5 Surprising Things Not Prohibited in the Quran!
1. We Cannot Alter God’s Creation
Those claiming we cannot not alter God’s creation have incorrectly interpreted verses 4:119 and 30:30.
I will misguide them, and I will entice them, and I will command them so they would slit the ears of livestock, and I will command them so they would alter God's creation." Anyone who takes the devil for an ally instead of God has indeed lost; a clear loss.
~ Quran 4:119
In verse 4:119 the devil will command them to alter God’s creation. When we closely study this verse we realise it is specific to altering the creation of livestock. God does not state we cannot alter the human body.
Verse 30:30 also talks of changing God’s creation:
So direct your face towards the religion as a monotheist. Such is the natural instinct that God instilled in the people. There is no changing the creation of God. Such is the correct religion but most people do not know.
~ Quran 30:30
When we consider all surrounding sentences in this verse, we realise God is speaking at a spiritual level. God explains that there is a natural instinct in all of us to worship God alone, which cannot be changed. Again, God never specifically prohibits the alteration of the human body.
In actual fact, humans alter the body all the time! What about dental work, amputations or life-saving surgeries?
2. Women Must Cover Their Hair
The majority of Muslims agree women must cover their hair with a Hijab. They say that it curbs men’s sexual desire.
God however only advises in the Quran to dress modestly, cover the bosoms and lengthen the garment. He does not state to cover the hair!
And say to the believing women to lower their gaze and to guard their private parts, and not to show their beauty spots except that of it which is normally shown. They shall also cover their cleavage with their khimars...
~ Quran 24:31
The word ‘khimar’ in 24:31 is interpreted to mean ‘head cover.’ With this interpretation we could conclude women must cover their hair and cleavage with their hijab, or head covering. However the Arabic word ‘khimar’ literally means ‘cover.’ The word ‘head’ or ‘hair’ is NOT mentioned in 24:31 as they claim.
Any type of cover is called a ‘khimar.’ This includes any item of clothing, because it covers the body. In 24:31 God is telling women to use their ‘khimar’, which could be a dress, blouse, coat, or scarf etc. to cover their cleavage.
Those who cover their hair for religious reasons rather than traditions, have created their own religion with their own laws. They are not following God’s religion in the Quran.
This is to let the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter listen to it, accept it, and thus commit what they are committing
~ Quran 6:113
3. No Relationships
Many Muslims claim relationships outside of marriage are not allowed. They say you cannot date or have a boyfriend/girlfriend. You cannot kiss each other and be romantic. God however only states in the Quran no sex before marriage, and to dress modestly except before your husband. It is certainly possible to be in a relationship, without actually taking your clothes off or having sex!
Most people misinterpret verses 24:30-31, claiming that to “lower their gaze” means to avoid eye-contact and avoid interaction with the opposite sex! The correct meaning of verses 24:30-31 is that the believing men and women must behave modestly and carry themselves humbly between one another. This is a logical interpretation also supported by other Quranic verses. The root word "غض (to lower/reduce)" has been used in other occasions in the Quran:
"It is those who lower (يغضون) their voices in the presence of Allah's messenger and whose hearts Allah has proved to be aware - they will have forgiveness and a great reward."
~ Quran 49:3
We cannot say verse 49:3 means to not speak to the messenger at all just because it says "lower their voice" (which compares with "lower their gaze"). Rather, the believers should not have arrogance or haughtiness in their voice and attitude when interacting with the messenger.
"Go at a moderate pace and lower (واغضض) your voice, for the ugliest of all voices is the braying of donkeys."
~ Quran 31:19
The advice in verse 31:19 is not to sound arrogant and inconsiderate in dealing with people. To "lower the voice" does not mean to literally lower the voice! Verses 24:30-31 are related to acting in a modest and humble way (what we see), while verses 49:3 and 31:19 are about speaking in a humble way (what we hear). Hence the use of the words “gaze” and “voice.” Similarly, in 25:63 the believers do not literally tread the earth gently, but instead they carry themselves in humbleness:
“The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace.”
~ Quran 25:63
God informs us the believing men and women can be friends as they are united in their beliefs:
“The believing men and the believing women, they are the friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong.”
~ Quran 9:71
It is not possible to have friends of the opposite gender and compete in righteousness if you cannot even look at each other! We even find Quranic evidence that women may be present in male-dominated business transactions as witnesses:
"If two men are not there, then call one man and two women out of those you approve as witnesses."
~ Quran 2:282
This would certainly not be possible if God forbid eye-contact between the opposite sex!
Those who ban all relationships have created their own religion, whilst also saying about God what they do not know!
If they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our parents doing it and God has commanded us to do it." Say, "God does not command immorality. Are you saying about God what you do not know?"
~ Quran 7:28
4. No Tattoos
Scholars believe tattoos are forbidden based on a hadith recorded in the Sahih Bukhari. God however does not prohibit tattoos in the Quran! If we can not verify that God prohibited it in the Quran, then it is not a prohibition!
You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. The hearing, the sight and the heart, all these will be questioned for it. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.
~ Quran 17:36
5. We Cannot Masturbate
It is widely known in Islam that all sexual acts, including masturbation, are prohibited until marriage. But can we really find a clear verse in the Quran that prohibits it?
There are a few terms in the Quran relating to sex, which are;
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Sex
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Sexual intercourse
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Sexual relations (‘Relations’ means; the way in which two or more people or things are connected.)
None of these terms even come close to masturbation. All verses involve having a partner or spouse!
Only with their spouses, or those who are rightfully theirs, do they have sexual relations; they are not to be blamed.
~ Quran 23:6
As long as we are not indulging in pornography or anything like that, masturbation alone is certainly not prohibited. In fact, it has many proven health benefits!
Conclusion
We must be careful not to prohibit anything that God did not prohibit in the Quran, otherwise we would be practicing a different religion to the one decreed by God in the Quran. Those who do this must remain in opposition.
Do not utter lies that are portrayed by your tongues: “This is lawful, and that is unlawful,” to fabricate lies and attribute them to God. Those who fabricate lies and attribute them to God will not succeed.
~ Quran 16:116
So whoever fabricates lies about God after that, then these are the transgressors.
~ Quran 3:94
It is indeed a clear sin to fabricate lies and attribute them to God.
Say, “My Lord has only prohibited immoralities, what is apparent of them and what is concealed, and the sins, and unjustified aggression, and that you associate with God that for which He has not brought down any authorisation, and to say about God what you know not.”
~ Quran 7:33
And do not follow what you have no knowledge of. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart, all these will be questioned for it.
~ Quran 17:36
Peace & God Bless