Siwak or toothbrush (gold or fiat money)?

Bismillahirohmaneerohim (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate)

I have given up on the toothbrush for more than a year now. I've got to say, using the siwak makes it feels really clean. Once I had gingivities even when I brushed my teeth every day using the toothbrush. Now that I've used the Siwak, I've never had such problem and the plaques in between my teeth are not as hard as it used to be. It is much easier to remove the plaques now.

The Siwak, as we know was used by the Prophet salallahualaihiwassalam in his lifetime. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahualaihiwassalam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If it was not for the fact that I might have been overburdening my community - or the people - I would have ordered them to use the siwak for every prayer."

Therefore from this, the use of the siwak is a strong suggestion for the community by the Prophet salallahualaihiwassalam. But it wasn't enforced to be as the toothbrush or to use the siwak for every prayer. The community have the option to use the siwak or to use the toothbrush. It is not stated in the Qur'an that a Muslim must use the siwak. But I have prefered to use the siwak anyway.

In my opinion, it is the same with gold and fiat money (paper money). Based on my research the Prophet salallahualaihiwasalam had never used his authority to state that gold is the money for Islam. He did not mint gold or declared it as the only money for Islam. I have not come across any Hadith which is even close to the Hadith of the siwak that I quoted above that strongly suggest it(gold) to be used. In fact there was a hadith that was mentioned by my lecturer that states the most miserable servant, is the servant of dirham/dinar (please do not take my word for granted as it is better for one to research).

"Gold is to be paid for by gold, silver by silver, wheat by wheat, barley by barley, dates by dates, and salt by salt - like for like, equal for equal, payment being made on the spot. If the species differ, sell as you wish provided that payment is made on the spot" (Hadith Muslim)

Paper money used to be a debt of real wealth of gold and silver, and this would not be allowed because of the prohibition from one of the Prophet’s Hadith about any transactions in gold, silver, wheat, barley, rice and dates is to be done on the spot and hand to hand. If the paper money represents gold, therefore this transaction goes against the hadith as the gold is not being transferred from one person to another.

But paper money now do not base its value on gold or silver, so it doesn't contradict with the hadith and seems like it will be permissible to use it as money. There are some that states that money should have intrinsic value because of the Hadith that has been stated above. The rationale to that statement was, all of the six items have value and can be used as money. In my research, I've not encountered that wheat, barley or dates was used as money (please advise me if I'm wrong on this). These items are perishable (may be eaten, rotten and etc) so it is rarely used as money. So, is it necessary for money needs to have intrinsic value? Who puts the value towards gold? If gold does not interest anyone, wouldn't the value of gold go down/depreciate? So it depends on the demand of the community to put the value on gold. What is the difference with fiat money? Fiat money too also depends on the demand.

I've not worked in an Islamic bank and I don't think I am biased towards Islamic banking. Some have gone to say that Islamic banking is a great deception and stuff like that. Although I do see some Islamic banks are not conducted properly, I don't think that it is a "great deception". Islamic banks needs to be improved with the help of the community.

The argument of gold as the ULTIMATE ISLAMIC MONEY, is not really accurate. Big transactions using gold will require delay payments and as the Hadith on gold earlier states that "sell as you wish provided that payment is made on the spot". I see this as a problem in using gold. If this problem and other problems on gold are being solved then there is nothing wrong on the usage of gold. I do not oppose gold nor do I support fiat money. Both have problems and in my opinion both may be used as money as long as it is being used properly.

Another argument on Islamic banks

"BACK-DOOR RIBA
Islamic Banks and other Islamic financial institutions are today lending money on interest through the back-door by disguising a loan as a sale on credit. They call it murabaha! But it is most certainly not murabaha! It is Riba! What the bank does is to offer an item on sale in a credit transaction with a price substantially higher than the cash price. While credit transactions are Halal, since the blessed Prophet (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself engaged in such transactions, there is no evidence that the credit price in such transactions was ever higher than the cash price. When credit price is higher than cash price then the implication would be that time has value. And the essence of Riba is that money grows over time. When a client wishes to purchase something, but does not possess the cash with which to purchase it, the so-called Islamic bank enters into the fiction of purchasing the item at its cash price and then selling it to the client on credit. The interest charges are added to the selling price thus making a credit price for the item substantially higher than the cash price." (This is taken from another website which criticises Islamic banking)

Generally the author is trying to emphasise that Islamic banks uses (time=money) in deferred payments. This is actually not the case (theoratically). If the price has been agreed between the client and the Islamic banks the price has to be settled even if the client wants to finish it earlier. For example a car is £5000, and it is being sold by the bank to the individual for £7000 after 3 years. I've explained earlier in my previous entry that it is not wrong in Islam to gain profit. The author admits that credit transactions are halal. So the problem here is that when time effects the final price of the product.

