How Do You Explain Haram in Islam? Read This!

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Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “how do you explain haram in Islam?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!

Specifically, there are three important things about “how do you explain haram in Islam?” which I will explain in this article. The three important things I mean are as follows:

Literal Definition of Haram

The first important thing about “how do you explain haram in Islam?” what I will explain now is the literal definition of haram. I want you to understand that first before you read more explanations in this article because that is the basic thing in this discussion that must be understood well.

Before I explain the literal definition of haram, I want to say that haram is an Arabic word. The writing is حَرَامٌ or الحَرَامُ. In general, the literal definition of haram is as follows:

Something noble

We can find an explanation of that in the sentence “المَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ” which means a glorified mosque or “البَيْتُ الحَرَامُ ” which means a glorified house.

We can find an example in the following Quranic verse:

سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِيْٓ اَسْرٰى بِعَبْدِهٖ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ اِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْاَقْصَا الَّذِيْ بٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنْ اٰيٰتِنَاۗ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 1).

Prohibition or something that should not be done

We can find an explanation of that in the sentence “ السَّرِقَةُ حَرَامٌ ” which means “stealing is haram or not allowed”.

We can find explanations that something is haram if we hear words or see writings that have the meaning of prohibition or that explain that something is very bad, such as: don't steal, adultery is something bad, and so on.

We can find some examples of haram or something that should not be done in some of the verses of the Quran below:

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى الْاَرْضِ مَرَحًاۚ اِنَّكَ لَنْ تَخْرِقَ الْاَرْضَ وَلَنْ تَبْلُغَ الْجِبَالَ طُوْلًا

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 37).

وَيَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيْضِ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ اَذًىۙ فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاۤءَ فِى الْمَحِيْضِۙ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوْهُنَّ حَتّٰى يَطْهُرْنَ ۚ فَاِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوْهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ اَمَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." (Al-Baqarah [2]: 222).

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكٰرٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوْا مَا تَقُوْلُوْنَ وَلَا جُنُبًا اِلَّا عَابِرِيْ سَبِيْلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُوْا ۗوَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَاۤءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاۤءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُوْرًا

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. (An-Nisa’ [4]: 43).

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْٓا اَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ اِمْلَاقٍۗ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَاِيَّاكُمْۗ اِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًٔا كَبِيْرًا

And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 31).

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوْا مَالَ الْيَتِيْمِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ حَتّٰى يَبْلُغَ اَشُدَّهٗۖ وَاَوْفُوْا بِالْعَهْدِۖ اِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔوْلًا

And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 33).

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِيْ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّۗ وَمَنْ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوْمًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهٖ سُلْطٰنًا فَلَا يُسْرِفْ فِّى الْقَتْلِۗ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ مَنْصُوْرًا

And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in [the matter of] taking life. Indeed, he has been supported [by the law]. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 33).

That's a brief explanation of the literal definition of haram. As Muslims, we must understand that.

Definition of Haram in Sharia

The second important point about “how do you explain haram in Islam?” what I will explain now is the definition of haram in Sharia. I want you to understand that now because you will have a good understanding of the topic of this discussion if you understand it well.

If we read some Islamic legal literature on haram in Sharia, we will find an explanation that the definition of haram in Sharia is as follows:

مَا يُثَابُ تَارِكُهُ اِمْتِثَالاً ، وَيَسْتَحِقُّ الْعِقَابَ فَاعِلُهُ

Something that if left by someone, then that person will get a reward and if he does, then he he will punished.

مَا طَلَبَ الشَّارِعٌ تَرْكُهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْحَتْمِ وَالْإِلْزَامِ

Something that Shari' (Allah and Prophet Muhammad) requires to be abandoned for sure.

That is a brief explanation of the definition of haram in Sharia. As Muslims, we must understand that.

How Do You Explain Haram in Islam?

The third important point about “how do you explain haram in Islam?” what I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. So, I really hope you guys read the explanation below very well.

In simple terms, I want to say that if you want to explain haram in Islam, we have to explain a few things as follows:

• You have to explain the literal definition of haram.
• You have to explain the definition of haram in Sharia.
• You must explain the fatal consequences of doing something unlawful.
• You have to explain the basis of the argument (Qur'anic verses, hadith, or the opinion of Islamic jurists) that this is haram in Islam.

But if you want to explain that something is haram in Islam, there are two important things you have to explain:

• You have to explain the fatal consequences if you do something like that.
• You have to explain the basis of the argument (Qur'anic verses, hadith, or Islamic jurisprudence), that something is haram.

That's a brief explanation of "how do you explain haram in Islam?" and some important things about it. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article!