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Q & A: Women who became Muslim and left their kaafir husbands

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I know that Muslim women are not allowed in Islam to marry non-Muslim men; there is a sister on a converts list who recently became Muslim and who was asking what to do regarding her non-Muslim husband who accepted her conversion without any problems and who also lets her educate the children the Islamic way. However, when she asked for an advice, most of us told her that the husband has to take shahada or she should not remained married to him otherwise. Unfortunately, some other people don't believe so and advised her the opposite way, that she just should remain with the husband and so on,.... I would like you to send me concrete cases at the time of the Prophet () where Muslim women (sahabyate) would leave their non-Muslim husbands if those decided not to convert. I think those cases would be the only proof to convince the people of that list that Muslim women are not allowed to marry or remain married to non-Muslims men even though they are not against the woman's conversion.

Praise be to Allaah.What you have said in your question about it being haraam for a Muslim woman to marry a kaafir man is correct, and there is no doubt concerning that.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):“And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikoon till they believe” [al-Baqarah 2:221]
Al-Qurtubi said:“ ‘And give not (your daughters) in marriage’ means, do not give Muslim women in marriage to Mushrik men. The ummah is agreed that a Mushrik should not marry a Muslim woman because this is like putting Islam in an inferior position." (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 3/72).

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them” [al-Mumtahanah 60:10]

Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) :
Chapter: when a mushrik or Christian woman who is married to a dhimmi (non-Muslim living under Muslim rule) or a harbi (non-Muslim belonging to a people who are hostile towards Islam) becomes Muslim. ‘Abd al-Waarith said, narrating from Khaalid from ‘Ikrimah from Ibn ‘Abbaas: if a Christian woman becomes Muslim shortly before her husband, she is forbidden for him… Mujaahid said: if he becomes Muslim during the ‘iddah [waiting period following divorce], then he may (re)marry her. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them” [al-Mumtahanah 60:10]. Al-Hasan and Qutaadah said concerning two Magians who became Muslim that their marriage was still valid. If one of them had become Muslim and the other had refused, the woman would have been divorced and he would no longer have any rights over her.
(Saheeh al-Bukhaari. See al-Fath, 9/421).

Examples of such women include:
Zaynab, the daughter of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). She was married to Abu’l-‘Aas ibn al-Rabee’ during the Jaahiliyyah, but when she became Muslim, their marriage was annulled, and she went and stayed with her father (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). When her husband became Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent her back to him.

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1143; Abu Dawood, 2240; Ibn Maajah, 2009; classed as saheeh by Imaam Ahmad, 1789. Al-Tirmidhi said, there is nothing wrong with its isnaad).

The correct view is that the husband can go back to her with no need to renew the marriage contract.
If the woman is still in her ‘iddah, he has more right (than anyone else) to marry her. If her ‘iddah has ended, she is free to choose whether to go back to him or not.

Al-Tirmidhi said:On the basis of this hadeeth, the scholars said that if a woman becomes Muslim before her husband, then her husband becomes Muslim whilst she is still in her ‘iddah, then the husband has more right to her whilst she is still in her ‘iddah. This is the view of Maalik ibn Anas, al-Oozaa’i, al-Shaafa’i, Ahmad and Ishaaq.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth 1142).

Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said:There is no dispute among the scholars concerning the fact that if a kaafir woman becomes Muslim then her ‘iddah ends, her husband has no rights concerning her if he has not become Muslim during her ‘iddah.
(Al-Tamheed, 12/23).

Ibn al-Qayyim said:But what the ruling of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) indicates is that the marriage comes to a halt. If he becomes Muslim before the end of her ‘iddah, then she is (still) his wife, but if her ‘iddah ends, then she may marry whomever she wants. If she likes, she can wait for him, and if he becomes Muslim she is his wife and there is no need to renew the marriage contract.
(Zaad al-Ma’aad, 5/137, 138)

Al-Qurtubi said: Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd-Allaah was married to Arwaa bint Rabee’ah ibn al-Haarith ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. They were separated by Islam, then in Islam Khaalid ibn Sa’eed ibn al-‘Aas married her. She was one of the [Muslim] wives of the kuffaar who fled to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) kept her in Madinah and married her to Khaalid.
(Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 18/65, 66)

It was reported that Anas said: Abu Talhah married Umm Sulaym and the mahr between them was Islam. Umm Sulaym became Muslim before Abu Talhah. He proposed marriage to her and she said, “I have become Muslim. If you become Muslim I will marry you.” So he became Muslim and that was the mahr between them.
(Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 3340)

