Brother-in-law is death

QUESTION:-

Please explain how the Muhaditheen and Fuqaha understood the following Ahaadith?

1) ‎لعن  الله  جاظر   ﻟﻤنظو    ها

“Allah curses the one who looks at and the one who is being looked towards.”

We’ve been told that this only pertains to looking at the uncovered Awrah of a person, as opposed to looking at someone’s face. Please confirm which is correct (and whether this applies to women also I.e. looking at a non-mahram man)?

2) أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏”‏ إياكم والدخول على النساء ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فقال رجل من الأنصار يا رسول الله أفرأيت الحمو قال ‏”‏ الحمو الموت ‏”‏

“ Beware of getting into the houses and meeting women (in seclusion). A person from the Ansar said: Allah’s Messenger, what about husband’s brother, whereupon he (ﷺ) said: Husband’s brother is like death.”

An explanantion given for the above-mentioned Hadith is that it only refers to being in seclusion with the brother-in-law. It will be in order to freely mix if the husband is present. Is this interpretation correct?

ANSWER:-

1. It is recorded in Mirqaat that Allah Ta’ala curses the one who intentionally looks at, and the one who is looked at without a valid excuse. The object that is looked at (which attracts the curse of Allah Ta’ala) has not been mentioned in the narration, hence it refers to all such things that one is not permitted to look at, such as the face of a strange woman, her Satr, etc. It does not refer specifically to the Satr, although the Satr is also intended.

This can further be understood from the verse of the Quraan Sharif which states, “Say to the believers that they should lower their gazes and protect their chastity.” It is recorded in Tafsir Ibn Jazzi that lowering the gaze is necessary from all such things that are Haraam (not permissible to look at). Also, the verse states that part of the gaze should be lowered; which means that there is no harm in the first glance (which is referred to as an accidental gaze at a strange woman) but the subsequent gaze is prohibited. Hence, this means that if the gaze of a person accidentally falls on a female whilst walking (on the road or elsewhere), then one is required to lower the gaze immediately and stop looking at her. This, in essence, means that it is not permissible to glance at strange females.

Ibn Katheer Rahimahullah states, they should lower their gaze from that which is Haraam upon them and only look at what is permitted. If the gaze falls on something Haraam unintentionally, then quickly turn your gaze away. This again refers to an accidental look which generally occurs on the road when passing by strange women.

The narration of Bukhari Sharif clarifies this matter even further. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam advised the Sahaabah to refrain from sitting on the roadside. They responded by saying that we have no option but to sit on the roadside and speak. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “If you refuse then fulfil the rights of the road.” On asking what the rights of the road are; Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Lowering the gaze, not harming anyone, replying to Salaam, etc.” It is apparent that a female will not expose her private parts or Satr on the road, hence it refers to not looking at strange women. Also, an (impermissible) glance is referred to as an arrow from the poisonous arrows of Shaytaan.

In conclusion, lowering the gaze refers to not looking at strange women and not looking at the Satr of women, etc. thus a person that casts lustful glances is cursed by Allah Ta’ala.

2. Allama Teebee Rahimahullah has written in the commentary of Mishkaat Sharif that the meaning of “the brother-in-law is like death” is, a female should be cautious of the brother-in-law just as she is cautious about death. In other words, the brother-in-law is danger. The explanation by Allama Teebee Rahimahullah is general that one should be always cautious of the brother-in-law in every way and never be in seclusion with him. This is the explanation recorded in the commentary of Bukhari Sharif as well. Being a non-Mahram to the brother-in-law, she is required to observe proper Purdah from him. If mixing freely and interacting with him was acceptable, then he wouldn’t have been referred to as a danger.

In conclusion, there are many deviated scholars who will always attempt to misinterpret the verses of the Quraan Sharif and Ahadith-e-Mubarakah to suit themselves. We should therefore be on our guard at all times and only take our Deen from the rightly guided Ulama-e-Haqq. Imaam Maalik Rahimahullah and Ibn Sireen Rahimhaullah have stated, “See from who you are taking your Deen.” In other words, don’t take your Deen from people who misinterpret matters of Deen and present a distorted version of Deen. Also, there is no benefit in debating with them as their hearts have been sealed and they will not accept the truth even though a million proofs are presented to them.

