Halal Until Proven Haram - Surah An-Nisa 4:24

Explanantion:


This verse is talking about marriage. After listing the women who it is Haram to marry, Allah then states that any other woman (who doesn’t fall into these categories) is Halal to marry.

However, scholars use this verse as one of many evidences for the principle of Fiqh regarding worldly things, “everything is Halal until proven Haram,” This is part of the beauty, ease and mercy of Islam that Allah usually lists the Haram because the Haram are countable, while the Halal are too many to list.

We tend to focus on things which are Haram, forgetting that there is so much Halal out there for us. While others declare things Haram on the flimsiest reasons, forgetting that Allah had left things Halal out of mercy to us. We shouldn’t rush to call something Haram without clear evidence, as to make the Halal Haram is to set yourself up as a legislator and partner with Allah.

Another point to note is that this principle applies only to things of this world like marriage, business and entertainment. As for acts of worship then all acts of worship are innovation, except that which is proven to be Sunnah.


Source: Verse of the Day Collection by Abu Muawiyah Ismail Kamdar