Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

December 24, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Debating the beard

Q. We are having a debate …. is beard growing new and only unique  to  Islam? If not, is its size and length something only Muslims abide by or other religions to. This is for my Comparative Religion class…so a Comparative response would be appreciated.

A. Beard growing in not a phenomenon of peculiarity nor is it merely exclusive to Islam. Growing one’s beard is a tradition of all Prophets.  Its growth has never been limited to restricting it to a trendy and fashionable appearance of goatee; nor in Islam is it recommended to grow ones beard in free fall manner of beyond a fist length. An unkempt beard with the assumption that a messy image is a reflection of piety stems from sheer ignorance.  A beard should be neat. It should reflect the hygiene and cleanliness of ourselves and religion whilst maintaining the parameters of rules that pertain to it.

Regarding the long tradition of keeping a beard, concerning Musa and Haroon (May peace be upon them both), Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) states:

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

He [Hârûn (Aaron)] said: “O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard, nor by my head! Verily, I feared lest you should say: ‘You have caused a division among the Children of Israel, and you have not respected my word!’ ”

20:94

Had the beard of Haroon (alayhis salaam) been short, there would have been nothing for Musa (alayhis salaam) to pull. However, Musa (alayhis salaam) pulls the beard of his brother Haroon (alayhis salaam) with affection so to bring clarity regarding an issue of concern between them. Suffice to say, such an ‘affectionate pulling’ could only take place due to Haroon (alayhis salaam) having a full size beard. In Islam, a full size beard is defined as at least a fist length.

Our decision is based, additionally, on the following practice and statements which also articulate and confirms the above and below:

??? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??????- ( ??? ??? ???????

(4/122)

(Paraphrase): When the Masnoon length is acquired, which in Islam is the length of at least a fist, than anything beyond the length of the fist can be trim, as has been established from the practice of Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and the sahaba (radiallaahu anhum).

Allah certainly knows best.

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December 23, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Is that color for real?

Q. Can a couple dye their hair black? Just about us, so you can answer according to our situation. We are both in our 50’s and we are alone. All children are in college or working and started to feel young again.…. We do not see immodest in the home for we are alone. We want to know that if we can dye our hair black? So we feel that black is most striking and best for us. Can one provide proof for otherwise?

A. A Hadith of our Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and commentary from the fuqaha (jurist) and muhadith (masters of Hadith) state:

??????: ???? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? . ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?.
??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? : ??????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ????? ? ???? ????? ????? ???? ? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ????? ????? . ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ? ??? ????????? : ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ? ????? ??? ?????? ? ???? ????? . ???? ???? : ?????? ?????? ???? ? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? . ???????? ?? ??? ??????? ??????

Muslims who dye their hair pitch black have most certainly taken part in a reprehensible and forbidden action. As a matter of fact, according to the Hadith, dying the hair black is a sign of those deeds which would exist as part of the signs of the Last Day. Dyeing the hair black without a valid reason makes it impossible for a person to achieve fragrance of paradise. (Hadith)

This Hadith shows the extent to which a prohibition exists in Islam regarding dyeing the hair pitch black.  Persisting upon it without a valid reason would be part of what is known as the kabair (major sins).

However, if your husband is taking part in a military exercise and wants to be perceived as youthful so as to create fear and awe in the enemy, then valid grounds exist for the usage of black dye. Generally, this is not the reason for why people choose black dye. Continue Reading →

December 22, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Can a scholar chat my wife up?

Q. A sheik talks to my wife. Is this permissible behavior for a man of Allah to do so? I do not want him to talk to her. What is the sharia ruling regarding such communication? Can a woman call a religious person for talking?

Answer: On the surface, your question gives the impression of innocence and blamelessness. A hoodwinked scholar would side with your brief question and go on an attack upon either your wife for the phone calls she has made, or upon the scholar for receiving and accepting such phone calls. Alternatively, a person may prematurely place unfair criticism on both the parties. To be fair, and prior to my continuing, let me ask you one simple question.  What have you done, my brother, that has contributed to your wife calling a scholar to pose her personal issues to him?

Here are scenarios on how scholars get their phone calls and the predicament they are faced with in a Western country.

