Episode 29 - Spiritual Drinks, Banking Benefit, Extremist, Fanatic

Peace be upon you. Dear brothers, we mentioned in the previous episode that observing one's words is required by Sharia, and Allah the Almighty said: ((O you who have believed, do not say [to the Prophet], 'Ra'ina,' but say, 'Unzurna.')), and the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded in many hadiths to avoid certain words regardless of the speaker's intention. Today, we will continue discussing the importance of observing one's words... and focus on labels and their impact. Allah the Almighty has forbidden certain things. These forbidden acts should remain abhorrent and repulsive to us. However, Satan has made these forbidden acts appealing to people by giving them different names. This is one of the first steps towards committing sin. For example, look at alcohol... it is called 'alcohol' because it clouds the mind, meaning it covers and removes the mind. What do some people call it in our days? 'Spiritual drinks.' This is a name that includes some praise, as if alcohol revives the spirit. Did you know that our Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us that this change in naming would happen? In the hadith narrated by Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ((The nights and days will not pass until a group from my Ummah drinks alcohol, calling it by another name))... Therefore, changing the name is a step towards making the sin permissible and reducing its abhorrence. Usury... what is it called today? 'Benefit.' It is said: Such and such bank offers loans with a benefit rate of so and so. The word 'benefit' is a good word that makes this financial transaction feel beneficial like buying and selling, and this reminds us of Allah's saying: ((That is because they say, 'Trade is [merely] like usury.')), while Allah the Almighty says: ((And Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest)). Therefore, the Muslim should keep the forbidden acts by their names as Allah named them, not accept the circulation of names that reduce the abhorrence of these forbidden acts. If someone says to you: Does such and such bank deal with benefit? Say to him: Do you mean usury? He will say to you: The important thing is that the meaning is conveyed, at which point we clarify that observing one's words is required, and we mention Allah's saying: ((O you who have believed, do not say [to the Prophet], 'Ra'ina,' but say, 'Unzurna.')). Even some terms like describing a Muslim as an extremist or fanatic. These terms were originally used by people who do not evaluate concepts and people based on (what Allah said) and (what His Messenger said), but for them, leaving the forbidden may be extremism and righteousness may be fanaticism. Therefore, even if we find a Muslim being strict with himself or others, let us call it exaggeration, excess, but let us avoid others' labels to preserve our distinction, and let us remember that Allah the Almighty prohibited the believers from addressing the Prophet with the word (Ra'ina) because the Jews used it with a corrupt intention. Allah loves for His servants to distinguish themselves from the people of falsehood, even in a word that may carry a correct meaning. The Muslim is distinguished by his faith, distinguished by his speech, distinguished by his appearance, because he is from the best nation brought forth to mankind. Peace be upon you.