Question (dated): 2003 - re: People lying against the innocent ladies. What to do?

Also: What about famous people who insult Islam (and not so famous people), what can we do?

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Bismillah Rahman Raheem

Thank you for writing and for your question. First let us begin by reminding ourselves of our reason and purpose for being here on this earth, with Basics Of Islam [click].

Here are some important points to keep in mind:

1. As Muslims we cannot lie about anything, especially about our religion. For sure it is haram to lie about anything. When a person lies about the honor of a woman, they are destroying themselves with Allah. This is something that is mentioned in surah An-Nur, when people began to say horrible things against Ayesha, may Allah be please with her.

2. We are very blessed by Allah to have the full and complete revelation for all times and all people. Unlike the other religions that have lost or corrupted their books and teachings, we Muslims still have original recorded sources of our religion:

A) The Quran [click]
B) Teachings of Muhammad [click]

This is a unique part of Islam, not available for any other people, except Muslims, Al Hamdulilah.

Sometimes we find that people are claiming to be Muslims, but at the same time, they are not showing it in their actions. So, what can we do?

Our job is to always worship and adore our creator and sustainer, Allah. He is the only One that we turn to and the only One that we are trying to please. This what Islam is really all about. The most important subject is the worship of Almighty God, without any partners or associates or "gods" besides Almighty God.

Let all of this come into your mind when you are considering what is going on around you. This is a test from Allah and He wants you to deal with it in the very best way. That is why is allowing you to experience this.

Ask yourself a question, "Are there people who are in worse condition than you?" (Answer is, "Yes.") Would you want to trade places with the Muslims in Afghanistan or Iraq? Consider how they have lost their loved ones forever and they do not have enough food to eat and some do not even have clean drinking water. How can we have so much and worry so much at the same time?

Another thing is that when ever people talk against you, if you are patient and forgive them, then you will be in the Jennah, inshallah. Also, if you feel that this is bad against you and that it is "Thulum" (oppression) than you can make dua to Allah and ask Him to grant your requests. As long as you are being oppressed and raising your hands to Allah, you are getting what you are asking for. Al Hamdulilah.

A serious problem is happening in all of the Muslim countries that I visit around the world. Men and women are not getting married at young ages as they are supposed to according to Islam. The people do not want their children to get married because they want them to complete college, university or some special area of education. The boys and girls have nothing to look forward to until they are in their twenties and this is not Islam.

The prophet, peace be upon him, told us that as soon as a boy and a girl are old enough, then they should get married. Young marriages help build a strong community. Waiting for marriage can destroy a community, as you can see for yourself.

Sometimes the 'mahr' (dowry) is so high that no one can afford to pay and then if the girl is willing to forget about any large amount of money, her father is not. The problem becomes a sort of combination between money and honor or pride.

When boys can not satisfy their feelings they will start to do anything to try to get a girl and the girls who are lonely will fall for their tricks. Some girls will just do it anyway and not care and others will even charge money for this.

And keep in mind that the whole problem is due to the fact that the youth are not getting married young as they should.

Consider this, if people who simply follow the Quran and teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him, they might very likely slow down or in some instances, even stop some very horrible things that are destroying our life here on earth. Prostitution would loose business, magazines wiht half-naked girls would not sold, alcohol would not be so popular and drugs would not be taking over our children's lives.

Following Islam the way it should be followed would protect our women, our children and our honor. People could be together in the halal way by being married. And that is how it should be, inshallah.

You should stay away from people who are lying about you (or lying about anything). Stay totally away from these kinds of people and don't spread their stories to others. They are in trouble with Allah and He will punish them for what they are doing. Don't worry about that.

Your job is hard, you have to pray for them and remember not to do the same thing to someone else, inshallah.

Now, let us look to the Speech of Allah in the Holy Quran and read the beautiful words as Allah defends the innocent and deals harshly with the guilty who are lying against her. Read . . .

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

1.

(This is) a Sûrah (chapter of the Qur'ân) which We have sent down and which We have enjoined, (ordained its legal laws) and in it We have revealed manifest Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations lawful and unlawful things, and set boundries of Islâmic Religion), that you may remember.

