Class 9 – Other Sins that are Cursed

Class 9
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‘Other Sins that are Cursed mentioned in the Book Muharramaat’

Alhamdulilah we have finished the book “Al Kabair (Major Sins) by Imam Dhahabi”.

Now we will study some of the Sins mentioned in the Book “Muharramaat (Prohibitions taken lightly) by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid” that are also either Cursed by the Prophet ﷺ or He ﷺ  said that the one who does that is not one of him and the likes.

Note that as we are not scholars we will not comment on it being a Major Sin or not (for some the Sheikh has mentioned it himself) but the ayahs & Hadeeths are stern so we have to take them really seriously to safe guard our deen InShaAllah!

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HAVING INTERCOURSE WITH ONE’s WIFE DURING HER PERIOD 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that is an adhaa (a harmful thing for a husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they have purified (from menses and have taken a bath) . . .” [al-Baqarah 2:222]

So a man is not permitted to approach his wife until her period has ended and she has taken a bath (ghusl). Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“. . . And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you . . . “ [al-Baqarah 2:222]

The repulsive nature of this sin is indicated by the words of the Prophet (pace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating women, or with a woman in her rectum, or goes to a fortune-teller, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi).

Whoever does this by mistake, not deliberately, does not have to pay any penalty, but the person who does it deliberately and with full knowledge of what he is doing must pay the penalty, which according to the scholars with the soundest knowledge is one dinar or half a dinar. Some scholars say that there is a choice in the amount to be paid; others say that if a man has intercourse with his wife at the beginning of her period, when the flow of blood is heavy, he must pay one dinar, and if he does it at the end of her period when the flow is light, he must pay half a dinar. In modern terms, a dinar is equal to 25.4 grams of gold: this or the equivalent amount of currency must be given in charity.

HAVING INTERCOURSE WITH ONE’s WIFE IN HER RECTUM 

Some perverted people who have little faith do not hesitate to have intercourse with a woman in her rectum (the place from which excrement emerges). This is a major sin, and the Prophet  ﷺ cursed the one who does this.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet  ﷺ said: “He is cursed, the one who has intercourse with a woman in her rectum.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad).

Indeed, the Prophet  ﷺ said: “Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating women, or with a woman in her rectum, or goes to a fortune-teller, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi).

Although there are many righteous and sensible women who refuse to do this, there are many husbands who threaten their wives with divorce if they do not comply. Some husbands even deceive their wives who may be too shy to ask a scholar about this matter; they tell them that this is halaal, and they may even misquote the Qur’an to support their claim (interpretation of the meaning): “Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth when or how you will . . .” [al-Baqarah 2:223]. But it is well-known that the Sunnah explains the Qur’an, and the Prophet  ﷺ stated that it is permitted to have intercourse with one’s wife in whatever way one wishes, approaching from the front or the back, so long as intercourse is in the place from which a child is born (the vagina); it is obvious that the anus, from which excrement is produced, is not the place from which a child is born. One of the reasons for this crime is the fact that many people enter what should be a clean and pure married life with an inheritance of dirty, haram, jaahili, perverted practices, or memories filled with scenes from lewd movies for which they have not repented to Allah. It is also well known that this deed is haram even if both parties consent to it; mutual consent to a haram deed does not make it halaal. 

SHAKING HANDS WITH A NON-MAHRAM WOMAN 

This is one of the cases where incorrect social customs have taken precedence over the laws of Allah, to such an extent that if you try to talk to people and show them evidence that this is wrong, they will accuse you of being backward, having a complex, trying to break family ties, doubting their good intentions, etc. Shaking hands with female cousins, brothers’ wives and uncles’ wives is now easier than drinking water in our society, but if we look properly we will understand the seriousness of the matter.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle it would be better for him than touching a woman whom he is not permitted to touch.” (Reported by al-Tabaraani, 20/212; see also Sahih al-Jaami’, 4921).

There is no doubt that this is an act of Zinaa, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “The eyes may commit Zinaa, the hands may commit Zinaa, the feet may commit Zinaa and the private parts may commit Zinaa.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad).

Is there anyone more pure in heart than Muhammad ﷺ? Yet still he said, “I do not shake hands with women.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad). And he said, “I do not touch the hands of women.” (Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 24/342; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7054 and al-Isaabah, 4/354).

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “No, by Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never touched the hand of a (non-mahram) woman. He received bay’ah (pledge of allegiance) from them by word only.” (Reported by Muslim, 3/489).

Let them fear Allah, those people who threaten their pious wives with divorce if they do not shake hands with their brothers.

