As-Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh
Now days Islam is under attack on all fronts, not only are our lands occupied by non-Muslims, our beliefs are under attack and lies are spread against Islam, unfortunately ignorant Muslims are not helping Islam by committing ignorant acts in the name of Islam, which are in fact very un-Islamic.
Honor killing is a disease that has spread amongst Muslims unfortunately, what is honor killing and why is it forbidden?
Causes for Honor Killing:
Usually it is a girl from a family who has done something that the family deems indecent, such as not wearing Hijab or intermingling with the opposite sex and with these actions she has brought great shame upon her family in her community.
Who commits the Honor Killing:
It seems like it is always the close male relatives who take this “mission” upon them in order to save the honor of their family.
Why is Honor Killing Haraam:
Allah Most High says:
“If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever): And the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.”[1]
Going to the Sahih Hadith collections we find this Hadith:
“Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported saying that Nabi Muhammad sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam said: ‘The blood of a Muslim may not be legally spilt other than in one of three instances: The married person who commits adultery, a life for a life and who forsakes his religion and abandons the community.’”[2]
Now this verse from the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith clearly states that a Muslims life is not to be taken because of a light cause, then we can ask ourselves: Are the reasons for Honor killings not serious enough?
No, they are not. In Sharia[3] there is a death penalty only in some cases, not wearing Hijab and intermingling with the opposite sex do not belong to the category, for my knowledge there is not even a light Hadd[4] punishment for it, yes indeed they are sins and not to be taken lightly, but there are no punishments in the Dunya[5] for it.
What if your family member would actually commit a crime that has a Hadd[4] punishment? Are you allowed to punish them yourself?
Shaykh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, states:
“There is no such concept in Islam that is called honor killing. Islam holds every soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgressions upon it.
It does not allow people to take the law in their own hands and administer justice, because doing so will be leading to chaos and lawlessness. Therefore, based on this, Islam does not permit such killings.
First of all, in order to sanction killing, it must be through a binding verdict issued by an authoritative law court. Individuals themselves have no authority either to judge causes or pass judgments. Therefore, a Muslim should not sanction killing because doing so will be leading to the rule of the law of the jungle. A civilized society cannot be run by such laws.”
And this is what Islam, when followed properly gives us, a civilized society.
Shaykh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, adds:
“In Islam there is no place for unjustifiable killing. Even in the case of capital punishment, only the government can apply the law through the judicial procedures. No one has the authority to execute the law other than the officers who are in charge.”
No matter what has happened a Muslim is always to follow the law and take his matter to a court.
The people who commit Honor Killing to save their family’s reputation is doing nothing but following their Nafs [6] and have nothing to do with Islam, they might think that their action is according to the rules of Islam but they are gravely mistaken.
It’s time for people to go to Islamic sources and hear what the ‘Ulama have to say about matters, not blindly follow their culture and think that their culture equals Islam.
If your daughter doesn’t wear Hijab or intermingles with the opposite sex then guide her, if you kill her you will not let her to have the chance to repent for her sins and you will have committed the sin or murder which according to Sharia[3] the punishment is death, and if you do not take the punishment in the dunya [5] and repent, verily you will answer to your Creator on the Day of Judgment.
“In that is a Sign for those who fear the penalty of the Hereafter: that is a Day for which mankind will be gathered together: that will be a Day of Testimony. Nor shall We delay it but for a term appointed.”[7]
[1] Qur’an 4:93
[2] Al-Bukhari and Muslim
[3] Islamic law
[4] Physical punishment according to Sharia[3]
[5] This life
[6] Personal desire
[7] Qur’an 11:103-104
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