Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

July 8, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

taxes, insurance, and fines and its link to Riba (interest)

(Comment box) Just wondering, what is the opinion of the scholars of this site on taxes, insurance, and fines with interest.
Answer is to satiate my curiosity sparked by the question above.
Jazakullah Khair.

A1. if the taxes and its amount is zulm (oppressive) and can be proven as such, then it can be paid with riba collected from the bank without the intent of collecting interest within the given bank account.

A2. If you chose to drive, then you can pay it with our own personal finances, more so when an alternative to personal driving exists. Insurance can only be paid when a reasonable alternative does not exist and the given insurance is imposed upon you. Beyond liability insurance is considered unnecessary, and best not to attained. If attained out of personal choice, interest should not be used for such benefit, for this is a self imposed action.

A3. Fines upon a crime/misdemeanor, etc. which never took place can be paid with interest. Fines incurred out of personal negligence are best not paid with interest, for you have broken the law. A Muslim abides by the safety laws of the land and should bear the consequences of incurred actions.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

July 7, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
6 Comments

Funeral – Janazah Salaah

NOTICE

Funeral – Janazah Salaah

12:15 PM

(Wednesday)

Baby daughter of Br Yousuf Khanani

(Granddaughter of late Br. Younus Khanani-May Allah continue to bless them all)

(AKA: Qaderi Sweets n Spicez)

6400 S.Redwood Road

Please do attend

July 6, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

your home to be is one of two types — no more

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Just wondering, what is the Sunnah way of burying the dead? I.e. how did they do it during the Prophet (SAW)’s time?
Jazakullah Khair. (Comment box)

Answer:

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  • In the ground after a washing, preferred by closest of family members.
  • One must bequest that they are buried as soon as humanly possible. No need to wait for international flights to arrive. Body need not be sent out of state, country, etc. The soul wants its ease; it must awarded its fair of harmony. They (RA) buried the deceased as soon as was possible. A person may pass away at night, by fajr the body would be rested at its temporary abode. (But then, those were men and woman whom the Quran has titled Radiallah-who-an for a reason! *Hint*)
  • You would bury the deceased in either of the following type of graves:

As-Shaq is the type of grave that has an indention or a deeper carving towards the side within the grave. (Merely think of the letter L for its shape configuration.) A person would be placed in this cavity which remains towards the side of the grave within the grave.

Al-Lahad is the type we are more accustomed to in the USA. It is a hole of specified size. In this type of grave, it is permissible to place wood like plates in a slanted manner above the body, so as to respect the body by not having a full pouring of sand upon the deceased. The planks are thin and briefly give way, so as to give the body its fair share of sand.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

(also see: following)

We know of our dentist, lawyer, proffessor, motor mechanic… do you know the man that is going to perform your janazah salaah? something to think about!

July 6, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

‘no potential respect’ can be gained!

Q. I am hoping to marry someone of my choosing (who is also a muslim and of a similar background to me), but my mother is refusing to consent to the marriage because she hasn’t been involved in the choosing process, and states the she has an absolute right over what decisions I finally make.  If I was to choose myself, then I would be punished by Allah in the afterlife. She is strongly against the proposal because there would not be no potential respect gained from such a marriage.
However, the girl’s parents are happy to let the marriage take place.
Please could you clarify whether it would be islamically legal if all party members other than my own parents were to consent to the proposed marriage.
I would also like to seek your advice as to whether using the motives of respect/status/honour, as in the above scenario, as an argument against the proposed marriage is islamically valid – and if this can be challenged.
I look forward to hearing your reply.

Time: Wednesday July 1, 2009

Sent by an unverified visitor to your site.

  • A. If you are about to commit adultery with her, such a person would not need a guardians consent in the nikah process. This rule applies for all mature male and females.
  • No person has a right over another persons marital partner with reference to choice. They are welcome to voice their opinion. Parents can help children achieve what children want as an active helping hand.The inevitable choice would be yours, be you male or female.
  • The ‘girls’ parents cannot be ‘truly’ happy when it is known that the other party is detesting her presence. I would question the integrity of people that allow their daughters/sons to marry into families that remain reluctant in accepting their presence. I would also be concerned about your motives as well as state of affairs, should you be persistent without valid reason upon your intended choice of partner.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

July 6, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
5 Comments

general rule: never confuse a request with command

Asalaamuaalykum,

Is this the same Sunnah that you do when you enter the Masjid? Or is this is the Jummah Salaat Sunnah.

In whichever case, do we perform the Sunnah of entering the Masjid after adhan has been made for Jummah?
I remember this Hadith about this topic, but am not sure what Salaat is in question:

“A person entered the mosque while the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa
Sallam) was delivering the Khutba on a Friday. The Prophet (Sallallahu
‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) said to him, “Have you prayed?” The man replied in the
negative. The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Get up and pray
two Rakat.”

Answer:

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You are confusing tahiyatul musjid with the sunnah linked to the sunnah which remains attached to the Jummah – be it prior or eafter. There is difference between Rasululah’s (SAW) statements — in that all the statements are not on the status of command as much as it remains for a request for greater virtue when done in its appropriate manner and attached to it is its proper context.

Don’t make fard what Allah (SWT) did nto make fard. THis hadith cannot be generalized to all situations.

Our answer stands as is.

Kindly also observe: http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/category/questions-and-answers/jumuah

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

July 4, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
4 Comments

how will i know if Allah has forgiven me?

