They invented monasticism – We did not prescribe it for them – purely out of desire to gain the pleasure of God, but even so they did not observe it as it should have been observed. (Surah al-Hadid, 27)
Bigotry is a system where its followers follow not the religion sent by God, but rather idolatry and innovated rules passed down through generations. Throughout history, the Prophets strove not only against systems of disbelief, but also the bigots and idolaters of their time.
One of the most distinctive qualities of the bigots is that they think that the Prophets are not good enough (Prophets are surely beyond this), and that they don't think that religion can be easy, and therefore they invent new rules and prohibitions which have no relation to the forbiddances that God introduced. This trait of the bigots is described as follows:
Do not say about what your lying tongues describe: ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful,’ inventing lies against God. Those who invent lies against God are not successful –. (Surat an-Nahl, 116)
What is forbidden and what is allowed is clearly defined in the Qur'an. The things that are allowed are countless, in such a way that Muslims can enjoy freedom to the utmost levels according to these boundaries that God set. Our Lord says in one verse that “God desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 185). However, the radicals have a far different mindset in which they believe that the more difficult a religion, the better it is. As a result, they even tell lies about the lives of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and his companions to justify their attempts to make the religion more difficult. They claim that those who don't follow those inaccurate examples will not be helped by Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) in the Hereafter and even go to lengths of declaring such people ‘infidels’. They go so far as to claim that those people who do not follow the religion they invented should be ‘fought against’, as they build a system that imprisons themselves.
Abandoning sunnah muakkadah (the activities that Prophet Mohammed did frequently) is close to doing something unlawful. And such people will not be helped by Prophet Mohammed in the Hereafter. Because Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever abandons my sunnah, he will be deprived of my help’.
About those who abandon the sunnah, Imam Mohammed said that they should be ‘fought against’, and Imam Abu Yusuf said ‘they should be taught manners by punishment’.
Our Ahl al-Sunnah [people of the Sunnah] imams say: if a person is told to clip his nails, and if he refuses to do so with the intent of shunning sunnah, he will be an unbeliever. (Ibn Hajar al-Haytami)
With such words, the bigots frame Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). One should not forget that the sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is the Qur'an and he would never say or do anything that would go against the Qur'an.
One of the worst things about this superstitious system that bigots build is that they don't even follow the system they have forged. They invent bans, prohibitions and rules that have no place in the Qur'an, but they don't follow them, which condemns them to a life of shame and guilt because they know inside how dishonest and insincere they are being. Here are some examples that clearly show the situation they are in:
Bigots claim that laughing is wrong according to religion, but they laugh and make plenty of jokes when they come together
“Laugh little. Because laughing too much kills the heart (hardens it).” (Tirmidhi, Zuhd, 2; Ibn Majah, Zuhd, 19)
“Laughter is evil.” (Belief and Unbelief / Sufficient Methods / Al-Kulayni, S.1068)
“Avoid (excessive) jokes, and humor; because that takes away the life in the faces.” (Belief and Unbelief / Sufficient Methods / Al-Kulayni, S.1068)
However according to the Qur'an, laughing little and unhappiness is a punishment that God gives to hypocrites and idolaters:
Let them laugh little and weep much, in repayment for what they have earned. (Surat at- Tawba, 82)
As for those who are unhappy, they will be in the Fire, where they will sigh and gasp. (Surah Hud, 106)
While that is most certainly the unhappy mood of the bigots, the believers enjoy the beauty of loving God and seeing the blessings He gives and constantly give thanks to Him for them. They feel the comfort and happiness of knowing that everything that God creates is good. As a result, they are happy both in this world and in the Hereafter.
You will recognize in their faces the radiance of delight. (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 24)
Bigots claim that it is wrong for women and men to be in each other’s presence. However, everyday they ride buses and trains with women, keep them company at schools and at work. They talk to each other on the internet, befriend each other.
