HONOUR KILLING- IT's CRUELTY

An honor killing, or honour killing (also: honor murder) is the homicide of a member of a family or social group by other members, due to the belief of the perpetrators that the victim has brought dishonor upon the family or community. Honor killings are directed mostly against women and girls, but have been extended to men.

The perceived dishonor is normally the result of one of the following behaviors, or the suspicion of such behaviors: dressing in a manner unacceptable to the family or community, wanting to terminate or prevent an arranged marriage or desiring to marry by own choice, especially if to a member of a social group deemed inappropriate, engaging in heterosexual acts outside marriage and engaging in homosexual acts.

Honor killings are acts of vengeance, usually death, committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonor upon the family. A woman can be targeted by (individuals within) her family for a variety of reasons, including: refusing to enter into an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce—even from an abusive husband—or (allegedly) committing adultery. The mere perception that a woman has behaved in a way that "dishonors" her family is sufficient to trigger an attack on her life.

The loose term "honor killing" applies to killing of both males and females in cultures that practice it. For example, during the year 2002 in Pakistan, it is estimated that 245 women and 137 men were killed in the name of Karo-kari in Sindh.

According to Dr. Shahrzad Mojab, a University of Toronto professor of women’s studies, followers of Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity have used their religions as a rationale to commit honour killings. However, Mojab stated that honor killings don't have "any definite connection with religion at all." She also pointed out that honor killings have been practised before any major religion came into existence.

The concept of honour killings, in Pakistan, is part of a cultural tradition prevalent in almost all provinces. It's a custom that is primarily committed against women who are thought to have brought dishonour to their family by engaging in illicit pre-marital or extra-marital relations. In order to restore this honour, a family member then kills the female in question in order to revive family honor. Majority of these victims are females, however, there is a fair amount of men who are murdered in the name of sanctity. 

 As-Salamu Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The blood of a Muslim may not be legally spilt other than in one of three [instances]: the married person who commits adultery; a life for a life; and one who forsakes his religion and abandons the community." (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

There is no such concept in Islam that is called “Honour killing”. Islam holds every soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgression upon it. 

In this context I want to narrate an excerpt regarding "Concept of Honour Killing in Islam" from a  paragraph from article 'This is Cruelty' by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib;

The Quran describes …. When they were informed of receiving a daughter their faces grew black with the thought of their ill-luck and misfortune, their hearts burst with sorrow, they tried to avoid people for the shame they had gained by becoming the fathers of daughters. At that moment they would plan ways to bury alive the small, innocent little baby girls. The Quran underlines the cruelty extended to daughters in the days of Ignorance, “And when the girl buried alive will be asked which sin was the reason of her murder?” Had she been a nuisance to someone? Had she been the cause of misery? Had she murdered someone? What crime had she been guilty of that she was thus disposed of? This question will not only be asked of those callous, idol-worshipping, hard-hearted parents of the days of Ignorance, but this question will be asked too of the innocent sisters and daughters, who are crucified on the cross of “Karo kari” by heartless and cruel brothers, fathers, and husbands of these days of “Enlightenment”. Some of our readers might possibly find these words a bit strong for they have it in their minds that “karo kari” means the adulterer and the adulteress who justify being stoned to death. All our readers are not aware of the secret atrocities that take place under cover of “karo kari’ in rural and tribal communities……it may be personal revenge, usurping inheritances, blackmailing for the hand of innocent daughters or sisters. It is to foil such foul designs that Islam has not allowed the execution of Islamic Law on an individual basis, either by a person or group, even though they are highly respectable and honorable.Consider: Hazrat Halal bin Umayyah is a Companion of Rasoolullah (sallallahu ‘alaihe wassallam). He comes to him and says, “Ya Rasoolullah! I have seen my wife with another man with my own eyes.” But what does Nabi-e-Kareem say? Not to go and cut the virtueless woman’s head off! What does he say but this, “O Halal! Either present four witnesses to your claim or you will be punished for slander.” Halal bin Umayyah says, “I swear by Him who has sent you with right! I am true in what I say and I am hopeful that Allah Ta’ala will send some command that will absolve my back of the punishment” This conversation is going on when Jibraeel Ameen descends with the verses of “Li’aan”. (The details of Li’aan can be seen in books of jurisprudence.) When the verses for Li’aan arrived, that stipulated four witnesses for the evidence of the crime, Sa’ad bin ‘Ubadah from the Helpers (Ansaar) exclaimed, “Ya Rasoolullah! I swear by Allah that if I see my wife with a man I will cut her head off instead of gathering four witnesses.” Hearing him Rasoolullah (sallallahu ‘alaihe wassallam) turned to the rest of the Companions present and said, “Do you wonder at Sa’ad’s honor, when I am more honorable than him, and Allah more so than me.” He sallallahu ‘alaihe wassallam meant that honor does not mean to take the law in your own hands, but honor means to bow your head to the commands of Allah Ta’ala for this will protect your honor. Without doubt none of His commands lack wisdom. If “Honor killing” had been allowed, God knows how many “dishonorable killings” there might have been, covered up as the former. This can be clearly illustrated in this custom of karo kari.

In this point of view Islam does not backed the concept of honour killing it prohibit it.

STOP HONOUR KILLING ITS NOT HONOUR ITS CRUELTY