The Spring Souk—An Impermissible Souk!

 Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said once to Hadhrat Jibraeel Alaihis salaam:  “O Jibraeel! Which land is evil?’ Jibraeel Alaihis salaam said: ‘I do not know. I shall ask my Rabb Azza Wa Jal.’ Then Jibraeel Alaihis salaam departed and after some time returned and said: ‘O Muhammad! Verily, you had asked me: ‘Which land is evil?’ I had said that I do not know. I have asked my Rabb Azza Wa Jal: ‘Which land is evil?’ He said: “The souks of the land.” (Musnad Ahmad)

This year, again a ‘Spring Souk’, which is discouraged in Deen due to the reasons mentioned further on, is to take place. By now, Muslims with some form of understanding will be very sure of these type of merrymaking events, shows, shopping sprees and similar events are impermissible. The list of sins perpetrated at such venues are too many.

While ‘Souks’ are impermissible to attend, the emphasis increases for this Souk dubbed as ‘Spring Souk’ in which the organizers have restricted it to ladies and children only. Firstly, Muslims are discouraged to go to any ‘Souk’ especially like the one which takes place in Durban due to the many, many sins one gets involved in. Secondly, it is impermissible to allow ladies into such dens of evil and vice. Thirdly, this ‘Spring Souk’, unfortunately, is taking place in the name of one of the Khanqahs in Gauteng which is named under a very senior and pious Sheikh Rahmatullahi alaih. Hence, women will be called out of their homes under the name of this great Sheikh Rahmatullahi alaih. How sad won’t the Sheikh Rahmatullahi alaih feel in his Qabr if he is informed of this?!

In Islaam — the Deen which was preached by Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam and practiced by the Sahaabah Radhiyallahu anhum, a woman is not allowed to leave her home unless for a dire need. Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, “Women may not emerge from their homes except when compelled to (by circumstances.)” (Tabraani)

For a Muslimah to go to a ‘Spring Souk’ is NOT a dire need, nor is she ‘compelled’ to do so. In fact, she is compelled by the Hadith to remain in her home.

At this ‘Spring Souk’, they are calling ladies to leave their homes without being accompanied by any Mahram and present themselves on the worst of lands as the Hadith mentioned under the heading. For a Muslimah to be accompanied by a Mahram to a ‘Souk’ is discouraged, but this increases at this ‘Spring Souk’ as she will attend alone with no Mahram.

One should not be made to believe that such events are permissible and are good causes as the money will be spent for the Masjid and Madrasah. In fact, these events are engineered by ‘Shaitaan’ into getting more and more of his (Shaitaan’s) snares (women) out of their homes in order to increase Fitnahs, Zina and sins in the community.

As far as the aspect of using the money on the Masjid and Madrasah expense etc. is concerned, the answer is very simple. One need not to be a rocket scientist to understand that earning a profit and using the money for a good cause in a Haraam way, for example by selling Khanaazeer (swines), or liquor, is Haraam. Likewise, to organize a Haraam and un-Islamic event and call it a ‘Souk’, or ‘Spring Souk’, and call ladies out of their homes, thereafter using the profits on any good cause also renders it Haraam.

In conclusion, note the following:

“(O Women!) Remain firmly glued in your homes…” (Qur’an)

“When a woman emerges (from the sanctuary of her home), Shaitaan casts surreptitious glances at her.” That is, Shaitaan lies in ambush for females who leave the holy precincts of their homes and utilizes them to spread Fitnah in the community.

“The woman is ‘Awrah (concealment). When she emerges (from her house) Shaitaan looks at her.” (Tirmizi)

Why do we speak out?

Remaining silent when Haraam is committed is a form of encouraging that Haraam. It is upon us to speak out the bitter truth and to make Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahi anil Munkar (encourage good and forbid evil). This is the quality with which this Ummat has been sent. And on the basis of this quality is this Ummat praised in the Qur’aan Majeed in the following Aayat:

“You are the best nation selected for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong (i.e. make Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahi anil Munkar).”

The easy reason why this Souk is Haraam:

Would any Sahaabiyah Radhiyallahu anha have attended this ‘Spring Souk’?