Know Your Deen

November 25, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Hajj for myself or for my father?

Q. I went for Hajj when I was 13 with my grandfather and grandmother. Now I am 26 years old. My father died when I was young and he never performed hajj. I was told that I must do hajj for him and not myself. Is this correct?

A. Had you been considered mature at 13, then your Hajj has been completed. Should this be the case, you can do what is known as Hajj-e-badl. Hajj-e-badl refers to a person going for the Hajj on behalf of someone else, for a person upon whom Hajj was fard, but did not manage to fulfill his/her obligation.

Without going into the details of whether your father was eligible to perform Hajj or not, or whether he left money behind for this action or not, we would recommend that your doing so on his behalf would not only be meritorious, but far more superior than you doing what would fall into the category of a nafl hajj for yourself.

Allah certainly knows best.

November 25, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Zawal, Jumuah, and the timing of it all

Q.1) We live in a small community, 200 people at very most live in our town. Zawal is 1:20. But we have Azaan at 1:10 for the Jummah. Our Imaam says that it is ok that Jummah khutba starts before zawal time has entered because we are living in working times and it helps people with their lunch break. 2) Can we also have Jummah after fajr? 3) Or 10 am?

A.1) Your Imaam is trying to help people by making things easy for them. Islam is not based on ease or hardship. It is based upon following the regulations of Allah and His Messenger (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).

Sayidinah Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (radiAllahu anh) reported:

We used to observe (Jumu’a) prayer with Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and then we returned and gave rest to our camels used for carrying water. Hassan (radiAllahu anh) (one of the narrators) said: I asked Ja’far what time that was. He said: is the time when the sun passes the meridian – (sun passes the peak or midpoint.)

Muslim:Book 4:1869

Having stated the above, it would be best for your Imaam to have the Azaan and Khutba after the Zawal time has set in, to avoid any conflict with Deen.

A.2) Yes, you should have Jumu’a salah after fajr. The last time we checked, Zawal did take place after fajr. The time difference between the end of fajr and the start of Zohr (of Jumu’a) would differ depending on an individual’s locality.

A.3) if zawal is 10:00am, then soon after it ‘passes the midpoint,’ your Imaam can begin the Jumu’a Khutba.

Allah certainly knows best.

November 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Eid on the road

Q. We travel 85 miles for Eid salah. If we miss it (again, like last year), then how do we do a make up. Do we make it up alone? In a group?

A. You are a musafir (traveler.) There is no Eid salah for a travelers. There would be no makeup if you missed it.

However, if there is a second salah and Eid Khutba which fulfill the criteria of having a second Eid Salah, etc., then you could join in.

The community would be absolved of its duty by having its first Eid Salah on its correct day with following the rules that pertain to it.

Allah certainly knows best.

November 21, 2008
by admin KyD
0 comments

It’s all stop and go

Q. Am I a musafir if I leave home, go 30 miles, then in the afternoon, I decided to go an additional 40 miles. In total, I traveled 60 miles from my home; am I a musafir?

A. An individual traveling 48 miles or more is considered a musafir. However, in your case you are not a musafir due to the following:

1) It was only upon completing your first 30 miles that you decided to go on for an added 40 miles.

2) Had you made your intention from the outset that you were going to travel 70 miles away from the boundaries of your city, then indeed you have qualified as being a musafir.

3) In your case, since you did not intend the additional 40 miles from its outset, you would not be allowed to perform Qasr salah. You also would not be considered a musafir.

(In the future, if you can make your intention at the beginning, you won’t have to be in this dilemma.)

Allah certainly knows best.

November 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
0 comments

Back to the moon

Q. Do you folks agree with this article that is in response to ISNA? Is the data within it correct?

A: Thus far, we have no proof to differ with the article you have so kindly sent to us. Its data is valuable. May Allah reward you for the article and insight it should present to our audience. May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) also reward you for your straight-forward question. Wassalam.

Allah certainly knows best.

November 19, 2008
by admin KyD
5 Comments

How well do you know your teen’s mind?

