Returning to the Freedom God Gave — Not the Restrictions Scholars Invented
The Quran presents a simple, balanced religion free from human-made burdens. However, throughout history scholars and traditional systems have created prohibitions never authorized by God. The Quran warns: “Do not prohibit the good things God has made lawful to you” (5:87). This page highlights common examples of practices wrongly labeled forbidden despite having no Quranic basis.
Dogs as Pets
The Quran never prohibits keeping dogs. In fact, the righteous youths in the cave were accompanied by their dog (18:18), portrayed with dignity. Claims of impurity or ritual contamination come only from fabricated traditions, not scripture.
Head Coverings for Women or Men
The Quran does not command women or men to cover their heads. It instructs modesty and covering the chest, not the head. Headscarves, turbans, and elaborate dress rules arose from culture, not revelation.
Dress Code for Women
The Quran requires modesty, dignity, and covering the chest. It does not mandate face coverings, hair coverings, specific colors, materials, or full-body garments. Such restrictions come from scholars and cultural practices, not the Quran.
Only Four Foods Are Prohibited
The Quran lists four prohibited foods: dead animals, blood, the meat of pigs, and anything dedicated to other than God (6:145). This list is complete and repeated. Everything else is lawful unless God explicitly forbade it.
Freedom of Religion
The Quran states unequivocally: “There shall be no compulsion in religion” (2:256). Therefore, coercion, apostasy laws, or forced belief have no Quranic foundation. Faith must be freely chosen.
Cutting Off Hands
The phrase traditionally interpreted as physical amputation (5:38) is an idiom meaning to stop or restrict the thief’s ability to steal. The Quran focuses on justice, reform, fairness, and repentance—never mutilation.
Menstruating Women and Worship
The Quran only prohibits sexual intercourse during menstruation (2:222). It does not forbid prayer, fasting, entering mosques, touching scripture, or participation in religious duties. All other restrictions are human-made.
Music and Arts
The Quran does not prohibit music, instruments, poetry, singing, or visual art. Prophet David was gifted with beautiful recitation, and God beautified the earth for human enjoyment (18:7). Prohibitions on art arise entirely from later traditions.
Why Scholars Prohibited What God Allowed
Excessive restrictions often arose from cultural conservatism, fear of moral decline, political interests, patriarchal norms, or fabricated sayings. God warns against inventing prohibitions: “Do not say falsely, ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful,’ to fabricate lies about God” (16:116).
The Quranic Principle
Everything is lawful unless God prohibited it. He has fully detailed what is forbidden (6:119), made the religion easy, and imposed no hardship. Human beings introduced complications that God did not authorize.
Conclusion
This page restores Quranic freedom by clarifying what God did not prohibit. The Quran is simple; humans complicated it. God gives freedom; scholars created restriction. True submission means returning to God alone, the Quran alone, and the ease intended by divine guidance.