An individual who bought the car for £7000 in 3 years wishes to finish the payment in 2 years instead. Usually with conventional banking that individual will get a discount for finishing his/her payment earlier than the agreements. To simplify it, the individual has to pay £6000 if he/she finishes his/her payments in 2 years. In Islamic banking however, this is not the case. Even if a person wishes to finish the payments earlier, it will still be £7000 because if the bank gives discount than, the Islamic banks does involve the final price of the product (time=money). Therefore if it is still £7000, time does not have any effect on the final product (which means time does not = money). But I happened to know a few "Islamic banks" in Malaysia which gives discount. It has been a while since I've interacted with any Islamic banks so I'm not sure if they have changed their conduct. The Islamic banks in Malaysia are too worried of competition with the conventional banks therefore they have made it permissible to give this discount. As I've said before it is up to us, the users of Islamic banks to make sure that the Islamic banks are actually conducting Islamically.

In reference to "Why is Islamic home financing haram?" part 2

Bismillahirohmaneerohim (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate)

In my last entry I've written about the profit that Islamic bank deserves when conducting business (buying and selling) and not deriving profit from interests. The next question that a person would generally ask is, how much does a bank deserve to earn as profit? Ustaz Zaharuddin has written on this here. Basically he explains that there is no prohibition on the amount for profit. It is the choice of the individual (or banks) to charge any amount for profit. In my opinion, a person who follows the values of Islam would however not take advantage to the extreme.

There are arguments about the validity of Islamic banking. I have made it clear that it is alright to do business (buying and selling) as long as it doesn’t involve riba/interest. So can a bank do business? Some argues that doing business is alright but Islamic banking is wrong? What is their explanation? They say that the banks are enslaving the community.

Theoretically, if an individual could not manage to pay their monthly fees, Islamic banks don’t have the right to ask for it. From what I understand in Malaysia is that, to avoid the public from taking this advantage they will charge a ‘late payment fee’. This ‘late payment fee’ will and should be going to a charity and cannot be accepted/taken by the bank. However, I cannot be certain of the conduct of the Islamic banks on this. Another thing that needs to be highlighted is that with conventional banks, if an individual misses some monthly payments, the interests will accumulate. I have highlighted in my previous blog that how injustice interests can accumulate to. With Islamic banks however, even if a person needs to pay late payment fees, the original agreed payment does not add up. The Islamic banks can only claim what is agreed on the price on the agreement and they will use a verse 91 from the Qur’an surah Nahl : “And fulfil the covenant which you have made with Allah and do not break your oaths after having firmly made them, and after having made Allah your witness. Surely Allah knows all that you do” in their defense.

In the context of housing construction, if it was abandoned, in my opinion the bank has to bear responsibility of loss and the individual too has to bear the responsibility of the loss. However, this is just an opinion and not the reality conduct of the Islamic banks. In the UK there is a financial package to buy a car which I find pretty much Islamic. Even so, they do not include the term Islamic in the financial package. The financial package is renting a peugeot with the option to buy at the end of the contract. For example, an individual pays rent for the car for 2 years, and after that 2 years the individual has the option to buy the car for a certain amount. If the individual decides not to buy, the car will be taken back into the banks possession. During the renting period, all the maintenance like M.O.T (a car checkup in order to get the road tax), the road tax, insurance, and mileage car service are all covered by the owner (bank) and not the individual. The individual only has to pay the monthly rent and car fuel. There are no interests involved, the owner (bank) bears responsibility for the car.