2.

The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law)^[].

3.

The adulterer marries not but an adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except an adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater, etc.) And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer, then she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress, etc.)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islâmic Monotheism).

4.

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).

5.

Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6.

And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by Allâh that he is one of those who speak the truth.

7.

And the fifth (testimony) (should be) the invoking of the Curse of Allâh on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her).

8.

But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, if she bears witness four times by Allâh, that he (her husband) is telling a lie.

9.

And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allâh be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.

10.

And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you (He would have hastened the punishment upon you)! And that Allâh is the One Who accepts repentance, the All-Wise.

11.

Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah radhiallahu'anhuÇ the wife of the Prophet SAW) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.

12.

Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie^[]?"

13.

Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allâh they are the liars.

14.

Had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.

15.

When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allâh it was very great.

16.

And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allâh) this is a great lie."

17.

Allâh forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.

18.

And Allâh makes the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

19.

Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allâh knows and you know not.

20.

And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, (Allâh would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allâh is full of kindness, Most Merciful.

21.

O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahshâ' [i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islâm, etc.)]. And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allâh purifies (guides to Islâm) whom He wills, and Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

22.

And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allâh's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

23.

Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment,

24.

On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.

25.

On that Day Allâh will pay them the recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know that Allâh, He is the Manifest Truth.

26.

Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women), such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say, for them is Forgiveness, and Rizqun Karîm (generous provision i.e.Paradise).

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Thanks again for your question. All good is from Allah & mistakes were from myself.
May Allah guide us in Truth, ameen.
Salam alaykum - Yusuf Estes

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Answers from Sheik Yusuf Estes, National Muslim chaplain. American born & former Christian, student of many scholars, he offers help with authentic information about ISLAM in easy English.

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1.	(This is) a Sûrah (chapter of the Qur'ân) which We have sent down and which We have enjoined, (ordained its legal laws) and in it We have revealed manifest Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations lawful and unlawful things, and set boundries of Islâmic Religion), that you may remember.
2.	The woman and the man guilty of illegal sexual intercourse, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allâh, if you believe in Allâh and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allâh's Law)^[].
3.	The adulterer marries not but an adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except an adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater, etc.) And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer, then she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress, etc.)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islâmic Monotheism).
4.	And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fâsiqûn (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
5.	Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds, (for such) verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6.	And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) by Allâh that he is one of those who speak the truth.
7.	And the fifth (testimony) (should be) the invoking of the Curse of Allâh on him if he be of those who tell a lie (against her).
8.	But it shall avert the punishment (of stoning to death) from her, if she bears witness four times by Allâh, that he (her husband) is telling a lie.
9.	And the fifth (testimony) should be that the Wrath of Allâh be upon her if he (her husband) speaks the truth.
10.	And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you (He would have hastened the punishment upon you)! And that Allâh is the One Who accepts repentance, the All-Wise.
11.	Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against 'Aishah `radhiallahu'anhu`Ç the wife of the Prophet `SAW`) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment.
12.	Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it (the slander) think good of their own people and say: "This (charge) is an obvious lie^[]?"
13.	Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allâh they are the liars.
14.	Had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.
15.	When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allâh it was very great.
16.	And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allâh) this is a great lie."
17.	Allâh forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.
18.	*And Allâh makes the Ayât* (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) plain to you, and Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.**
19.	Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allâh knows and you know not.
20.	And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, (Allâh would have hastened the punishment upon you). And that Allâh is full of kindness, Most Merciful.
21.	O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahshâ' [i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)], and Al-Munkar [disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islâm, etc.)]. And had it not been for the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allâh purifies (guides to Islâm) whom He wills, and Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
22.	And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allâh's Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allâh should forgive you? And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
23.	Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment,
24.	On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do.
25.	On that Day Allâh will pay them the recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know that Allâh, He is the Manifest Truth.
26.	Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women), such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say, for them is Forgiveness, and Rizqun Karîm (generous provision i.e.Paradise).