Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Ismail Yurdakok
ismailyurdakok@gmail.com
Summary
“And they say: “What sort of Prophet is this? He eats food and he walks in
markets...”(Chapter of Furqan,verse,7). All of the prophets were in the
market(place)s,they were not ignore from the trading/business life. “And We never
sent prophets befor you (O Muhammad),who did not eat food,and walk in the
markets...(Furqan,20) Although human kind was not sent to this world only eating
and drinking (but to worship to God) but God did not put a lot of prohibitions in
eating and drinking: “O Prophet! Why do you forbid that which Allah (God) has made
lawful to you,..” (Tahreym,1); “(He (God) has forbidden for you only carrion,blood
and the meat of of pork;also any (meat) consecrated in the name of any but
Allah...”(Nahl,115).Allah also had permitted the eating of all things in paradise
for Adam,except one: “(Then Allah commanded): “O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in
the Paradise,and eat as you wish,but come not near to this tree,lest you become
wrongdoers.”(A’raf,19) The command of Allah “(Do not approach to this tree) in our
time is alcoholic drinks,pork for muslims that only a few things.We do not see
“Dietism of Indian ” (like in some spiritualists of India)or “Dietism or
vegetarianism of western world” in Islamic resources.Eating from different foods
is not a sin in Islam.From this (consumption)viewpoint there is an active
circulation in the Islamic markets.
TO EAT FRUITS
Eating different kinds of fruits is not a sin for muslims. “(In the paradise)
Their fruits will resemble what had been given them before (in the world)..
(Baqara,25) “And thereby He (Allah) brings up for you corn,olives,date-
palms,grapes and every kind of fruit..”Nahl,11)
We have to notice that Islamic state have to permit to import of some foods from
the other countries that this trading will serve to mutual trading in
international markets.Olive oil was an imported food in that days but it was
encouraged in Quran: “And a tree that sprouts (grows) on Mount Sinai that yields
oil and relish for the eaters.(Mu’memun,20)
There are 32 verses about animal husbandry in Quran that the consumption of meat
and diary products and juice (industry) are incouraged:
“And in cattle (too) you have a lesson.We (God) give you to drink of that which is
in their bellies,between bowels and blood,pure milk,palatable for those who
drink.”(Nahl,66)
“And of the fruits of the date-palm and grapes from which you drive drink and
(also) good nourishment.Surely in this there is a sign for a people who use their
intelligence.”(Nahl,67)
And encouragement of eating honey: “...There comes forth out of their (bee)
bellies a fluid of many hues,wherein is healing for mankind...”(Nahl,69) We know
honey is a rich source of nourishment it also helps to protect the body against
disease.And consumption of fruits, vegetables,olive,meat,milk,cheese,honey are
sources of jobs for unemployeds.
“O you who believe! Forbid not the good things which Allah has made lawful for
you,and do not transgress...” “Eat of that which Allah has bestowed on you as food
lawful and fear from Allah (to do wrong acts)...(Maedah,87-8) A famous event
that,the companions Ali,Ibn Mas’ud,Meqdad (R.A) gathered together at the home of
Uthman ıbn Maz’un,and resolved to fast every day,to pray throughout every night,to
renounce sexual relations,to renounce meat,and to wear shabby clothes for the
remainder of their lives.When the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) heard about this he
immediately came to visit them,saying: “Your body has rights over you,and your eye
has rights over you,and your wife has rights over you.You should fast and pray,but
also eat and sleep.I pray some of the time,and I also sleep;I fast,and I break my
fast; I eat meat, and I have relations with my wives.He who leaves my way,he is
not of me.”(Bukhari,K.Nekah) It was in this connection that the above two verses
were revealed.
