Chapter 4: The Fanatics’ Hatred of Art

The main reason why Islamic communities soon began to degenerate after the time of our Prophet (pbuh) is that they abandoned the Qur'an.

As we saw in the preceding section, fanatics who recognize only their own dark and sinister mindsets, rather than the Qur'an, as the essence of the faith have invented thousands of fabrications to keep women in particular away from the Qur'an, worship, intellectual struggle and preaching. The main reasons why Islamic communities soon became corrupted after the time of the Prophet (pbuh) is that these communities turned away from the Qur'an, and their defamation of women is a manifestation of that. Due to that mistaken way of thinking, Islamic communities became backward; however, a second factor was always involved in that retardation – the fanatics' hatred of art.

Before describing the fanatics' hatred of art, let us remind ourselves of the fact that constitutes the basis of the fanatical mindset. In one verse our Lord speaks of "... people who make lawful things forbidden:"

Do not say about what your lying tongues describe: "This is lawful and this is forbidden," inventing lies against God. Those who invent lies against God are not successful. (Qur'an, 16:116)

Today there are of course people who, in their own eyes, disregard what is forbidden, who regard such things as lawful and whose main criterion is certainly not fear of God. However, people who make forbidden "in the name of religion" what God has made lawful are in an entirely different category altogether. These people make it impossible to do what the Qur'an says is permissible, restrict freedoms and ban what is otherwise perfectly legitimate. As we have been seeing from the beginning of this book, with supporting evidence, they actually dislike the religion in the Qur'an (surely the Qur'an is beyond that) and are striving to invent a faith of their own.

These people have prohibited concepts such as joy, humor and art, which are praised in the Qur'an and created as a blessing:

The Idea that Joking, Humor and Laughter Must Be Avoided

Fabricated hadiths clearly show how people with a fanatical mindset are deprived of the blessing of happiness and humor and laughter, one of human beings' greatest needs.

Imam al-Sadiq said, “Loud boisterous laughter is from satan.” (al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 664, no. 10)

Abu Abdullah said: “Avoid (excessive) joking and humor since it takes away the light of faith.” (al-Kafi)

The Imam said, “In laughing do not allow your teeth to become visible.” (al-Kafi)

“Do not laugh too much, for laughing too much kills the heart." (Sahih al-Jaami’, 7312; al-Tirmidhi, 2305; Ibn Majah, 4193)

It is narrated from him from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm from Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from abu al-Hassan: “Yahya (John) ibn Zakariya would weep and would not laugh. Jesus, son of Mary would laugh and weep. What Jesus did was better than what Yahya would do.” (al-Kafi)

Imam al-Sadiq said, “The laughter of a believer is a smile.” (al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 664, no. 5)

These false hadiths very well describe the terrifying and chilly world of the fanatics. Readers will remember that in the beginning of this book we looked at how the dark world of the fanatics manifests itself in all places, and how it appears, not just in the outside world, but inside their hearts, in their pernicious attitudes to women, flowers or cats. The false hadiths cited here reveal how far removed the fanatics are from happiness, laughter and humor which is a great blessing, part of human nature and one of people’s greatest needs. It is clear that, in the presence of a system that prohibits laughter, people who learn from these false hadiths that the prophets supposedly never laughed can become closely bound up with such a perverse and fanatical faith.

Yet in the Qur’an, Muslims are forbidden to grieve. A Muslim is the happiest person in the world because he knows how to submit to God, bear himself with fortitude, give thanks and surrender himself to God. He will have no worries about the future; he will know that the difficulties that befall him are all for the best and be aware that everything happens within destiny and know that death is not the end, but the moment when one meets God and the eternal life. God gives believers of the glad tidings of paradise in the Qur’an. All these things are cause for Muslims to rejoice. God wishes us to exhibit the moral values of paradise in this world as well because these are the values that please Him.

What believers need to do at this time when great efforts are being made to spread and legitimize sadness is to usher in peace, together with joy.

According to the Qur'an Grief and Unhappiness Are Attributes of Unbelievers Alone

Let them laugh little and weep much, in repayment for what they have earned. (Qur'an, 9:82)

They will say, “Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us. We were misguided people.” (Qur'an, 23:106)

As we can see, unhappiness is equated with the unbelievers in the Qur’an. In the hereafter these people will blame their misguidance on “their wretchedness overcoming them.” Therefore, unhappiness is not something that God desires. Unhappiness is equated with the unbelievers in the Qur’an, and joy is equated with the believers.

In another verse, God reveals that there will be people who spurn the advice of the Qur’an because of their unhappiness:

He who has fear will be reminded; but the most miserable will shun it, (Qur'an, 87:10-11)

Almighty God has prohibited sorrow to all Muslims:

“Do not give up and do not grieve. You shall be uppermost if you are believers.” (Qur'an, 3:139)

Fanatics try to invalidate this commandment of God on the basis of false hadiths. They regard Muslims as suited to the unhappiness that God equates with the unbelievers. They seek to destroy joy, the greatest need of the soul and body. This is not something that God desires, however.

The Joy in Paradise and the True Meaning of Sorrow

God has created in paradise the way of life that He likes and loves; the life that our Lord praises and loves in paradise is therefore the ideal way of life for us. God reveals that people in paradise are in a state of joy:

As for those who had faith and did right actions, they will be made joyful in a verdant meadow. (Surat ar-Rum, 15)

Fanatics wish to deprive “joyful” Muslims of this joy of paradise by way of these false hadiths. They are not even aware of the true meaning of sorrow. To grieve in the face of an event is equivalent to saying “I wish it had not happened” and that, whether a person is aware of it or not, whether he does it knowingly or not, is rebellion against destiny. Yet fanatics should be aware that by making grief legitimate they are opposing God’s commandment and the destiny created by Him.

Faith is one of the greatest blessings that God can bestow on a person. For someone who has faith, the peace and happiness created in his heart by that faith are above all other things, even if he is deprived of the blessings of this world and is tested with the greatest of difficulties, and even if the circumstances all seem to be against him. God bestows peace and health on the heart that turns to Him, and happiness on the soul. It is impossible for someone who does not turn to God to be truly happy, even if he maintains otherwise. God may bestow the blessings of this world on such a person as part of the test and that person may seem to enjoy many blessings and delights. He may experience temporary desires and happiness. However, the longing in his soul will never allow him permanent happiness, or inner peace. In verse 28 of Surat ar-Ra’d, God says; “...those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of God. Only in the remembrance of God can the heart find peace.” Peace of mind depends on the bond to God alone.