The LA Times has an interesting front page story on Muslim teens in America today*. I would urge every Muslim parent, and indeed every Muslim concerned with the issues confronting our various communities, to read, reflect, and act on the contents of this article. In the meantime, allow me to share with you my reflections. Continue Reading →

November 17, 2008
by admin KyD
2 Comments

Intricacies of inter-religious marriage

Q.1. Why is there a distinction as to why a man can marry woman of the book, but not woman? Some non-Muslim men are better than Muslim men. Can you share an Islamic rationale?

Q.2. Why is it permissible that a Muslim brother marry a non-believing woman if the reverse is not allowed?

Q.3. Can Muslim men marry disbelieving woman?

Q.4. I am attracted to this guy, he is sooo cool. He really respects, more than my own brothers.

Answer: We thank you all for your questions, we have delayed our response, for that we must apologize. May our response reach you all and your families in the most enriching of spiritual and physical health, Ameen.

The issue pertaining to marriage, more so between members of differing faiths has always been a topic of interest for people living under the umbrella of diversity, particularly to those of us in the West. The above questions are fair questions in light of our current environment, and we have maintained our response to the criteria and works of the Quran, Hadith and Sunnah.

Continue Reading →

November 15, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
1 Comment

About the beard…

Q. Salamualikum, Respected Moulana, At the MSA I asked a few scholars a question about the importance of the beard. You did not answer my question with clarity. It seems like you are in favor of keeping a beard, as well as not keeping a beard. The other scholars did not even answer the question, and in private talks reduced its significance. By you and the others not taking a position on the subject has caused a problem and unwanted debate between the students and even their parents. As a scholar you must keep us clear on issues. Can you please help us….?

(a brief excerpt of my response)

A. Wa’alaikumussalam. If memory serves me well; I did answer the question pertaining to the beard. However, you had requested proof, and you would be correct in saying that I did not furnish that to you. If I give you a response pertaining to the beard, there is a possibility that you would argue that it is merely my opinion. Since this issue is debated by various ‘modern day’ scholars, I find it best that we go to the ‘root’ scholars to solve our issue.

Proof pertaining to the beard
Imaam Nawawi states that according to the Shaafee Madhab, it is necessary to let the beard grow. It is Makrooh (disliked) to trim the beard whatsoever.’ (al-Majmoo v.1 page 290)

According to Abul Waleed al-Baaji al-Maaliki it has been stated that Imaam Malik had permitted the slight trimming of those hairs that are overgrown. (Hair that is growing wildly, all over the face, in excess of the bearded area as well as hair that falls outside the general growth area of humans – as you can observe, a beard must be left to grow, but neatness is also important.) Imaam Malik was also asked about a beard that had grown extremely long. The honorable Imaam replied that ‘it should be trimmed a bit.’ (Trimmed a bit here means that trimming which is done for neatness once it has exceeded the length of the fist, not the modern day rough rugged look that our youth are aspiring towards.) Thus, according to Imaam Abul Waalid, ‘it has been narrated from Abdulah ibn Umar and Abu Hurayra that they trimmed up to one fist.’ Hence, this is what was meant by Imaam Maalik. (al-Muntaqa v.7 page 266)

Imaam Saamiri, the great jurist of the Hanbali fiqh states, ‘(a man) should not trim any portion from the beard except if he chooses to the extent of the length of one fist. However, it will be best if he does not do so.’ (al-Mustaw’ib v.1 page 260

Imaam Shamsuddeen al-Maqdisi states, ‘It is forbidden to shave the beard, however, it is not Makroh (disliked) to trim what is in excess of the length of a fist, mainly do the fact that this trimming of the excess of a fist is supported by the practice of Sayidinah Abdulah ibn Umar’ (Kitabul Furo vl.1 page 130)

As you can well understand, Islam likes neatness, Islam wants a man to be manly, and Islam also wants us to like others and be liked by others. To shave or cut the beard without a valid reason, based on the above quotations would be wrong. For those who do have beards, they have no right to mock those who do not have a beard of the desired Islamic length. At the same time, people not having the desired length should try and observe that which is correct if circumstances allow them to do so. After all, is not our desire to follow Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)?

Allah certainly knows best.