Istihalah for Days of the Weeks

Istihalah (transformation changes)

The Greeks and Romans named the days of the week after the sun, moon, planets and also after their gods like Tiu (Twia), Woden, Thor, Freya (Fria) and Saturn.

Sunday -- Sun's day
Monday -- Moon's day
Tuesday -- Tiu's day
Wednesday -- Woden's day
Thursday -- Thor's day
Friday -- Freya's day
Saturday -- Saturn's day


But after many centuries later till today, we do not relates the attributes given to the days of the weeks anymore. The dogmas and ideologies that underlay the days of the weeks has gone through changes (istihalah) and became a norm terminology accepted by everyone irregardless of race or religions.

For example; Thursday is no more Thor's Day but only known as the 4th day of the week after Sunday. Or Saturday is not Saturn's Day anymore but the 6th day of the week known only as Saturday. The ideology of attributing a godly figurine to the days of the week has vanished.

In Islam, this is known as 'Istihalah'. This is where something forbidden (haram) has gone through transformation and changed into another permissible matter.

For example; Milk is made of blood and 'digested matters' from the stomach (QS 16:66) which are prohibited for human's consumption. But once it turned into milk, it is allowed for our consumption. Another example is vinegar which origin ingredients is fruits juice turned wine, but once it turned vinegar, it's allowed for human's consumption.



Wallahu'alam