Therefore, someone who truly believes in God is truly happy. Happiness is a secret that is compatible with human nature and that keeps a person healthy and sound. The cells remain healthy by means of happiness. The reason why happiness has such a positive effect is that, all things which are compatible with human nature are good things recommended by God. God has created laughter, joy and happiness as good things. Sorrow, on the other hand, has severely damaging effects that lead to physical and psychological harm.

All fanatics' negative claims concerning joy, laughter and humor are refuted by the Qur'an. Our Prophet (pbuh) and the Companions lived in a state of great happiness, in line with the spirit of the Qur'an.

The Idea of Avoiding Humor

It will be useful to touch on the prohibition of humor here. Successful humor is an art; people who achieve it are generally people who produce great works by combining art and intelligence. Humor sometimes brings joy to one’s surroundings. It can sometimes express criticism that cannot be made openly in a more covert but acceptable and conciliatory way. When employed in a way that bestows joy on the other party, that advises with sincerity but that also speaks to the heart, humor is a great blessing. Like all forms of art, humor is a blessing that expands people’s horizons and brings delicacy and subtlety to communities. Humor is also a fine aspect of democracies. Fanatics are led into a life with no delicacy; a crude and soulless life, by turning their backs on such a blessing.

Everything that the fanatics claim on the subject of joy, laughter and humor, as described above, is wholly refuted by the Qur’an. Our Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions lived in a manner compatible with this spirit of the Qur’an:

A'isha (ra) said that she accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) on a certain journey. The Prophet (pbuh) asked the people to move on, and they marched ahead. Then the Prophet (pbuh) said to her, "Come on, let us have a race." A'isha says that she ran and remained much ahead of him. The Prophet (pbuh) kept quiet for some time. … Again she accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) on some journey. The Prophet (pbuh) again asked the people to march ahead, and they moved ahead. Then the Prophet (pbuh) again asked her to have a race with him. This time the Prophet (pbuh) defeated her and she lagged behind. Now the Prophet (pbuh) laughed and said, "This is in reply to our previous defeat." (Ahmad, Safwat as-Safwah, vol. I, p. 68)

Abu Osama said he used to joke with him.

Abu Hurayra (ra) said, the Prophet (pbuh) would protrude his tongue to al-Husain ibn Ali who in turn would wriggle with joy when he saw it.

Abdullah bin Haris said that he had not seen anyone else who was more humorous than the Messenger of God (pbuh).

When some of his companions said to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): "O Prophet Muhammad, you also joke with us!" He replied: "Yes, I do. But I only tell the truth." (at-Tirmidhi)

'Anas (ra) said that someone asked him if the Prophet (pbuh) made jovial remarks. Ibn 'Abbas replied in the affirmative. (Ibn Asakir and al Kanz Vol IV p. 43)

‘Anas (ra) said: “The Messenger of God (pbuh) was the nicest and the most humorous of people.”

The Allegation that Music and Poetry Are Forbidden

Whoever listens to a female singer, molten lead will be poured into his ears on the Day of Judgment. (Dha'ifu-Jami' As-Saghir Lil-Albani no. 5410 and Ad-Dha'ifah no. 4549)

It would be better for you were your insides full of vomit and blood rather than poetry. (M. al-Masabih 4/4809)

Whoever listens to the sound of singing will not be permitted to listen to the spirits in paradise. (Kanzu 'Ummal no. 40660, 400666 and Qurtubi no. 14/53-54)

Singing produces hypocrisy in the heart. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, Hadith 4909)

God has made singing, being paid for it, money from it and teaching and listening to it forbidden. (Muhammad al-Ghazali, Nabawi Sunnah)

There is no commandment whatsoever in the Qur’an that prohibits music, dancing and entertainment. God has made happiness, pleasure and joy lawful for Muslims. Dance means rhythm and harmony. God has created the entire universe with a rhythm; even birds, insects and butterflies dance. Birds sing lovely songs with a sound and rhythm one can never get enough of. It is a great delight to listen to them. The sound of the sea, the pulse of nature, the sighing of the trees are all rhythmic. God loves rhythm, dance, music and lovely voices. Paradise was also created with that rhythm. All the trees, plants and animals in paradise will dance. One hadith that reveals this says:

It is related from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (ra) that, he said from the Basra pulpit: "God will send news to the people of paradise and ask: 'Has God kept His promise to you?' At that moment, they will look at the ornaments, clothes, fruits, spotless spouses and rivers bestowed on them and will not be able to help saying: 'God has kept His promise to us.' The angel will three times ask, 'Has God kept His promise to you?' When they see that the promise given them has been kept down to the finest detail, they will say 'Yes!' The angel will reply, 'There is one thing more.' Almighty God will manifest Himself to His servants and lift the veil from their eyes. When they see Him, all rivers will rejoice, the trees will wave and murmur, the mansions will give off sparks, the streams will flow fast and bright, fine scents will pervade the courtyards and mansions, and the smell of musk and camphor will be smelled on all sides. Birds will sing, and maidens will dazzle the eyes with their beauty. (Ash-Sharani, Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 370)

God thus inspired the beauty of paradise and the joy of harmonious music in paradise in our Prophet (pbuh). How can a delight that God has created in paradise and that He praises be unlawful for human beings? It cannot, of course.

There is folklore and dance all over Turkey. There are folk dances known as the horon, halay and zeybek. People dance all over the world. A world in which music and dance are forbidden is incompatible with human nature. That would leave a huge gap and a loss of blessings. Trying to forbid a blessing that is praised by and pleases our Almighty Lord represents a calamitous failure to understand God and His sublime artistry.

The Dishonesty of Fanatics Who Seek to Ban Music

In discussing these things, we also need to look at the fanatics’ own lives. Since they have invented a false prohibition that appears nowhere in the Qur’an, a great many of these people are in a constant state of contradiction and falsity in their daily lives (those who are genuine are surely apart from that description, however).

◉ Those people who say, “Music is forbidden” generally keep music stations turned on the whole time, and even enjoy music themselves.

◉ When these people attend weddings they happily dance and sing or hold henna nights.