We should also note that placing a barrier such as a piece of cloth is of no use; it is still haram to shake hands with a non-mahram woman.

A WOMAN WEARING PERFUME WHEN GOING OUT OR PASSING NON-MAHRAM MEN 

This practice is widespread nowadays, despite the stern warning of the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “Any woman who applies perfume and then goes out among the people so that they could smell her fragrance is a zaaniyah (adulteress).” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, 4/418).

Some women are very careless and take the matter too lightly, especially in front of drivers, shopkeepers, school porters, etc., even though the Sharee’ah states very strictly that the woman who wears perfume must wash herself like a person must wash when in a state of janaanah (i.e., perform ghusl), if she wants to go out to the mosque.

The Prophet  ﷺ said: “Any woman who wears perfume then goes out to the mosque, so that the fragrance can be discerned, her prayers will not be accepted until she performs ghusl like the ghusl to be performed when in a state of janaabah.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, 2/444; see also Sahih al-Jaami’, 2703).

We complain to Allah about the bukhoor and ‘ood (types of incense) used at weddings and women’s parties before people leave, and the use of strong-smelling perfumes in market-places, means of transportation and mixed gatherings in the mosques even during the nights of Ramadan. Islam tells us that women’s perfume should be that which has colour but little smell. We ask Allah not to despise us and not to punish righteous men and women for the deeds of foolish men and women. May He guide us all to the Straight Path.

ASKING ONE’s HUSBAND FOR A DIVORCE FOR NO LEGITIMATE REASON

Many women hasten to demand a divorce from their husbands for the least little argument, or if their husbands do not give them what they want of money. Some women may be egged on by troublemakers among their relatives or neighbours to challenge their husbands with provocative words such as: “If you were a real man, you would divorce me!” The dire results of divorce are well known: breakdown of the family and children roaming the streets. A person may come to regret divorce when it is too late. For all these reasons and others, the Sharee’ah wisely prohibited such actions.

The Prophet  ﷺ said:

But if there is a sound reason, such as the husband abandoning prayer, drinking or taking drugs, or forcing his wife to do something haram, or oppressing her and making her suffer by denying her the rights granted to her by Islam, and he does not listen to advice to mend his ways, then in this case there is nothing wrong with a woman seeking divorce for her own sake and for the sake of her religion.

DELIBERATELY LOOKING AT A NON-MAHRAM WOMAN 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and to protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” [al-Noor 24:30]

The Prophet  ﷺ said: “The adultery of the eyes is by looking” (i.e. by looking at what Allah has forbidden). (Reported by al-Bukhaari).

Looking for a legitimate purpose is exempted from this rule, such as looking at a woman for marriage purposes, or a doctor examining a patient for medical reasons, etc. Women are equally forbidden to look at non-mahram men, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and to protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) . . .” [al-Noor 24:31]

Men are also forbidden to look with desire at a man with a hairless or beautiful face. Men are forbidden to look at the ‘awrah of other men, and women are forbidden to look at the ‘awrah of other women. If it is forbidden to look at something, it is forbidden to touch it, even over clothing. One of the ways in which Shaytaan deceives people is by making them think that there is nothing wrong with looking at pictures in magazines or watching movies, because what is seen is not “real,” even though such images clearly cause so much damage by provoking desires.

SEEING ONE’s WOMENFOLK BEHAVING IN AN IMMORAL FASHION & KEEPING SILENT

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet  ﷺ said: “There are three whom Allah will deprive of Paradise: the one who drinks intoxicants, the one who is disobedient to his parents, and the one who accepts immoral conduct on the part of his family.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2/69).

One of the many examples of this in modern times is men turning a blind eye to their daughters or wives contacting non-mahram men and chatting to them in a way that may be described as “romantic,” or accepting one of the women of his household being alone with a non-mahram man, or allowing them to sit alone with a driver or other employee, or letting them go out without proper hijaab, so that everyone may look at them, or bringing home immoral magazines and movies.

PLUCKING EYEBROWS

Namas is the word used to describe plucking the eyebrows. According to a saheeh hadeeth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The woman who plucks facial hair and the woman who has this done are cursed.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).

Namas means plucking the hair, or it was said that it means plucking the facial hair. “The woman who plucks facial hair” is the woman who removes hair from her own face or the face of another woman. “The woman who has this done” refers to a woman who plucks hair from her own face or tells another woman to do this for her. Minmaas refers to tweezers, the tool used to remove a thorn. When a woman removes hair from her face, this can also be done by using a thread. This also includes thinning the eyebrows.The fuqaha’ agreed that plucking the eyebrow hair is included in the removal of facial hair, which is forbidden because of the hadeeth: “Allaah has cursed the women who pluck their facial hair and the women who have this done.”

