. I.ii . <': / f·g< "1// (cont.)

"O believers! Devour not your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade among you, by mutual consent" (al-Nisaa 29). The importance that Islam places on preserving and protecting one's wealth can be seen in the punishment for theft. The thief, if certain conditions of Allah. Only Allah knows what will be the plight of all those Muslims who did such acts. Sometimes Muslims kiLI other Muslims thinking that they are doing so legitimately and for the sake of Allah. However, it seems that there is sometimes a rush to judgment on this matter and people decide on the flimsiest evidence to kill other Muslims. One thing seems to be certain: If there is any doubt about the legitimacy of killing another Muslim, then the Muslim should absolutely avoid the killing in such a case. 1 Recorded by al-Daraqutni and al-Baihaqi. According to al-Albaani, it is sahih. See al-Albaani, lrwa, vol. 5, p. 279. Hadith #35: "Do not be envious of one another . . . " are met, is to have his hand cut off. This is a harsh punishmenthowever, it is based on wisdom and the importance of safeguarding people's wealth. Unfortunately, one must once again comment on the reality of this teaching vis-a-vis the practice of the Muslims of today. Is there real honesty among Muslims when it comes to business practices? Do they respect each others' property and make sure not to harm it in anyway? If these aspects are not being upheld among Muslims, is it not understandable that the feeling of brotherhood is not to be found among the Muslims of today as it was found among those Muslims who implemented these teachings? Honor Again, a person's honor is to be respected like his life and his wealth are to be respected. This means that one must be extremely careful about what one says about another Muslim. A Muslim's honor should never be attacked without due cause in the shareeah. A Muslim's name should never be dragged through the mud simply out of spite and a desire to see one's brother hurt. Such actions are grave matters indeed and, once again, strike at the very core of the brotherhood that Islam seeks to create among its adherents. The importance of respecting another's honor can be seen by many of the rules and regulations of Islam. Take, for example, the punishment for defamation and slander. Allah says in the Quran, / ,,,, ,... .,, .... J .,, ,,,, J & . .-- a b J J..G-G /r da &'t, I Jt:, .:J # ' ਄I & J #/ / .1..\( Ȭ __,,._lb J / . 6 ఈ / .J :. Y - ఉ / uY _r.. LT--/ J ,... .,, ,... , (. ,,.. -:,. ,; ., ,:' .,. 0Ā1 . iLpjij 1:Lii a:J\ ý i_,j{; -gj oǒ / . "And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the evildoers" (al-Noor 4). Backbiting-- speaking truthfully behind one's brother's back in ways that are displeasing to him-- is another means by which a person violates his brother's honor. Allah has described this terrible deed in a heart-moving fashion, ,.. ,,.. .,, ,,,. ,,.. J J "" (. J 1:: :: þi : :... l /1$% 0i ਅਆ ÿi 1",a:/! Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi Indeed, one could also consider the punishment for adultery and fornication as being part of Islam's preservation of honor. This is because adultery, in particular, brings great shame to the other spouse as well as the families involved. This may be, Allah knows best, one of the reasons why the punishment is so great in the case of adultery. One should preserve one's tongue and actions from ever doing anything to wrong a Muslim's honor or reputation. Unfortunately, it may be much "easier" to fail in this aspect in comparison to respecting his life and wealth. Nonetheless, a Muslim must realize that his brother's honor is inviolable. Like his life and his wealth, he must take extra caution not to do anything to hurt his brother's honor. Other Points Related to This Hadith • Al-Qaasimi and Abdul Maalik al-Qaasim state that it is permissible to wish that another person loses a bounty if that other person is using that bounty for evil or malicious purposes. In this case, one is not disliking that the other person received a bounty but one is simply disliking the way the bounty is being used. Hence, there is nothing wrong with disliking what the disbelievers and evildoers possess when they use those bounties in the wrong way.1 • In reality, those who should be the least envious among themselves are the workers for the sake of Islam-- but, unfortunately, many times they are the most envious and spiteful. They should be the least envious because, they claim, they are all working for the same purpose: the pleasure of Allah and the support of His religion in this world.