Question 837 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 7

Scientific Committee Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them peace. Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. May Allah welcome you. A Q1: Polygyny existed in earlier laws and was not unique to the law of Muhammad (may Allah send prayers upon him and his family). Allah’s prophet Abraham-Abram-married another woman while married to Sarah-Sarai. Genesis 16:1–4 states: ‘Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from bearing; go in to my maidservant, perhaps the Lord will grant me children through her.” Abram listened to Sarai. Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian and gave her to Abram to be his wife.’ Allah’s prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) also married four women: Rachel and Leah, the daughters of Laban; Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant; and Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant. See the Old Testament, Genesis chapters 29–30. A Q2: All prophets and messengers are infallible, because Allah sent them to take the people by the hand toward every good and righteousness. If misguidance were possible for them, they would also misguide people and their task would change from guiding people to misguiding them-Allah forbid. Allah Most High said: ‘We sent no messenger except to be obeyed by Allah’s permission …’ [al-Nisaʾ 4:64]. The infallibility of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah send prayers upon him and his family) is established by the Quran and widely transmitted Sunnah. The Most High said: ‘He does not speak from desire. It is nothing but revelation revealed’ [al-Najm 53:3–4]. This noble verse explicitly states that the Messenger Muhammad does not speak from his desire or wishes; rather, everything he commands and directs toward is divine revelation. The Most High said: ‘Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. Be conscious of Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment’ [al-Hashr 59:7]. The Most High said: ‘It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have any choice in their affair. Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly gone manifestly astray’ [al-Ahzab 33:36]. The Most High said: ‘O you who believe, obey Allah, obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you. If you dispute concerning anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and best in outcome’ [al-Nisaʾ 4:59]. Other Quranic verses command absolute obedience to the Messenger in everything he commands. This proves everything he commands is truth and guidance, for if he could command falsehood, Allah would not command obedience to him, since Allah would thereby have commanded falsehood-far exalted is He above that. Evidence from the Sunnah is too numerous to exhaust here; I will mention one hadith: Wasaʾil al-Shia (Al al-Bayt), vol. 27, pp. 129–130, hadith 33398: From Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali, who said: I heard the Commander of the Believers (peace be upon him) say: ‘…There is no obedience in disobedience to Him and no obedience to one who disobeys Allah. Obedience is only to Allah, His Messenger (may Allah send prayers upon him and his family), and those vested with authority. Allah commanded obedience to the Messenger because he is infallible and purified and does not command disobedience. He commanded obedience to those vested with authority because they are infallible and purified and do not command disobedience to Him.’ As for the superiority of Allah’s prophet Muhammad over Jesus (peace be upon him), it is Allah’s favor which He gives to whom He wills. The Most High said: ‘Your Lord knows best whoever is in the heavens and earth. We certainly favored some prophets over others, and We gave David the Psalms’ [al-Israʾ 17:55]. The prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is not Allah’s best and most perfect creation. Rather, he told his disciples: ‘Believe me, it is better for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you’ [John 16:7]. This indicates that the Comforter is better than Jesus. A Q3: Allah Most High said: ‘He sent water down from heaven, and valleys flowed according to their measure. The torrent carried swelling foam; and from what they heat in the fire seeking ornament or utility arises foam like it. Thus Allah presents truth and falsehood: the foam passes away as scum, while what benefits people remains in the earth. Thus Allah presents parables’ [al-Raʿd 13:17]. Allah’s gift continually descends, but each person takes according to his faith and sincerity. A Q4: Islam is not a religion of violence. Rather, it was afflicted with enemies who could not be set right or stopped except by force. What the Messenger Muhammad suffered from his enemies from the beginning of his Call is no secret: warfare, harassment, the killing, imprisonment, and displacement of his followers. They were intent upon eradicating him and his followers from existence. Would it have been wise for him to surrender without any action so that they could kill him? The fighting undertaken by the Messenger Muhammad was mercy itself, because the disbelievers, polytheists, and tyrants at the time were society’s cancer. Is removing these cancerous tumors with a sharp blade cruelty or mercy? Fighting is not reprehensible in itself; it follows its aim and purpose. If its aim is mere aggression, injustice, and oppression, it is reprehensible. If it is to fight tyrants and corrupters who are stumbling blocks before goodness, justice, and equality, such fighting is good-indeed, entirely good. Islam is not the only religion that fought to defend its principles and expel evil and its people. Some prophets and kings also fought and defended their right and Allah Most High’s religion. King Talut-Saul-fought the Ammonites, defeated them, and saved the Children of Israel from their evil. He also waged war against the Philistines. See 1 Samuel, chapters 11–15. Allah’s prophet David (peace be upon him) also fought and killed Goliath. See the preceding source, chapters 16–17. In Matthew 10:34–35, Jesus (peace be upon him) said: ‘34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’ In Luke 22:36–38 he also said: ‘He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack. He who has none, let him sell his garment and buy a sword. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in me: ‘He was numbered with transgressors.’ For what concerns me has an end.” 38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He said to them, “It is enough.”’ A Q5: Both terms-nikah and marriage-are used in the Quran, not nikah alone. The Most High said: ‘When you said to the one upon whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, “Keep your wife and be conscious of Allah,” while you concealed within yourself what Allah would disclose and feared the people, though Allah has more right that you fear Him. Then when Zayd had fulfilled his need of her, We married her to you so there would be no discomfort for believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons after they have fulfilled their need of them. Allah’s command is accomplished’ [al-Ahzab 33:37]. ‘Or He pairs them, males and females, and makes whomever He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Powerful’ [al-Shura 42:50]. ‘Thus it will be, and We will marry them to wide-eyed maidens’ [al-Dukhan 44:54]. ‘Reclining upon arranged couches, and We will marry them to wide-eyed maidens’ [al-Tur 52:20]. Marriage is derived from pairing and joining. Nikah may refer to the marriage contract or specifically to intercourse. The Quran was revealed to the Arabs and addressed them in the words they used. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.