◉ These people generally listen to music in their cars.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to music all the time or dancing at weddings; on the contrary, these things are delightful blessings. The way that these people we are criticizing here use religion to back up their prohibitions on music is entirely false and reflects their own dishonesty. It is important to be aware of the true face of those who issue prohibitions in the name of religion and their position is described in verses of the Qur’an. Our Almighty Lord describes the state of those who adopt faiths other than the Qur’an as follows:

They invented monasticism – We did not prescribe it for them – purely out of desire to gain the pleasure of God, but even so they did not observe it as it should have been observed. To those of them who had faith We gave their reward but many of them are deviators. (Qur'an, 57:27)

There is folklore and folk dance all over the world. Dance is a form of entertainment that people feel the need for. A world in which music and dance are banned is incompatible with human nature.

In this verse, God is saying that this false invented religion does not appear in His book, and that those who invent that religion do not themselves abide by it. We can therefore learn about these people’s hypocrisy from the Qur’an. Their private lives always corroborate this fact revealed in the Qur’an. Many people may imagine that the people in question actually lead lives full of fear of God. There may very well be some sincere people among them, but not generally; the sincere ones among them will eventually learn the Islam of the Qur’an. Indeed, it is impossible for someone to be honest and yet live by a false religion because we have God’s promise:

You who have faith! If you have fear of God, He will give you discrimination and erase your bad actions from you and forgive you. God’s favor is indeed immense. (Qur'an, 8:29)

As revealed in this verse, an honest person will have the understanding to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

God Loves Music, and Causes His Servants to Love It

Music and dance are blessings of paradise made lawful in Islam. It is God Who creates music, songs, all musical instruments, fine costumes, adornments, dance and all lovely things. He makes people love all these blessings and has created the soul in such a way as to enjoy these delights.

The Torah also describes how the Prophet David (pbuh) sang psalms to the accompaniment of lyres, timbrels, cymbals and sistrums, and how he danced before God; it also says how there were people who envied that dancing. In the same way that there are people in Muslim societies today who try to ban what is lawful, so we learn from the Torah of the existence in those days of people who foolishly tried to ban music and dancing among the Jews. They even foolishly criticized the actions of a prophet.

... David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.... (Torah, 2. Samuel, 6:5)

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the Ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, watched from a window. And when she saw King David LEAPING AND DANCING before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. (Torah, 2. Samuel, 6:14-16)

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, Who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when He appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” (Torah, 2. Samuel, 6: 20-22)

* Michal, daughter of Saul, one of the wives of David

They moved the Ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets. (Torah, 1. Chronicles 13:7-8)

So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. As the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart. (Torah, 1. Chronicles 15:28-29)

People at that time, including the Prophet David’s own wife, looked down on his enjoying himself and dancing with great joy. Yet God praises this fun-filled environment in the Torah, and the way that the Prophet David obeyed God’s commandments about music and dance means that he behaved in the very best way. However, those who looked on from the outside, who had no faith in David’s prophethood and who strove to fabricate a fanatic religion of their own invention, criticized this behavior of his.

The same criticism directed against the prophets is also turned against the Muslims of the Qur’an today. Preferring bigotry over the true faith has been one of the worst scourges over the course of history; women, dance and music are some of the areas where this scourge is most pronounced.

Yet, as with the example of the Prophet David (pbuh), our Prophet (pbuh) also delighted in music and dance, a blessing from God. Indeed, the hadiths speak of our Prophet’s (pbuh) companions dancing, and there are even reports of the Prophet (pbuh) himself encouraging dancing and fun. Since these are in agreement with the Qur’an, there is every likelihood that they are trustworthy.

Narrated by Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari: Amir ibn Sa'd said: "Going in and finding Qarazah ibn Ka'b and Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari at a wedding where girls were singing" I said, "Is this being done in the presence of you two who are companions of God's Messenger (pbuh) and were present at Badr?" They replied, "Sit down if you wish and listen along with us, or go away if you wish, for we have been given license (or permission) for amusement at a wedding." (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3159)

Narrated Salama: We went out with the Prophet to Khaibar. A man (from the companions) said, "O 'Amir! Let us hear some of your Huda (camel-driving songs.)" So he sang some of them (i.e. a lyric in harmony with the camels’ walk). The Prophet said, "Who is the driver (of these camels)?" They said, "Amir." The Prophet said, "May God bestow His Mercy on him!" (Sahih Bukhari, Book 83, Hadith 29)

Aisha (ra) relates: The Messenger of God (pbuh) called on the women of Ansar at a wedding. They were singing songs... (Sunan Ibn Majah, Nikah: 21, Sahih Bukhari, Nikah: 48, al-Maghazi: 12)

Narrated Ar-Rubai bint Muauwidh: The Prophet (pbuh) came to me after consuming his marriage with me and sat down on my bed as you (the sub-narrator) are sitting now, and small girls were beating the tambourine and singing... (Sahih Bukhari, Book 59, Hadith 336)

Narrated by Aisha (ra): I had a girl of the Ansar whom I gave in marriage, and God's Messenger (pbuh) said, "Why do you not sing, Aisha, for this clan of the Ansar like singing?" (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3154)

Anas narrates that when the Prophet (pbuh) first came to Medina the Ansar came out, men and women. … The women of Banu al-Najjar came out banging their drums and singing: “We are the girls of the Sons of Najjar. O delight of Muhammad for a neighbor!” The Prophet (pbuh) came out and said: “Do you love me?” They replied: “Yea, by God, O Messenger of God!”At this he said: “God knows that my heart loves you.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, book of Nikah, Hadith 1889)

The Idea that Painting and Sculpture Are Unlawful

The people who will receive the severest punishment from God will be the picture makers. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 72, Hadith 834)

Whoever makes a picture will be punished by God till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 34, Hadith 428)

The most grievously tormented people on the Day of Resurrection would be the painters of pictures. (Sahih Muslim, Book 24, Hadith 5270)

The painter of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, “Make alive what you have created." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 93, Hadith 646)

The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 34, Hadith 318)

All the painters who make pictures would be in the fire of hell. The soul will be breathed in every picture prepared by him and it shall punish him in the hell. (Sahih Muslim, Book 24, Hadith 5272)

Through these false hadiths the fanatics make painting and sculpture unlawful for Muslims. Indeed, according to some fabricated hadiths, painters are regarded as among those who will suffer the worst torment in the hereafter. According to this perverse perspective, these people have attributed divinity to themselves, may God forbid, by imitating His creations. Yet what possible connection could there be between a painter or sculpture producing a work of art and claims of divine status? If a painter or a sculptor does make such a perverse claim, that can only be because of weakness of mind or soul, not because of the art he produces. And that is a possibility that applies to all people and all members of professions.

