Hi, I’m Sikh, I am looking for clarity on this subject.
I would like to know what the Qur’an says about grooming and manipulation of girls (specifically non-Muslims) by some, so called Muslim gangs claiming that their actions are justified in the Qur’an.
It came to my awareness when a Muslim friend said he was disgusted by a leaflet which was going around encouraging Muslims to seduce Sikh girls in order to convert them and also the various cases where Muslim groomers have dressed as Sikhs to manipulate and drug Sikh girls as a tactic. I mean no disrespect, there have been a scary number of these cases and they are angering many in the Sikh community.
Some of them say they are practising ‘taqiyya’ to convert them to Islam so they get them to Heaven.
Can you provide a detailed answer on Islam’s position on grooming and manipulating girls, does the Qur’an justify this? I look forward to your answer. I hope you are able to clear a lot of the misconceptions.
All praises belong to Allāh, the Creator Who is uncreated, the One without equal, the Independent above all that is falsely ascribed to Him who has blessed us with the bounty of Islām and made us from amongst the Muslims. Infinite salutations and peace be upon all messengers of Allāh, in particular the final Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم , his purified family, his esteemed companions, and whomsoever follows in his blessed footsteps.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ
” ‘O believers! If any disobedient brings you some tidings, verify it, lest you unknowingly cause suffering to some people, and then remain repenting for what you did.”
[Qur’ān 49:6]
Unfortunately we live in times of great trials and tribulations wherein there is great propaganda and excitement. There is a necessity for rigorously verified evidence to exist prior to giving a conclusive religious verdict against a group of people or even formulating an opinion. The Prophet of Allāh, Muhammad, صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, said:-
كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ
“It is enough falsehood for a man to relate everything he hears.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 4992]
The former command from the Qur’ān and the latter from the Prophet’s traditions (along with many others of similar commands) are sufficient to educate a man not to believe in all that is presented at face value. The circumstances that you have addressed in your letter may be factually accurate where such individuals exist but it is equally plausible that such accounts are fabricated to further increase Islamaphobia and alienate Muslims in testing times.
Allāh has commanded in the Qur’ān:-
وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“And there should be a group among you that invites to goodness, and enjoins good deeds and forbids immorality; it is they who are the successful.”
[Qur’ān 3:104]
It is necessary for a Muslim to enjoin good, to promote virtue and to forbid vice. All that you have mentioned is an abomination and counter to the values of Islām. There exists emphatic warnings for those individuals who remain quiet whilst witnessing corruption, such people are deemed as unsuccessful, then what of those individuals who are actively engaging in the corruption.
The Prophet of Allāh, Muhammad, صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:-
مَنْ رَأَى مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ
“Whoever sees something evil should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot do even that, then in his heart. That is the weakest degree of faith.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i 5008]
A true Muslim is he who physically changes wrong. Grooming is a deplorable sin that encompasses numerous sins collated together. These are mentioned below.
SEDUCING TO CONVERT
Primarily let us acknowledge the words of Allāh when He says in the Qur’ān:-
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ
“There is no compulsion at all in religion.”
[Qur’ān 2:256]
This verse was revealed in Madinah when the Muslims had the upper hand over the non-Muslims, Allāh commanded that there is no compulsion in religion and according to authentic scholars in fourteen centuries of rich scholarship, this verse means; “do not force anyone to become Muslim, for Islām is plain and clear, and its proofs and evidence are plain and clear.”
Therefore, there is no need to force anyone (or trick, or seduce etc) to embrace Islām. Rather, whomsoever Allāh directs to Islām, opens his heart for it and enlightens his mind, will embrace Islām with certainty. Whomsoever’s heart Allāh blinds and seals his hearing and sight, then he will not benefit from being forced to embrace Islām. The religion of Islām is above having such disgusting methods to increase its followers. It is impermissible to force anyone physically or verbally into Islām.
