Assalamualaikum,
We've all heard Islam being called "rigid", or "not flexible". Some people say that the rules in Islam are so strict, they don't allow any room for leniency or compromise. What most people don't realise is that ALL rules are "rigid". Federal laws, club/society rules, school/university rules. Have you ever come across a law that said its illegal to commit murder, unless the person you kill is a paedophile? Or is there a law that states that robbing a bank is a crime, unless you do it to feed your family? There isn't. All laws are strict and rigid in nature, meaning they are clear, straightforward and unambiguous.
What is acceptable however, is leniency in implementation of the laws. A person who murdered a serial killer out of revenge might be shown leniency with a lighter jail sentence. Being pulled over for speeding might not result in a ticket if you are speeding to get a person to the hospital. In any case, leniency and "bending of the rules" is offered not by the person who is governed by the laws, but by the people who uphold and enforce them. Politicians, judges, policeman, administrative officers, those who create, uphold, and enforce the laws are the ones with the power to bend them, to compromise, or to offer leniency when they see fit.
But why is it then when it comes to Islam, many Muslims see themselves fit to bend the laws according to their own understanding? The laws in Islam come from Allah, and only He has the power to grant leniency. No man can compromise with the laws Allah created.
In fact, He has already granted compromise in several aspects of the religion, like prayer. If you are sick, you can perform the prayers while sitting down, or lying down. If you are travelling, you can combine 2 prayers together and perform jamak. Even one of the pillars of Islam, hajj is only wajib to those who can afford it, not to every single person. We are even allowed to eat pork if there is no other food around to sustain us. If we are sick during Ramadhan and can't fast, we can replace it later when we are healthier. Zakat is not a fixed price which is the same for everyone, it is dependant on our income. Allah has given us so much leniency in Islam, so whoever said Islam is "rigid" obviously doesn't know Islam very well.
Having said that, there are a lot of instances where people "bend" the rules to their own liking. Wearing a tudung but also a tight shirt or tight pants? Eating in restaurants which don't serve pork but serve alcohol? Only covering your aurat during Hari Raya but not the rest of the year? Or how about covering your aurat in public, but posting pictures where you don't on Facebook? This may seem like bending the laws to some people, to me it seems a little disrespectful, like people mock Allah's laws.
When it comes to federal law, the politicians vote to pass new laws or amend old ones. But in Islam, Allah is the sole authority, and He said in the Quran that He has perfected Islam, so who are we to bend His laws?
0 comments:
Post a Comment