All the beauties in nature are works of art made by our Almighty Lord. We realize how glorious art can be by looking at these works of our Lord’s. In fact, almost every technology present in the world has been developed by imitating God’s creation. The existence of things created is a blessing for technology. For example, people imitate birds and some species of fly created by God when manufacturing airplanes. Since these planes were inspired by living things, they possess perfect flying abilities and maneuverability. This is an advantage because there are already perfectly functioning models in nature. This is a gift bestowed by God as a blessing on all engineers. Despite all the scientific advances that make our lives easier and more comfortable, today’s world of technology is simply a copy of these works of art in nature. God has created the models in nature and the technological copies of them as blessings for us.

The reason for the way that fanatics target the art of sculpture in particular actually lies in a tradition inherited from the past. In the past, when idol-worship was widespread, some rulers took measures against making statuettes in order to prevent people from worshiping idols. These measures, intended to avert potential dangers in these societies in the past, were literally propagated as a commandment of the faith, even though there is no such prohibition in the Qur’an. That is one of the worst pieces of damage caused by some people who prefer their traditions to the Qur’an.

We do not deprive ourselves of fire or the Sun just because Magians worship fire and other people worship the Sun, or we don’t kill cows just because Hindus have sacred cows so it is a genuinely primitive way of thinking to ban all statues just because there are some pagans who worship idols. What is wrong is to deify objects and other entities, and people who do that are those who commit unlawful deeds, not the objects themselves.

The arts of painting and sculpture that the fanatics prohibit for Muslims are most definitely not unlawful according to the Qur’an, the Book that is the guide for all Muslims. God loves art and causes His servants to love it; He has created the whole universe with art. There are no verses in the Qur’an that make fine arts such as painting and sculpture unlawful. On the contrary, works of art are praised in the Qur’an.

Statues and works of art praised as examples of majesty in the palace of the Prophet Solomon (pbuh) appear as follows in the Qur’an:

The technological world and all forms of scientific progress that make life more comfortable for us are all copies of works of art in nature. God creates the originals in nature and technological copies of them as blessings for us.

Allah doğadakileri de, teknolojik taklitlerini de bize birer nimet olarak yaratır.

They made for him anything he wished: high arches and statues, huge dishes like cisterns, great built-in cooking vats. “Work, family of David, in thankfulness!” But very few of My servants are thankful. (Qur'an, 34:13)

The fanatics who ban these arts – despite these verses of the Qur’an – need to say what they think about the Prophet Solomon (pbuh), who had extraordinarily lovely statues in his palace.

These peddlers of superstition have wreaked great damage on Islamic societies. The Islamic world never managed to develop after the spread of such superstition about sculpture and painting. Societies that cannot develop art remain frozen, soulless and atrophied; they are closed to novelty. They gradually lose their creativity, their ability to think practically and their understanding of detail. Coldness and lack of taste are reflected in the places where they live and the way in which they behave toward one another. As a result of their turning their backs on art, monotony, coldness and lack of taste, devoid of grace, predominate in the dark world of the fanatics.

The Idea that Gold and Silk Are Prohibited

The Prophet of God (pbuh) took silk and held it in his right hand, and took gold and held it in his left hand and said: both of these are prohibited to the males of my community. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 32, Hadith 4046)

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari reported: Messenger of God (pbuh) said, "Wearing of silk and gold has been made unlawful for males and lawful for the females of my community.'' (At-Tirmidhi)

The fanatics have forbidden silk and gold and have fabricated numerous hadiths about this. Yet there are no verses of the Qur’an in which gold and silk are prohibited. On the contrary, gold and silk are described as blessings of paradise in several verses in the Qur’an:

They will have Gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them. They will be adorned in them with bracelets made of gold and wear green garments made of the finest silk and rich brocade, reclining there on couches under canopies. What an excellent reward! What a wonderful repose! (Qur'an, 18:31)

But God will admit those who have faith and do right actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (Qur'an, 22:23)

They will enter Gardens of Eden where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (Qur'an, 35:33)

There are hadiths showing that silk cloth was also used in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

Narrated Sa'd: I saw a man riding on a white mule and he had a black turban of silk and wool. He said: The Apostle of God (pbuh) put it on me. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 32, Hadith 4027)

Abu Dawud said: Twenty Companions of the Apostle of God (pbuh) or more put on khazz [silk]. Anas and al-Bara' b. 'Azib were among them. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 27, Hadith 4028)

As we have seen, Muslims were regarded as deserving of beauty and fine clothing in the Sunnah of our Prophet (pbuh).

Of course these things were in the Sunnah of our Prophet (pbuh) because our Prophet (pbuh) encouraged and loved a blessing that is praised in the Qur’an. One of the main pieces of evidence that the false hadiths here are fabrications is the way they prohibit, as a command of our Prophet (pbuh), something that is never mentioned in the Qur’an: Such a thing is of course out of the question.

Gold is an adornment, and as we have already seen, God praises the beauty of adornment in the Qur’an. As revealed in the verse, “Children of Adam, put on your adornment in every mosque … “ (Qur'an, 7:31), Muslims are encouraged to dress nicely and use adornments.

Let us remind ourselves that adornments are made lawful for everyone, men and women, without distinction, in Surat al-A’raf:

Say: “Who has forbidden the ornament of God which He has produced for His servants and the good kinds of provision?” Say: “They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Resurrection.” In this way We make the signs clear for people who know.(Qur'an, 7:32)

The Idea that Make-up, Grooming, Cleanliness and Looking Attractive Are Unlawful

Fabricated Hadiths that Prohibit Pleasant Scent

The prayer of a woman who uses perfume for this mosque is not accepted until she returns and takes a bath like that of sexual intercourse (perfectly). (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4162)

If a woman uses perfume and passes the people so that they may get its odour, she is so-and-so, meaning severe remarks. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4161)

If a woman wears perfume for anyone other than her husband, her prayer will not be accepted unless she washes that scent from her body as if washing off sexual intercourse." (Man La Yahzaruhul Faqih, v. 3, p. 440)

Using perfume for other than one’s husband brings a woman shame and fire (of hell). (Nahj al-Fasaha, 2382)

