Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

September 26, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

A halaal chicken strip is always best

Question:

Assalam Alaikum

Hope this email is reached with great health and iman inshallah.  I had 2 very interesting dreams.  In both of my dreams I was presented non- zabihah meat.  Its been about 5 or so years that I have started eating zabiha meats.  In the first dream, I saw a McDonald’s burger and I took a bite of it but as soon as I did I was repulsed by the taste and threw it away.  In the second dream, someone who also eats zabihah halal presents some chicken strips(which is not zabihah) to me, and I bite it but I spit it out I believe.  I was disgusted by the taste and felt very uncomfortable and hesitant eating the meat. In both of my dreams I believe I spit out the food and do not swallow it.  However when I was presented the food I knew it wasn’t the type of meat I eat, but I bite down anyways as it seems because I don’t have a choice and am hungry.  Does this have any significance? Or am I simply hungry for a burger?
JAK

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

*Be diligent as to your earnings and that which you are to consume – physically as well as that which would affect your spiritual health. It is very tempting to do the wrong thing. It is very easy to taint your income. Never be tempted with wrongful proceeds — be it financial, social, etc. You are going to be tempted to do the wrong thing, do not let this temptation over take you Continue Reading →

September 26, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

hajj deal

Request: assalamu alaykum maulana (Muhammad) shoayb:

i hope you are doing well. i am actually organizing a group for hajj this year with Mufti Hussain Kamani of Chicago. i wanted to know if you could please pass on the word to the muslims in utah and if you could also put a poster on the bulletin board.

if you think it would help, i could also mail you some fliers.

please let me know,
wassalam,
shahjehan

Email: sjb@sacredhajj.com
Website: http://www.sacredhajj.com

Time: Wednesday September 23, 2009 at 8:59 pm
IP Address: 98.227.107.114
Comment: ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????

Mufti Kammani is a good man. He is credible in his rulings. We wish your group lots of success, Ameen.

September 24, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
4 Comments

tips for memorizing the Quran

Q:

Asalaamalaikum,

May Allah swt shower you with his mercy.

Imam,

My question is regarding Memorizing the Holy Quran, I have heard some say that one should try to repeat an ayah atleast 150-300 times before moving on, some say more or less than that figure.  What is the correct method in memorizing the Quran, and how many times should one repeat a ayah or ayahs.  Also when is the best time for memorizing the Quran.

May Allah swt bless you for your noble efforts,

Walakumusalaam

A.

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May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) bless you and your family for your kind words.

There is not a fixed amount of times to repeat any ayah for the purposes of memorization. It all depends on the person and his/her capability to grasp from the Treasures of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala).

Best time to read/learn ones lesson is after Magrib for familiarizing oneself with the words. Once done with this session, you must be able to read it from memory as best as one can, even though erros may exist. Relearn the same lesson next day atleast 30 minutes before fajr salaah. After Fajr read it to someone to see how well you know it. Its best you read it to your teacher at this time.

Thereafter, after zohr (around 3 pm) repeat all the review you have ever learned. If you repeat this proven method on a daily bases, inshallAllah you shall have mastery of that which you are most desiring. This technique has worked to the advantage of thousands of memorizes. The receive the best, you must give your best. May Allah(Subhanahu Wata’Ala) help you and all others like you, Ameen.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/true-knowledge-of-allah-is-never-given-to-a-sinner Continue Reading →

September 23, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
5 Comments

Say peace in a peaceful manner

Question: Our imaam at the khutba said shaking hands was bidah. We do it wrong. We should not do it for eid. Is it sin to now shake hands? Is it not sunnah to make a fellow muslim happy?

Answer: Why should two sane adults not shake hands every time they meet at work, but only do so in the musjid or area of Eid Salaah? Upon entering the car with a friend? Do people go around shaking hands in musjid parking lot or upon entering the musjid or before and after the ablution? Why must the handshake be only limited to it being after a given prayer?

Violating a sunnah or adding on innovative ideas and actions to make a person smile is not a religious foundation for violating Islamic injunctions. We see no tradition of the prophet, sahaba and even the tabeien that claim that after eid salah, shaking hands is required. Yes, we know that sahaba used to greet one another — even upon the separation of a tree which may lasts for a few seconds — a vocal salam instituted to a fellow believer as one passes by is always recommended. To hug or enact special handshake gestures after a given prayer is not established from any credible source. Just to make people smile does not warrant doing a baseless deed under the garb of religion.

Please note, it is not a sin to shake hands. It can be a sin if done in a manner wherein one thinks that shaking hands functions as a religious action that must be adhered to after a given prayer or act of worship. Such would constitute what is termed as Bidah (innovative behavior.) Continue Reading →

September 23, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

run away bride (happening too often!)

