What Does Haram Mean Literally? Read This!

Table of Contents

Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “what does haram mean literally?”? 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 two important things about “what does haram mean literally?” which I will explain in this article. Two important things I mean are as follows:

Why Do We Need to Understand Haram Meaning Literally?

The first important point about “what does haram mean literally?” what I will explain now is "why do we need to understand haram meaning literally?". I want you to understand that first before you read more explanations in this article so that you understand the urgency of this discussion and why you should read it to the end.

Before I give you the answer to that question (why do we need to understand haram meaning literally?), I want to say that what is meant by literal meaning is the meaning by letter, word for word, or by lexical meaning. So, the literal meaning is not the meaning intended in certain scientific discourses.

In simple terms, I want to say that we need to understand the literal meaning of haram for two reasons:

• Because there is a difference in the literal meaning of haram and the meaning of haram in Islam, especially in Islamic jurisprudence.

For example, literally, prayer is prayer. But according to Sharia or Islamic law, prayers are sayings and movements that begin with Takbir Ihram and end with Salaam.

Another example, in Arabic, Hajj is to go to something great (قَصْدُ الشَّيْءِ الْمُعَظَّمِ). But in its literal sense, Hajj is Going to the Baitullah al-Haram to perform some special rituals (قَصْدُ بَيْتِ اللهِ الْحَرَامِ لِأَدَاءِ مَنَاسِكَ مَخْصُوْصَةٍ). While the meaning of Hajj in Sharia or Islamic law is to go to a certain place at a certain time with the aim of performing Hajj rituals after Ihram (زِيَارَةُ مَكَانٍ مُعَيَّنٍ، فِيْ زَمَنٍ مُعَيَّنٍ، بِنِيَّةِ أَدَاءِ مَنَاسِكَ الْحَجِّ بَعْدَ الْإِحْرَامِ لَهَا).

• Because there is a meaning of haram in Islam it is not always what is meant in every saying and writing about it.

That is a brief explanation of why do we need to understand haram meaning literally?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

What Does Haram Mean Literally?

The second important point about “what does haram mean literally?” what I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. So, I really hope you guys read the explanation below very well.

Before I give you the answer to that question (what does haram mean literally?), I want to say that haram is one of the Arabic words. The writing is حَرَامٌ or الحَرَامُ.

Literally, the meaning of haram is as follows:

Something not to do or not to do

We can find an explanation of that in the sentence “الزِّنَا حَرَامٌ” which means “Zina is haram”.

In general, we can find 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 do it, gambling is something bad, and so on.

We can find some examples in some of the Quranic verses below:

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 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).

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 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).

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).

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).

Something noble

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

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).

That's a brief explanation of "what does haram mean literally?" 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!