Scenario 1: Experience has made the following clear: Women (and men) with problems tend to convey the message of their pain to people who they feel can help resolve their hurt. In the process of them doing so, the ‘religious husband,’ due to guilt, realizes that his problem is being aired in public, thus, in order to save face, he would send the following question to a religious body:  does Islam allow a woman to talk to a religious scholar? He knows full well that a woman needs her husbands consent to speak to any non-Mahram male. What such a male forgets to inform us is that he is beating his wife, and thus she is asking for advice. Sometimes he is withholding certain benefits towards his wife and she is demanding her rights regarding abuse pertaining to the rights of her children. Sometimes, due to a previous marriage, her children may be having insults hurdled towards them from their ‘new father.’ Her calls could be as a result of her wanting clarification as to how to proceed with matters that we will spare the details of at current, etc. Men forget to tell the scholar of all such abuses and occurrences, at the time of the female seeking a solution. (Mind you, women are no different, so do not think today to be a declaration of Male-bashing Monday!)

Also, religious leaders who do not offer help to the weak and abused by giving sound advice regarding issues that pertain to a victim’s life and liberty can expose themselves to being  liable in a western environment as being part of the problem/crime/abuse/ etc. Thus, his refusal of her calls can jeopardize his entire community with him being viewed as a supporter of possible criminality, and the like. Continue Reading →

December 22, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

Let your cat keep the claws

Q. I usually grow out my nails out. My mother-in-law not only insisted I cut it, but insisted I never grow it long again…

A. Sayyidina Abu Huraira reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said that certain things are part of human nature and done naturally by humans:

‘Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra (human nature): circumcision (for boys), shaving the pubic hair, cutting the mustaches short, clipping the nails, and plucking the hair of the armpits(or one can shave or trim it short, should a male or female not wish to pluck it).’

Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 72, Number 77

It can be noted from the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his family (peace upon them all) that doing the above actions are part of religion. Admiring the armpits of basketball players with sweat dripping from their armpit-hairs, long mustaches of men that grow to such an extent that it flows into their drink and food, growing of an Amazon jungle in the pubic area, or for that matter, growing one’s nails in a predatory-like manner analogous to fit the fashion of the day are all forbidden acts in religion. Our religion wants us to not just have a healthy look, but a healthy hygiene as well.

For the women who do still find the need for long nails, more-so, woman who want to appease husbands who are influenced by watching too many nail polish commercials, our recommendation is that you use fake nails made out of non-human and preferably plastic like fibers to appease such spouses for a very limited time. Once the nails have fulfilled their purpose, the nails must be removed prior to a Fardh bath or Wudhu, depending on the situation.

Islam has a distinctive feature of clean style. Maintaining a look most desired by Islam would achieve the greatest level of reward in both the world, Insha-Allah, Amen.

Allah certainly knows best.

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December 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Messed up, man

Q. If droppings of animal have soiled me while I was sacrificing my animals for Eid-ul-Adha, can I perform salah with such clothing? It happened to me last year. Must I repeat that given prayer? Also what if blood comes onto me?

A.This question has already been answered.

Please take a look at this question. Should you need more clarity, do email us back.

Allah certainly knows best.

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December 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Grandma left me a TV

Q. Some say TV is haram, some say halal. What is it? My grandmother passed away and left behind a new big screen TV, so if TV is haram will not the money be haram if we sold it. So what do we do with the television?

A. If television (and the various other forms of media) is used to view educational programs, for example, the National Geographic channel to enhance one’s knowledge of the sciences and humanity, etc., then it would be permissible. If the various media outlets are used to view gossip, distracts a true believer from the remembrances of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) while also having minimal value to increasing one’s knowledge of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and the environment they live in, then it would be appropriately stated that such an action of futility hinders the advancement of humanity, and thus television and similar viewings would be considered impermissible.

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

The life of this world is but play and amusement: and if you believe and guard against Evil, He will grant you your rewards, and will not ask you (to relinquish) your possessions.

47:36

Thus, the permissibility of watching television depends on what you watching, and why you are watching it.

Since the television belonged to your grandmother, it would have to be sold on behalf of the estate. The money attained from the sale thereafter would have to be distributed in accordance to the Islamic law of inheritance.

Allah certainly knows best.

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