I have recited: “O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.” [i]
Our Prophet (pbuh) said in the holy hadith I have read: “What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are the things doubtful which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honor blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things…”[ii]
Brothers and Sisters!
Halal are the beautiful things that are in accordance with the reason and purpose of creation. Haram are the ugly things that harm and hurt the honor and dignity of the mankind, the respected creation of our Lord. Halal are the words, behaviors and attitudes in accordance with Allah countenance. Haram are the evil things that would bring upon our Lord’s wrath and people’s condemnation. The closer a person is to halal, the closer he is to peace. Walking towards haram ends in regret and misery. The result of a life wasted by losing the sensitivity to halal-haram is a disappointment.
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
A believer cannot waste his limited breaths in this transitory world on unfair gains such as fortune-telling, gambling, luck games, interest, bribe, usury, and theft. He cannot poison the body Allah entrusted to him with alcohol and drugs. He cannot harm his health with non-halal foods and drinks.
A believer is such a person that he cannot touch the property of an orphan. He cannot be unjust towards the rights of another person or the public. He cannot treat his wife and children, his parents, neighbors and relatives badly. He cannot stain his tongue with bad words, slander, lies and perjury. He can never betray someone’s trust and break his promise. He cannot pursue sedition and malice and spread corruption on earth.
Esteemed Brothers and Sisters!
As believers, let us look at our attitude towards the boundaries of halal and haram. Let each of us ask ourselves these questions: Do we live a life within the scope of halal-haram sensitivity? Or are we in a situation where our perception is paralyzed? Do we put our happiness in this world and hereafter in danger by not caring about sins and not avoiding haram? Or are we able to leave our faults back never to return with sincere repentance?
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Let us not forget, what is fitting for a believer is to be aware against halal and haram. People could make mistakes. But the most sagacious of those who make mistakes are the ones who turn back from these faults and repent.
[i] Al-Maidah, 5/90.
[ii] Al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, 39; Sahih Muslim, The Book of Musaqa, 107.
Friday Khutba of Tokyo Camii ” SENSITIVITY TO HALAL AND HARAM”(PDF)