The daughter of al-Waleed ibn al-Magheerah, the wife of Safwaan ibn Umayyah, became Muslim before him, and the marriage was annulled. Then he became Muslim later on, and she went back to him. It was narrated by Maalik in al-Muwatta’, 1132. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: I do not know of any unbroken saheeh isnaad for this hadeeth, but it is famous and well known to the scholars of seerah, Ibn Shihaab, the leader of the scholars of seerah, and al-Shu’bi. The fame of this hadeeth is stronger than its isnaad in sha Allaah.
(al-Tamheed, 12/19)

Umm Hakeem bint al-Haarith ibn Hishaam, the wife of ‘Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl. Her marriage was annulled, then he became Muslim during her ‘iddah, so she went back to her husband.
(Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf, 4/107)]
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Q & A: My friend says Nyaaz and Fateha are haraam..Can we eat Prasad..?

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Question:
i know that niyaz is a gift. but one of my friend said that in quran chapter 6:162, 2:173 its been said that " He has forbidden for you only the carrion, and blood, and flesh of swine, and the animal that has been slaughtered while proclaiming the name of anyone other than Allah; so there is no sin on him who is compelled and does not eat out of desire, nor eats more than what is necessary; indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful"(2:173).

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), “I do not find in what is sent down to me any eatable prohibited to a consumer, except if it is carrion, or blood flowing from blood vessels, or the flesh of swine - for that is indeed foul, or the sin causing animal over which the name of any other than Allah is taken at the time of slaughtering; so for one compelled by circumstances, neither himself desiring nor eating more than necessary, indeed your Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(6:145).

but no where i see that niyaz is not allowed. these verses are referred to the flesh and forbidden animals which are sacrificed in the name of others peoples so called god. she says that the niyaz offered at ajmer sharif is not preferable because it is cooked and distributed in the name of KHWAJA GARIB NAWAZ (raziyallaahu ta'aala anhu). so i want explanation not for me but for my friend. pls help

Secondly,can we eat prasad offered by hindus by saying "BISMILLAAH" before eating.

Answer:

[Ana`am 6:145] Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), “I do not find in what is sent down to me any eatable prohibited to a consumer, except if it is carrion, or blood flowing from blood vessels, or the flesh of swine - for that is indeed foul, or the sin causing animal over which the name of any other than Allah is taken at the time of slaughtering; so for one compelled by circumstances, neither himself desiring nor eating more than necessary, indeed your Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Ana`am 6:146] And for the Jews We forbade all animals with claws; and forbade them the fat of oxen and sheep except which is on their backs or joined to their intestines or to the bone; We awarded this to them for their rebellion; and indeed, surely, We are truthful.

[Ana`am 6:162] Say, “Undoubtedly my prayers and my sacrifices, and my living and my dying are all for Allah, the Lord Of The Creation.”

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[Baqarah 2:173] He has forbidden for you only the carrion, and blood, and flesh of swine, and the animal that has been slaughtered while proclaiming the name of anyone other than Allah; so there is no sin on him who is compelled and does not eat out of desire, nor eats more than what is necessary; indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

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Answer 1 :
In the Above verses where does it say that we cannot do Nyaaz or Give Charity to benefit the deceased ? No one eats Blood, Swine...

Answer 2 :
Secondly...it says anything on WHICH the name of anyone OTHER THAN ALLAH is taken is HARAAM..But do you know what is read in the NYAAZ ..?
Jab fateha ya niaaz dete hain to kya pda jaata hai aapko pta hai..?
Sureh Fateha, Sureh Ikhlaas, and other Surats from the QURAN..then how come that becomes Haraam and Shirk..

jab koi bhi Musalmaan Qasaai kisi jaanwar ko ziba karta hai to wo Bismillaah Hir Rehman Nir Rahim ; Allah - Beginning With The Name Of - The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. padkar hi karta hai...ALLAH ke naam se hi ZIBA hota hai har jaanwar.
ab uska swaab to aap kisi ko bhi pahonchaskte ho...

Qurbaani k jaanwar koto ziba karte waqt us aadmi ka naam pda jaata hai jiske naam se qurbaani ki gayee fir to Qurbaani Nyaaz se bhi bada shirk hogyee

Answer 3:
This is proven from Hadees that RasoolAllah sal-lal-lahu alai hi wa sallam had food with the Sahibis he used to first keep the food in front of him then Read some quranic ayaats and then Distribute the Food to the Sahabis...

Jisse us khaane me Itni Barkat hoti thi ke Khaana Kam hone ke wajaud bhi sab ko pura pad jaata tha aur bach bhi jaata tha..

