Introduction and Greetings
Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, dear brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and God's mercy. We welcome you to today's episode of our competition "Tibyanan Lekul Shay'." I would like to start, dear brothers and sisters, by announcing the winners of yesterday's competition:
- The first question: Our brother Mohamed Essam and our brother Mohamed Mohamed Adel won.
- The second question: Brother Maad Dabara.
- The third question: Brother Saleh Ali.
- The fourth question: Sister Sarin Ali.
These are the winners of yesterday's competition, and as I mentioned, by the will of God Almighty, we will collect the points at the end and send a symbolic gift to the one with the highest number of points.
Today we have with us six questions, God willing. And based on your request, the commentary and answer will be directly on the live broadcast instead of the pictorial posts to avoid confusion. So, dear brothers and sisters, get ready as we start with the first question.
Question One: Justice in Retaliation
Question Text: One of the manifestations of deviation from the religion of God in tribal disputes is that you find someone, if one of their people is killed, they insist on killing someone from the killer's tribe who is more honorable or of higher status. Mention a verse that addresses these people and clarifies to them that God Almighty forbids them from doing so.
The correct answer was provided by brother Abu Zainab Barhami (from Afghanistan), and it is the saying of God Almighty: "O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retaliation for the slain - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female" [Al-Baqarah: 178].
Educational Commentary:
In the pre-Islamic era, they had a principle known as "balancing blood," as mentioned by Sheikh Al-Tahir Ibn Ashur in "Al-Tahrir wal-Tanwir"; meaning that the blood of a noble person is balanced with many bloods. This verse came to put an end to that. The meaning of "prescribed for you is legal retaliation" here is not the obligatory nature like prayer, but the meaning is: if you seek retaliation, then you must adhere to justice, so that no one is killed except by their killer, and no woman is killed except by her killer.
As Al-Qurtubi said: "If a free man kills a free man, then the blood of the killer is equivalent to the blood of the victim, and retaliation is taken from him and not from others." In this meaning is the saying of the Prophet ﷺ: "The blood of Muslims is equal"; so there is no superiority of blood over blood, and all are equal before the law of God.
Question Two: Trivializing God's Verses in Disputes
Question Text: It is common among people that when they dispute, they disregard God's commands in dealing with the dispute, justifying themselves by saying they are angry, and that the other party deserves this treatment. Mention a terrifying verse in which God makes this behavior a trivialization of His command and prohibition, turning the matter from a dispute between two parties into a deal with God Almighty.
Sister Duaa Rajab (from Egypt) answered this question, and the verse is His saying, may He be exalted, in the context of the rulings on divorce: "And do not take the verses of Allah in mockery" [Al-Baqarah: 231].
Educational Commentary:
The verse came after His saying, may He be exalted: "And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, either take them back on an equitable basis or part with them on an equitable basis. And do not take them back to harm them and overreach." Imam Al-Qurtubi said that a man would divorce his wife, and when her waiting period was about to end, he would take her back with the intention of harming her so that she would not marry another. So, it was revealed: "And do not take the verses of Allah in mockery."
He who mocks the verses of God is he who abandoned them and did not act upon them. This is a sad reality in our societies; in matters of divorce and marital disputes, some act as if the Quran was not revealed, justifying it with anger. Remember that wickedness in disputes is trivializing the verses of God, His commands, and His prohibitions.
Question Three: Festivals are Seasons of Gratitude, Not of Sin
Question Text: Festivals in Islam are seasons of gratitude to God Almighty for guidance and success in obedience, not as the corrupt wish to make them seasons of sin and heedlessness. Mention a verse that indicates this meaning.
Sister Aisha Al-Hariri immediately answered with His saying, may He be exalted: "And complete the number (of days), and exalt God for having guided you, that you may be grateful" [Al-Baqarah: 185].
Educational Commentary:
The takbeers of the festival (Allahu Akbar kabiran, walhamdulillah katheeran) are, in reality, gratitude to God Almighty for having enabled us to fast and stand in prayer. So, the Festival of Breaking the Fast is gratitude for Ramadan, and the Festival of Sacrifice is gratitude for guidance in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
I am pained by the state of the markets on the night of the festival, where they turn for some into seasons of forbidden glances and desires. I say to every young man and woman: glorify the rites of God in this night, for "That (is the command), and whoever honors the symbols of God - indeed, it is from the piety of the hearts."