Allāh further commands the believers in the Qur’ān:-
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“(O Prophet Muhammad) Command the Muslim men to keep their gaze low and to protect their private organs; that is much purer for them; indeed Allah is Aware of their deeds.”
[Qur’ān 24:30]
In another verse Allāh has said:-
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا
“And do not approach adultery – it is indeed a shameful deed; and a very evil way.”
[Qur’ān 17:32]
From the above two mentioned verses it is clear that fornication and whatever that leads to it, such as touching, kissing, embracing, informal interaction are all considered to be major sins in Islām, hence must be avoided at all times.
A Muslim is not permitted to fornicate or adulterate with another individual irrespective whether the other individual is a Muslim or non-Muslim, the Islamic legal punishment is the same in both scenarios which is indicative that the enormity of the sin is the same.
Thus we are able to deduce, for a Muslim to seduce a woman and fornicate or adulterate with her is an enormity, this sin exacerbated if the Muslims intention is to convert her to Islām.
DRESSING AS SIKHS
Allāh Most High says in the Qur’ān:-
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
“Undoubtedly, you have the best in the following of the Messenger (Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم), for him who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.”
[Qur’ān 33:21]
A believer follows the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in all aspects of his life, from his physical appearance through to the adornment of his attire and there exists emphatic ruling against the contrary.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to dress in the clothing which is symbolic of any other religion. It is found in Sunan Abu Dawud under the section of clothing that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:-
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
”He who imitates a people is from amongst them.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 4031]
If a Muslim chooses to overlook the physical appearance of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and chooses to adopt the clothing of the non-Muslims, then the warning of Allāh suffices to deter him:-
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا
“And whoso opposes the Messenger (Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم (in any affair)) after the right way has become clear and follows a way other than the way of Muslims, We shall leave him on his own conditions and shall cause him to enter Hell; and what is an evil place of returning.”
[Qur’ān 4:115]
So we can understand from the above mentioned evidence that a Muslim imitating non-Muslims is a misguided Muslim. As for the claim there are Muslim groomers who dress as Sikhs in order to deceive and manipulate this is far worse.
Allāh most Exalted has said in the Qur’ān:-
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
” ‘O believers! Firmly establish the commands of Allah, giving testimony with justice – and do not let the enmity of anyone tempt you not to do justice; be just; that is nearer to piety – and fear Allah; indeed Allah is Well Aware of your deeds.”
[Qur’ān 5:8]
A Muslim is one who stands firmly for Allāh and is pure, just and truthful in his speech and actions in all situations whether they are in his favour or not. A Muslim is not allowed to lie and Allāh has commanded:-
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“O believers! Fear Allah, and be with the truthful (in words and actions).”
[Qur’ān 9:119]
And Allāh has warned:-
لَّعْنَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ
“The curse of Allah upon the liars.”
[Qur’ān 3:61]
From the above evidence we are able to deduce that it is a sin for a Muslim to adopt the clothing of people from other religions. For a Muslim to pretend he is a non-Muslim with the intention of deceiving people to Islām is a far greater enormity which cannot be justified, for Allāh Most High has said:-
وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“And do not mix the truth with falsehood, nor purposely conceal the truth.”
[Qur’ān 2:42]
The Muslims believe they are on the truth, for them to engage in practices where they adopt practices which they perceive to be falsehood in order to further the truth is misguidance and unfounded.
Taqiyyah is commonly practised by a minority group of people who are deemed heretics. The vast majority of Muslims which constitutes to over a billion individuals are firm believers in the Prophetic words that a liar cannot be a believer:-
وَحَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ جَبَانًا فَقَالَ ” نَعَمْ ” . فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَيَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَخِيلاً فَقَالَ ” نَعَمْ ” . فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَيَكُونُ الْمُؤْمِنُ كَذَّابًا فَقَالَ ” لاَ ” .