Q. how will i know if Allah has forgiven me? (Comment box)

A. Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) would insha-Allah forgive all his servants that have committed crimes against Him, provided their repentance had been sincere and coupled with change its appropriate change. The quality of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) does not take pleasure in punishing that which He has created. If the creation persists on wrongs, then they are demanding punishment upon themselves. Allah being just would treat them accordingly.

As Br.Yassir Butt quoting Imaam Ahmad on this issue on our site has stated:
“O people repent to Allah I make Istigfaar and repentance to Allah in a day 100 times”

How do you know your Tawba has been accepted?
The scholars say “The Deeds and linked together like a chain”
If after your Tawba you have a significant life (style) change in the quality and quantity of your deeds, you should have a clarity (confidence) that insha Allah it has been accepted (your forgiveness).

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

July 4, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
2 Comments

jummah, sunnah and its azan

Q. can one read the sunnah after the azan of Jummah and also respond to the azan of the muazzin. What does one do when they have started their sunnah and Azan began thereafter/prior? (in office query)

A. Once the second azan of the Jummah salaah is called out, it remains incorrect to perform the sunnah. It would be best to shorten the sunnah if one has started it prior to the call of the Muazzin. If it is felt that one can complete the sunnah before the muzzin ends the azan, then one can complete the started sunnah. If the individual feels they cannot complete the sunnah, they can make the four rakats into two rakats and do a make up for the entire four rakats at a later point.

One would not respond to the masson duaa after the second azaan of Jummah. They would merely remain silient, and wait for the khutba to start.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

July 4, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
6 Comments

we share Maria Qibtiyya (and way more)

Assalam Alaikum
Hope this message is reached with great health and iman inshallah.  My questions are concerning Maria the Copt (R), and why some scholars say that she was the Prophet’s (S) concubine.  I would like to understand how some scholars Islamically justify a relationship out of wedlock and also a child, Ibrahim, out of wedlock?  I read somewhere that it was lawful for a male to have relations with his female slave according from the Qur’anic verse “that which your right hand possesses”. Was the reason for such a law to get rid of slavery? If the purpose was to get people to treat slaves better then why didn’t the Prophet (S) just marry her, and if she converted to Islam she couldn’t have been kept as a slave.  It’s for these inconsistencies that I believe the Prophet (S) was married to her.  I would appreciate clarification on this matter as I know there is always an Islamic reasoning behind the things the Prophet (S) did, however, I do not know the significance of why the Prophet(S) would have a concubine according to some scholars.
Jazakumullah

Time Sent: Tuesday June 30, 2009

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We would not answer your question directly. For our student based audience, we are to give them a glimpse of how to respond to such queries from the general masses. Pointers would be shared to extend your insight to the interactions of the prophet:

Point (fact) one: People have repeatedly asked us: how could the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) be intimate with a with a slave? Or have in his nikah  multiple wives? What were the rights awarded to slaves during Islam? What was the benefit for a any prophet to even possibly be intimate with slaves? In light of modernity, internet, media, these questions are posed repeatedly. It is only fair to tackle from a multiperspective.

Point (fact) two: A prophet by definition is a guide to humanity.  Assists people to gradually attain the point of perfection in worldly matter for a better hereafter. Such guidance requires prophets (peace upon them all) to be part of society, live certain aspects like that of their society whilst creating change from an internal dynamic perspective. Every action of theirs is with reason, many times not immediately comprehended to humans.

Example: To abolish alcohol, prostitution, gambling, slavery, etc. in one go would have created a massive dissonance and repulsion towards Islam. It also would defy the concept of Raab which means to nurture harmoniously into a state of equilibrium (balance) from a state of disequilibrium. Although no Prophet ever went towards degrading practices, they would always help with gradual elimination of certain adverse actions though the process of positive modeling and advice. Continue Reading →

July 1, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
5 Comments

Woman and itikaf

Question: Assalamu alaykum
So s friend and I were having a conversation about observing I’tikaf. My friend says that a woman can do it at her own house rather than at the masjid, now I would understand if that was for reasons such as health and her husband refusing her to go, but if the woman is capable of going to the masjid and wants to perform i’tikaf then it must be done at the masjid…right?
I suppose my question is where can a woman perform I’tikaf is it at the masjid or at it her house?
jazakallahu khair

Time Sent:  June 11, 2009

Answer:

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Woman and itikaaf :

Woman should observe their itikaaf within the confinements of their home. The chosen place can be the one she has specified for her regular salaah, ibadah and other  spiritual deeds and actions.

A woman is not allowed to come to the masjid to do her itikaaf . When she does come to the musjid, she can make niyat for nafl itikaf for that duration of her stay (i.e. 15 or 20 minutes). Such an itikaaf is termed as nafl itikaaf . Nafl Itikalf remains less stringent than the itikaaf which constitutes of a minimum of a day and night.  As for the true itikaaf of a day and night or beyond, she cannot commit herself to performing it in the musjid.

A woman should not do nalf itikaaf as defined of that which constitutes for a day and night even in her home if her husband and family place valid objections that would limit her everyday tasks. In fact, her reward to help her family at times would be greater in merit then the reward of itikaaf, if it is to be viewed in its proper context.

The woman must sit in the place she has chosen within her home, not leave unless for necessary tasks. Should she leave it for a non-specific valid reason, her itikaf would break and a makeup of it would be necessary.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.