Knowledge of Halal & Haram

1. Introduction

• Definition of Halal and Haram:
  • Halal: Permissible actions and things in Islam.
  • Haram: Forbidden actions and things in Islam.
• Importance of Understanding Halal and Haram:
  • Guidance for living a righteous life.
  • Impact on both this world and the hereafter.

2. Categories of Halal and Haram

A. Speech

• Halal Speech:
  • Speaking the truth, spreading knowledge, and reciting Quran.
  • Quranic Verse: “And speak to people good words” (Quran 2:83).
  • Hadith: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent” (Sahih Bukhari).
• Haram Speech:
  • Lying, backbiting, slander, and spreading falsehood.
  • Quranic Verse: “And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge” (Quran 17:36).
  • Hadith: “Backbiting is to mention your brother in a manner which he dislikes” (Sahih Muslim).

B. Food and Drink

• Halal Food and Drink:
  • Permissible foods include fruits, vegetables, grains, halal meat.
  • Quranic Verse: “O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you” (Quran 2:172).
• Haram Food and Drink:
  • Pork, alcohol, animals not slaughtered in the name of Allah.
  • Quranic Verse: “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine” (Quran 5:3).

C. Financial Transactions

• Halal Financial Practices:
  • Honest trade, paying zakat, fulfilling contracts.
  • Quranic Verse: “Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest” (Quran 2:275).
• Haram Financial Practices:
  • Riba (usury/interest), gambling, fraud.
  • Quranic Verse: “O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest” (Quran 2:278).

D. Relationships

• Halal Relationships:
  • Marital relationships, family ties, community bonds.
  • Quranic Verse: “And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves” (Quran 30:21).
• Haram Relationships:
  • Adultery, fornication, unjust severing of family ties.
  • Quranic Verse: “And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse” (Quran 17:32).

E. Clothing and Adornment

• Halal Clothing:
  • Modest clothing that covers the awrah.
  • Quranic Verse: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest” (Quran 24:30-31).
• Haram Clothing:
  • Extravagant, revealing, or clothing of the opposite gender.
  • Prohibition of Gold and Silk for Men:
    • Gold:
      • Hadith: “Gold and silk have been permitted for the females of my Ummah and forbidden for the males” (Sunan an-Nasa’i).
    • Silk:
      • Hadith: “The Prophet (ﷺ) took silk in his right hand and gold in his left, and then he said: ‘These two are haram for the males of my community’” (Sunan Abi Dawood).

F. Acts of Worship

• Halal Acts of Worship:
  • Prayers, fasting, charity, Hajj.
  • Quranic Verse: “O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good – that you may succeed” (Quran 22:77).
• Haram Acts of Worship:
  • Innovations (bid’ah), idolatry (shirk).
  • Quranic Verse: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that” (Quran 4:48).

G. Ethics and Morality

• Halal Ethics and Morality:
  • Honesty, integrity, compassion.
  • Hadith: “The best of you are those who have the best manners and character” (Sahih Bukhari).
• Haram Ethics and Morality:
  • Deceit, oppression, cruelty.
  • Quranic Verse: “Do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption” (Quran 2:205).

3. Virtues of Following Halal

• Spiritual and Physical Well-being:
  • Quranic Verse: “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life” (Quran 16:97).
  • Hadith: “Halal is clear and haram is clear; between them are doubtful matters about which not many people know” (Sahih Bukhari).
• Rewards in the Hereafter:
  • Hadith: “Whoever avoids the doubtful matters has protected his religion and his honour” (Sahih Muslim).

4. Warnings of Falling into Haram

• Spiritual and Physical Consequences:
  • Quranic Verse: “And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error” (Quran 33:36).
  • Hadith: “Every intoxicant is haram. Allah has made a covenant regarding those who drink intoxicants to make them drink from the mud of Khabal” (Sahih Muslim).
• Punishment in the Hereafter:
  • Quranic Verse: “But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those are the companions of Hellfire” (Quran 5:10).
  • Hadith: “The one who severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise” (Sahih Muslim).

5. Conclusion

• Summary of Key Points:
  • Importance of adhering to halal and avoiding haram.
  • Benefits in both this world and the hereafter.
• Encouragement to Seek Knowledge:
  • Continuous learning and consulting knowledgeable scholars.
  • Quranic Verse: “And say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge’” (Quran 20:114).