In an another event the Prophet had permitted to take secretly of her
(miser)husband’s store that Hind (a woman companion) had asked this, for spend
for his/her children,the Prophet said: “Take for your and your cildren’s need
according the common usage”(Bukhari,K.Buyu)
Allah wants to thank/to pray to Him (and not to do wrong acts) after we eat His
sustenance:
“O Prophets! Eat of the wholesome (and lawful) things,and act with
righteousness,..”(Mumenun,51); “So eat of the lawful and good things which Allah
has provided for you,and give thanks for His favours,..(Nahl,114;Baqara,172)) “(We
(God) said to the Children of Israel) “Eat and drink of that which Allah has
provided,and do not make mischief in the earth.” (Baqara,60) “And when We (Allah)
said, “Go into this town (Jerusalem) and eat where as you wish.Make your way
through the gates by bowing down,saying: “We repent.” We (Allah) shall forgive
your sins..”(Baqara,58)
WEARING GOOD CLOTHES,JEWELLERY
RAISING OF PROHIBITIONS
One of the main characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad is :
“...He (Muhammad) makes lawful for them all good things and prohibits for them
(only) the foul...”(A’raf,157) Allah did not prohibit a lot of foods also for
former nations but : “All food was lawful to the children of Israel except what
Israel forbade himself before the Torah was revealed..”(Al Emran,93)
TO LIVE IN PALACES
TOURISM
To be a big boss is permissible in Islam.Even he/she can has got trillion dollars
when he/she gives the zakat.Allah does not condemn Qarun (Korah)for his big wealth
even Allah gave this huge wealth to him,but he was condemned for his proud
behaviors:
“We (Allah) gave him (Qarun) so much treasure that the keys thereof would verily
have been a burden for a troop of mighty men.When his nation said to him: Do not
be arrogant;Allah does not love the arrogant.” (Qasas,76) The word “troop”(“usbah”
in original text) of verse: a body of men,here used indefinitely.It usually
implies a body of 10 to 40 men. The old-fashioned keys were big and heavy,and if
there were hundreds of treasure chests,the keys must have been a great
weight.There are/were five principles for Qarun (and the other rich men) in the
same verses:
(1) “Do not be arrogant”
(2) “Seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah has given you”
(3) “And Do not forget your portion from the world”,
(4) “Make goodness as Allah has made for you”
(5) “Do not seek corruption in the earth” (Qasas,76-7)
That is, spend your wealth in charity and good works.Nor should you forget the
legitimate needs of this life,as misers do,and most people become misers who think
too exclusively of their wealth.
Destroying reason for Qarun (and the other rich men):
“He (Qarun) said: “I have been given it (this huge wealth) only for my
knowledge...” (Qasas,78) (I earned with a knowledge of I possess) The rich
men/women that has got savings he/she should not forget that Allah gave this
wealth to him/her.There are a lot of
intelligent/owner of knowledge men in cities or villages have not any wealth in
the world.
NOT TO SAY...
In the following verses of Chapter of Kahf, another man, a good rich man (owner of
garden) is mentioned with good sentences.
In the time of the Prophet Muhammad,to have a (one) camel was an indicator of a
man that he was at least from middle class.A lot of companions of the Prophet,had
got (only) one camel even some of them had not got one sheep,even some of them,had
not got one hen.But Uthman RA had got 700 camels and a lot of burden trading goods
on these seven hundred camels before Tabuk war.Although Uthman gave his wealth to
the Islamic Army but the Prophet did not put a limit for his wealth.Historians
Mas’udey,Ibn Saad, Ibn Keseyr say, especially in the time of Uthman’s
administration,the companions had got a lot of wealth and land.Uthman RA had got
150,000 denar (gold coins) and one million derham (silver coins) when he was
killed.Zubayr had got 400,000 denar, 1,000 horse,and 11 houses in Madina, 6 houses
in Basra, 1 house in Kufa and a trading house in Basra.Talha’s daily income from
Iraq was 1,000 denar.Abdurrahman had got 84,000 denar, 1,000 horse, 1,000 Camel,
10,000 sheep when he died.Zayd b. Sabet left a wealth of 100,000 denar.Abdullah
b. Umar’s overcoat was a value of 500 derham and Abdullah b.Abbas’s overcoat was
1,000. (1)
Hajr is to place the legally incompetent person under the care of a guardian.It is
a precaution against much (over)consumption.The majority of the Islamic jurists
say:Islamic law can prohibits the deeds of spendthrift (prodigal) and put him/her
under restraint and Islamic judge appoints a man in charge of properties of
spendthrift.This man gives enough money for spendthrift’s living conditions:
“Do not give the weak of understanding the property which Allah has given you to
maintain,but cloth them from it,and speak kindly to them”(Nisa,5).Also for
orphans,there is a precaution against over consumption;
“Put orphans to the test until they reach the age of marriage;then,if you find
them sound judgement,deliver over to them their property...”(Nisa,6)
BURIED TREASURES
Quran has not prohibited to accumulate the savings (also when we give its zakat):
“As for the wall,it belonged to two orphan boys in the city.There was beneath it a
(buried) treasure belonging to whom,and their father had been righteous
man...”(Kahf,82)
Fearing the dishonesty of the wicked townsmen,the children’s father had buried
their ihheritance so that they could recover it when they came of age.Quran did
not condemned this behaviour even the word “saleh: righteous” was used this
father.
