This excerpt is taken from Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi's book Halal and Haram in Islam, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Tahir Naqqash Sahib.
Special permission from the author for the publication of the book:
Special permission from the author of the book, Allama Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, may Allah have mercy on him, for the publication of the Urdu edition of __ARABIC_0.
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To proceed! Respected brother Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi Salafi, may Allah have mercy on him, requested my permission for the Urdu translation of my book "Al-Halal wal-Haram fi al-Islam" and its publication under the auspices of "Al-Dar al-Salafiya" Bombay so that our Indian Muslim brothers could also benefit from this important book. I did not hesitate at all to grant him this permission and fulfill his enthusiasm and eagerness because our Indian Muslim brothers had this right over us, also because we Arab Muslims have greatly benefited from the scholarly efforts of the scholars of India and their contributions to Islamic knowledge, especially in the service of the Prophetic Sunnah. Also, the number of Muslims in India is not small enough to be neglected; rather, they currently represent the second largest Islamic society in the world. Therefore, there should be no language barrier between us and them. It is the duty of Islamic scholars and thinkers not to let differences of homeland and language hinder the exchange of ideas and thoughts in any way. Especially now, when the distances between countries and governments have shrunk, indeed, according to a contemporary thinker, our present world has become like one large settlement.
If this is the state of the whole world, then why should the condition of the Islamic world and especially Muslims not change? Moreover, it is the will and desire of Allah the Most Generous that Muslims live as one Ummah and remain united forever in thought and consciousness.
Finally, I am also grateful to my brother Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, and all his brothers and supporters who cooperated in the translation and publication of this book. My prayer is that Allah Almighty grants those who read this book the ability to benefit from it, rewards everyone with goodness, and that this book becomes a means of my forgiveness and divine pleasure. My prayers and good wishes reach all Indian Muslim brothers from me. وصلى الله عليه محمد واله وصحبه اجمعين
The restrictions of Taqlid cause the halt of research work:
The author of this book, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, may Allah have mercy on him, is a distinguished scholar of Qatar, a prominent author and researcher in the Arab world, and a well-known figure in the Islamic world. He has authored valuable, high-caliber, and scholarly books such as "Al-Halal wal-Haram fi al-Islam" and "Fiqh al-Zakat."
The present book is the Urdu translation of his work "Al-Halal wal-Haram." In this book, the learned author has discussed the important issues of permissibility and prohibition with great excellence and in a very well-reasoned manner, highlighting the wisdom and benefits behind the Shariah rulings. He has also thoroughly discussed contemporary issues that Muslims face, where questions of permissibility or impermissibility arise, expressing his views while avoiding excess and negligence.
The true benefit of the book can only be appreciated by studying it; however, some opinions of renowned scholars are presented here:
◈ Maulana Abu al-Ala Maududi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"I consider this book an important addition to my library."
◈ The expert jurist Ustad Mustafa Zarqa, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"Obtaining this book is necessary for every Muslim family. The truth is that the author has fulfilled a collective obligation on behalf of Muslims through this book."
◈ The Syrian writer Ustad Ali Tantawi, may Allah have mercy on him, introduced this book into the curriculum of the College of Shariah in Makkah.
◈ The principal of the College of Shariah in Damascus, Ustad Muhammad al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote a foreword for it.
◈ Punjab University, Lahore, has included this book in the M.A. syllabus.
◈ The references of the hadiths mentioned in this book were compiled by the famous Syrian muhaddith Sheikh Nasiruddin al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him.
The learned author has clearly presented his viewpoint in the preface of the book, summarized as follows:
In the present time, there are two groups discussing Islam. One group is dazzled by the glitter of Western civilization. These people stand respectfully, ready to offer sacrifices and tributes before this idol. They are so satisfied with the principles of the West and its imitation that they see no need to debate the matter. If by chance a point of Western civilization is supported by Islam, they begin to praise it; if it contradicts Islam, they resort to interpretation and distortion. It is as if it is settled that one must bow down before Western civilization. In their view, halal is what the West has declared halal, and haram is what the West has declared haram. They forget that Islam is the word of Allah, and the word of Allah is always exalted and worthy of following.
The second group is rigidly fixed on a particular opinion regarding halal and haram issues. They follow only the literal words and phrases of the texts and believe that this is the true Islam. They are not ready to deviate even slightly from their opinion, nor are they willing to examine their views and sect through arguments and compare them with others’ arguments to accept the truth that emerges. They, in their view, easily declare many things haram and forget the method of the pious predecessors who did not apply the term haram except to those things whose prohibition was definite. For other matters, they used terms like disliked or undesirable.
I have tried not to belong to either group. I do not want to make the West my deity while I have accepted Islam as my religion. Nor do I like to blindly follow any particular sect in jurisprudential matters regardless of right or wrong. As Allama Ibn Jauzi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, imitation destroys the ability to think and reflect, and the imitator is worse than a person who is given a lamp to see but extinguishes it and walks in darkness.
It is true that I have not bound myself to any particular established jurisprudential school (taqlid). Also, the Imams of these well-known schools did not claim infallibility. Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said no one is worthy of accepting all his statements except the Prophet, peace be upon him. Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said my opinion is correct but may be mistaken, and another’s opinion is wrong but may be correct.
Therefore, it is not befitting for a Muslim scholar to be a captive of one sect or a particular jurisprudential opinion without comparison and preference, especially when the means to do so are available. Rather, it is obligatory to accept only the evidence and proof. Whatever is proven correct by evidence should be followed, and whatever has weak or flawed evidence should be rejected, no matter whose opinion it is.
In fact, without this broad-mindedness, neither can research be properly conducted nor can a balanced solution be found for the complex issues of the present time. Therefore, the efforts of the learned author are highly commendable. It is not necessary to consider his research as the final word or to agree with every opinion of his. The translator has also provided explanatory or differing notes where deemed necessary during translation.
In our country, due to the lack of ijtihad, narrow-mindedness in jurisprudential issues, and the shackles of blind imitation, research and investigation in Shariah matters are not progressing, which is increasing the difficulties of the Muslim community day by day, although many old and countless new issues invite thought and ijtihad. In such a situation, it is a blessing that these modern Arabic books written in a research-oriented manner are translated into Urdu and published. This will provide valuable material for reflection and broaden perspectives.
The author’s intention is not to exhaustively investigate halal and haram in this book but specifically to clarify the permissibility and prohibition of those issues in the light of the Book and Sunnah which are very important or unavoidable but generally neglected by people.
In translating the book from Arabic to Urdu, the translator has tried to keep the translation idiomatic and has sometimes used brevity to avoid lengthiness.
Our sincere friend Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Sahib Nadwi, may Allah have mercy on him, deserves congratulations for arranging the publication of an important research book, especially since publishing solid religious books in the modern era is not an easy task.
May Allah make this book beneficial for all and accept the services of the author. آمين
