Know Your Deen

October 22, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Eating with the left hand

Q.I am a 19 year old Muslim and want to know a hadith which states eating and drinking with the left hand is forbidden. My mother tells me to eat with right hand all the time and it is so hard for me to do. Is it important to eat with the right hand?
A. You have two violations against you, oh 19 year old! One: Not listening to your mother. Imagine for a moment, there was no hadith mentioning anything about the benefits about the usage of the right hand. Then, too, you have to listen to your mother. Was she asking you to commit a crime? An act of injustice? Violate a law of the country or deen?

Regardless, here is the hadith that can clear up any doubt:
Volume 7, Book 65, Number 291: Narrated Anas bin Malik: A tailor invited Allah’s Apostle to a meal which he had prepared. I went along with Allah’s Apostle and saw him seeking to eat the pieces of gourd from the various sides of the dish. Since that day I have liked to eat gourd. ‘Umar bin Abi Salama said: The Prophet, said to me, “Eat with your right hand.”

Volume 7, Book 65, Number 288: Narrated ‘Umar bin Abi Salama: I was a boy under the care of Allah’s Apostle and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah’s Apostle said to me, ‘O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.” Since then I have applied those instructions when eating.

Additionally, amongst the many good things you can do whilst eating, here is one more good thing you can practice whilst eating:
Volume 7, Book 65, Number 290: Narrated Wahb bin Kaisan Abi Nu’aim: A meal was brought to Allah’s Apostle while his step-son, ‘Umar bin Abi Salama was with him. Allah’s Apostle said to him, “Mention the Name of Allah and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.”

Additionally, all good things should be done with the right hand:
Volume 7, Book 65, Number 292: Narrated ‘Aisha: The Prophet used to love to start doing things from the right side whenever possible, in performing ablution, putting on his shoes, and combing his hair. (Al-Ash’ath said: The Prophet used to do so in all his affairs.)

October 22, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Pre-Marriage issues

Q. I am a 24 year old man from a religious family, and so is my wife-to-be, or so I thought. She is 21. That is why I got engaged to this girl. Now I found out she has secret male friends who she contacts and occasionally meets just to talk to. Her father does not want me to talk to her because in Shariat a ghair mahram (strangers) cannot talk unless they are married. We are not allowed to talk or meet but I am hearing from people we both know that she meets as well as talks to boys. She also takes personal calls at night from these boys. As for me, I don’t have any girls as friends because I know it is haraam. Her actions show she does not care for me the way I do for her and that religiously we are heading in different directions. Should I end this so future problems are stopped? Should I contact her parents and talk about it with them?

A. You are a blessed man. Allah (SWT) has shown you a side of her that is necessary for every marital partner to know, if of course, they are inclined to seeking a religiously inclined spouse. There are certain things a person must have sabr (patience) in, and certain things they must just walk away from. You are called upon to walk away via a sign Allah has placed in your pathway. You now have two choices, accept immorality, or seek someone with the help of credible people. i.e. parents, aunts, etc. Talking to her parents would not change who she is. In-fact, they may stop her public display of immorality, but you as a spouse, there is a great chance that you will have to deal with this behavior for the rest of your life. Her parents had 21 years to help her straighten out her values. By getting them into this fix would either make them upset of make her more crafty in her schemes. However, you can inform them as to why you feel you are incompatible and thereafter let her go like a bird to be flown away… But do not tell them and later marry her, this would be to train her on her becoming professionally irreligious with a fake religious front… (it is hard to straighten a bent tree, you too young to learn the hard way.)
Thus, I would say the following: You are not required to endure any type of anxiety or patience if the woman your are marring (or married too) possesses loose morals in the form of having relationships with men that Islam prohibits.
Compatibility in marriage is essential. It is built on trust and following the commands that both parties believe in. Marital partners that are not religiously compatible, (even though the backgrounds may seem compatible) result in a relationship filled with unwanted conflicts. Higher levels of marital uncertainty and dissatisfaction would also prevail. It is best you walk out now than suffer the unbearable grief and agony of divorce, and cause unwanted hassle between yourselves, your families and friends. Walking away would be tough, due to the emotional investment already in place, but you got to do what you got to do to safeguard your Imaan, and the Imaan of you future. Today it is talking to men in the home of her parents, who know what tomorrow would bring!!! Cut your losses and walk away.

Surely Allah Knows Best.

October 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Performing salaah in the masjid

Q.I would like to know the Hadith regarding the reward for performing the Esha and Fajr Salah in the Masjid?

A. In Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 11, Number 626:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “No prayer is harder for the hypocrites than the Fajr and the ‘Isha’ prayers and if they knew the reward for these prayers at their respective times, they would certainly present themselves (in the mosques) even if they had to crawl.” The Prophet added, “Certainly I decided to order the Mu’adh-dhin (call-maker) to pronounce Iqama and order a man to lead the prayer and then take a fire flame to burn all those who had not left their houses so far for the prayer along with their houses.”