The majority of fuqaha’ said that removing facial hair other than the eyebrows is also included in Namas, and the fuqaha’ agreed that the prohibition on Namas in the hadeeth should be understood to mean that it is haraam.Removing facial hair is also forbidden for men. (Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 14, Tanammus).

Al-Haytami said: as for removing some of the eyebrow hairs if they have grown long, I do not see anything wrong with this according to our companions, but it should be makrooh because it is changing the creation of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. Nothing concerning this was narrated so it should be makrooh. (Al-Fataawa al-Kubra by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, part 4, Baab al-‘Aqeeqah).

If the eyebrows have grown so long that they are troublesome or causing harm such as preventing one from seeing properly, then the part that is causing the problem may be trimmed.With regard to dyeing the eyebrows or a part of them with a blonde colour or a colour similar to that of the skin, there is nothing wrong with this, as was stated in a fatwa issued by our Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him and raise his status). He also stated in a fatwa that it is permissible to remove hair growing between the eyebrows because this is not part of them, but he stated that it is not permissible to trim the eyebrows if they are not troublesome or causing harm.

CONCEALING A PRODUCT’S FAULTS AT THE TIME OF SALE 

The Prophet  ﷺ once passed by a pile of food that was for sale. He put his hand in it and felt dampness, so he asked, “What is this, O seller of the food?” He said, “It was rained on, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet  ﷺ said: “Why don’t you put it on top, so that people can see it? Whoever deceives (the people) is not one of us.” (Reported by Muslim, 1/99).

There are many traders nowadays who do not fear Allah, and try to conceal faults by wrapping it in plastic, putting faulty produce in the bottom of the box, using chemicals and the like to make a product look good, or concealing noises in engines that may indicate a fault – so that when the purchaser brings a product home, it soon starts to wear out. Some traders change expiry dates, or prevent the buyer from examining or trying out a product. Many of those who sell cars or other types of equipment do not point out the product’s faults. All of this is haraam, as the Prophet  ﷺ said: “The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim. The Muslim is not permitted to sell to his brother anything which is faulty without pointing out the faults to him.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2/754). Some traders even think that their responsibility ends when they tell buyers at an auction, “I am selling a heap of metal, a heap of metal…” This is a sale in which there is no blessing, as the Prophet  ﷺ said: “The two parties involved in a sale have the choice (to end it – i.e. the sale is not final) until they part. If both have been truthful and honest about any faults, the sale will be blessed, but if they have lied and concealed any faults, the blessing of the sale will be lost.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari).

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  ﷺ 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 Dawud, 2/281).

Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah  ﷺ 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).

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.

USING VESSELS OF GOLD AND SILVER, OR EATING AND DRIKING FROM THEM

Nowadays hardly any household goods stores are free of vessels made of gold and silver, or plated with these metals. The same applies to homes of rich people and many hotels. This kind of thing has become one of the precious gifts that people give one another on special occasions. Some people may not have these things at home, but they use them in other people’s homes and when invited to a meal. All of these are actions which are forbidden in Islam. The Prophet  ﷺ issued a stern warning about using such vessels.

Umm Salamah reported that he said: “The one who eats or drinks from a vessel of gold or silver is putting fire from Hell into his stomach.” (Reported by Muslim, 3/1634).

This ruling applies to every kind of vessel or utensil that is made of gold or silver, such as plates, forks, spoons, knives, trays on which food is offered to guests, boxes of sweets which are given to wedding guests, and so on.

Some people might say, “We are not using them, we are just putting them on display in a glass case.” This is not permitted either, to prevent any possibility of these things being used. (From the spoken statements of Shaykh ‘Abd al’-’Aziz ibn Baaz.)

WEARING WIGS & HAIRPIECES

Wearing wigs and hairpieces, whether made from natural or artificial hair, for men and women. 

Asma’ bint Abi Bakr said: “A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have a daughter who is going to be married; she had a fever and lost much of her hair – can I give attach false hair to her head?’ He said: ‘Allah has cursed the one who attaches false hair and the one who has this done.'” (Reported by Muslim, 3/1676).

Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah said: “The Prophet ﷺ issued strict instructions that no woman should add anything to her head.” (Reported by Muslim, 3/1679).

Examples of this include the things known nowadays as wigs and hair extensions, and the many evil things with which salons are crowded. Also included are the artificial wigs worn by some actors and actresses who have no morals.