False Prohibitions in Islam: Are Pirates Haram?

Subscribe to the Quran Talk podcast: https://apple.co/2lLnsFE Check out video notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/ Quran translation on iOS: https://apple.co/2C1YGXj Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuranStudy19/ Additional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.org Contact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com [29:68] Who is more evil than one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD, or rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is Hell not a just retribution for the disbelievers?    [6:150] Say, "Bring your witnesses who would testify that GOD has prohibited this or that." If they testify, do not testify with them. Nor shall you follow the opinions of those who reject our revelations, and those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, and those who stray away from their Lord.   [7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His creatures, and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.   There are so many things that Muslims have prohibited that has no basis in the Quran.   Dogs   The common belief among Muslims is that dogs are haram. They base this on a number of Hadith that make the following claims: That angels do not enter homes where there is a dog or angle That it is not only prohibited to keep a dog for anything other than guarding livestock or farm work, but if you do you will have you good deeds taken away from you That the saliva of a dog is najis (unclean) and if it touches a utensil it must be washed 7 times That if a dog, donkey, or women walk in front of someone who is doing Salat that it nullifies one’s Salat. Do any of these claims have any merit according to the Quran? Dogs occur three times in the Quran and each time debunks each of the previous claims   [5:4] They consult you concerning what is lawful for them; say, "Lawful for you are all good things, including what trained dogs and falcons catch for you." You train them according to GOD's teachings. You may eat what they catch for you, and mention GOD's name thereupon. You shall observe GOD. GOD is most efficient in reckoning.   When a dog hunts does it use its paws or mouth to catch the food? Obviously it uses its mouth. Therefore this verse lets us know that God is telling us it is okay to eat the food that hunting dogs catch with us with their mouths. Meaning that there is no prohibition around the saliva of a dog.   There is a difference between choice and prohibition   In a choice someone can choose to do something - in a prohibition we are indicating that if we do something we will be committing a sin   Video with kids sharing an ice cream with a dog. I find that gross, you might not, but by no means is that a sin.   Sleepers of the Cave [18:18] You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror. When the Quran uses the term “we” as in “we turned them to the right side and the left side” this means that the angels participated. So the angels entered their sanctuary despite the fact that there was a dog clearly sleeping among them.   [18:22] Some would say, "They were three; their dog being the fourth," while others would say, "Five; the sixth being their dog," as they guessed. Others said, "Seven," and the eighth was their dog. Say, "My Lord is the best knower of their number." Only a few knew the correct number. Therefore,do not argue with them; just go along with them. You need not consult anyone about this. In these verses, God is emphasizing that it is not important how many there were but that there was a dog with them sleeping with them in the cave. Was the dog doing farm work or guarding livestock - no. Petting Dog