"If a man and a woman (that is illegitimate for him) are left alone, the third one there will be satan." (Tirmidî passed this on and Albânî said that the hadith is authentic in "Shahil al-Jami’; hadith no: 2165)
Youth is a form of insanity, and women are evil’s trap. (E.Nuaym)
"One of you getting an iron needle stuck in your head is better than him touching a woman (that is not legitimate for him)." (Al-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi, reported they heard it from Ma'qil ibn Yasar and Albani said that this hadith was authentic in ‘Shahil al-Jami'; hadith no: 5045)
They claim that shaking hands with women leads to hell, but they shake hands with women frequently in their workplaces, schools and business meetings.
Those who are shaking hands with women will be put in hell with their hands tied in their neck. Those who speak unnecessarily and with lust, will stay in hell, one thousand years for each word uttered. (R. Nasihin)
They say that it is wrong even to look at a woman in the face, but they spend time together, look them in the face and talk with them, and even joke with them. On television programs, they look women in the face when they talk to them.
When you see a woman (that is not legitimate to you) turn away! Suddenly spotting them is not banned, but turning around to look again will be a sin. (Abu Dawud, Darimi)
The Qur'an does not prohibit women and men from being in each other’s presence: Indeed, in the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), female and male companions took to the battlefield together and made ablution using the same cup. During the pilgrimage, women and men pray together. What God has prohibited is not women and men being in each other’s presence, but only unlawful sexual intercourse.
Indeed, in the story of Joseph in the Qur'an, Prophet Joseph (pbuh) lived in the house of the Egyptian Aziz, where the wife of Aziz was also present, and as a result Prophet Joseph and the wife spent time in the same place. Indeed, Prophet Joseph attended a gathering where the wife of Aziz invited her female friends over and those women couldn't help but taken aback by the striking beauty of Prophet Joseph, to such a great extent they cut themselves in their state of shock while trying to cut fruit. Prophet Joseph would talk to the wife of Aziz, conversed with her in other words, but never accepted having unlawful sexual intercourse with her and strictly avoided that and protected himself from such an action.
The woman whose house it was solicited him. She barred the doors and said, ‘Come over here!’ He said, ‘God is my refuge! He is My lord and has been good to me with where I live. Those who do wrong will surely not succeed.’
She wanted him and he would have wanted her, had he not seen the Clear Proof of his Lord. That happened so We might avert from him all evil and lust. He was Our chosen servant. (Surah Yusuf, 23-24)
But when she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and made a sumptuous meal and then she gave a knife to each of them. She said, ‘Go out to them.’ When they saw him, they were amazed by him and cut their hands. They said, ‘God preserve us! This is no man. What can this be but a noble angel here!’. (Surah Yusuf, 31)
In the story of Prophet Moses (pbuh), the daughters of Prophet Jethro (pbuh) approached Prophet Moses to ask for his help. After Prophet Moses helped them, the daughters took him to their father to introduce him. They told their father that he was a strong and reliable man.
When he arrived at the water of Madyan, he found a crowd of people drawing water there. Standing apart from them, he found two women, holding back their sheep. He said, ‘What are you two doing here?’ They said, ‘We cannot draw water until the shepherds have driven off their sheep. You see our father is a very old man.’
So he drew water for them and then withdrew into the shade and said, ‘My Lord, I am truly in need of any good You have in store for me.’
One of them came walking shyly up to him and said, ‘My father invites you so that he can pay you your wage for drawing water for us.’ When he came to him and told him the whole story he said, ‘Have no fear, you have escaped from wrongdoing people.’
One of them said, ‘Hire him, father. The best person to hire is someone strong and trustworthy.’ (Surat al-Qasas, 23-26)
The Prophet Solomon (pbuh) explained the religion to the Queen of Sheba and spent time with her. Indeed, he had a special courtyard prepared for her, of which the floor resembled a deep pool and when the Queen saw that floor, she thought that she was stepping into water and lifted her skirt up. They were also on first name terms, as she was calling the Prophet Solomon ‘Solomon’.
She was told: ‘Enter the courtyard,’ but when she saw it she supposed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He said, ‘It is a courtyard paved with glass.’ She said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself but I have submitted with Solomon to the Lord of all the worlds.’" (Surat an-Naml, 44)
Our beloved Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) explained Islam to everyone, female or male, during the Festival of Ukaz. Female Muslims were very comfortable in their communication with Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and easily discussed everything with him. Therefore, there is nothing in the Qur'an that discriminates against women, or forbids communicating with them, as the bigots claim.
