Sins That We Take Lightly, Part 3.

There are many specific forbidden matters such as those that relate to food, ALLAH says in the QURA'N:

"Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead animals - cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allâh's Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns - and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal - unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) ­ and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An­Nusub (stone altars). (Al-Ma'idah 5:3)"


Concerning the forbidden matters in marriage, ALLAH says in the QURA'N:

"Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters, your foster mother who gave you suck, your foster milk suckling sisters, your wives' mothers, your step daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom you have gone in - but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in them (to marry their daughters), - the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins, and two sisters in wedlock at the same time, except for what has already passed; verily, Allâh is Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful. (An-Nisa 4:23)"


Concerning the forbidden matters in business, ALLAH says in the QURA'N:

"whereas Allâh has permitted trading and forbidden Ribâ (usury)". (Al-Baqarah 2:275)


However ALLAH the almighty in his ultimate mercy and wisdom has not specified all the lawful matters because they are countless and unmeasurable:

"O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy". (Al-Baqarah 2:168).


From ALLAH'S mercy on his slaves, he has established that the basis for matters is that they are all lawful unless specified by the text as otherwise. And it is a wonder that some people find difficulty in their chest when they are told about forbidden matters even if it's coming directly from the text. Some of them probably would like to see the whole list of lawful things they can do in this world, before they get convinced that Islam is a religion of ease and balance. A list of course, that they might spend the rest of their life compiling and still will not be able to contain all that ALLAH has made lawful in this life.

This widely used statement: "This religion is a religion of ease" is indeed true but what is meant by it most of the time, is wrong and misleading. Islam is definitely a religion of ease but eases and difficulty is determined by the QURA'N and the SUNNA, not the opinions, desires, and whims of the people. Those who use this statement each time their weak faith and intellect is faced with that which they disagree it, or dislike.

All praise due to ALLAH that has left us on pure guidance from his book and the SUNNA of his beloved prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) and not to the ignorant masses who are lost in a sea of guesswork and confusion.