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The Importance of Calling Things by Their Proper Names
Understanding what is haram and upholding Islamic values are essential for every believer. What’s forbidden is forbidden, and what’s required is required. A believer should not be ashamed to call things by their proper religious names.
One problem in our society today is that some people are embarrassed to use words like ‘forbidden’ or ‘allowed’ when talking about religious rules. This goes against the idea of following the Quran strongly and upholding Islamic values.
Standing Firm on Quranic Concepts
Dr. El Mehdi Ben Aboud, a respected Moroccan Islamic scholar, used to tell us about his experiences. He was a skin and mental health doctor, but also very knowledgeable about Islamic law. He once served as Morocco’s ambassador to America.
Sometimes, non-Muslims would ask him why he didn’t drink alcohol. He would answer cleverly, saying Muslims are always in a state of spiritual ‘intoxication’ through their connection with ALLAH, not through harmful substances.
However, when he was with Moroccan Muslims who had Western ideas and were shy about calling forbidden things ‘forbidden’, he would bravely say, “Alcohol is haram”. This might seem normal to many believers, but in certain circles, it’s not easy to say such things.
Some people, even those with Muslim names, find it hard to hear the word ‘haram’. They might think you’re crazy for using it. This is a dangerous attitude.
We must remember our religious concepts. Alcohol is forbidden, whether people accept it or not. And you should be able to say these things freely.
It’s important to preserve the Quran’s concepts, not just memorize them, but to make them a part of our lives. We should stick to these ideas firmly. Pork is haram, alcohol is haram, adultery is haram, usury is haram, gambling is haram- even if these things become common, they’re still forbidden.
A believer must stand firm on the Quran’s concepts. There’s no room for joking or being overly polite about these matters. If you compromise on the big truths of the Quran, you’re mistreating your relationship with ALLAH. It’s better to upset people who don’t like the truth than to mistreat your relationship with GOD who created you. We must hold onto the Book (Quran) strongly. Some people want to remove these Quranic concepts from your hand, but we must hold onto them tightly.
Source:
- Sheikh Dr. Farid El Ansari. هل تخجل من قول (حرام) لشيء حرًّمهُ الله – الشيخ الدكتور فريد الأنصاري رحمه الله. YouTube Video.
