Topics Covered:
- Media Attacks
- Those we Claims to Love.
- Muslim and the Global Response to the Obama choice for presidency.
December 19, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
December 19, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
I don’t hear bells ringing
Q. I am trying hard to be a better Muslim. I converted to Islam 3 years ago. I have three small children. I am aware that Muslims must follow their faith and let others follow whatever they wish to follow. I do not impose the Islamic holidays of Eid on my non-Muslim subordinates. However, the prevalence of Christmas and the holidays that surround them are so many and held as so significant to the majority that I sometimes get caught up in its cycle.
A. We sincerely appreciate your question. We have received many like it. Being apart of America, we share the ambivalence and sentiments of those wanting a response to festivities of the west in the west. We often wonder, how do we share a common culture, common goals and be loyal to our faith and yet be different while calling ourselves American Muslims. This is the beauty of America; we can ask such questions and find solutions together regarding that which concerns us most. More importantly for our youth, how do we convey to them that we are part of America, and its fine to have separate holidays? Continue Reading →
December 19, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Stillborn Janazah or not? Name or not?
Q. Still born given a name?
Q. Ghusal needed for still born child?
Q. What is the procedure for baby born dead after 8 months?
Answer: If the child is considered stillborn, then the following rules would apply:
- A full ghusal would be performed upon the child. You would not place the child in a full kaffan (burial cloth). The child would be placed in a single (one) cloth. The child would be wrapped in this cloth and thereafter buried.
- A name would be awarded to your 8 month old still born child prior to its burial.
- If the child has body parts that had been fully developed, regardless of the amount of moths old prior to its stillbirth, then too you would name the child, wrap the child in a one piece kaffan and bury the child without a janazah salah. (Same as rule two)
- There will be no janazah salah for the child who falls in the category of ‘stillborn.’
- If the child is considered born and thereafter passes away, the child would be given a name, the child would have a normal burial, a sunnat ghusal, normal kaffan (not one piece like that of a stillbirth) and a janazah salah would be performed.
- Grave size can be smaller in the case of a live or stillbirth situation.
Allah certainly knows best.
December 17, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
2 Comments
Kafara (expiation) for broken optional fast
Q. Is there Kafara for a nafl fast that was broken? I was fasting, family was present. It was lunch time, things happen.
A. Kaffarah is defined as a religious penalty imposed upon a believer for a deliberate disobedient action while fasting during the month of Ramadaan. The penalty constitutes of sixty days of consecutive fasting. As can be noted, such a situation does not apply to you.
Thus, the ruling for a person who breaks a nafl (optional meritorious) fast for any reason is that it is compulsory upon the self to do a make up for that given broken fast. Shari’a does not make it obligatory upon us to keep nafl fast. It is something we bind upon ourselves to gain closeness to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Thus, because you made something necessary upon yourself that was not necessary to begin with and later felt obligated to break it, you are now to do a make up for the broken nafl fast.
As consolation, in Mriqat it is stated:
A person who broke his fast in honor of a host would get 1000 rewards. Should such a person do a make up for it, the glad tidings for such a makeup would be 2000 rewards.
(Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) has blessed you twice, so rejoice in attaining the pleasure of a good meal and a great set of reward by doing a makeup of it.)
Allah certainly knows best.
December 17, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
63 Comments
Marriage without parental consent?
Q. Is it permissible for a man and woman to get married without parental consent?
Q. Is there a hadith stopping us to marry. Some agree and some don’t, can you help?
Q. Is it compatibility we look for in marriage? Or is it consent from mom and dad?
Answer: Upon a proposal coming for one’s child, parents are responsible for the selection of the spouse for their children with the consent of the child. One aspect deals with the compatibility between the intended couples. The other deals with parental consent so as to give the couple their blessings. Having this in the midst of your mental reservoirs, take note of what Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned: ‘a nikah without the consent of the wali is batil‘ (void, not having any religious weight.) Here Batil can mean one of two things: such a nikah is void, and thus you both would be living in the state of adultery and sin; or as other scholars have stated, batil means a wretched, disliked and a reprehensible action had taken place in the Sight of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala). Both definitions imply that one should be cautious with their independent mindset on marriage.
Thus, a person insisting on marring a partner without parental consent would be aiding Shaytan to get the better of them. Parents usually toil in the best interest of their children, and their decisions are to prove this as well. Thus, parents examine areas of compatibility in order to be able to give their consent to the most suitable partner. Thus, a son or daughter should never overlook this significant aspect. Matchmakers and third parties eager to volunteer their help should not forget the importance of including parents/guardians (who raised a child worthy enough for the third party to marry off) and other persons as part of the marital process. To ignore critical guardians would be to cause an unwanted and avoidable curse-filled violation upon the self.
By contrast, if the girl and boy are a good moral couple, pious and upright in their actions, and the parents refuse to get such a couple married without just cause, and instead seek a corrupt person for their child, then the matter would be entirely different. Generally, such is not the case. As we are aware, ‘good boys and good girls’ do not refuse the request of their parents to things that are based on good faith and religiosity. When there is disagreement over the proposal that seems good, then of course the parents of the dissenting party (son or daughter) should defer to the child. And as always in the matters of great importance to one’s life, salaat ul isthikhara (prayer for guidance from Allah) should be undertaken.
Thus, depending on the situation, permissibility may exist for some, while not for others.
May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) bless us all with good religious, faithful and compatible people to be with whilst fulfilling the criteria of ‘good consent’ as well, Ameen.
Allah certainly knows best.
