Muharramat: Forbidden Matters Some People Take Lightly

Written by Luqman Nagy, My Turkish Travels comprises of the diary entries of a young Hungarian artist named László who traveled to Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1882. The time he spent in Turkey changed his life forever. In this book, the readers can admire László’s wonderful watercolour paintings and read the personal diary entries he writes at the end of each day.

These two treatises deal with the issue of trials and tribulation, extremely essential for every Muslim especially in the times that we are living in today. People often see, and hear of, the believers being afflicted with adversity and tribulation, and conversely they often see, and hear of the disbelievers attaining leadership and wealth in this world. This leads them to mistakenly believe that well-being in this world is only reserved for the disbelievers. A believer may face many trials and tribulations that test his faith, patience and endurance. In a world full of conflict and war, with many also suffering from personal and family problems, shaytan causes a person to question many things. If a Muslim is tried with a difficulty, then the reasons for this are many – including one’s own sin, which arise from leaving something obligated in Islam or comitting an act that is prohibited. Trials are also a means of Allaah purifying and aiding His servants, ennobling them and granting well-being through His Wisdom. The most severely of those who were tried were the Prophets and then those closest to them in following their guidance.

Whatever has been prohibited in the Qur’an and the Sunnah is for a good reason. Every Muslim is commanded to learn his or her religion, and being aware of these prohibitions is part of that essential knowledge. The Qur’an and the Sunnah enjoin virtuous behaviour, and any actions they prohibit are destructive deeds that a Muslim should avoid. In Prohibitions in Islam, Shaykh Muhammad Sâlih al-Munajjid explains that Allah Almighty and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) have prohibited everything that contains any sort of harm or evil. These prohibitions vary in their degree of evil: they are either forbidden or detestable, and a practicing Muslim should avoid both kinds.