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Haram (; ) is an Arabic term meaning 'taboo'. This may refer to either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowledge; or, in direct contrast, to an evil and thus "sinful action that is forbidden to be done". The term also denotes something "set aside", thus being the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew concept חרם]] () and the concept of sacer]] (cf. sacred) in Roman law and religion. In Fiqh, haram is used to refer to any act that is forbidden by Allah and is one of the five Ahkam (الأحكام الخمسة ) that define the morality of human action.
Acts that are haram are typically prohibited in the religious texts of the Quran and the category of haram is the highest status of prohibition. Something that is considered haram remains prohibited no matter how good the intention is or how honorable the purpose is. Sins, good, and meritorious acts are placed on the (weighing scales) on the Day of Judgement and are weighed according to the sincerity of the doer.American-Arab Message – p. 92, Muhammad Karoub – 2006The Holy City: Jerusalem in the theology of the Old Testament – p. 20, Leslie J. Hoppe – 2000 Views of different or legal schools of thought can vary significantly regarding what is or is not haram based on the scholarly interpretation of the core religious texts (Quran and hadith).The Palgrave Handbook of Spirituality and Business – p. 142, Professor Luk Bouckaert, Professor Laszlo Zsolnai – 2011
By bringing up the word "benefit" as an opposite to "sin", verse 2:219 of the Quran clarifies that haram is that which is harmful, in opposition to that which brings benefit; therefore, sin is that which hurts others or oneself.
An Islamic principle related to haram is that if something is prohibited or forbidden, then anything that leads to it is also considered a haram act. A similar principle is that the sin of haram is not limited to the person who engages in the prohibited activity, but the sin also extends to others who support the person in the activity, whether it be material or moral support.
The five categories of or the hierarchy of acts from permitted to non-permitted are:
The two types of haram are:
The religious term haram, based on the Quran, is applied to:
Colloquially, the word haram takes on different meanings and operates more closely as a dichotomy with halal, which denotes the permissible. In Arabic-speaking countries, saying "haram" can mean 'what a shame' or 'what a pity' (this meaning has been adopted by Modern Hebrew slang as well and is alike to the Italian use of sin]]). The term can be used formally as a method for chastising strangers who behave inappropriately, or between friends as a form of teasing. The word is also used to instruct children in how to behave by telling them that harming other children or animals is haram, among other things.
The binary concepts of halal and haram are used in a number of cultural phrases, most notably (boy) and (girl) . These phrases are often used to refer to appropriate spouses in marriage, and stand in contrast to or , which are used as insults. In this case, the term haram is used to mean ill-mannered or indecent, instead of strictly meaning 'unlawful'.
Halal and haram are also used in regards to money (). means ill-gotten money, and brings destruction on those who make their living through such means.
These cultural interpretations of what is haram influence and are influenced by the legal definitions used at a local level. This means that popular conceptions of haram are partly based on formal Islamic jurisprudence and partly on regional culture, and the popular conceptions, in turn, change how the legal system defines and punishes haram actions.
In terms of marriage proposals, it is considered haram for a Muslim man to propose to a divorced or widowed woman during her (the waiting period during which she is not allowed to marry again). The man is able to express his desire for marriage, but cannot execute an actual proposal. It is also forbidden for a Muslim man to propose to a woman who is married to another man.
Relating to the topic of marriage, there is a common consensus that it is unholy and against the word of God to have romantic relations with someone of the same gender. This idea is not explicitly stated in the Quran, but is heavily frowned upon by the Islamic community.
In Islamic law, it is considered haram for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man. However, Muslim men can marry Christian or Jewish women.
Polygyny is permissible (a man can have up to 4 wives), but polyandry (a woman having multiple husbands) is forbidden.
All business and trade practices that do not result in a free and fair exchange of goods and services are considered haram, such as bribery, stealing, and gambling. Therefore, all forms of deceit and dishonesty in business are prohibited in Islam.
Many Islamic jurists and religious bodies, including Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta of Saudi Arabia, have considered MLM trade to be haram, the reasons behind which are as follows: in this process, followings are related – exchange without labor and labor without exchange, contract on another contract or condition on another condition, similarity with (interest), similarity with gambling, widespread uncertainty of profits and losses, not everyone benefiting equally, financial fraud and torture, lying and exaggeration, etc.
It is considered haram for both men and women to wear clothing that fails to cover the body properly (which stated in clothing guidance, the term ) and clothes that are transparent. Additionally, Islam prohibits excess beautifying that involves the altering of one's physical appearance. In Sunni sects, physical alterations such as , teeth filing, and Plastic surgery are all considered haram.
Some Islamic sects also prohibit the use of gold and silver utensils and pure silk spreads in the household in order to avoid luxurious lifestyles in the home. Statues are also prohibited in homes, and some Muslims are prohibited from participating in making statues for fear of negating .
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