Question:
i wanted to ask something regarding my marriage, i married my own choice my parents were not happy with my decision i ran away from home and had my nikkah done a relative was present my mum and dad did not attend the nikkah and never gave me the consent to marry i have been married 4 years and have two children i still do not speak to my family, they have not spoke to me from the day i have left home, is my marriage still in the boundaries of Islam or not?

Answer:

You mentioned the word relative in the singular. (Even if the gender in male, one would not suffice’)  For an Islamic nikah to be valid, you need two Muslim male witnesses.  Should there not have been any Muslim male witness, your nikah would remain invalid. Merely have your nikah redone. You need not have your parents present; however, you would be sinful if you are disobedient to them without a valid reason. This disobedience would not negate your Nikah. Continue Reading →

September 22, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

woman and hair

Q. do all scholars claim that woman cannot cut their hair? If husband insists?

A. Only difference scholars have is regarding how much can be cut. None claim that it can be cut short under general circumstances.

General consensus by all major fuqaha is that woman should not cut their hair, unless getting out of ihram at the time of hajj. At that point a woman can cut her hair, however, just at the tips. Example, not more than a minuscule amount —  to the extent of approximately an inch.

If you are threatened with divorce, or infidelity, then knock some sense into your husband with persuasive requests. If to no avail, and marriage needs to be saved, you would be allowed to cut your hair to appease and safeguard the marriage. Should this be a real case, take your husband to your local scholar for religious evaluation and have him knock some Islamic sense into him.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

September 22, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
6 Comments

“O Allah forgive me O Allah I repent to you”!

Answered by Br Yassir
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 imaan 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?

Answer:

This a true story from Saudi Arabia narrated by ulama about a youth who changed his life with all the distractions

Mr.X (let’s call him) was a ladies man and he was in charge of getting the parties on and always was jolly and a gossiper in his circle.  One day he arrived but it was unusual he would not talk to anyone in his circle.  And was very focused in his Salah repeating “O Allah forgive me O Allah I repent to you”! His buddies got curious and tried to solicit his verbal response by teasing him but to no avail.  Finally after a week of disruption his buddies caught up with him and said we will offer you 100000 Riyals if you give us your black book that contains all the girls’ contacts you date.  Mr.X starts crying and said I am not crying because I cannot respond but rather I am thinking of Allah listening to what you guys are saying!

They said what happened to you?

He Said I was walking to date three girls last week one night one after the other.  After I finished my date with the 1st girl I was walking to the 2nd Girl all of a sudden I saw a stranger following me.  If I took a step he would too.  If I took two steps he would too.  He kept pacing with me.

Finally when we reached the traffic light the stranger took one step forward and I stood watching and an on coming car came and hit him head on.  That stranger died on impact.  All the on lookers came to his aid and were weeping and did not weep I could not weep but for some stranger reason I was seeing my face on this stranger’s dead body.  In a moment of silence I heard a voice in my ear telling me

“This time we let him take one step forward, and stopped you from taking that fateful step.  But next time we will not stop you from taking that fateful step”

In panic of what I heard I looked around and could not see anyone.  He said I came back and dumped all my inappropriate mags, Cd’s, Dvd’s etc….. And changed my life and I still hear that voice resonate in my ear!!!! And I cry.

Just be mindful of death and the distractions will go away and read the Quran and listen to it will heal you.

September 21, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Ramadaan death not like get out of jail card

Assalaamu Alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatuh,

Will the person who dies in Ramadan enter Paradise without being brought to account?

Time: Friday September 11, 2009
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If Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) wills, he would not hold any person accountable. However, the greatly understood meaning of the above statement refers to ease taking place in the questioning process in the grave and on the Day of Judgment. Small sins would be forgiven for such a person, Insha-Allah. We would still be held accountable for violations against other humans, etc. unless they have forgiven us.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

September 21, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Thank you back

Comment: Salam Imam,

Thanks so much for answering my questions. I ask Allah(S) to shower his blessings and peace on you, your loved ones, and all of us Muslims. Jazakumullahkhair. Inshallah with Allahs(S) will I will ask Allah(S) for his help and guidance for all of us Muslims.

Time: Friday September 18, 2009

Answer:

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You are most welcome with your words of kindess. May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) bless you and your family in these final days of Ramadaan as well. It  is the kind prayers of people like you that bring a smile to all our faces and makes us want to give you all the very best

We thank our Admins and those who help out from time to time. May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) bless you all as well

Wishing you and your family a joyful Eid, Ameen

Allah Certainly Knows Best