Gheerah

Ghayrah (Arabic: غيرة) (sometimes transliterated Gheera, Ghirah, or Ghayra) is an Arabic word which means "protective jealousy"[1] or "justifiable jealousy."[2] From the Islamic perspective, it is seen as a good and necessary type of jealousy that men have for the womenfolk (e.g. their wife, their sisters, and their daughters)[1] and is perceived as a necessary part of Islam.[3] The concept asserts that all Muslim men should have a collective sense of protectiveness for Muslim women.[1][4]

Background

The term is based on the following Quran verses:[1]

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women" (Holy Quran - Surah An-Nisa: 34)[1][5]
"Oh you who believe, Protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones." (Holy Quran - Surah At-Tahrim: 6):[1]

Men who do not have Ghayrah are called Dayyuth (Arabic: ديوث). Being a Dayyuth is a major sin and a description of what is deemed an evil characteristic can be found in Az-Zahabi's book of Major Sins (Al-Kaba'ir).[1] The prophet Mohammed and his companions were known to have very strong Ghayrah.[1][2][6]

Although it is claimed that the concept of Ghayrah is the source of honor killings in the Islamic world,[7][4][8] Salafi scholar Muhammad Al-Munajjid asserts that punishment of any crime is reserved for the Islamic ruler[9] noting that the penalty for fornication (unmarried sexual relationships for unmarried people) is 100 lashes.[9] As it is a Muslim man's role as the guardian of his family, he is responsible for those in his custody and it is his duty to observe the conduct of his wife and children; although this does allow him to be overly suspicious or exceed the acceptable standards of supervision.[10] For conservative Muslims, the enforcment of the wearing of the hijab by a Muslim man's wife and daughters[11][12] and the prevention of the free mingling between the sexes for those under a Muslim man's guardianship[11] are necessary actions under the concept of Ghirah to preserving one's honor. Per Salafi scholar Al-Munajjid, if a Muslim man suspects that certain family members will commit an immoral act, he is allowed to tie up or otherwise detain them in order to prevent the action.[13]

Salafi scholar Muhammad Al-Munajjid indicates that the concept also applies to protecting the Prophet Mohammed from blasphemy although the determination of guilt and application of the penalty (execution) is to be solely applied by Islamic authorities.

Gheerah in the Hadith

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Brunei Times: "Reviving our sense of Ghirah" by Fatima Barakatullah November 7, 2008
  2. 1 2 World of islam Glossary: Gheera retrieved January 2, 2014
  3. ↑ Ash Shahawi, Majdi Muhammad Marital Discord
  4. 1 2 3 4 OnIslam: "Are Muslim Men Jealous or Selfish? - Selfish Jealousy Vs. Honorable Protectiveness" by Zainab bint Younus 10 February 2015
  5. ↑ Saudi gazette: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women" May 15, 2015
  6. ↑ Islam QA Fatwa 49024: "He wants to look at women in the street with the intention of proposing marriage" retrieved February 12, 2014
  7. ↑ Daniel Akbari and Paul Tetreault Honor Killing: A Professional's Guide to Sexual Relations and Ghayra Violence from the Islamic Sources Jan 8, 2015
  8. ↑ "The Trigger for ‘Honour Killing’ – Islamic cleric Said Rageah on Manhood, ‘ghirah’ or ‘jealousy’" by Tarek S. Fatah December 4, 2014
  9. 1 2 Islam QA Fatwa 101972: Ruling on honour killings retrieved December 2, 2014 |Even if we assume that she deserves to be executed (if she was previously-married and committed zina), no one should do that but the ruler.
  10. ↑ OnIslam: "Husband’s Moderate Jealousy" retrieved February 12, 2015
  11. 1 2 Saudi Gazette: "Beauty, virtue and obligation of Hijab" 12 February 2015
  12. ↑ University of Essex Islamic Society: "The Virtues of Hijab" retrieved February 12, 2015
  13. ↑ IslamQA: Fatwa 8980: "Who is the one who should carry out the hadd punishment for zina?" retrieved February 12, 2015 | The family of the woman should prevent her from committing immoral actions and should prevent the things that lead to that, such as going out, speaking to non-mahram men, and everything that may enable her to commit evil. If the only way is to detain her and tie her up, then they have the right to do that, so they should detain her in the house. But as for killing her, they should not do that
  14. ↑ Al BaSeerah: "My Family, My Home, My Jannah" by the Shaykh Abdullaah Al-Ghudyaan Mar-Apr 2009 ~ Rabi` al-Awwal-Rabi` ath-Thaanee 1430
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