Fabricated Hadiths that Prohibit Tattoos, Removal of Facial Hair, Esthetic Dental Work

God has cursed those women who practice tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who remove their face hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially to look beautiful. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 72, Hadith 815)

Fabricated Hadiths that Prohibit Wigs, Eyebrow Plucking, Tattoos

God has cursed such a lady as lengthens (her or someone else's) hair artificially or gets it lengthened, and also a lady who tattoos (herself or someone else) or gets herself tattooed. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 72, Hadith 820)

The Messenger of God (pbuh) cursed the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, and those who pluck their eyebrows. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Chapter 11, Hadith 1989)

Fabricated Hadiths that Prohibit Women from Going out of Doors in Attractive Clothes

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “O Fatimah! The angels of the seven heavens and the seven earths curse the woman who decorates herself, dresses up and goes out of her house so that men may admire her beauty. She becomes the target of Divine wrath when she is alive. When she dies it is ordered that she be thrown into hell.” (Shahabul Akhbar, Dastaan-e-zanaan, p. 11)

Imam al-Sadiq: "For someone to be brought low and disgraced, it is enough to wear clothes that will spread their fame (in such a way as to attract people’s attention and cause them to point that person out)." (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.78, p. 252)

Hazrat Ali: "Wear thick clothing (that does not reveal the body) because people who wear thin clothing also possess thin (weak) faith." (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.79, p. 298)

The Messenger of God (pbuh) forbade women to wear clothes that would attract people’s attention and from wearing accessories that make noise when they went out. (Mustadrak al-Wasail, Vol.14, p. 280)

Fabricated Hadiths that Maintain that Women Lose Paradise by Preoccupying Themselves with Gold and Clothes

I looked into paradise and the minority of its inhabitants were women. So I asked, “Where are the women?” And I was told, “They are preoccupied with two red things: gold, and saffron,” meaning jewelry and dyestuff for clothes.

Fabricated Hadiths that Maintain that Women Should not be Given Nice Clothes

"Help women by not giving them nice clothes to wear."

The reason for quoting all these fabricated hadiths is to be able to show how women are despised in the religion of the peddlers of superstition, and how they are regarded as foolish, lacking in character and generally irrelevant. Considering women inferior and feeling anger towards them is, as explained before, one of the most horrible aspects of the pre-Islamic societies of ignorance. Misogyny was rampant among pagans as particularly pointed out in the Qur'an and God condemns their hatred:

When one of them is given the good news of a baby girl, his face darkens and he is furious. He hides away from people because of the evil of the good news he has been given. Should he keep her ignominiously or bury her in the earth? What an evil judgement they make! (Qur'an, 16:58-59)

While the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was alive, he prevented the misogyny of the pagans and the hypocrites. As a matter of fact, the Prophet's (pbuh) love and respect of women was one of the things that infuriated the hypocrites and pagans the most. These people couldn't sever their ties with their pagan traditions, which viewed women as second-class beings and so they couldn't accept the Prophet’s (pbuh) love for women. Hypocrites and pagans got almost insane with jealousy when they saw how pretty the female believers were, how faithful to and in love they were with the Prophet (pbuh), how they found extreme happiness and peace with him. After the Prophet's (pbuh) demise, this madness and jealousy drove them to oppress women and they worked to drive women away from Islam with nonsensical superstitions.

These commands, some of which are mentioned above and which appear nowhere in the Qur'an, are depicted by way of these false hadiths as if they were a part of the faith. In this way, not only is female beauty done away with, a model of society in which their wisdom and character is also taken away is thus described. From then on, the lives of those who are already frozen, soulless and loveless become increasingly more atrophied. When female beauty, one of the greatest blessings of this world, is done away with, both their own souls and their idea of society sink to the bottom. As we have discussed in detail in preceding sections, by disregarding women's minds and ignoring the ideas of women, who are capable of sharp and detailed thinking, capable of taking precautions and with a much wider understanding than that of men in a great many regards, the societies in question are deprived of many benefits. The most disturbing thing is that women in these societies also believe in this false religion and see nothing wrong with regarding themselves as inferior. The women in question have become used to looking no different from men and being exceedingly ill-groomed, to having no opinions on anything, to being ignorant and leaving all decisions to men and generally submitting to men.

The fact is, however, as we have already seen, that God refers in verses to those who render adornments and nice things unlawful. Such people behave in contravention of the Qur'an:

Say: "Who has forbidden the ornament of God which He has produced for His servants and the good kinds of provision?" Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Resurrection." In this way We make the signs clear for people who know. (Qur'an, 7:32)

As we have already seen in detail, women are delightful and valuable in the view of the Qur'an; female beauty is a blessing. Female intelligence can lead societies to very broad horizons. God has bestowed all these beautiful attributes on women; He praises them and protects them. These fraudulent statements in the fabricated hadiths above are completely rejected by the Qur'an.

It must not be forgotten that the people who try to ban beauty and the blessings beloved of God are fanatics. It is therefore a very great mistake to condemn those who think that the world of the fanatics is the true one and thus criticize the true Islam out of this ignorance. The people who really abide by the Qur'an are those who know that beauty and adornment are blessings from God, not those who want to ban them.

If the Spirit of the Fanatics Dominated This World...

Let us now have a look at what kind of world might await the fanatics in the light of these prohibitions. If the bans on painting and sculpture of the peddlers of superstition were applied in daily life, there would be no paintings, pictures or even advertising posters anywhere in the world. Therefore,

◉ No illustrations could be used with written preaching materials.

◉ There would be no illustrations in school text books.

◉ There would be no pictures on bank notes.

◉ There would be no glorious paintings or wall decorations in palaces.

◉ There would be no illustrated descriptions of the human body in anatomy classes.

◉ There would be no schools of fine arts or the like.

◉ There would be no illustrated newspapers, magazines, books or web pages. Watching TV would be forbidden, since that consists almost entirely of images.

◉ With the banning of media organizations, we would have to forego the innumerable benefits to be obtained from the media. It would also be impossible to preach moral values, and tell people of goodness and truth, as required by the Qur’an.

If the prohibitions of the peddlers of nonsense regarding painting and sculpture were implemented in daily life, there would be no pictures, paintings or statues anywhere in the world, no advertising posters, court art or visual media.