This Sunnat of RasoolAllah sal-lal-lahu alai hi wa sallam is being copied when Sunni Muslims do Fateha.

Answer 4 :
Some More Intelligent people Object to the saying that Yeh Khwaja Sahib ki Nyaaz hai...Yeh Gaus Paak ki Nyaaz hai... they claim that Is par GairAllah ka naam liya gya is liye yeh haraam hai..Arey bewakufon...Jab qurbaani ka Bakra laate ho tab nai kehte yeh..Salmaan sahab ka bakra hai..yeh Altaaf Sahab ka Bakra hai... Yeh Bakra me apne baap k naam par dunga..yeh apni maa ke naam par dunga...

to kya Qurbaani bhi hraaam hogyee....

Answer 5 :
Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim write that:

A man came to the Prophet Muhammad [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] and said ‘My mother has suddenly died and she did not leave any will, but I suspect that if she did that then she would have told me to give something to charity. Now if I offer something in charity on her behalf, will she get the reward?’Prophet Muhammad [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] said ‘Yes’. Then the man said that I make you, the Prophet, as my witness, that I offer my garden full of fruits to charity.

(Bukhari Muslim, Chapter Al-Wasiha)

Answer 6 :
If any misguided people says we do not eat by reciting people’s name but sacrifice it for allah"s cause he should answer what does it make him to do aqiqa in the name of his/her"s child which is done particularly by ones child"s name; isn't haraam as allah says in the quran the food on which other than allah"s name is recited is prohibited.I have seen many people of firqaparast people doing this and many doing fatiha/coming to sunni ijtema at the end to eat niyaz,fatiha,tabbarruk etc.I have seen many of them giving fatiha even in miladun-nabi.but they do not believe in noor of rasulallah,believe him as hazir-nazir, believe in ikhtiar of prophet etc.they are neutral muslims.they are sailing in the sea with one leg in one boat and other in other boat.And at some point they will fell in the sea and die for their act and taste the punishment of hell.

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Secondly,can we eat prasad offered by hindus by saying "BISMILLAAH" before eating. - NO.. You cannot eat PRASAD offered by HINDUS.

More answers from Mufti saheb can be listened online. (Answers in Sound File)

1. Niaz khana jaiz he ya nai
http://mufti.faizaneattar.net/Answer.php?Q=27062

2. Kunde ki Nyaaz - assalamwalekum main sunni hu aur hum jab ghar main kunde ki niyaz karte hai to sawaal pucha jata hai ki kunde ki niyaz kyun karte hai plz aap mujhe detail me bataiye ki kunde ki niaz kyun karte hai,
http://mufti.faizaneattar.net/Answer.php?Q=21086

3. Mera swal hai k jab quran main soar ka ghost,behta lahoo,orALLAH k nam k alawa khana haram hai to hum jo niaz detay hai buzurgoon k naam ki kia wo sahi hain ya ghalat wazahat kijiay..
http://mufti.faizaneattar.net/Answer.php?Q=20657

As per as what i know Prasad is term used by Hindus for food which they offer to there Gods..And as their Statues dont eat it...its distributed amongst the fellow hindus..

The Basic point which a Muslim or for that Matter any Human Being considers before consuming any food is that IS THE FOOD PAAK, IS IT HYGENIC...

And as far as my knowledge is concerned for Hindus Gao Mutr (Urine of Cow) is purest..and they clean their statues with it..

Also put it while preparing Prasad and other Godly Foods...

Also I have heard for Christians they consider the Blood of Lamb to be sacred..and even drink it....

So i guess your Conscious will tell whether its allowed or not...
As for me I will never EAT SUCH a thing...
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Q & A: O prophet...“Say, I am a man like you”.. So the prophet was just a man like us ? (1)

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Allah Ta'ala states in the Holy Qur’an, “Make not the summoning of the Messenger amongst yourselves, like one calls the other amongst you.” [Surah 24, Verse 63] If Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was “just like us” then why did Almighty Allah prohibit us from summoning him like how we summon each other?

Secondly, the whole verse has to be read to fully understand what is being said. Allah Ta’ala says, “Say, I am a man like you, I receive revelation that your God is one God, then whosoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do noble deeds and associate not any one in the worship of his Lord. [Surah 18, Verse 110]. Do we receive revelations? No! So how can Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) be like us?