GREEDIES
“And when you (O Children of Israel) said. “O Moses! We can not endure only one
kind of food,so call on your God to give us some of the varied produce of the
earth,green herbs,cucumbers,garlic, lentils and onions ! He (Moses) said “Would
you exchange that which is higher for that which is lower ? Go down to the settled
country.There you shall obtain what you have asked for.”(Baqara,61) The Prophet
had said: “Muslim eats for to fill one bowel but disbeliever eats to fill for
seven bowels.”(Muslim,K.Ashrebah; Muwatta,K.Sefat-al Nabey) Although there are
some greedy muslims and sometimes we see some disbelievers eat very few but as a
general tradition and a characteristics, muslims do not eat very much.Caliph Umar
used to say (frequently) : “(You should) Avoid to eat meat.Because there is a
habitual in meat like in wine” (Muwatta’,K.Sefat-al Nabey) .One day,Umar saw Jaber
b. Abdullah that Jaber was going and there was a meat in the hand of Jaber.Umar
said “What is this?” Jaber: “O Ameyr- al Mumeneyn(Head of State) I wanted to eat
meat very eagerly (I rared) that’s why I bought some meat with one derham.” Umar
said: “Do not you want to eat less and to offer some food to your neighbour or to
son of your uncle (relatives) and Umar recited this verse: “...it will be said to
them: “You have
exhausted your share of the good things in your life of the world and sought
comfort in them...”(Ahqaf,20) (Muwatta’,K.Sefat-al Nebey) Although Umar did not
said “Meat is forbidden” but he wanted to remind not to eat frequently and to eat
cheaper foods to follow the economy.
Consumption in eating became a big problem for especially new generations in the
world.The number of obeses increased 400 % in Englang in last 25 years.Obesity
increased 3 times among childeren and youngs in last 20 years.Habit of
overnutrition
causes the diseases in heart,veins,kidneys and different psychological illness.The
British government spends $ 9 billion for the problems of obesity.An estimate:
after 15 years, 50 % of British children and youngs will be obeses.The House of
Common established a committee for the investigate of obesity problems.(2) Even in
western world some news encourages the obesity:
Prophet Joseph encouraged to accumulate the corns for the future scarcity
years“
“He (Joseph) said: “You shall sow,as usual,for seven years.Leave in the ear
the corn you
reap,except a little which you may eat.Then will come after that seven years
of severity,
which will consume all but a little of that which you have stored for them”
(Yusuf,47-8)
This verse also points muslims should follow recent indicators in economy and
they have
to think (follow) the impact of weather conditions on corns etc.And Islamic
state and
charity foundations like Red Crescent etc. have to store corns,food for
disasters and
probable scarcities.The Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) used to store his family
needings for
one year.(Muslim,K.Jehad wa-s Seyar,B.15,Had:49)
EVEN IN CHARITY
CONCLUSION
Professor of Economics of MIT Paul Krugman notes the cahracteristics of East Asean
development:“very high savings rate: Malaysia was doing investment in 1997 more
than 40 % of its GDP and Singapore half of its GDP (8) Umar Chapra mentiones: “In
reaching to high savings rate,Singapore and Hong Kong imitated Japans.In 1987,
total savings had recahed to 40 % in Singapore (39.9 %). These high rates were in
South Korea 37.6 %,Taiwan 37.0 %, Japan 33.4 %, Hong Kong 30.7 %, (but) Latin
America States 19.8 %, Middle East and North Africa 17.0 % (9)
“And those who,when they expend,neither squander,nor are parsimonious, but keep
staright between the two.” (Furqan,67) A nation should not be addicted to
demonstration effect.Demonstration effect is the biggest obstacle to
savings.Muslims are the men of thinking.Quran enjoined them to think on the
social/economic/cultural problems.Muslims have to think/search how the other
nations have developed.And then, they should take out a good prescription with the
support of Islamic teachings.