December 13, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Smoking
Salaamulaikum,
Q. Me and a friend were discussing whether or not smoking is considered haraam. We discussed the hadeeth where the Prophet (PBUH) said [something] close meaning that no member of his Ummah should poison his body. Also the hadeeth about (close meaning) that if you’re addicted to something, then you should abstain and leave that thing for it takes one away from worshiping Allah.
Given those two hadeeths, one would think that smoking would be haraam but we just wanted clarification on how severe it is to smoke, whether haraam, makrooh, etc.
Thanks in advance for your response.
Q. Why do some say smoking is haram? Others do not think it is haram.
A: (Our response is limited to the following portion of your question: ‘clarification on how severe it is to smoke, whether haraam, makrooh, etc.’)
Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and do not throw your own hands into ruin; and do good. For verily Allah loves the beneficent.
2:195
Two aspects come from the above Ayah: One is the prohibition of wasting money on an endeavor that has proven non-beneficial and destructive to self and those that surround the partakes of nicotine (and tobacco). Also, as a result of smoking, should proof continue to exist that smokers cause an unwanted expense upon society, then not only are they inflicting harm upon themselves, but they are violating the rights of fellow humans. This is also a sin. As Muslims, we have rights to Allah and rights towards humanity. To violate either one of these rights would be a transgression. And, as is said frequently in the Qur’aan, Allah does not like transgressors.
The second portion of the quoted Ayat deals with a person who knowingly causes destruction upon his/her being. Such behavior is opposed to the construct of Islam. Islam stands for a healthy mind and body. To knowingly consume anything that would have an adverse affect would be haram (forbidden). Continue Reading →
December 12, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
4 Comments
Dreams or nightmares
Q. asalamualikom, I just wanted to ask if you would be able to interpret dreams. Recently i have had dreams that i would like to know the meaning of. If yes please let me know so i can write them down. jazakallah
Q. Are there times that it is best to get a dream?
Q. Do dreams have any reality in Islam?
Q. Are Muslims allowed to interpret deams or is it bad to go to people that can interpret dreams?
Answer: Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) has given some people a greater ability concerning the interpretation of dreams than others. We usually prefer that you find a pious scholar who abides by all the religious injunctions at all times for this type of service. It has been stated that an incorrect interpretation can cause mishap or a negative outcome for the person.
However, here are some paraphrased ahaadith in English. Also at the end are similar related ahaadith with the Arabic text. Dreams, regardless of type, do have a place in Islam.
Sayidinah Qatada reports that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: Good dreams are from Allah and the evil dreams are from satan. If one sees a dream which one does not like, one should spit on one’s left side and seek the refuge of Allah from the satan; (spitting 3 times means to resemble the gesture of spitting, not actual splitting with a mouthful of saliva. Such a gesture will help that) it (the dream) will not do one any harm, and one should not disclose it to anyone and if one sees a good dream one should feel pleased but should not disclose it to anyone but whom one loves.(In other words, disclose it only to people that are pious, honorable, etc.)
Muslim: Book 29, Number 5618
Sayidinah Jabir (radiAllaahu anh) reported that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: If anyone sees a dream which he does not like, he should spit on his left side. (Resemble the gesture of spitting, not actual splitting with a mouthful of saliva.)
Muslim: Book 29, Number 5620
Sayidinah Abu Huraira reported that Rasulullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: When the time of Qiyamah gets closer, a believer’s dream can hardly be false. And the truest vision will be of one who is himself the most truthful in speech, for the dream of a Muslim is the forty-fifth part of Prophecy, and dreams are of three types: one good dream which is a sort of good tidings from Allah; the evil dream which causes pain is from the satan; and the third one is a suggestion of one’s own mind; so if any one of you sees a dream which he does not like he should stand tip and offer prayer and he should not relate it to people, and he said: I would love to see fetters, but I dislike wearing of necklace, for the fetters is (an indication of) one’s steadfastness in religion. The narrator said: I do not know whether this is a part of the hadith or the words of Ibn Sirin.
Muslim: Book 29, Number 5621
Dream or nightmare, having hope in the Mercy of Allah, having firm imaan, helps resolve the variety of dreams one may observe. May Allah bless you all, and make your good pious dreams become a reality, Ameen
Allah certainly knows best.
December 12, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Ahaadith about dreams
Q.Does Hadith mention anything about dreams? Something what is dreams really. My mom reads Arabic, can you send the Hadith for her in Arabic?
Answer:
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ??????) ???? ??????? ?????
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ????: ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ????
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ????
???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???: ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ????: ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????: ((?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ))? ??? ??? ????: ?? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????
Allah certainly knows best.
December 12, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Missing rakat of Eid salah
Q. I missed the first rakat of Eid salah? What was the make up method. I missed the takbeers. So what must I do next time?
A. A person missing the first rakat of Eid salaat must stand up to complete his second rakaat. Naturally, he would recite hamd (subhanakAllaahumah etc); thereafter, he would recite surah Fatihah and a surah thereafter. He would not make the missed takbeers at the onset. Prior to going to ruku, he would make the missed the takbeer of the first rakat.
The above method would prevent takbeers coming consecutively (back to back). We do not see the sahaaba doing otherwise as well.
As far as a next time is concerned, merely just be on time, that way you can gain the maximum benefit from the Eid salaah.
Allah certainly knows best.
December 12, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments
Missing takbeer in eid salah
Q. I missed the Takbeer of the first rakat in the Eid salah. Should I make sajdah sawoooh or redo the prayer?
A. Insha-Allah, your salaah would be accepted behind the Imaam. The most important thing is that you had not missed any rakats. No sajdah sawhoo need be performed.
Next time, try and be early. (Promptness is virtue.)
Allah certainly knows best.