Once, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) started to keep continuous fasts, where he did not eat anything for days. When the companions found out they began to do the same, but due to not eating or drinking at all they became extremely weak after a few days. When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard about this he forbade the Companions from keeping such fasts and asked them, “Ayyukum Misli?” (Who amongst you is like me?) [Bukhari Shareef ]

From this we firstly learn that if the Sahaabah, who are the highest in status after the Ambiya, cannot be like Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), how can anyone today claim that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is just like us, and is like our big brother? Ma’azallah! Secondly, let alone being like him, we cannot even fathom the true reality of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). This is why Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) himself said, “O Abu Bakr! Oath on He Who has sent me with the Truth, no one knows my reality besides Allah.” [Mataali’ul Musarraat ]

Lastly, our beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) proved in his perpetual fasting that he did not have to eat to survive. But instead of him explaining to us all of the etiquettes of eating, he simply ate himself and provided in this way a detailed, visual example for us to follow. The Holy Qur’an says that the people of Hazrat Nuh (Alaihis Salaam) said to him, “We see you a man like us” [Surah 11, Verse 27]. Obviously these people were not complementing but insulting him and soon earned the wrath of Allah when the flood came.

This tells us that to call a Prophet an ordinary human being is a root to infidelity and a step towards misguidance. This was the very cause of Shaitaan going astray because he only looked at Hazrat Adam (Alaihis Salaam) as an ordinary human being. It should be remembered that the word 'Bashr' (human being) in respect of the Prophet has either been used by Almighty Allah, the Prophets themselves or the infidels. Thus the one who now refers to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as “a man like us” is definitely not Allah, nor is he a Prophet, so he must be an infidel. [Tafseer Noorul Irfaan]

The disbeliever’s in the time of Hazrat Saaleh (Alaihis Salaam) remarked “You are indeed a man like us” [Surah 26, Verse 154]. Another group of disbeliever’s remarked “He is not but a man like you, he eats of what you eat, and drinks what you drink” [Surah 23, Verse 33]. This tells us that to regard the Prophets as humans like us and to assess them on just their eating and drinking without understanding their hidden mystical nature, has been the work of the infidels from earliest times. Abu Jahl did not become a Companion, but Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta'ala Anh) did. Although both looked at Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Abu Jahl looked at the human side of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) while Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta'ala Anh) saw the light enveloped under human form. [Tafseer Noorul Irfaan]

It is important to understand that Allah Ta’ala speaks to His Beloveds the way He wants, and they present themselves in His Court the way they want. Sinners like us have no right to speak about the Prophets in the same way Allah Ta’ala speaks to them, just as how a person would not like his children to speak to him in the same way he is spoken to by his elders. We share our quality of humanity with the Prophets, but within that category, they and we are worlds apart. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is a human unlike any other human, just like how a diamond is a stone unlike any other stone. Even though he said he is a human, he is one of a kind, unmatched and unparalleled, just like how a diamond is a stone, yet its
characteristics place it in a league of its own. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to have true love and utmost respect for our Beloved Master, Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Ameen.
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Q & A: O prophet...“Say, I am a man like you”.. So the prophet was just a man like us ?

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Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is a matchless personality whose reality only Allah Ta'ala knows. We will never be able to comprehend what his true status and power is. However, we must make sure that we never utter words, which to us might not seem insulting due to our lack of understanding, but in reality would be an insult to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

The Prophets generally presented themselves as ordinary men so that we may know how to live our lives properly. If they simply acted on their knowledge without explaining anything (the way Hazrat Khidr (Alaihis Salaam) did with Hazrat Moosa (Alaihis Salaam)), what would we have learnt?

If Allah Ta'ala were to send an angel instead of a man, then the followers would have legitimate reasons not to follow his example. They could claim that angels are made from divine light and are immune from sins, and therefore using them as a role model is impossible. Hence, Allah ensured that all Prophets and Messengers were men so the disbelievers would have no reason not to follow them.

Some misguided people refer to the verse “Say, I am a man like you” to argue that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was simply “a man just like us”. There is a paramount difference between Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying it and others saying it. Firstly, by using the command “say” it is hinted that in terms of expressing humility only you Oh Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) can call yourself human, no one else has the permission to call you in this way.

For example, if a king says to his subjects that I am your servant, he does so out of humility, but if one of his subjects tells him, “you are my servant”, the same words becomes an insult and he becomes worthy of punishment in the court of the king. The same principle applies to referring to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as a man. When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) himself said that he is a man, then this is seen in a virtuous manner. But if someone else calls him a man, it becomes a form of disrespect.
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Q & A: Lafz "Quran" quran mai kitni bar aya hai ?

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The Quran (English pronunciation: /kɒˈrɑːn/ kor-ahn; Arabic: القرآن‎ al-qurʾān, IPA: [qurˈʔaːn],[variations] literally meaning "a recitation"), also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God(Arabic: الله‎, Allah) and the Final Testament, following the Old and New Testaments. It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language. The Quran is divided into 114 suras of unequal length which are classified either as Meccan or Medinan depending upon their place and time of revelation.

