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Prohibitions in Islam - Page 29

But there are some families where fathers do not fear Allah, and their favoritism creates hatred and jealousy among the children. A father may give one child more because he looks like his paternal uncles, and give less to another child because he looks like his maternal uncles; or he may give more to the children of one wife and less to the children of another wife; or he may put one wife’s children in private schools, but not the other wife’s children. This will ultimately backfire on him, because in most cases the one who is deprived in this way will not respect his father or treat him kindly in the future. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked the man who showed favoritism to one son, “Do you not want all your children to respect you equally?” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, 4/269; see also Sahih Al-Jami, 1623).

Asking people for money when one is not in need

Sahl Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever asks people for money when he has what is sufficient for him is only asking for more of the embers of Hell.” They asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, what is sufficient so that he does not have to ask for more?” He said: “Having enough to eat lunch and dinner.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 2/281; see also Sahih Al-Jami’, 6280).

Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever asks the people for money when he has what is sufficient for him will come on the Day of Judgement with scratches and lacerations on his face.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, 1/388; see also Sahih Al-Jami’, 6255).

Some beggars come to the mosques, interrupting people’s worship with their complaints; some of them lie, bringing forged papers and telling tall stories; some of them distribute their family members around different mosques, then they regroup and move on to other mosques. Some of these people may in fact be well-off, to an extent which only Allah knows; only when they die do others find out what they have left behind. Meanwhile, there are others who are truly in need, but people are not aware of it and may think they have enough, because they are too proud and do not beg of people at all; nobody knows their true situation so no-one gives them charity.

Seeking a loan with no intention of paying it back

The dues owed by one person to another are very important in the sight of Allah, so much so that if a person falls short in his duties towards Allah, he may be forgiven if he repents, but when it comes to the rights of other people, he has to fulfill them before the Day comes when dinars and dirhams will be of no avail, and only hasanaat and sayi’aat (good and bad deeds) will count. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due” [Al-Nissa’ 4:58]

One of the widespread problems in our society is this casual approach to loans; some people take out loans not for some urgent need but because they want to expand their businesses or keep up with others by buying new cars or furniture or other temporary luxuries of this life. Often these people let themselves in for the