God’s Commandment on Idolaters

God’s Commandment on Idolaters

1989 12 December 7 God’s Commandment on Idolaters (317)

A Serious Misinterpretation

It is said in the Quran that pork is najas, unclean. It is also said in the Quran that idolaters are najas, again meaning unclean. Because the word najas is common to both dogmas, it has been construed to apply equally to the pig and the idolater. That is, it has been taken to mean that just as the pig is physically unclean, so also is the idolater. It has even been claimed that if a Muslim shakes hands with an idolater, he must immediately wash his hands and purify himself by performing his ablutions.1

This interpretation is not, however, correct. Although the word najas is common to both verses, it has to be applied with discretion according to the context. “The pig is unclean” means quite simply that the pig is bodily unclean. But, “The idolater is unclean” means that the beliefs of the idolater are unacceptable. So far as the lack of cleanliness of an idolater’s body is concerned, the opinion of the majority is that neither the body nor the being of the idolater is unclean. That is why it is permissible to eat the food prepared by the people of the book.2

Abdur Rahman Aljazairi writes, “The words of the Quran that the idolaters are unclean means that they are unclean in spirit, as interpreted by Shari’. “It does not follow that the body of the idolater is unclean in the way that the body of the pig is.3

The Truth is that if Muslims make an issue of such matters, it is because of their lack of missionary zeal. When other communities are considered mad’u it is quite acceptable to form close ties with them. But when they are not considered mad’u they become objects to be avoided.

Notes:

1. Ibn Kathir, Tafseer, vol. II, p. 346.

2. Ibid, vol. II, p. 346.

3. Al-Figh Atal Mazahib AI-Arab’a, part I, p. 6.

Never delay the payment of wages.

1989 12 December 7 Never delay the payment of wages. (18) Abdullah ibn Umar records the Prophet as saying, “Pay a labourer his wages before his sweat has dried.”