ORIGINS OF HALAL AND HARAM

FAEZ: The concept of what can be done and what cannot be carried out has been known to mankind since ancient time. However, in the rules and regulations revealed prior to the era of Prophet Muhammad, there were some prohibitions and permissions which were legislated for a temporary period, in relation to the specific conditions of the people at that point of time. Over very long period, certain unconfirmed source estimated about 150 thousand years, these so called rules and regulations had undergone a lot of changes made by mankind themselves.

AKHTAR: Certain changes had gone very far astray and were utterly confused, and permitting many harmful actions. The people disobeyed what were preached by their respective Prophets. They (the people) permitted the drinking of alcohol, taking usury at exorbitant rates, torturing and raping women, etc.

TEGUH: The confusion of halal and haram were very widespread. One of Islam’s initial accomplishments was to establish certain measures to rectify this confusion. This was the fundamental mission of all Prophets. Islam introduced the shari’ah law which main aim is to remove from human beings harmful customs and superstitious. Ultimately it will simplify and ease the business of day-to-day living. It is a system whose primary objective is for the good of mankind to submit to the Will and Guidance of Allah.

MULIA: Good intention and how honourable the purpose is, does not make the haram acceptable. However, there is a grey area between the clearly halal and the clearly haram, it is the area of what is doubtful. Some people, because of their limited knowledge, may not be able to decide whether a particular matter is permissible or forbidden.

AKHTAR: If we face this kind of situation, then Muslim should avoid doing what is doubtful in order to stay clear of doing something haram. Such a cautious approach is to remind the Muslims to enhance their knowledge about their own religion, that is Islam.

FAEZ: Islam is a religion of knowledge. Super recognition is given to any Muslims who are knowledgeable, and perform whatever they preached.