Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

April 24, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Infidal is not a word that is used only by muslims

Question:

Salam alaikum dear Imam,

I just recently found out about your blog. I think it is a great way of communicating with larger muslim comnunity here in state.And it is one of the best sources of knowledge. Thank you for doing this.
Someone recently asked me that What is Infidal? and who do we call infidels under Islamic pretext? I told him that I will find the right answer and will get back to him. I would appreciate if you could please provide me with an answer. thanks.

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

You are most gracious with your words. May Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) bless you and keep us all guided. Ameen.

An infidel literally refers a person lacking faith in a God.

For Christians, ‘infidel’ refers to a specific type of person — mainly that individual who declines belief in the divinity of Essa (Jesus) (peace be upon him). To Christians, a non-Christian — more so a Muslim is viewed as an infidel.

As for Muslims, infidel refers to polytheists, atheists as well as people that renounce belief in the Oneness of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) and blaspheme the prophets (peace be upon them all.)

In modern times, this word is not evaluated as intended; rather it is defined to fulfill an agenda not linked to understanding and cooperation between faiths. It is a word used for divisiveness. We caution all from it.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

April 21, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
9 Comments

yummy, spiders! (okay, maybe not)

Question:

Asalamualikom
I am not really scared of spiders but i got many for some reason in my room and i am scared they might go in my mouth or something when i am asleep. I was told since childhood it’s Gunnah to kill a spider (because of the Prophet (pbuh)’ s story at the cave, and how they helped him by making a web)anyways they annoy me and i wanna kill them to get rid of them. Can I do that or is it really Gunnah?
Jazakallah Khair

Answer:

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To voluntarily kill insects, arachnids, etc. or non poisonous spiders is not preferred unless danger is posed to the individual by these creatures. Each creature has been created for a purpose and as Muslims we are to give each creature its due. Should the spiders be a nuisance, then merely have them taken out of the residential area; place some chemical that would prevent them from reentering. Should they still persist, then to kill them for invading your personal space and contributing to discomfort would be allowed.

Allah Certainly Knows best.

April 21, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Can i buy a rewards card for the dead?

Q. When people die in our family, we go to a very religious person and pay them to read quran for the deceased. How does a person calculate how much to pay? What must be the niyat when paying?

A. To pay a person to recite the quran is forbidden. To accept money for reciting the Quran is forbidden.

It would superior for the family of the deceased to recite the Quran themselves and ask Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) to send the reward to the deceased. To insist on third parties to attend a Quran function, or pay people to recite the Holy Quran is makrooh.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

April 19, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

marriage and race

Question: I’ve met a arabic girl, who happens to be a muslim.  I have been exploring Islam.  The girl and myself have discussed marriage, but she said her mother would not consent because I am not arab.  The girl I am seeing says that without a mother’s consent the marriage is doomed.  I find this hard to believe but she said it is stated in the Koran.  Is this true, If I marry her the marriage would be cursed because the mother did not approve of me because i’m not arabic

Answer:

Parents generally know what is best for their children, more-so children that have never had prior marital relations. The matter must not confine or limit itself to the aspect of Arab, Indian, or Caucasian. The Islamic criteria of marriage in Islam are based upon religiosity, compatibility, etc.

You have not mentioned clearly as to the religion you have complied yourself towards. If you are a Muslim, then kindly refer to http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2008/12/17/marriage-without-parental-consent as well as http://islaminaction.wordpress.com/2009/04/11/runaway-bride-or-is-it-groom for a greater understanding of the Islamic pulse relating to marriage.

By contrast, if you are not a Muslim, not only would this be an illicit relationship for a Muslimah, but it would also be a relationship that would not be sanctioned by Islam. Anything produced from such a relationship would be viewed as illegitimate in Islam. If you convert, the matter would be different.

The Quran does mention that one should be compliant to all (permissible) parental requests. Muslims believe that under normal circumstances, anyone failing to comply with a beneficial parental request would result in adverse consequences for the non-complying party. This is something general to all religions.

We are perplexed as to why a Muslimah would possibly communicate or place herself in a vulnerable position of having to defend her rejection towards a potential spouse. Had she complied to the religious request of not getting personal with a male, she would not have to place you in such an ambivalent situation of posing the above question. We recommend both of you learn the religion well; thereafter embark on the journey of marriage in a manner that would prove beneficial to parental requests as well as it fulfilling state and religious injunctions.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. take this matter to a local qualified scholar for greater understanding.

April 19, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

And why do YOU care about the islamic state?

As Salaamu Alaikum..
What’s Islam’s Stance regarding Marital Rape? Is it illegal for a women to resist her husbands sexual advances in a Islamic State? If Yes, Why?
Jazakum Allah khayran

Answer:
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For healthy couples to decline a marital partner the  satisfaction that an Islamic marriage ought to bring forth without a valid excuse would remain a sin. To use shared intimacy as a manipulative tool to gain control of particular situations would also be viewed as wrong. The idea of Islamic marriage is to create comfort and marital satisfaction for partners. Islam wants marital couples to be understanding of each another needs. Each partner must fulfill their needs  in accordance to the comfort of each partner without violating religious injunctions.

