The Physical, Moral and Spiritual States of Man (part 6)

(continued)

Natural States of Man

We shall now proceed to set forth the first of the three reforms which is inculcated by the Holy Quran and which is related to the natural state of man. This reform relates to what are known  as good manners, that  is  to say, the  code that  regulates  the natural conditions of barbarians, like eating, drinking, marriage, etc., and establishes them at a just level of social values and rescues them from an animal existence. In this context the Holy Quran ordains:

by your wives with whom you have consorted, but if you have consorted not with them, it shall be no sin upon you, and the wives of your sons, from your loins.  You are  also  forbidden  to join two sisters together in marriage; but what has passed has passed.

It is not lawful for you to inherit from women against their will.

It is not lawful for you to marry women whom your fathers had married, except that which happened in the past.

Lawful for you are chaste believing women andchaste women from among those who were given the Book before you, when you give them their dowers, contracting valid marriages, not committing fornication, nor taking secret paramours. In the time of ignorance some of the Arabs who were childless permitted their wives to consort with someone else for the purpose of having a child. The Holy  Quran forbade this practice. The expression taking secret paramours has reference to this practice. Then it is said: Destroy not yourselves; and slay not your progeny. Do not enter houses, other  than  your own, freely  like barbarians, until you have obtained leave, and when you have obtained leave and enter, greet the inmates with the salutation of peace. If you find no one therein, then enter not until leave is given to you. If you are told by the inmates to go back then go back.

Do not enter houses by scaling over their walls;enter them through the doors.

When you are greeted with a salutation greet with a better salutation.

Liquor,  gambling, idols and divining  arrows are but abominations and Satanic devices. So turn wholly away from each one of them.

Forbidden to you is the flesh of a dead animal, and blood, and the flesh of swine; and that on which the name of someone other than Allah is invoked and the flesh of an animal that has been strangled or is beaten to death or is killed by a fall, or is gored to death, and of which a wild animal has eaten and that which has been slaughtered at an altar, for they are all carrion. If they ask thee what is lawful for them, tell them: All good things are lawful for you. Refrain from that which is carrion or resembles carrion or is unclean.

When you are asked to make room for others in your assemblies then hasten to make room so that others might be seated; and when you are asked to

rise up, then rise up without delay. Eat of all that is lawful and wholesome like meat, vegetables and pulses etc. but do not be immoderate in any respect.

Do not talk at random and talk to the point.

Keep your raiment clean and your bodies and your streets and the places where you sit. Take frequent baths and cultivate the habit of keeping your homes neat and tidy.

Moderate your voice and speak not with a loud voice nor whisper and, except when needed otherwise, walk at a moderate pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

When you go on a journey,  make all preparation and take necessary provisions so as to avoid having to beg. When you consort with your spouses, purify yourselves by bathing.

When you eat give out of your food to him who asks and also to dogs and other animals and birds.

There is no harm in your marrying orphan girls who are under your care, but if you apprehend that you may not be fair in dealing with them because they  are  orphans,  then  marry  women  who have parents and relations to be watchful of them, who would respect you and concerning whom you would be careful. You may marry two or three or four of them provided  you can deal  equitably with all of them. But if you feel that you may not deal justly between them then marry only one, even if you should feel the need of more than one. The limit of four is imposed lest you should be inclined towards marrying a larger number  amounting to hundreds according to your old custom and so that you should not incline towards illicit  indulgence. Hand over to your wives their dowers freely.

( to be continued)

Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmat 
The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam (English translation: Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan),

Islam International Publications Ltd., Printed in UK 2010, p. 32-40

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29. Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your fathers’ sisters, and your mothers’ sisters, and brother’s daughters, and sister’s daughters, and your foster-mothers that have given you suck, and your foster-sisters, and the mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters, who are your wards by your wives unto whom you have gone in—but  if you have not gone in unto them, there shall be no sin upon you—and the wives of your sons that are from your loins; and it is forbidden to you to have two sisters together in marriage, except what has already passed; (The Holy Quran, an-Nisa’ 4:24)

30. It is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will; (The Holy Quran, an-Nisa’ 4:20)

31. And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what has already passed. (The Holy Quran, an-Nisa’ 4:23)

32. Good things have been made lawful for you … And lawful for you are chaste believing women and chaste women from among those who were given  the  Book before  you,  when  you  give  them  their  dowries, contracting valid marriage and not committing fornication nor taking secret paramours. (The Holy Quran, al-Ma’idah 5:6)