Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

October 2, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

silk and men — the two finger rule

Question:

Imam,

What is the ruling on wearing silk for men?  I understand it is prohibited for men to wear silk but is there a percentage or a certain amount of silk men are aloud to wear?

Jazakhllah Khair

Answer:

A small amount of silk can be worn by men. Small amount would differ in its definition. Its range of total quantity usage upon self would be no more then four fingers worth of fabric. Two fingers worth of fabric would be better. (Best would be to await a silk dressing in Jannah.)

Some Hadith bring forth the amount as a maximum of 2 fingers in silk usage by men, other Hadith make mention of three and up to four fingers in amount of silk for a mans usage upon his clothing. The rulings are based on the following: (See italicized portions below) Continue Reading →

September 30, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
14 Comments

This Saturday (oct. 3 – 2009) there shall be no class

This Saturday (oct. 3 – 2009) there shall be no class.

Now and then you need a break. All work and no play makes a person really dull

Please know your duas, scales and whatever we learnt

I will be out of town. Students can always email me if they have questions

Keep up the good work and effort

September 30, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
7 Comments

give me a pious man/woman — is the hope of the truly pious

Question:

Assallamu alykum,
Asking Allah for a pious husband while knowing there are many years of school left for me. is that bad even though if i find it now i wouldnt agree to it but just for the future after done with school. i know Allah answer the dua of a believer but can that dua be answered but delay until finish school?

Time: Saturday September 26, 2009 at 10:03 pm

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

Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) would only give you what is best for you when the time is right for you to accept it. This should be your conviction. You lacking in this conviction would make your life an unpleasant experience.

Thus, your dua should as follows:

Oh Allah You are most aware of what is secret as well as open to me. You are most aware of all my needs. O Allah Help me attain  my outcomes in a manner that would create benefit for me and those around me. Let me and those around me attain all the good this world has to offer, as well as the world of the afterlife.  Ameen (A Dua similar to this can also be made, it does not have to be exactly this given one!) Continue Reading →

September 30, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
2 Comments

each gender has its own challenges

Question:

Assalamu Alaykum,

I had a question: what are we supposed to wear if a long top and jeans are not modest? Last time I was applying for a job on campus and the interviewer asked me if I knew how to use a stapler and if my hijab would get in the way and be an ‘issue’ (the job is an office job). How can we dress modestly while still not being treated like we’re monkeys or subhuman? We too have feelings! It’s a lot harder and not because of wanting to get attention or wanting to be immodest. It is also not encouraging in that men don’t have the same issues(they don’t even wear kofiyah). I mean when we do say that certain clothes are the sunnah of Muhammad (SAW) then the answer is always that it’s not fardh.

Time: Monday September 21, 2009 at 6:34 am

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

You have brought up valid concerns.

It is not that long tops and jeans are not modest. We all would agree, if these long tops and jeans are tight fitting, form fitting and body hugging, then not only with it be religiously inappropriate, but also inappropriate for any respectable occupation. These are general rules for men and woman seeking respect for self and employer.  By contrast, if tops and jeans are lose, then generally, no objection lies. Lose fitting does not mean 21 sizes bigger. Clothing should always be inclusive of a design which refuses to show the shape of one’s ‘adornments.’ Continue Reading →

September 28, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
5 Comments

‘I see the shaytan’

Question: Assalamu Alaykum,
My question is concerning a dream I had.  In the dream, I am talking to someone and I ask the person if they have seen the shaytan, and the person tells me that the shaytan is following them and than I see the shaytan pulling my legs towards him. I start saying the shahada and wake up.

Time: Sunday September 20, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Answer: You are winning your fight against shaytan. You are doing excellent in your deeds towards Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) despite struggles. You have overcome a lot. Always remember, shaytan never lets go. Keep up the good you are doing. Add on to your good actions better actions.

Be cautious of those you surround. If you monitor your actions, you can become an inspiration to those around you. You can emulate those around you, or they can emulate you. If you persist in good actions, Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) would make those around you become good like you (Ameen.)

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

September 28, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Dogs as pets deprive Mercy

Q:

Salaam ul aikum Imam,

I have a question.

Can Muslims have dogs as pets?

Time: Saturday September 26, 2009 at 3:31 pm

A. ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????

(Jamharah Al ajza 21:1)

(CD Al Maktabah Ashamilah)

As pets they would deprive the residence of the Mercy of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala). They would also deprive the house of Angels from entering.

For purposes of hunting, assisting the blind, security, they would be allowed.

Allah certainly knows best.