In my opinion the problem is with the Islamic banks in Malaysia and not Islamic banks in general. Malaysia has gone the extra mile in their Islamic banks just to compete with conventional banks and therefore have caused their financial products to be similar as the conventional products. In my understanding, Malaysia has produced financial products such as Bay al dayn, BBA, and Tawarruq which are ‘controversial’. The reason of me saying it is controversial because I do not have the authority to say it is halal or haram. So I would rather say controversial. These products however have been apposed by other countries such as Saudi Arabia and etc. Most of Malaysia’s Islamic banks are actually Islamic windows provide by the conventional. For example HSBC is a conventional banking which provides Islamic windows (HSBC amanah). There are only two full fledged Islamic banks which are BIMB and BBMB which originates from Malaysia. Malaysia are claiming they should be the leading/hub for Islamic banks? I doubt it. Therefore we as the community should push for a better Islamic banks and avoid the misconducts of the Islamic banks. We should not let the Islamic banks take advantage of us.

My conclusion is that we should not boycott Islamic bank or say that Islamic banks are haram, but we should always use our power as the customer/client to push and demand for a better Islamic banking. Then, some will argue, the fiat money or the paper money has no intrinsic value? This is not the money that Islam “recognises”, and how then can the community uses Islamic banks? I will continue on money and Islam in my next entry insha’allah.

In reference to "Why is Islamic home financing haram?" part 1

Bismillahirohmaneerohim (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate)

I would like to express a little of the knowledge that I have with me about Islamic banking. I've been getting a lot of questions about the validity of Islamic banking as this is the main concern of the public. Conducting business is an ibadah, so we should always make an effort to do it in the right way. Therefore we have to expand our knowledge. By me saying expand, I don't mean just to refer to a person/scholar, but gain information on many different angle from different people especially from the knowledgeable ones. After doing this, one should know what is best for oneself. Lately, some friends of mine are being slightly influenced by this Sheikh who condemns about Islamic banking. The Sheikh is entitled to his opinion as far as I'm concerned. I'm no where near the status of a Sheikh but I too have an opinion.

Naturally, I was also sceptic about Islamic banking as I've read some books on Islamic banking and because of being raised in Malaysia, my perception on Islamic banking was more towards negativity. This is one of the reason why I took the course of Islamic banking, and also not taking the course in Malaysia. During my course I was ever being sceptic and after completing the course, I've got my own conclusion.

Firstly, the main concern of Islamic banking is because the Qur'an prescribed us in Surah al-Baqarah verse 275
" Those who devour interest, they behave as the one Satan has confounded with his touch seized in the state they say: "Buying and selling is but a kind of interest," even though Allah has made buying and selling lawful and interest unlawful. Hence he who recieves this admonition from his Lord, and then gives up (dealing in interest). may keep his previous gains, and it will be for Allah to judge him. As for those who revert to it, they are the people of Fire and in it shall they abide."

The verse have clearly states that buying and selling is permissible but  interests are prohibited. If one were to make a business (buying and selling) without charging interest, is it permissible? Based on this verse, my opinion is that as long as we avoid interest, it is permissible. Now what seems to be the problem?

My friends who asked me about Islamic banking are from Malaysia, so I'm going to base this discussion on the situation in Malaysia. Firstly in Malaysia, their view towards banks as a place to do loans. This is because of the conduct of conventional banks and we as the public have digested this idea where a bank is a place to do a loan. Because of Islamic banking are relatively new compared to the conventional banking, most of us do not have a clue what Islamic banking is all about. So usually the public will then assume. The Islamic bank is not necessarily a place for loan. It is a place to do business. If the Islamic provides loan, it will be Qardh hassan where no interest will be charged. But most of the Islamic banks don't do this because it is not "productive" as they are a place for business. The reason I put the inverted commas on productive is because my opinion differs as I do see Qardh hassan as productive.

So, a conventional bank is a place where they provide an individual with the money, and expects repayment of the loan bit by bit including interest (which is based on time=money). The conventional is not responsible for anything else except collecting the money back from an individual.

Islamic banks are different. If an individual wants to buy something, the bank will buy it from the supplier and sell it to the individual in deffered payments (there is a hadith on buying in deffered payment, it is best for a person to research). What is the different? Firstly, the bank is doing a business (buying and selling) as what was told permissible in the Qur'an. Secondly, when a bank buys something, it is in the responsible of the bank to take care of it (maintenance). This is one of the reason of banks entitlement to earn profit.