 (وَعَنِ الْحَسَنِ) أَيِ الْبَصْرِيِّ (مُرْسَلًا قَالَ: بَلَغَنِي) أَيْ عَنِ الصَّحَابَةِ (أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – قَالَ: لَعَنَ اللَّهُ النَّاظِرَ) أَيْ بِالْقَصْدِ وَالِاخْتِيَارِ (وَالْمَنْظُورَ إِلَيْهِ) أَيْ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ وَاضْطِرَارٍ، وَحُذِفَ الْمَفْعُولُ لِيَعُمَّ جَمِيعَ مَا لَا يَجُوزُ النَّظَرُ إِلَيْهِ تَفْخِيمًا لِشَأْنِهِ (رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ)  – مرقاة المفاتيح ص2059 ج5

 صلى الله عليه وسلم -: “لعن الله الناظر والمنظور إليه” (1) كما قاله المناوي في (كنوز الحقائق) و (مسند الفردوس) للديلمي وألم ينظر بما أمر الله لنبيه في سورة النور: {قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ} [النور: 30] قوله: {يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ} أي: ليطبقوا جوفنهم عن النظر إلى ما لا يحل النظر إليه، قوله: {وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ} أي: ليستروا فروجهم عن نظر الأجانب، وقوله: {ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ} أي: غض البصر عن النظر بالمحرمات أظهر لقلوبهم، قوله: {إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ} أي: لا يخفى عليه إجالة أبصارهم واستعمال سائر حواسهم وتحريك جوارحهم وما يقصدون بها فليكونوا على حذر منه تعالى في كل حركة وسكون هذا خلاصة ما قاله البيضاوي والشيخ زادة (المهيا كشف اسرار الموطا ص300 ج4)

 قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ إعرابها كإعراب يقيموا الصلاة في [إبراهيم: 31] وقد ذكر ومن أبصارهم للتبعيض، والمراد غض البصر عما يحرم، والاقتصار به على ما يحل، وقيل: معنى التبعيض فيه أن النظرة الأولى لا حرج فيها، ويمنع ما بعدها، وأجاز الأخفش أن تكون من زائدة، وقيل: هي لابتداء الغاية، لأن البصر مفتاح القلب والغض المأمور به هو عن النظر إلى العورة، أو إلى ما لا يحل من النساء، أو إلى كتب الغير وشبه ذلك مما يستر، وحفظ الفروج المأمور به: هو عن الزنا، وقيل: أراد ستر العورة، والأظهر أن الجميع مراد (تفسير ابن جزي ص66 ج2)

هَذَا أَمْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لِعِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ عَمَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَلَا يَنْظُرُوا إِلَّا إِلَى مَا أَبَاحَ لَهُمُ النَّظَرَ إِلَيْهِ (8) ، وَأَنْ يَغُضُّوا (9) أَبْصَارَهُمْ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ، فَإِنِ اتَّفَقَ أَنْ وَقَعَ الْبَصَرُ عَلَى مُحرَّم مِنْ غَيْرِ قَصْدٍ، فَلْيَصْرِفْ بَصَرَهُ عَنْهُ سَرِيعًا، كَمَا رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي صَحِيحِهِ (ابن كثير ص41 ج6)

وَفِي الصَّحِيحِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْجُلُوسَ عَلَى الطُّرُقَاتِ”. قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، لَا بُدَّ لَنَا مِنْ مَجَالِسِنَا، نَتَحَدَّثُ فِيهَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “إِنْ أَبَيْتُمْ، فَأَعْطُوا الطَّرِيقَ حقَّه”. قَالُوا: وَمَا حَقُّ الطَّرِيقِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: “غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ، وكَفُّ الْأَذَى، وَرَدُّ السَّلَامِ، وَالْأَمْرُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَالنَّهْيُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ” (صحيح البخاري)

وقال الشيخ في شرح السنة: معناه الحمو كالموت تحذر منه المرأة كما تحذر من الموت.(شرح المشكاة للطيبي ص2269 ج7)

وقال ثعلب: سألت ابن الأعرابى عن قوله: الحمو الموت، فقال: هذه كلمة تقولها العرب مثلاً كما تقول: الأسد الموت، أى لقاؤه الموت، وكما تقول: السلطان نار، أى مثل النار، فالمعنى احذروه كما تحذرون الموت. (شرح صحيح التخاري لابن بطال ص359 ج7)

       (المسالك في شرح الموطا مالك ص335 ج1) وكان مالكٌ – رحمه الله – يقولُ: إنَّ هذا العِلْمَ دِينٌ، فانظُروا عمَّن تأخذُون دِينَكُم

 ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:-  20 Dhul Hijjah 1444 / 10 July 2023