October 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Removing unwanted hair

Q. How did people at the time of the sahaba remove unwanted hair?
A. Blades where available at the time, they were not afraid to use it in removing hair that shari’ah calls to be removed. (Yes a machine or various creams can also be used in today’s time, should that be your next question.)

October 21, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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My mobile rings during salaah

Q. I always forget to turn my cell phone off. And my luck always has it that it goes off during my prayers at the musjid. One brother told me that shutting it off in salah is okay because it’s better to be peaceful during salah than playing musical tones. Can I shut it of during salah?

A. Your friend is correct in saying that you can shut your cell phone off, and he is correct that you should be peaceful during your salaah. But to shut your phone of to be peaceful can be misleading. Because what he seems to allude to is the notion that you can even use two hands to shut of the phone. Example, place your hand in the pocket, take out the phone with a given hand and shut it off with the other hand. This would be amal-e-kathir and would break the salaah. The correct response would be as follows: If a person forgets to turn off the phone prior to salaah, then this phone should be switched off by the usage of just one hand. A person using both hands will invalidate the salaah.
(Raddul Mukhtar vol.1 Pg.625 as taken from Al Mahmood 10)

October 20, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Woman performing janaza salaah

Q. My brother passed away. I performed the janaza prayers at the masjid. My friends tell me that I was wrong to perform the janaza prayer because I am a woman.

A. Janaza salah is not wajib for woman. If you did it behind the men, then the salaah is valid. However, please abstain from such an act in the future, especially if it can be avoided. One must not introduce new things into deen.

According to all the great scholars of the past, a woman in living in an everyday normal situation should abstain from attending and performing the janaza salah. This had been the practice of the female companions (peace be upon them all) who lived at the time of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) as well as the Tabein and those that followed their generation. Abstaining from the janaza salah and burial site had continued to be practiced by all great scholars who regulated their lives in accordance to the sunnah. For maximum benefit and success, we too should adhere to such practices.

Allah certainly knows best.

October 20, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Physical Death?

Q. Someone told me that Imaam Maalik (rahmatullahi alayh) as well as Sayidinah Ibn Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu) holds the view that Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam) died a physical death. Could you please explain?

A. The one who told you this has slandered and attempted to taint two great and honorable personalities. Sayidinah ibn Abbaas and Imaam Maalik believed, like the rest of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaa`ah do, that Sayidinah Isa (alay-his-salam) was raised (bodily) into heaven and is alive to this day. Dishonest persons have abortively attempted to fraud support for their kufr beliefs by alleging that Imaam Maalik and Ibn Abbaas support the opinion of Prophet Isa’s death. Our suggestion: Do not be distracted with false calims, stay focused on Ahle-Sunnah –Wal Jammaa’ah, and you shall be fine, Insha-Allaah.

Allah certainly knows best.

October 20, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Children in salaah

Q. Can children stand with adults during Salaah?

A. It is Makrooh (disliked, reprehensible) for children to stand with the adults. Children should stand in the last row, the row behind the men. If the childs safety is an issue, than the parent can either leave the minor at home, or stand at the last row with his child. Also regarding children, if only one child is present, than this child may join the men as well.

October 17, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Masaah and my socks

Q. Is it permissible to make masah on woolen or cotton socks?

A. Permissibility of “Masah al Khuffain” (making the masah on socks) on woolen and cotton socks is conditioned with the following four factors:

The socks should be composed of such material, that it is heavy and durable enough that if one had to walk three miles in them (without shoes) the durability would be of such a nature that it would not rip or tear.
The firmness of the socks should be such that it will remain firmly on the shin (foreleg) without tying it, i.e. it will not slip down when walking if it is not tied to the shin.
Water will not be able to seep through.
The thickness of the material is such that if the sock is held to the eye, nothing will be visible through it.

If the woolen or cotton socks are of the kind as described above, masah on them will be permissible.

(For those that claim a mere wiping of the feet is sufficient, I want you to focus on the following Hadith:

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr: Once the Prophet remained behind us in a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for the prayer which was over-due. We were just passing wet hands over our feet (and not washing them properly) so the Prophet addressed us in a loud voice and said twice or thrice: “Save your heels from the fire.”

Volume 1, Book 3, Number 57

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

October 17, 2008
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Animals and my clothes

Q. Will one’s clothes remain ‘pure’ if animals brush against it?

A. It depends on the animal you are talking about. Let’s say it is a dog. If the animal’s body is dry, the clothing will remain ‘pure’. If the animal’s body is moist, the clothing will become impure. However, it is best to wash that portion that was touch by the animal, for you do not know what that animal has placed in its mouth, etc.