Lacking intimacy for couples undergoing health related issues would remain valid grounds for withholding intimate adult relations. Under health related conditions, a decline of a spouse can take place; however, consummation while refused should be substituted with other permissible actions. This is part of fulfilling a spouses right. This principle applies to men and woman.

In a non-Muslim country, since it is a place we have chosen to live, we are also called upon to abide by its rules and regulations. If a spouse says no to an advance, it would be best to comply with such a appeal. If either partner feels deprived, it remains best that the neglected partner as well as the non-complying partner seek appropriate counseling. Should the matter not gain resolution via 3rd party professional intervention, nor can it be proven that health related matters remain the cause for non-shared intimacy, then Islam does give an option towards separation and divorce.

Raping partners would not be conducive at all to a healthy committed relationship.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. The above answer would vary depending on the context and situation. We have answered the question in light of a non-Islamic state. A purely sharia based response would be futile. It is best the latter portion of your question be sent to a shaira court. It is highly probable that its response would be of limited benefit to you based on its practicality.

April 17, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Must the skeleton(s) emerge?

Q. I am a 31 year old male. I had been gay since childhood. I wanted to change my life. Allah has blessed me with a good income. Good looks. Just a bad past. Do I have to tell the person i am to marry about my past? I have changed. I now fast and have done so for 2 years. I have read all my salah and abstained from my past life actions. Does my wife need to know all this? Any Advice?

A. If you have let go of your past in its entirety and have no tendencies towards homosexuality whilst you have also taken the necessary medical tests to prove that you remain a non-health/mental hazard to another human, then under such conditions, getting married would be permissible. (This general rule applies to all.)

It would also be preferred that you marry someone that has had a similar life experience such as yourself. However, if you do marry a religious woman that does not have a taint on her past, that too would be allowed. But in light of current problems within society, we prefer you find a person as close to your past as well as a woman that has changed her life for the better like yourself.

At the time of proposal, it would be best to state: I have done things that I wish not to explain. My past is not the most pure. For the past two years I have performed all my prayers and have fasted. I am also doing makeup for what I owe to Allah (the Greatest). Be sincere when you utter these words and live in accordance to the promises made

To best help your desires stay towards that which is halal, stay in the company of heterosexual adult males. Avoid attachment to situations that would provoke or reinstate past poor behavior patterns.

May Allah continue to keep us all on the straight part, Ameen.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

April 17, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

socks and feet

Q. Do women have to wear socks in Islam?

A. If one is using attractants such as henna or something that creates beautification that would function as an attractant to strangers, than it would be best for such a woman to wear a covering over her feet when in public.

Islam likes men and woman to dress with modesty. This salient feature of Islamic dress code must not be ignored.

Allah Certainly Knows Best

April 17, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Can you kindly wash your feet, please!

Q. Is masah upon the khuffain permissible?

A. If Kuffain is being defined as leather socks, then yes, masah can be done over it, once an original ablution had been made.

If kuffain is defined as cotton socks that does not fulfill the durability of the leather socks as stipulated by the great Islamic jurists, then such a masah (wiping) would be invalid.

Allah certainly Knows Best.

April 13, 2009
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Aliens, are they going to snatch me?

Question: What does Islam say about aliens from outer space?
If anything, this question is more about gaining knowledge as well as a good conversation started, am I right?

Answer: As humans we are not aware of everything Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) has created. We do believe that Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) has within the portion of His creation creatures that we are not able to see and may even seem strange to us.  Muslims also believe that part of His creation remains obedient, whilst segmets of it are disobedient. The purpose of everything created remains to be obedient to Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala). All of His creation would be questioned by Him on the Day of Reckoning. As Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) states in the Quran:

There is no none in the heavens and the earth but will come to the Beneficent Allah as a servant. Certainly He has a comprehensive knowledge of them and He has numbered them a (precise) numbering. And every one of them will come to Him individually on the Day of Judgment. Surely (as for) those who believe and do good deeds for them will Allah bring about love (and every type of ease). 19:93-96.

We also derive from many Ayat, life beyond that which we can observe does exist. We may not agree on calling them aliens. However, if the word ‘alien’ is connotative of intelligent life beyond that which we can observe and comprehend, then such a statement would be correct.

To become engrossed upon matters pertaining to the supernatural is to shift focus from the more important things Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) has made mandatory upon Muslims. As Muslims we deal with reality and that which surrounds us. Muslims are called upon to have a positive impact on their surrounding environment. Although we do not deny the concept of ‘aliens,’ we should not mention them as a focal point of our conversation either. For some, it would be more rewarding to talk about the Greatness and Vastness of Allah and His Mercy upon humankind then debate the existence of aliens.

To talk about the supernatural so as to mention and prove the greatness of Allah (Subhanahu Wata’Ala) would be allowed.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.