Why do the public still are very sceptic towards Islamic banking? There might be two reason for this. Firstly, some Islamic banks might have used the word "pinjaman" (borrowing/loaning) which certainly contradicts buying or selling. The other thing is that the public have 'psychoed' themselves to think that a bank is a place for loan no matter if its Islamic banking or conventional banking. Because of this, I have to point to the Islamic banks for not educating the ummah or the public. But banks are not to be blamed alone, education should come from anywhere, like schools, public functions and etc.

This entry has gone a bit long, for those who are interested, I'll continue in my next entry. Want to read more on the consequences of interests and how it accumulates click here. I have highlighted in the last part of that entry about the amount of interest and how injustice to use interests in loans.

Dissertation

Bismillahirohmaneerohim,


Alhamdulillah I've completed and submitted my dissertation yesterday. I've tried my best to do a good final product of my dissertation and now it is up to Allah and the examiners to give what is appropriate for my work. It has been a while since I last blogged and insha'Allah I'll continue again expressing my opinions. I've got plenty in my mind insha'Allah, but for now I need some time to relax and I'll be back. Wassalam

Shield or unshield yourself

Bismillahirahmaniraheem

Credit image to graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=987

In one of my previous entries, I've discussed about wearing the hijab. In this entry I would like to express my views about exposing the skin publicly.

During my past experience, people usually advise about covering oneself to avoid from getting harassed but I would like to take a different angle on this. Instead of reminding one to cover themselves, I would like to pose some questions to make one think about their intention of exposing their skin or hair.

In the world we live in today, it becomes a norm that most of us, regardless of our gender, expose a large part of our body. My question is WHY? Is it really important in this 'new age' that we expose ourselves? Is it really necessary? What benefit does it gives us? Should we be inside this 'box' of mentality that it is okay to expose our body?

I'll start off by mentioning about females exposing their bodies. Females most of the time expose more of their body than guys when they have actually more to cover. Compare the common male and female work attire for instance. Guys wear shirt, tie, pants and shoes. The girls will USUALLY wear skirt (short or tight), a tight shirt and occasionally a blazer on. These sort of dressing is normally called the 'career woman' attire. Why is it a 'career woman' attire? Apparently, it is because the 'career woman' attire shows high level of confidence. Is this really true? Does a person needs to expose more to show their confidence? From my personal experience and point of view, I've seen a lot confident ladies covering from head to toe. Sometimes their level of confidence are so high that they may look tough and stern. So does one attire really shows the character of confidence? My opinion, definitely not. Ones attire does not necessarily reflects ones character unless in certain cases. A rich man or woman can dress up moderately in spite of their status.

Let us now look at the casual attire. Women's tops are usually tight and there's the low cut, the bare back and etc. Why do most women want to dress this way? Most women, of all sizes dress up this way... to show off? To gain attention of a man? The ones who are single hopes to gain the attention of a man by exposing themselves, but those who aren't single why dress in this way? So that other man are attracted to them??

There are many different guys that have different preferences. Some like big sizes, some small, skinny and so on. Is it really important for a women to show off her exact figure? By showing off the figure, wouldn't it hurt those who are slightly unfortunate? Should we be selfish and not think about those who are unfortunate?

Most women who are used to this dress up lifestyle will argue that they have the right to wear what they want. But I don't think its a good idea to make other envious, jealous or hate one another by just not dressing up properly. We should strive to create a more peaceful community. These women will also argue that any person who doesn't like the way they expose their body is narrow minded, backward and traditional. They will say that those who criticise their dressing are perverts and socially lost! Is this really true?

If a husband and wife were to make love, isn't it normal for the couple to expose their flesh to each other? By exposing each others flesh it will make the couple more aroused to each other. So why should one expose their body publicly if they are not trying to arouse or to have sex? Clearly these women who are exposing themselves are confused and are caught in this 'reality' where this trend/modernism are acceptable.

This also applies to men. Lately it is the trend where guys work out just to show off. Apparently when one work out, it boosts their confidence to approach the opposite sex. Why does it have to be like such in this case? Taking care of health is different than making your body go through a tough routine and ending up not using effectively. Sportsmen or one who does labour work, they need to work out so that they can be useful. I'm not trying to say that working out is not good, but working out to show off is. Sharing good health with one's married partner is good.  