(#745)

September 28, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

every age group has a challenge

Question:

Assalaamu’Alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatuh,
Being a youth is the hardest time ever! there are many distractions that goes on, even if the imam is high there are always things that get in the way that calls the person to wrong path. that being said, how could we be strong as a youth, succeed in our schooling, and at same time have a good relationship with our creator while living in a non muslim country?

Time: Friday September 11, 2009 at 9:35 pm

Simple answer:

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  1. Fear Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) to as He deserves to be feared. Always know that He is looking at you, watching over your every action. One is to accept this fact, the other is to live in accordance to it and act accordingly to its reality. If you (we) had this legitimate concern and reality dawning upon us at all times, (y)our life would be like that of a superior Muslim.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

September 27, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
3 Comments

new muslim concerns

Questions: Asalam alikum,
I would like to ask an advice or a point of view.
I´m Muslim since june 2008. In my country almost there are not Muslims, in fact, I knew about Islam by net… reading and asking friends (that I knew by net also). I´m sorry, but here the people (included my family) has a bad view about Islam. So I´m hiding it. 1) I´m not wearing Hijab, and I can´t tell anyone here about my Islam. I pray always, and fast during Ramadan. I read Quran, and I´m helping in Islamic net pages to help the people understand Islam.
2) My ask is that I feel so bad because I´m hiding my religion, and I´m not strong to defend it. 3)I´m doing all I can to be better Muslim every day, but I always remember I´m so weak to defend it.
What I should do?
Thank you so much

Time: Friday September 25, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Answers:

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Congratulations on your conversion. You are going through a lot of challengers at a time when Muslim themselves are questioning their very own faith. You are doing better than the majority of Muslims. We stand proud of you. May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) accept your sincere efforts.

In studying the history of Islam, the difficult challengers muslims have faced historically, and also seeing the current position of Muslims, we offer to you the following suggestions:

1) As for Hijab, not being able to wear it due to the circumstances outlined, inshaAllah you would gain forgiveness. However, in your heart you must ask Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) to sincerely make matters easy for you. To show your sincerity, you must at least try wear a scarf whenever possible. Be it in privacy, or gradually in public settings that are nonthreatening. This comes with time, practice and patience. As you coexist with Muslim woman that share your values, the matter would insha-Allah resolve itself.

2) Your strength to defend Islam would take time. It comes with doing things sincerely and correctly.

3) Read the kalemah as often as possible, pray on time, give your zakat on time, be in the company of good honest people at all times.

Your acknowledgment that you are weak would give you strength in the Sight of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala). Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) hates arrogance. Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) loves those that acknowledge weakness before Him. People like you in reality are not weak, but strong in the Eyes of the Magnificent.

Keep up the good work.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

September 27, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

beware who you take your ilm from

Question: in one of my classes it was talking about itjihad I have never heard of this before. I was wondering if you can explain it? the professor says that in varies parts of the quran it mentions that we as muslims must do it.So since I have never heard of this maybe you can make it clear for me.

Time: Thursday September 24, 2009 at 11:26 pm

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

Simply said: ijtihad is done by a mujtahid. The mujtahid is a person that has the ability to extract data from Quran and Hadith and present rulings from it without contradicting  any aspect of religion in final rulings shared. They are sound in the areas or Fiqh, Hadith, Quran Tafseer and its  multiple ways of recitation, know the laws of Arabic grammar exceptionally well, aspects of poetry, mastered the methods of deducing facts from multiple areas of sharia, etc. The likes of such persons are Imaam(s) Abu Hanifa, Shafee, Malik, Hanbal, zhufar, mohammad, yusuf, etc.

Your professor is correct in that Muslims that are masters of the above can do Ijtihad. Until then, it is a pie in the sky idea. We have yet to meet such Muslims in modern times. Modern Muslims define their Mujtahid skills in accordance to the the amount of books/CD’s they have on their desk tops that have preplanned fatwas, hadiths etc. upon them. Such in the conventional sense are not mujtahids! Mujtahids int he true sense remain beyond this.

Modern secular scholars entice Muslim youth with such claims to test their gullibility, naivety, they often try to entice Muslims to live by their own human made laws in exchange of the laws made by Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala). Do not let these mental gaming’s challenge your mind wrongfully.

I too have taken these classes at the university level on aspects of religion, and they remain a waste of good energy and time. Pass your class and move on with your life to subject matters that would make you accept the greatness of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) and fulfill your obligations towards Him as Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) requires.
Wishing you the best,

Allah Certainly Knows Best.