Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

November 15, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Age – size – they matter for sheep and goats (and animal rights!)

Q. In cold climates when a mother gives birth to a sheep, the animal is given a treatment that prevents its growth but ensures its survival. The sheep that is six months old may not look 6 months old. A one year old sheep may look six months old.   What is the ruling for a sheep that looks younger then it is or not as developed as is its age? (Musjid question)

A. If a sheep or goat is one year’s old but looks younger, it can be used to what is termed by many as the Qurbani (animal for sacrifice for the eid-ul-adha).

Should the animal be less than a year old and does not resemble a one year old animal and would not pass as a one year due to its size, height and age to an onlooker, then such an animal — as it would be greatly preferred — should not be used for slaughter. To do so intentionally would be inappropriate.

By contrast, if the animal is six months old but looks like a one year old animal due to its development of age, height, size, then it can be used for sacrifice.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

November 14, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

hajj — age — money

Q. I am 19 years old is it a sin to not go for hajj if i got the money to go but just don’t go?

A. For a mature male to delay hajj unnecessarily without a valid excuse would be a sin.

Doing Hajj at a later time would insha-Allah gain the forgiveness from the side of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) for a valid reason.

Had Hajj been made obligatory at the first moment that it become fard on a person, then Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) would not have done it on the 10th year of Hijri, He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) would have done it on the 6th year of Hijri when Hajj was made law. Thus, to delay it for valid reasons is allowed. Imaams Abu Hanifa and shafee both support this view.

Sooner the better.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

(We answered this question in accordance you to being male based on the name you have sent forth.)

November 11, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

me and my boy at the musjid

Q. I took my son 5 years old to the musjid when i make prayers and he stands next to me so as to keep him disciplined. We got into some arguments. A brother tole me not to bring him. Any advice?

A. Your child being only 5 years old requires that he stands  in the last row behind you.  If safety is an issue, then stand in the last row and have him besides you.

Allah Certainly Knows best.

November 9, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Muslim male seeks muslimah

Question:

Assalam Alaykum,

Ya sheikh, I was wondering because I am having trouble finding a Muslima in order to marry here in Salt Lake City and that according to the Quran Muslims can marry a Christian or a Jew… what is a practical way of going about marrying for example a Christian without falling into doing what would be considered haram?  What I am specifically talking about is what would be a practical method of ‘courting’ a non-muslim woman?  That is, a non-muslim woman does not generally adhere to the ‘arranged engagement’ process that generally Muslims follow… so what type of guidelines should a Muslim man follow in this case? And just as a note I am a reverted Muslim who does not have the Islamic family ties to the community like how others might have.

Also, I would like to further comment that I would of course prefer to go about marriage in the traditional Islamic sense if that would be possible, but unfortunately it seems to be difficult here in Salt Lake.  So what am I to do if I have the financial means to be married and am having a very hard time being single? Continue Reading →

November 9, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
2 Comments

Let us tell you like it all is!

Question:
AsSalaamuAlaikoom.

I’m College student, come from a good family and i try my best to live according to Quran and sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). A While back, i started to like this muslim brother, and i approached him and told  him how i feel about him. ( I know what i did was wrong and i  admit that is haram in Islam, and i shouldn’t have done), but Somehow he told his parents and his parents brought it in front of my parents, and their parents told my parents that “they need to control their daughter and this and that”! My parents were very embarrassed by my action, and i did apologize for my actions and i told them i shouldn’t have done anything like that! but my parents were very angry with me and decided to take me back home in X (country name withheld)  to do my marriage with someone i never met before, someone i don’t like, someone I’m not even compatible. I didn’t agree in my heart that i should marry this individual, but due to parental pressure it happen! Our engagement was done!
Now, i am back here in US, i feel like i should live my life with someone i can be compatible, someone that I’m attracted to, someone that values Islam more than culture, 1) What does Islam say about breaking this engagement, which is my parents choice, not my choice. i know in my heart that i won’t be happy with this individual. I don’t want to be with this individual cause it’s parent choice not my choice. My parents took my right away from me, by picking this individual for me! 2) What about in case, of nikah was done, and we participated in adult activities. Can i still get my Divorce from this individual?
The reason I’m asking, these question is cause i met a brother that we are compatible, and i think he will accept me if i broke this relationship with this other individual in X (country name withheld) . ( I don’t talk this guy in XXXXXXXX, i don’t feel like i like him, i don’t want to be unjust to him anymore, what do i need to do?) Please Imaam, i understand you are extremely busy, but if you can answer this question as soon as you can, i would pray to Allah (swt) to make everything easy for you. I don’t want to do more things, to keep breaking the laws of Allah. jazakullah kharian   (Muslima in need of guidance)
Continue Reading →

