Why Is It Called the Haram? Read This! - Guidelines Islamic Law

Why Is It Called the Haram?

Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “why is it called the haram?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!

Specifically, there are two important things about “why is it called the haram?” which I will explain in this article. Two important things about I mean are as follows:

What Is Haram in Islamic Law?

The first important thing about “why is it called the haram?” what I will explain now is "what is haram in Islamic law?". I want you to understand that first before you read more explanations in this article because that is one of the important things in this discussion that must be understood well.

Haram Literally

Haram is an Arabic word. The writing is امٌ or الحَرَامُ. Literally, haram has two meanings:

Something noble

We can find an explanation of that in the sentence "المَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ". It means a glorified mosque. Or " البَيْتُ الحَرَامُ ". It means a glorified house.

We can find an example in the following Quranic verse:

سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِيْٓ اَسْرٰى بِعَبْدِهٖ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ اِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْاَقْصَا الَّذِيْ بٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهٗ لِنُرِيَهٗ مِنْ اٰيٰتِنَاۗ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 1).

Prohibition or something that should not be done

We can find an explanation of that in the sentence " الخَمْرُ حَرَامٌ ". This means that khamr is prohibited (not to be drunk).

We can find some examples of haram or something that should not be done in some of the verses of the Quran below:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوْا مَالَ الْيَتِيْمِ اِلَّا بِالَّتِيْ هِيَ اَحْسَنُ حَتّٰى يَبْلُغَ اَشُدَّهٗۖ وَاَوْفُوْا بِالْعَهْدِۖ اِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْـُٔوْلًا

And do not approach the property of an orphan, except in the way that is best, until he reaches maturity. And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 33).

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْٓا اَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ اِمْلَاقٍۗ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَاِيَّاكُمْۗ اِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْـًٔا كَبِيْرًا

And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. (Al-Isra’ [17]: 31).

يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنْتُمْ سُكٰرٰى حَتّٰى تَعْلَمُوْا مَا تَقُوْلُوْنَ وَلَا جُنُبًا اِلَّا عَابِرِيْ سَبِيْلٍ حَتّٰى تَغْتَسِلُوْا ۗوَاِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَّرْضٰٓى اَوْ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ اَوْ جَاۤءَ اَحَدٌ مِّنْكُمْ مِّنَ الْغَاۤىِٕطِ اَوْ لٰمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاۤءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوْا مَاۤءً فَتَيَمَّمُوْا صَعِيْدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوْا بِوُجُوْهِكُمْ وَاَيْدِيْكُمْ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُوْرًا

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. (An-Nisa’ [4]: 43).

وَيَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيْضِ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ اَذًىۙ فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاۤءَ فِى الْمَحِيْضِۙ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوْهُنَّ حَتّٰى يَطْهُرْنَ ۚ فَاِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوْهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ اَمَرَكُمُ اللّٰهُ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves." (Al-Baqarah [2]: 222).

That's a brief explanation of haram literally. As Muslims, we must understand that.

Haram in Sharia

If we read some Islamic legal literature on haram in Sharia, we will find an explanation that the definition of haram in Sharia is as follows:

مَا يُثَابُ تَارِكُهُ اِمْتِثَالاً ، وَيَسْتَحِقُّ الْعِقَابَ فَاعِلُهُ

Something that if left by someone, then that person will get a reward and if he does, then he he will punished.

مَا طَلَبَ الشَّارِعٌ تَرْكُهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْحَتْمِ وَالْإِلْزَامِ

Something that Shari' (Allah and Prophet Muhammad) requires to be abandoned for sure.

That is the explanation of haram in Sharia.

Now, what is haram in Islamic law?

Haram in Islamic law is haram in Sharia. The point is that the meaning of haram in Islamic law is the same as the meaning of haram in Sharia. Why? The answer is because Islamic law is Sharia and Sharia is Islamic law.

That is a brief explanation of "what is haram in Islamic law?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

Why Is It Called the Haram?

The second important thing about “why is it called the haram?” what I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. So, I really hope you guys read the explanation below very well.

Before I explain the answer, I really hope you understand the explanation of "what is in Islamic law?". This explanation is the basis for understanding the questions that are the main topic in this discussion.

If you have understood the meaning of haram in Islamic law as I explained in the discussion about “what is haram in Islamic law?”, you can conclude that something is haram because it has been stipulated in Sharia that it is haram. The one who determines that something is haram is Allah and the Prophet Muhammad.

One other important thing that we must remember is that something is called haram because it is harmful to humans.

That's a brief explanation of "why is it called the haram?" and some important things about it. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article!