BAN LIST ART, MUSIC, NEWSPAPER, DANCE, PAINTING, SPORTS, SCULPTURE, BALLET, CINEMA, THEATRE, TECHNOLOGY, CARTOON, LOVE, BALE, TECHNOLOGY, SCULPTURE

Make-up, Grooming, Cleanliness, Modernity and Culture, “Quality” for Short, Are All Requirements of Islam

Of course a Muslim must be well-groomed, clean and attractive, because beauty, grooming, beauty and taking pleasure in art are all characteristics beloved of God and, as set out in the verses cited above, are all blessings bestowed on believers. There is nothing in the Qur’an to suggest that it is unlawful for women to wear make-up and be well-groomed. Indeed, women also used to go out looking as attractive and well-groomed as possible in the time of our Prophet (pbuh). Women wore make-up at that time, too: Men, too, including our Prophet (pbuh) in particular, wore kohl on their eyes. As one hadith reveals:

Narrated Aisha (ra): The Messenger of God (pbuh) applied kohl to his eyes while he was fasting. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Chapter 9, Hadith 1678)

Muslim women in those days used lipstick, rouge and kohl and painted their hands and nails with henna. Women and men used special dyes to color their hair. Our Prophet (pbuh) used to encourage people to dye their hair, and even dyed his own.

Zainab said: I went to Um Habiba, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) when her father, Abu-Sufyan bin Herb had died. Um Habiba asked for a perfume which contained yellow scent (Khaluq) or some other scent, and she first perfumed one of the girls with it and then rubbed her cheeks with it. (Sahih Bukhari, Book 63, Hadith 251) (Khaluq is pinkish-yellow in color and serves as a kind of rouge.)

Other hadiths on the subject are as follows:

In a Tabarani tradition it is commanded “to change the hair color so as to oppose the foreigners.” (2111)

Narrated Abu Huraira: God's Apostle said, "The Jews and the Christians do not dye (their grey hair), so you shall do the opposite of what they do (i.e. dye your grey hair and beards)." (Sahih Bukhari, Book 56, Hadith 668; Sahih Muslim, Book 24, Hadith 5245)

Anas bin Malik said, Abu Bakr dyed his hair with Henna' and Katam (i.e. plants used for dying hair). (Sahih Bukhari, Book 58, Hadith 257)

Anas b. Malik said, Abu Bakr and Umar dyed hair with henna. (Sahih Muslim, Book 30, Hadith 5779)

Narrated under the authority of Sohayb al-Khayr: The Prophet (pbuh) said “The best dye you use for your hair is this black substance which enhances your women’s love to you and reflect a more dignified image to deter your enemy.” (Sahih Muslim)

Hadiths also tell us that yellow was the hair color that was most pleasing to our Prophet (pbuh):

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: When a man who had dyed himself with henna passed by the Prophet (pbuh), he said: “How fine this is!” When another man who had dyed himself with henna and katam passed by, he said: “This is better than that.” Then another man who had dyed himself with yellow dye, passed by, he said: “This is better than all that.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4199)

O Ansar, dye your hair red and yellow, and be different from the A’aajim (Persians). (Narrated by Ahmad, 21780)

(The Companions) generally saw fit to dye their hair yellow. These included Hazrat Ali, Ibn Umar and Abu Huraira. Some dyed it with henna and katam, and some with a black dye. Among those who preferred black were Hazrat Uthman, Hazrat Hassan, Hazrat Husain (the two sons of Ali), Uqba ibn ‘Amir, Ibn Sirin and Abu Burda.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: … “I saw the Apostle of God (pbuh) dyeing with yellow color, and nothing was dearer to him than it. He would dye all his clothes with it, even his turban. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 32, Hadith 4053)

Abu Qatadah (ra) once asked the Messenger of God (pbuh): "I have long hair, should I comb it?" The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Yes, and look after your hair." Hence Abu Qatadah used to sometimes apply oil twice a day (i.e. apply oil and comb it) because of the order of the Prophet (pbuh). (Imam Malik has narrated this Hadith Mishkaat p. 384)

Narrated AbuDharr: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “The best things with which grey hair are changed are henna and katam.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4193)

In the time of our Prophet (pbuh), instead of nail polish, there are numerous accounts of women painting their nails with henna. Our Prophet (pbuh) is also said to have encouraged his own wives to do that.

Narrated Aisha: A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Apostle of God (pbuh). The Prophet (pbuh) closed his hand, saying: “I do not know if this is a man's or a woman's hand.” She said: “No, a woman.” He said: “If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4154)

Narrated Aisha (ra): When Hind, daughter of Utbah, said: Prophet of God, accept my allegiance, he replied; “I shall not accept your allegiance till you make a difference to the palms of your hands…” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 33, Hadith 4153)

Women Are Lovely Beings, of course They Must Be Well-Groomed

Of course women must be attractive and well-groomed, and of course their behavior must be very noble. This means quality, and quality leads to people respecting that person. That does not mean one has to be pretty or rich, but rather that one should desire to adopt the spirit of cleanliness of the Qur'an and be clean and well turned out. Muslims must be well groomed such as to complete the light upon them, and must enhance their respect and esteem and quality by looking good. Everyone in the world would be hugely affected by the sight of a respected, cultured and self-confident Muslim woman. This is something that God desires and approves of.

Make-up is an important means of looking well-groomed and attractive, and is a blessing from God. God loves all forms of beauty. That is why women, flowers, trees, butterflies and birds have all been created to be attractive. We greatly admire the harmonious colors on a butterfly's wing, its extraordinary symmetry and harmonious patterns. Women are also an adornment of this world, and even the most attractive. In the same way that a butterfly was created to be delicate by our Lord, so women are created to be delicate. That beauty bestowed on them as a blessing emerges through grooming, and they thus become highly valuable. The beauty that addresses the heart and eye of a woman who doesn't take care of her appearance and attaches no value to herself will also be valueless.

People who seek to ban the use of make-up have generally lost the spirit of pleasure. In the same way that there is no art, pleasure, joy or beauty in their murky world, since they regard women as entities that need to be locked away and eliminated, they prefer them to be ugly than attractive. Let us therefore ask, what progressive and modern person or society could possibly choose a religion that makes women valueless and ill-kempt? Who would want to represent such a faith? Who would espouse such a faith?

That is why some Western communities are opposed to the fanatics, but they are mistaken in thinking that this faith is actually Islam.

Women must be attractive and wellgroomed, and they must always behave in a classy manner. That is what quality means, and that leads to other people showing them respect.