November 8, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

All bloops do not require sajda Sahw

Q. I read a surah after surah faatiha in the 3rd and 4th rakat. Was sajdah sahw (sajdah of correction) necessary?

A. No.    (Fatawa shaami)

(You doing so does not invalidate your prayers.)

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

November 8, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

read this once, that 7 times, and that 99 times!

Q. Assalam Alaikum

Hope this message is reached with great health and iman inshallah.  I have a question in regards to recitation of some surahs.  There are some hadiths that state that reading a certain surah so and so times is good for certain things, however I hear alot of “remedies” from people which I cannot find in hadiths. These recommendations are recitations from the Quran a certain amount of times in a certain amount of days, however would that be considered Bidah since its not in the sunnah?  An example is, I was told to say Surah al-Fatihah 7 times for my migraines by placing my hand on my head and also blowing in water and drinking the water.  I have yet to find this in any hadiths.  I know there is a hadith of when the Prophet (S) was sick he would recite Surah Nas and Falaq and blow it over his body, but I haven’t read anything about the Surah Fatihah 7 times.  Another one is reading Surah Fath 41 times in 3 days.  My question is, is it ok to follow such recommendations or not.

JAK

Answer: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

  1. Every non-sunnah act is not bidah
  2. Yes it is permissible to follow such recommendations. A recommendation that does not violate aspects of religion would be accepted
  3. Blowing on the palms, etc. has been established via sunnah hadith. To blow in water so as to protect it from shaytan is also an accepted action
  4. Faith must always Be on the Creator, not necessarily on the amount of times a given prayer must be recited
  5. See our Q and A on bidah and our discussion of  a Hadith that is misinterpreted regarding bidah.

http://ia311224.us.archive.org/1/items/FridayKhutbahPart1c/12BidahAccordingtoImamNawawi.mp3

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

(Student 745 is to give a more detailed response, kindly await)

November 8, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Thief matters

Assalaamu `alaykum wa raHmatullaah, This is for the Imam as requested, I cannot find the direct e-mail address. Below question was posed to me by a Christian Preacher friend, and I responded in the following way, after trying to get a hold of someone with knowledge to check on it. I’m still wanting to get it check to ensure I understand it correctly. (sent by Br Y)
Q: What does the Qur’an say about stealing (burglary, theft)?  Does it say how it is to be punished?  — M.P.

“O believers, be ye steadfast before Allah, witness for justice.”

Qur’aan, Al-Maa’idah(5):8

“Allah loves the just.”

Qur’aan, Al-Maa’idah(5):42

“Shall I inform you of a better act than fasting, alms and prayers?
Making peace between one another:
enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.”

[Prophetic Hadith]

Thank you for asking, this is a very good question and I’m not a qualified person to answer such a question, but I will humbly give you my understanding according to my simple research, this issue requires some background information in order to be communicated properly.

Islamic law is meant to be comprehensive and trans-formative upon a Muslim society (a Muslim State, by Shari’ah and historically, allows/encourages minorities under its protection to have their own laws) who apply it sincerely and correctly, in both personal and societal levels, not a band-aid like or imperfect system, as its source is truly Divine, and needs to be understood, analyzed, and learned from as a whole instead of by individual parts that may not necessarily seem to fit other man-made systems or laws.
Continue Reading →