A Pause with the First Three Questions
What is the common denominator between the three past questions? The common denominator is the obligation to obey God in all circumstances; His obedience, may He be exalted, in the intensity of anger (as in retaliation), His obedience during disputes (as in divorce), and His obedience in joy (as in festivals).
Islam is complete submission to God Almighty, and subjugation of feelings and reactions to Him, may He be exalted. The Muslim does not justify disobeying God by saying, "I am angry" or "I want to be happy." In the agreed-upon hadith from Abdullah bin As-Samit, may God be pleased with him, he said: "We pledged allegiance to the Messenger of God ﷺ to hear and obey in ease and hardship, in enthusiasm and reluctance."
Question Four: Islam and the Natural Needs of Women
Question Text: Islam has taken into account the natural needs of women just as it has for men, and marriage is one of its purposes to achieve tranquility and psychological stability for both, not as claimed by the promoters of feminist tendencies who describe Islam as a male-dominated religion. Mention a verse that indicates this.
Brother Muhammad Hamza (from Syria) answered with the noble verse: "They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them" [Al-Baqarah: 187].
Educational Commentary:
This verse came in the context of His saying, may He be exalted: "It has been made permissible for you the night of fasting to approach your wives." The meaning of "They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them" is that each of the spouses is a source of tranquility, reassurance, and psychological stability for the other, and a fulfillment of instinctive and natural inclination.
The Quran interprets some of its verses with others, so His saying, may He be exalted: "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates, that you may find tranquility in them," confirms this meaning. As for the feminist tendency that has spread in the West and affected some Muslim women with its filth, it portrays women in an arena of wrestling with men to snatch their rights. Whereas in our great Islam, the relationship is one of complementarity, love, mercy, and cooperation in righteousness and piety, not rivalry, competition, and dispute.
Question Five: Neglecting Jihad Leads to Destruction
Question Text: If Muslims do not prioritize jihad, it will lead to their destruction and loss of status. Mention a verse that indicates this meaning.
Brother Badr bin Ibrahim (from Tangier, Morocco) answered with the verse: "And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction." [Al-Baqarah 2:195].
Educational Commentary:
It is surprising that some people today use this verse to justify abandoning jihad under the pretense of "not challenging the superpowers," as if Islam commands humiliation! The true meaning of the verse is explained by Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, may God be pleased with him. Al-Tirmidhi narrated that when the Ansar were honored by God with Islam, they said, "If we stay with our wealth and fix what is lost from it (meaning we leave jihad and spending to focus on our worldly interests)."
Then God revealed this verse to respond to them, so "destruction" was their staying with their wealth, fixing it, and abandoning jihad. Therefore, abandoning jihad and spending in the way of God, and being preoccupied with worldly matters, is the impending destruction of any Muslim nation or society, as we see in our time.
Question Six: Comprehensive Adherence to Islam
Question Text: We are commanded to adhere to God's orders in every detail and aspect of life. Neglecting any part of God's commands is the beginning of deviation leading to destruction. Mention a verse that indicates this.
Brother Hassan Marwan (from Morocco) answered with the noble verse: "O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and do not follow] the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." [Al-Baqarah 2:208].
Educational Commentary:
Here, "silm" with a kasrah on the sin is "Islam," as explained by Imam Al-Tabari in an extensive study. As for "salm" with a fathah on the sin, it means appeasement and conciliation. Unfortunately, some distort the meanings of the Quran, as one did in a humiliating agreement with the Zionists when he read this verse to justify concessions, while the verse commands entering into Islam with all its details and rulings.
Abandoning any part of Islam is following in the footsteps of Satan, which leads only to destruction. The corrupt and mischievous claim to abandon some rulings under the pretense of "interest" or "social peace," while God makes it clear to us that abandoning jihad is destruction, and abandoning the teachings of Islam is following a clear enemy.
Closing of the Episode
These were today's six questions, and our brothers from Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, and Morocco have won with us. We ask God, the Almighty, to gather us in the Hereafter under His throne as He has gathered us in this world through this competition. May God bless you and reward you for your follow-up. Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.