The Horrifying Nature of the Misogyny of the Fanatical Mindset

We have seen how the fanatical mentality is opposed to female beauty and women's grooming and how they do everything in their power to keep women away from social life. However, there is even a sicker aspect of the misogyny of the fanatical mindset. The fanatical mentality that took away the beauty and attractiveness of women turned its attention to young boys. According to this perverted thinking, not only women but also young boys should be kept under pressure (because according to this mindset, boys are as dangerous as women). This mentality claims that young boys are seductive and that their presence can be dangerous and lead to sins. This is an extremely twisted way of thinking. Regrettably, this horrible and evil perversion has nestled inside the fanatical thinking, totally remote from the Qur'an. As you will see in the following pages, this perversion is largely discussed in fabricated hadiths and accounts as well as in the lectures of some scholars. These sources reveal a sick mentality that looks at innocent, little children with lustful eyes and that talks about people running away and hiding when they see a young boy. People with this mentality claim that handsome boys are much more dangerous than women and that boys are supposedly accompanied by satans. This fact one more time clearly shows that fanatical mindset embodies an incredibly sick, twisted and perverted mentality. Now let’s see the details in various sources:

The Perversion that Leads to Running inside and Locking the Doors upon Seeing a Boy

It is related that while Abdullah Ibn Umar was sitting one day in front of his house, he sees a shiny faced, handsome young boy and runs inside to lock himself inside the house. After a while he calls out asking "Did that fitnah [trial] pass by?” and they respond saying, "he is gone." Then he goes out again. People standing there ask him, "What happened to you, did you hear something about this from the Prophet (pbuh)?" He responds saying, "Yes, I did. It is forbidden to look at, to speak to and to sit with such boys." (Imam al-Ghazali, An Exposition of the Hearts (Makashifat-ul-Quloob)

One of the worst things about the fanatical mentality is that they slander the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by lying in an attempt to justify their sick and twisted behavior. The Prophet (pbuh) never said anything about young boys being dangerous, nor did he say that it was wrong to talk to them or be in their presence. On the contrary, with his well-documented compassion and affection for children, he set a beautiful example to the entire Islamic community.

The Lie that Young Boys are Accompanied by Eighteen Satans

It is written in Fatawa-i Khayriyya, "When there is the danger of fitna, a father can keep his beautiful discreet son who has reached the age of puberty in his own home and under his own discipline. He may not let him go out on a travel or for education or on hajj (pilgrimage) without a beard. He protects him like a woman. But he does not veil him. In streets there are two devils near every woman. And there are eighteen devils near a boy. They try to mislead those who look at these." (Huseyin Hilmi Işık, Endless Bliss (Se’adet-I Ebediyye), Fascicle 4, p. 62)

The fanatical mindset seeks to to put handsome young boys under pressure, just as it seeks to lock up women in the home, to keep them from going to school or talking to anyone. Saying that they should not cover their faces with a veil clearly demonstrates the extent of their perverted view of these children. The fanatical mentality, which doesn't stop even after trying to cover up women in a way not commanded in the Qur’an, debates whether boys should wear a face veil and claims that they should not be sent to school or allowed to go on pilgrimage. What is even worse is that they claim that ‘young boys are accompanied by eighteen satans’. This claim accuses all young boys of being ‘evil’ and that makes it almost impossible for these children to live comfortably and safely in society. A mentality that believes handsome young boys are evil creatures cannot create a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous society.

The Perversion that Claims Boys Can Be 19 Times More Seductive than Women

His Highness Imam Muhammad went to the bathhouse one day. A young boy came in and sat down. Imam Muhammad asked who he was. He was told that the boy was a bath attendant. He rebuked his students and had the young bath attendant taken out. He decreed the following when he was asked about the reason of this act: “The lust felt for a woman is the same in men but with a pretty beardless young boy, it is nineteen (19) times more!” It is forbidden to look at a beardless young boy even without feeling lust because it causes one to look at him with lust. Touching him is even a bigger sin than lust." (Ismail Hakki Bursevi, Rūḥ al-bayān (the Spirit of Elucidation) 4/452-553)

In this account, in a completely twisted and sick way, it is claimed that the lust for young boys is more than that for women. For those who possess a fanatical mentality, a mentality which does not consider women as smart, conscientious or respectable human beings, the existence of boys is also almost a crime. They go so far as to claim that one would be aroused by boys 19 times more than by by women, and forbid one to even look at their faces, let alone be next to them. Clearly, a person who sees every other person as a potential cause of sin and threat cannot have a healthy mind or a healthy life.

The Perversion that Claims ‘Young Boys Are Same as Women’ And ‘Boys Can Be Lusted After just like Women’

It states in Al-Hindiyya "When a young boy reaches puberty, if he hasn’t a bright face [if he has facial hair] his ruling is the same with men, if he has a bright face [if he doesn’t have facial hair] his ruling is with women. His entire body from head to toe is awra [privates that need to be covered]…" (Ibn 'Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar)

Whether or not one is sure about looking with or without lust, it is forbidden to look at beautiful-faced boys as well, just as it is to look at women. That is because young boys are beautiful like women and they are lusted after, just as women are lusted after. Besides there is much more opportunity to get together with young boys than to get together with women. (Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya)

Seeing boys like women is a deeply perverted way of thinking. Millions of boys study at thousands of schools and are taught by tens of thousands of teachers. No teacher looks at these children with lust or in a perverted manner; they wouldn't even imagine something like that. However, in the dark world of bigotry, every kind of perversion and horror exists.

It is plain to see how terrifying a world is envisioned by the fanatical mindset, considering that they even view young boys as women. There is no place for beauty, love or friendship in such a world. There is no art, free-thinking or creativity in that world. The people in that world are fearful, withdrawn, nervous people who consider everything a crime. It is impossible for a society to be happy and content when it is dominated by such mentality. The only way to eliminate this dark world is to hold fast to the Book of God and to live by the beautiful spirit of the Qur’an.

The Claim that a Young Boy's Voice is Forbidden

It is haram [forbidden] for every [na-mahram] man to listen to the voice of women, girls or beautiful boys when he is with them and looking at them. A pure heart is distressed at the sight of such scenes, and is stained; the nafs [the lower self] enjoys them, gets stronger and becomes excessive. The Shaitan helps the nafs and shahwa [sensual desire]. (Huseyin Hilmi Işık, Endless Bliss (Se’adet-I Ebediyye), Fascicle 4, p. 165)

Seeing little boys as sexual objects is an indescribable abomination and perversion. The fanatical mentality about the matter is truly horrifying. It says that even upon hearing the voice of a young boy "the lower-self will be excessive" and therefore it bans their voices in a bid to prevent this so-called 'danger'.

