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yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tuḥarrimū ṭ-ṭayyibāti mā ʾaḥalla llāhu lakum wa-lā taʿtadū ʾinna llāha lā yuḥibbu l-muʿtadīna
O you who have faith! Do not prohibit the good things that Allah has made lawful to you, and do not transgress. Indeed Allah does not like the transgressors.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 87
87. "O' you who have Faith! Do not prohibit the good things that Allah has made lawful to you, and do not transgress. Verily Allah does not like the transgressors."
It happened that one day the Messenger of Allah (S) was speaking for people about the Hereafter and the scenes of the gathering-place of Resurrection. The audience were so touched at heart and wept that some of them decided, from then on, not to consume any good food, to prohibit comfort unto themselves, to observe a fast, to abandon their wives, and to sleep at nights less than before. They swore over that decision to be loyal to it. When the Prophet (S) was informed of it, he mustered people in the mosque and told them: "I eat food; I sleep at nights and do not abandon my wives. Our religion is not the creed of retreat and monasticism. The monasticism of my ummah is the holy struggle. Whoever goes a direction other than my style is not a Muslim."
Some of them asked what they would do for the oaths they had taken. The subsequent verses were revealed saying that Allah does not call them to account for their vain (unintentional) oaths. Imam Sadiq (as) said:
"Whoever makes a lawful thing unlawful for, himself (through a vow), the one must accomplish it, and there is nothing upon him. ..." 1
Explanations
1. Islam is the religion of 'Fitrah' (nature), wherein retreat and monasticism, or excess and defect are forbidden.
2. A Muslim submits to the command of Allah. He neither turns a lawful thing into an unlawful one, nor vice versa.
The Holy Prophet (S) said:
"O' people! What I have made lawful is lawful until the day of Judgment, and what I have forbidden is forbidden until the day of Judgment." 2
3. Edible things, clothing, and the whole lawful pleasures have been created for the usage of humankind.
4. When using the lawful things, be careful of avoiding extravagance.
5. The vows, covenants and oaths that are against the explicit prohibitions of the text of the Qur'an, are worthless and invalid.
Footnotes