Q.1. Many Muslims use the word “holy” in reference to several nouns. Thus, they refer to Makkah as the holy city, and they say the holy Kaaba, the holy Qur’an, or the holy prophet. They even speak of the holy month of Ramadan. Is this correct, considering that the word “holy” is the translation of one of God’s attributes, Al-Quddoos.
Q.2. Taweez, or amulet, is forbidden in Islam. However, some scholars maintain that if the amulet only contains some Verses or quotations from the Qur’an, then they are appropriate to use. Please comment.
Q.3. Please explain the Hadith that says: “Treat people according to grades.” It seems to suggest that inequality is acceptable.
Zainab
A.1. What you say is largely true. Al-Quddoos is an attribute of God, and this adjective is not used in reference to anyone or any thing other than Him. However, some derivatives of the same root, such as Muqaddas, which also means holy, are usable in connection with other things. Thus we have in Verse 21 of Surah 5 in the Qur’an the reference to the “holy land”, which is Palestine. Yet in Islamic literature, the word is not used to refer to the Prophet, the Qur’an, any place, day, month or period of time. It has simply crept into Islamic speech as people began to be influenced by the use of second languages like English and French. You may have noticed that we do not use it in “Islam in Perspective”, unless there is a special reason, like answering this question.
A.2. Amulets, charms, talismans, and the like must never be used, not even when they contain only Verses of the Qur’an. The Prophet prays that God does not grant the purpose for which they are worn, no matter what it is. Needless to say, a prayer by the Prophet is always answered. We say this applies even when they include Verses of the Qur’an because the Qur’an is not revealed for such a purpose. It is a book of guidance which God has sent from on high so that people could implement it in their lives, not to keep it for blessing. When the Qur’an is read we should listen to it attentively, understand it and conduct our life according to its teachings.
A.3. The Hadith does not speak of grades. It speaks of treating people in the way that is due to them. You thus do not address your teacher at university in the same way as you address a fellow student. The respect you show to your teacher is due to him or her because of their status. It does not mean that your friends and colleagues are of a lesser degree; they are in a different position. This applies at all levels and in all situations. All people are equal in as far as their status before God is concerned, but they have different positions in the social order, which should be respected. May I also point out that the translation of the Hadith is rather inaccurate. I would translate it as: “Assign to people what is due to them.” This reflects the sense of the Hadith better.
