Have Scholars Made Islam Difficult?

Sometimes people speak this sentence: ‘Islam was very simple, but Islamic scholars have made it difficult.’ Let’s see how true it really is! There are two types of people who speak this sentence. First, those who hear it from others and speak it without giving thought to it or verbally agree with those who speak it. Opinions of such people cannot be trusted because they have no thought of their own in this regard. In addition, in a different gathering, if someone says that مَا شَـآءَ اللّٰه Islamic scholars have greatly served the religion and provided us with ease by writing books, they will also accept his opinion without arguments. Majority of people are of this type because by reading or listening to hundreds of opinions regarding a single topic on newspapers, TV, social media etc. people have already become confused. These people do not know about right and wrong. In fact, sometimes they do not even understand what their own thoughts are, therefore the opinions of such confused people are not reliable.

On the other hand, there are some people who are deputed to do the satanic act of instilling evil thoughts and are sick of Islam in reality due to either other people’s hidden agenda or their own distorted way of thinking. However, since to express such resentment against Islam and religion is not possible in an Islamic country or among Muslims, they criticize Islamic scholars and take it as a Heelah (a way out) for criticizing Islam by following the way of Heelah-doers of Bani Israel, who would fish on Saturdays. Although their real target is Islam, they use the name of ‘Maulvi’ to hide their intentions.

Let’s analyse the sentence: ‘Islam was very simple, but Islamic scholars have made it difficult.’ There are two questions for such people: Firstly, how have Islamic scholars made Islam difficult and what things of Islam have they made difficult? State in detail. Secondly, we put a list of Islamic laws and rulings before you that also includes many such things which they consider to be difficult. Now, tell us: What are the Islamic laws and rulings which are not in the Holy Quran and blessed Ahadees, but Islamic scholars have enforced them after making them difficult?

As an introductory note I humbly say that Islam is not merely about reciting Kalimah, but rather it is a collection of detailed instructions on many fields such as beliefs, manners, dealings, Halal and Haraam, manners of living a life, etc.

Beliefs are already proved from the Holy Quran, Ahadees and the consensus of Ummah. For example, the only true religion is Islam; no other religion will be accepted on the Day of Judgment. After the blessed arrival of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم salvation can only be achieved by following him. Even if Sayyiduna Musa عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام were alive, he would have also followed Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Those who die in the state of unbelief will always dwell in Hell. Islamic scholars have not made these beliefs, but rather they have been written very explicitly in the Holy Quran and blessed Ahadees. If the objectors find them difficult, what are they actually objecting to?

Similarly, some liberal-minded and materialistic people feel unpleasant when the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is mentioned. In fact, many columnists make fun of it and say that ‘Maulvis’ frighten people a lot. It is a humble response to them that the severe torment of Hell and its details and the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have been mentioned at many places in the Holy Quran and even more than that in blessed Ahadees. Then, please state against whom you actually have the complaint.

Acts of worship include Salah, fast, Hajj, Zakat, Jihad, recitation of the Holy Quran, Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, etc. Offering five Salahs at their respective timings is Fard; no one is exempt from them no matter whether he is ill, in trouble, attending a wedding, feeling sorrow, the weather is hot, cold, sunny or snowy. Zuhr Salah in hot weather and Fajr Salah in cold weather have to be offered. Apart from them, getting out of your soft bed, sacrificing sleep, staying awake in the night, offering Salah, performing worship, performing Sajdahs, weeping in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, making Du’as and offering Nafl and Tahajjud Salah have all been mentioned in the Holy Quran, not stated by any ‘Maulvi’ on his own.

The fasts of Ramadan are Fard. Even if they fall in summer and last for 18 hours, they have to be observed. The girls and boys who grow up even at the age of twelve, women and old people all will have to fast except those who are too weak. These Islamic laws and rulings have also been mentioned in the Holy Quran. To observe fasts on Mondays, Thursdays, the first nine days of Zul Hijjah, the two days of Muharram, in the two months of Rajab and Sha’ban and on 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of each lunar month is either Sunnah or Mustahab as per Ahadees. It has not been made by any ‘Maulvi’.

Similarly, paying 2.5% Zakat is Fard.  It means two hundred fifty thousand rupees will have to be paid as Zakat for ten million rupees. Apart from it, the commandment of serving parents and relatives, helping the poor, the needy, orphans, widows and captives have also been mentioned in the Holy Quran. Similarly, the commandment of supporting Islamic scholars, preachers and teachers of Madaris who are not able to go into other professions or do business for earning money due to being busy building Masajid and gaining and imparting Islamic knowledge has also been mentioned in the Holy Quran. And if someone has any doubt about it, he should read and understand the words, meanings and commentary on احصار فی اللہ in verse no. 273 of Surah Al Baqarah. The commandment of spending on the efforts of preaching Islam has also been stated in the Holy Quran. It has been mentioned by the comprehensive phrase اِنْفَاق فِی سَبِیْلِ  i.e. spending in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ that has a broad range of meanings.

Take the example of Hajj; when Hajj becomes Fard [obligatory] for a person, he will have to go no matter whether it will be hot or cold or he will have to go by aeroplane or ship.

Putting on two unstitched chadors of Ihram instead of daily stitched clothes, performing Tawaf and Sa’ee amongst a big crowd, enduring hardships in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, getting pushed while pelting stones, facing difficulties while coming from and going to Haraam and all other such things will have to be done. For the sake of information let me also tell you that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, not ‘Maulvis’, has made Hajj Fard in the Quran. Let’s see what comes next!

More details will be shared اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه in the next article.