Taraweeh Reflection
Day 8: Juzz 8
Blind following of traditions
📖 Verse 28
Arabic
وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
English
And when they commit an immorality, they say, “We found our forefathers doing it, and Allah commanded us to do it.” Say, “Indeed, Allah does not command immorality. Do you say about Allah what you do not know?”
Using Surah Al-A’raf — Verse 28, the Qur’an criticises a mindset where people justify actions simply by saying:
“We found our forefathers doing it.”
The verse teaches that culture, habit, or ancestry is not proof of religious correctness. Islam requires evidence, understanding, and sincerity, not imitation without knowledge.
Below are realistic examples often discussed by scholars as cases where cultural practice may conflict with Islamic teachings.
(Important: practices vary by region; not all Muslims do these.)
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🕌 1. Cultural Weddings That Violate Islamic Principles
Blind tradition:
•Extravagant weddings to display status.
•Free mixing without limits.
•Huge debt taken just to impress society.
Islamic principle:
•Marriage should be simple and blessed.
•The Prophet ﷺ encouraged ease and moderation.
•Islam discourages waste (isrāf) and showing off.
👉 Culture replaces spirituality when social pressure becomes more important than obedience to Allah.
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💰 2. Dowry Abuse or Financial Demands
Blind tradition:
•Demanding excessive dowry or gifts from the bride’s family.
•Treating marriage as a financial transaction.
Islamic teaching:
•Islam gives mahr to the bride, not her family.
•Oppression or financial exploitation contradicts justice.
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⚰️ 3. Funeral Practices Based on Custom, Not Religion
Blind tradition examples:
•Expensive food gatherings to impress mourners.
•Fixed “third day,” “fortieth day,” or anniversary rituals believed to be religious obligations.
Islamic principle:
•Funerals emphasize simplicity, prayer, and charity.
•Burdening grieving families is discouraged.
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🧿 4. Superstitions and Amulets
Blind tradition:
•Wearing charms believing they independently protect from harm.
•Fear of unlucky days or numbers.
Islamic teaching:
•Protection comes from Allah alone.
•Reliance on objects instead of Allah can contradict tawḥīd (pure monotheism).
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👩🦰 5. Cultural Restrictions on Women Not Found in Islam
Blind tradition:
•Preventing women from going to the mosque or have access to education.
•Denying inheritance rights.
•Forcing marriages without consent.
Islamic teaching:
•Women have inheritance rights.
•Consent in marriage is required.
•No Muslim woman should be prevented from attending a mosque to pray or learn.
• Seeking knowledge is obligatory for all Muslims.
👉 Here culture contradicts clear Islamic law.
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🪦 6. Excessive Veneration of Graves or Saints
Blind tradition:
•Believing deceased individuals grant wishes or control outcomes.
•Directing prayers to people instead of Allah.
Islamic principle:
•Supplication (du‘ā) is directed to Allah alone.
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🎉 7. Religious Innovations Treated as Obligatory
Blind tradition:
•Treating cultural celebrations as if they are required acts of worship.
•Criticizing others who do not follow them.
Islamic teaching:
•Acts of worship must have authentic religious basis.
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🧠 The Core Lesson of Verse 28
The Qur’an challenges three dangerous assumptions:
1.“Our ancestors did it, so it must be right.”
2.“Everyone in our community does it.”
3.“We label culture as religion.”
Islam instead asks Muslims to:
•Seek knowledge.
•Verify practices with Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.
•Worship consciously, not automatically.
https://youtu.be/EU_isheqCw4?si=BxMoSeV8Yg-NbEZy