Bigots claim that paintings are unlawful, but pictures and images embellish the pages of the newspapers, magazines and internet websites they read everyday.
“The painters are the ones that will be punished the most severely in hell.” (Tasawar Bukhari, 89)
"Whoever paints a picture, God will punish him in the judgment day for that picture, until He blows soul into them. And He never blows soul. " (Kutub al-Sittah Hadith No: 2168)
They claim that it is wrong to have one’s pictures taken, but they keep taking their own photos and posting them on social networking websites. They claim that it is wrong to have paintings on walls, but in their houses, workplaces and meetings, the walls are covered in paintings.
Maudidi says: The photographs or posters of the leaders, the photographs of the rallies and protests are never allowed and they are not within the scope of those things that are truly necessary. Especially, the pictures of leaders bring the servants of God closer to the danger, which brought upon the ban on photographs in the first place.
“Those who will be punished the most severely by God, are those who paint (who paint and take pictures).” (Muslim 6:369).
There is not even a single verse in the Qur'an that bans paintings and photography; both of those art forms are beautiful manifestations of God’s art. If a person claims to be God (God is beyond that) and takes or paints a picture with such a delusion, this just shows the disturbed mental state and immorality of that person. Just because a person acts with delusional ideas does not mean that a beauty that can take the art of God to millions should be prevented.
Bigots claim that it is wrong to listen to music, but they do listen to music and share it on Internet. They listen to music in weddings, celebrations, and even dance.
“Whoever listens to a song sung by a singer girl in a musical convention, molten lead will be poured into his ears in the Hereafter.
A person who listens to music will not be allowed to listen to angels in the heaven. (Al-Qurtubi 14/53)
God banned songs, trading of it, money made out of it, teaching it and listening to it. (Al-Ghazali, Nabavi Sunnah)
“Songs cause deviation in heart.” (Abu Dawud)
“Music, songs are like stairway to adultery.”
(Bihar al-Anwar, C.79, S.247)
Music is one of the greatest blessings that God gives to people. This beautiful blessing that speaks to the soul makes believers love God more and get closer to Him. The best music will be in Paradise. If a song has lyrics that are not respectful to religion, of course such lyrics should be tuned out, but this doesn't mean that all music should be banned. There is no verse in the Qur'an that forbids music.
Bigots claim that poetry is illegal, but they recite poems.
“One of you being full of blood, is better than being full of poetry.’ Mishkat al-Masabih 4/4809
Bigots claim that it is wrong to shave beards, but they shave every morning before going to work, and most of them don't have beards
"Cutting off limbs by shaving the hair and beard (according to them, shaving the beard is like cutting off a limb) will find no reward in God’s Sight."
In the book called ‘Al-Manhal al-Azb al-Mawrud’, it is said: ‘Shaving the beard is illegal according to mujtahid [scholars who derive legal rulings] imams who are Abu Hanifa, Imam Maliq, Imam Shafi ve Imam Ahmad and others. All the scholars that are producing rules out of verses and hadiths agree that shaving beards is illegal.” (el-Menhel:1/186-188)
Shaving beard is getting away from the appearance of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Prophet Mohammad never shaved his beard. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was repulsed by the messengers that didn't have any beards. Once, when he saw that messengers from Yemen had no beards, he was repulsed and turned his face away.
Clearly, bigotry is a system that invents prohibitions that are not in religion and the followers of this bigoted system fail to observe these new rules. They build instead a superstitious religion but cannot even follow that, which makes them live in shame and guilt as they view themselves as hypocrites.: That is the reason why they do not sincerely turn to God and religion.
The only way out of this superstitious religion lies in following the Qur'an completely. Whoever follows the Qur'an completely will be saved. Let’s not forget: the religion of God is easy and God does not wish difficulty or oppression for His servants.
Strive for God with the striving due to Him. He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the religion – the religion of your forefather Abraham. He named you Muslims before and also in this, so that the Messenger could be witness against you and you could be witnesses against all mankind. So establish prayer and pay poor-alms and hold fast to God. He is your Protector – the Best Protector, the Best Helper. (Surah al-Hajj, 78)