The radical mentality that is against female beauty, that seeks to shut women away in houses and that seeks to make them extremely unattractive and ill-groomed, does not stop there and considers boys just as dangerous. It goes as far as claiming that dolls and even water carboys can be 'seductive.' Clearly, the next step in the misogyny created by such a non-Qur’anic mentality is building a perverted world where it is forbidden even to look at the faces of little boys. God explains in a verse how tangled and twisted the superstitious religions of such people are:

In the same way their idols have made killing their children appear good to many of the idolaters, in order to destroy them and confuse them in their religion. If God had willed, they would not have done it; so abandon them and what they fabricate. (Qur’an, 6:137)

In an Islamic understanding which is based on superstitions and fabrications, everyone can make personal interpretations based on their own ideas. Muslims, however, are obliged to follow only what God sent down, that is, the Qur’an.

So judge between them by what God has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires deviating from the Truth that has come to you.... (Qur’an, 5:48)

Muslims Have the Right to Wear Attractive Stylish Clothing and Own Fine Cars and Nice Homes

The fanatical mindset that took away the beauty of women turned its attention on little boys, too. This mentality claims that young boys can be seductive and that their presence is therefore a potential crime and a danger. Obviously, this is an extremely perverted view.

Our Prophet (pbuh) and his companions were the highest-quality, most modern-looking and cleanest people of their time. Were our Prophet (pbuh) alive today, he would be the highest-quality person of our time. He would wear the most modern and attractive clothing of the day, would live in the most modern and pleasant home and would drive the finest cars. He would be known to all for his excellence. Indeed, the hadiths report that our Prophet (pbuh) wore the most select and impressive clothing of his time, and wore a gold-embroidered robe:

"He went out in a gold-embroidered robe and said: O Mahrama! This is what I have kept for you..." (Great Hadith Collection, Jam al-Fawaid, Min Jami al-Usul and Majma az-Zawaid, Imam Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman, Ar-Rudani, Iz Publications, 2nd edition, Istanbul 2009, pp. 257-261-262-265-271-272-273)

Those people who try to make a religion out of their traditions based on superstition generally regard themselves as unworthy of anything attractive and act out of feelings of inferiority, and therefore do not regard themselves – or Muslims in general – as deserving of attractive stylish clothes, nice homes and fine cars. There is no problem with anyone living in a luxury home, having a good car and wearing the nicest clothes yet these people lose their reason and common-sense when Muslims do these things. Their sense of inferiority also increases their anger. They not only look at the outside with anger, but also at Muslims.

Of course Muslims must do all in their power to protect people in difficulties and strive to please God as much as possible in that regard. However, that does not mean that they have to be ill-kempt, dirty and scruffy. A Muslim has a significant preaching power just because of his appearance. The more he looks clean, high-quality, polite, and modern, the more extroverted he is, and the more joyful he is and open to new ideas, the more perfect his preaching of the faith will be. That life style will of course prevail in his entire life, not just preaching. In the view of the Qur’an, Muslims already have an obligation to live in that way, and indeed they take pleasure from doing so.

Instead of that horrible way of life in which women are despised, they will be affected by a peaceable conception of Islam in which quality prevails and will begin to feel love, rather than fear and that is what is compatible with the Qur’an. Indeed, in the time of our Prophet (pbuh), people who saw his glorious quality, joyful and modern behavior and appearance were always extraordinarily affected. It is a known fact that our Prophet (pbuh) always wore Byzantine robes and other fine clothes when greeting foreign envoys. Our Prophet (pbuh) also sent Dihya al-Kalbi on various trips to introduce Islam to other peoples. Dihya al-Kalbi was incredibly handsome and always wore very expensive and high-quality clothes in the places where he went to preach Islam. Due to his appearance and his great quality the people would pour out onto the streets in the regions where he went to preach, and would be hugely impressed by him. The aim here was for people to see that Islam values beauty and quality.

Some hadiths of our Prophet’s (pbuh) regarding Muslims dressing well and being of good quality are as follows:

Abu'l-Ahwas related the following on the authority of his father, Malik bin Nadlah: "I came to the Prophet (pbuh) wearing old clothes, and he said: 'Do you have any property?' I said: 'Yes!' He asked: 'What kind?' I said: 'I have every kind, i.e., camels, cattle, horses, and sheep.' [The Prophet] said: 'If God gives you wealth, then let it show on you.'" (Imam Ahmad recorded this hadith from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah, from Abu Az-Za`ra' `Amr bin `Amr, from his uncle Abu Al-Ahwas `Awf bin Malik bin Nadlah from his father, Malik bin Nadlah.)

Those who seek to make a religion out of traditions consisting of nonsense do not generally regard themselves as worthy of beauty and generally act out of deeply-rooted feelings of inferiority. They do not regard attractive stylish clothing or fine homes and cars as befitting themselves or other Muslims.

Narrated from Jabir (ra): We went to the Battle of Anmar with the Prophet (pbuh) ... O Messenger of God, we have a friend from Medina. We also prepared him. He follows behind and protects us. The man came with two torn pieces of clothing. When the Prophet (pbuh) saw him he asked, "Does he have nothing else to wear than these two torn pieces of clothing?" "He has two other pieces of clothing I gave him in his bag." "Call him and tell him to put those on." I called him over, and he put those on. As the man turned to go, the Messenger of God (pbuh) said: "Is it not better for him (instead of wearing old clothes when he has new ones)?" The man heard this and said, "O Messenger of God! Should I also wear new clothes when I go on jihad on the path of God?" "Yes, even when waging jihad on the path of God." (Great Hadith Collection, Jam al-Fawaid, Min Jami al-Usul and Majma az-Zawaid, Imam Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman, Ar-Rudani, Iz Publications, 2nd edition, Istanbul 2009, pp. 257-261-262-265-271-272-273)

People will be more influenced by an image of a peace-loving, high-quality Muslim rather than that other lifestyle dominated by squalor. When they see that, they will begin feeling love rather than fear. And that is what is compatible with the Qur'an.