Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

March 24, 2010
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
4 Comments

Norooz party: ‘I actually had a very good time!’

Questions:

As Salamu Aleikum Imam,

Last year I went to a Norooz party and it was a very secular event to say the least. There was loud music, crazy dancing, and men and women were dressed to impress, to say the least. In fact, some of the girls dressed very revealing, and at one point a girl bent over and all I saw was skin.

My question is such parties permissible? I actually had a very good time and I want to go party again!

Yours truly,

Float like a butterfly sting like a bee

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 8:51 am

Q: Can one celebrate nawrooz just cuz family Is doing it. It is just a get together to get men and women together for a good evening? Would this still be unislamic?

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 6:32 am

Q: Would eating norooz food be haram? Why can a Muslim celebrate norooz but not New Years of American calendar? I am not living in Afghanistan and Iran. Do I make sense? (text)

Q: as salaamu alaikum

I have heard that Nowruz (which is Persian New Year) is bidah to celebrate according to some scholars? Could explain to us why this celebration is an act of bidah, if Persians are following a different calender than Hijri?

Time: Sunday March 21, 2010 at 11:13 pm Continue Reading →

March 23, 2010
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj (agog and magog) — dajjal — the one eyed fellow

Questions:

Assalam Alaikum
Hope this message is reached with good health and iman inshallah.  I am studying the tafseer of Surah al-Kahf and I would appreciate some clarity on the following subjects.

Q:1a) Are Ya’juj and Ma’jooj humans? The tafseer says that they are the sons of Adam.  This tells me that they are not monsters or creatures (as the popular belief) but a mischievous human tribe, that might have unique physical characteristics? (email to site)

Q:1b) who is dajjal. Are agog and magog roaming the earth? Who is agog and magog?  Are they (xxxxxx) (names of current nationalities have been removed. We find such speculative labeling of ethnicity inappropriate.) (text)

Q:2) Do Christians believe in Dhul-Qarnyan?  The ancient Jews at the time of Rasulallah (S) did since they were the ones that told the Meccans to ask the Prophet about 3 questions, one being the man who traveled alot.

Q:3) On the day of Judgment it is said that the people will be divided —into believers and disbelievers groups, and that hell will be presented (in full view) to the disbelievers.  Where do the disobedient fall?  In the believers category until Allah (swt) judges them, or will they be presented hell just like the disbelievers?

Q4) What is meant by the fact that Dhul-Qarynan traveled to where the sun set and where the sun rose?  Is it literally the point of earth where the sun looked the biggest when setting (flat plain like area with no mountains)?  Or is the message simply the fact that he traveled alot from one point of the earth to the other?
JAK

Time: Wednesday March 10, 2010 at 9:18 am Continue Reading →

March 22, 2010
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

culture or religion. Left hand, left leg and other sunnah

Question/observation:

As Salaamu Alaikum,

The last time I ate with some brothers in the Masjid, one of them pointed out that it’s sunna to eat with the right hand (I was using my left).  I was taught to hold a fork in the left hand and a knife in the right, and to set the table accordingly.  I see brothers using their fingers to eat with, and although I consider it gauche I don’t say anything to them about it.  I just figure it’s the custom in whatever country they’re from.  But apparently, in the Masjid, I’m being gauche when I use the etiquette that I was taught.
Another time, I entered the Masjid with my left foot and a brother pointed out that it’s sunna to enter with the right foot and exit with the left.  I usually just put one foot in front of the other to get from here to there and it generally gets me where I’m going, and I don’t give it a thought.
Does it really matter?  What I really want to know is if it’s a matter of sunna or simply a foreign culture to use the right hand and the right foot, and more to the point if it isn’t just a silly superstition or an innovation of some kind.  I’d really appreciate a clarification, if you don’t mind.
Thank you. Continue Reading →

March 18, 2010
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

pray early or later? both! (for some!)

Q:

Asalaamualaykum,

Alright, so as I understand it, certain Madhabs pray earlier than other certain Madhabs.

Now in a scenario when a certain Madhab starts its prayer time earlier (lets say a certain 4:30PM) and another Madhab’s certain time starts at, lets say, 4:50, then what is the ruling if the 4:30PM Madhab wants to do jamaat on a certain prayer early compared to the other certain Madhab? Does the later Madhab pray with the jamaat, or follow his/her own certain ruling.

WalaykumAsalaam, a certain somebody Continue Reading →

March 17, 2010
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

whose chain do you really want to yank?

Questions:

1)Can you kindly comment on the following piece? 2)Are you paid to give any fatwa or religious edict? 3)Do you accept monies from local or people abroad to fund any part of your personal income? 4)for marriages? 5)other local scholar(s) (XXXXXXXXX) have accepted funds.  rulings have changed often. can you comment on quote i have sent? questionsentthirdtimearound

‘There are also no set fees for sharia advisers, who Gulf media say can earn up to $100,000 per fatwa, or religious edict, on a contract.’ Continue Reading →