I've read somewhere that apparently it is good to wear a red shirt for an interview because it shows confidence. Why do we have to be stuck in this normality? We are too 'inside the box' by thinking this way. Our minds have been trained to follow this norm. Try to imagine what other norms can be created that we would blindly follow them.

In my point of view, we shouldn't be too tied up to this phenomenon where if it is acceptable in the eyes of the society we should follow. We should always stick to what Allah tells us to do. Certainly Allah knows what is best for us for He is the creator of the universe and all the laws and physics in it. So why should we rely the eyes of society rather than Allah Himself?  Here are a few verse on hijab

“O Children of Adam! Indeed We have sent down to you a garment which covers your shame and provides protection and adornment. But the finest of all is the garment of piety. That is one of the signs of Allah so that they may take heed.” Surah Al-A'raf verse 26

"(O Prophet), Enjoin believing men to cast down their looks and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is well aware of all what they do." Surah al-Nur verse 30

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear therof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons, or their women or the servants whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers, turn you all together towards Allah, that you may attain Bliss.” Surah Al-Nur verse 31

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw a part of their outer coverings around them (when they go abroad). It is likelier that they will be recognised and not annoyed (harrassed). Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Surah al-Ahzab verse 59

Lost in translation

Bismillahirahmaniraheem

A friend of mine tag me in this picture and it shocked me a bit. For muslims who doesn't fast, this may happen to you. A person, when observe fasting will learn to hold back such nasty words to anyone or anything and be a patient person. This guy in particular certainly doesn't observe fasting and does not know how to be patient and speak things which he knows so little of. Usually these sort of people enjoys being a minority. There is no wrong in being a minority but a minority which is astray from the meaning of life is a serious trouble.

Certainly they are attention seekers, as part and parcel of being a minority and they crave to be hated. So, should we fuel their craveness? They want to be minorities in hoping that they will be trend setters so let us not fuel them anymore.

In my opinion, it is important to note that these kind of group or community should just be ignored. If they want to hate others, let them be, as we ourselves should try not to be close with hatred because there is no place of hatred in our religion. That is one of the reason when we have captives in a war, we are not allowed to torture them because torture will lead to hatred. If one wants to give them advise, do it gently otherwise in my opinion just ignore them.

Let us ignore them not because we hate them, it is because we do not want to be associated with the sins that they've done and if one wants to advise them, it is because we see their lives are so valuable and wouldn't want it go to waste. We know the punishment from Allah awaits us in the hereafter if we go astray. They do not have any proof that the hereafter does not exist because certainly they have not came back from the dead.


Ears are created by Almighty Allah so that one could listen but they certainly use it in ignorance and to mock people with it. We muslims should justify that we use the gifts (our body parts, animals, nature) from Allah at our best for everyone.

Definitely, Allah have mentioned these sort of people in this world in the Holy Qur'an. We shall look at the verses.

surah al-baqarah verse 159 : "Those who conceal anything of the clear teachings and true guidance which We have sent down even though We have made them clear in Our Book, Allah curses such people and so do all the curses."

surah al imran verse 85 : "And whoever seeks a way other than this way of submission-Islam- will find that it will not be accepted from him and he will be among the losers in the life to come."

Surah al Imrah verse 90 : "Those who disbelieved after having believed and then hardened in their disbelief, their (pretence to) repentance shall not be accepted. Such have utterly gone astray."

Surah al- Sad : (1)Sad, and by the Qur'an full of exhortation. (2) Nay, but the unbelievers are steeped in arrogance and stubborn defiance.

There is also mentioned about these sort of people wanting to create a better 'kitab' than the Holy Qur'an.

Surah bani Israil verse 88: "Say: "Surely, if mankind and jinn were to get together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they will never be able to produce the like of it, howsoever they might help one another.""

Surah al Baqarah verse 23: " If you are in any doubt whether it is We Who have revealed this Book to our servant, then produce just a surah like it, and call your supporters and seek in it the support of all others save Allah. Accomplish this if you are truthful."

In my opinion as I mentioned earlier, I would just let Allah deal with them. They have had plenty of advise and are tired of listening to the same thing over and over again. I was once misguided as well, and I pray that I would not be misguided again for only Allah guides who He wishes. We should pray and be thankfull to Allah that we are not one of them. May Allah grant us all peace. Thanks to Jasri (Jas) for tagging me this picture and making me realise that such person or group exist at this moment of time.