Malik related to me that Safwan ibn Sulaym said, “The Messenger of Allāh , صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, was asked, ‘Can the believer be a coward?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He was asked, ‘Can the believer be a miser?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He was asked, ‘Can the believer be a liar?’ He said, ‘No.’ “
[Muwatta Malik 56:19]
USAGE OF DRUGS AND DRINK
Allāh Most High has said:-
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
” ‘O People who Believe! Wine (all intoxicants), and gambling, and idols, and the darts are impure – the works of Satan, therefore keep avoiding them so that you may succeed.”
[Qur’ān 5:90]
The Qur’ān explicitly states intoxicants are works of Satan and the Prophet of Allāh, Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:-
كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ
“All intoxicants are unlawful (haraam).”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i 5728]
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم further said:-
مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ
“Whatever causes intoxication in large amounts, a small amount of it is (also) unlawful.”
[Vol. 1, Book 30, Hadith 3393]
In another narration it states:-
لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فِي الْخَمْرِ عَشَرَةً عَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَالْمَعْصُورَةَ لَهُ وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةَ لَهُ وَبَائِعَهَا وَالْمُبْتَاعَةَ لَهُ وَسَاقِيَهَا وَالْمُسْتَقَاةَ لَهُ ” . حَتَّى عَدَّ عَشَرَةً مِنْ هَذَا الضَّرْبِ
The Messenger of Allāh صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم cursed ten with regard to wine: The one who squeezes (the material of intoxicant), the one who asks for it to be squeezed, the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one for whom it is brought, the one who pours it, the one for whom it is poured, until he counted ten like this.
So we see that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has cursed anyone who takes any form of intoxicant. Drugs and drink are not permitted in Islām. For an individual to use such things to convert people is cursed and misguided.
JUSTIFICATION USING THE QUR’ĀN
The justification of grooming does not exist in the Qur’ān. Anyone who is attempting to justify such misguided practices is misguided. Islām has a rich history of scholarship that spans over 1400 years, if this scholarship is overlooked and an individual or a group attempt to justify their actions using the religion of Islām as a basis, their justification is discredited as it is counter to the authentic understanding of Islām. No viable authentic scholar of Islām would sanction such actions as justified rather you will find that all the scholars abhor such practices.
The Qur’ān is a source of guidance for the one who desires to be guided and it is a source of misguidance for whom misguidance is ordained. Allāh Most High has said:-
يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ
“He misleads many thereby, and He guides many thereby; and with it He misleads only those who are rebellious.”
[Qur’ān 2:26]
For any individual or group to knowingly and deliberately declaring something Islamically unlawful to be permissible is a major sin and according to the consensus of scholars it is an act of disbelief. Those individuals engaging in grooming, dressing as Sikhs, intoxicating, fornicating and adulterating and claiming all these acts are justified in Islām are misguided and committing an act of disbelief.
This again is exacerbated if these individuals are propagating this vice as a virtue.
SUMMARY
As initially mentioned Islām is a religion with over 1.5 billion adherents and a rich history spanning fourteen centuries. Through the Quranic evidence it is proven beyond doubt that grooming and all those vices encompassed within it are counter to Islām. If these groups exist and are engaging in such practices it is further nonsensical to attribute their abhorrent ways to the beauty of Islām by them or by those who are criticising them.
The words of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم initially mentioned now make further sense:-
كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ
“It is enough falsehood for a man to relate everything he hears.”
[Sunan Abi Dawud 4992]
Any sane, believing, practising, God-fearing Muslim would never engage in grooming. We do not negate that such individuals may exist but if you are readily willing to believe that they exist based on hearsay then why don’t you equally believe in the possibility of people who have an animosity towards Islām, people who fear the womenfolk of their faith adopting Islām, fabricating such leaflets and stories with the intention of defaming Islām and deterring people from the beauty of Islām. And Allāh guides whomsoever He pleases and He misguides whomsoever He pleases.
Allah knows best.
Answered by Ustadh Asid Shafait
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