The word qurʾān appears about 70 times in the Quran itself,assuming various meanings. It is a verbal noun (maṣdar) of the Arabic verb qaraʾa (Arabic: قرأ‎), meaning “he read” or “he recited.” The Syriac equivalent is qeryānā, which refers to “scripture reading” or “lesson”. While most Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is qaraʾa itself.In any case, it had become an Arabic term by Muhammad's lifetime.[1] An important meaning of the word is the “act of reciting”, as reflected in an early Quranic passage: “It is for Us to collect it and to recite it (qurʾānahu)”.

The word qurʾān appears about 70 times in the Quran itself,assuming various meanings.

1> YaSin: Verse 2
2> Al-Burooj: Verse 21
3> Qaf: Verse 1
4> Al-Rahman: Verse 2
5> Al-Waqia: Verse 77
6> An-Naml: Verse 1
7> Yusuf: Verse 2
8> Al-Hijr: Verse 1
9> Al-Hijr: Verse 87
10> Al-Hijr: Verse 91
11> An-Nahl: Verse 98
12> Taha: Verse 2
13> Sa'ad: Verse 1
14> Al-Muzzammil: Verse 4
15> Al-Insan: Verse 23
16> Al-Inshiqaq: Verse 21
17> YaSin: Verse 69
18> Al-Araf: Verse 204
19> Al-Furqan: Verse 30
20> An-Naml: Verse 6
21> An-Naml: Verse 76
22> Az-Zumar: Verse 27
23> Az-Zumar: Verse 28
24> Az-Zukhruf: Verse 3
25> Muhammad: Verse 24
26> Al-Qamar: Verse 17
27> Al-Qamar: Verse 22
28> Al-Qamar: Verse 32
29> Al-Qamar: Verse 40
30> An-Nisa: Verse 82
31> Al-Isra: Verse 41
32> Al-Isra: Verse 45
33> Al-Isra: Verse 89
34> Al-Kahf: Verse 54
35> Fussilat: Verse 26
36> Az-Zukhruf: Verse 31
37> Qaf: Verse 45
38> Al-Isra: Verse 46
39> Yusuf: Verse 3
40> Al-Isra: Verse 9
41> Al-Isra: Verse 82
42> Al-Isra: Verse 88
43> Al-Isra: Verse 106
44> Taha: Verse 113
45> Taha: Verse 114
46> Al-Furqan: Verse 32
47> An-Naml: Verse 92
48> Al-Qasas: Verse 85
49> Ar-Room: Verse 58
50> Al-Hashr: Verse 21
51> Yunus: Verse 37
52> Fussilat: Verse 44
53> Al-Maeda: Verse 101
54> Al-Isra: Verse 60
55> Ash-Shura: Verse 7
56> Al-Ahqaf: Verse 29
57> Al-Anaam: Verse 19
58> At-Taubah: Verse 111
59> Yunus: Verse 61
60> Al-Baqara: Verse 185
61> Ar-Rad: Verse 31
62> Al-Muzzammil: Verse 20
63> Al-Muzzammil: Verse 20
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Fundamentals of Islamic Belief

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Introduction

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, seek His Aid and His Forgiveness and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whom-soever Allah leaves unguided, none can guide thereafter. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, who is alone without partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. May God praise Muhammad, his family, his Companions and whoever follows them in goodness, and keep them safe from all evil.
To proceed:

The knowledge of Islamic monotheism is the most noble of all branches of knowledge. It also has the greatest worth. In addition, it is the most important of all obligations. It is all of these because it is knowledge of Allah, His names, His attributes and His rights upon His servants. Furthermore, it is the opening to the path that leads to Allah and the foun-dation of His Sacred Laws.

For these reasons, all of the messengers called to this know-ledge and understanding. Thus, Allah says,

“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad but We inspired him (saying): There is none worthy of worship but I (Allah), so worship Me (Alone and none else).” [Surah al-Anbiyaa (21):25]

Allah Himself bears witness to His own Oneness. The an-gels also bear witness to that as well as the people of know-ledge. Allah says,

“Allah bears witness that none has right to worshiped but He, and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); established on justice. None has right to worshiped but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Surah Ali-Imraan 3:18]

Since this is the place and status of Islamic monotheism, it becomes a must upon every Muslim to attend to it by learn-ing it, teaching it, pondering over it and believing in it. In this way, his religion may be built upon a sound foundation of conviction, confidence and submission and he may happily reap the fruits and results of this Islamic monotheism.
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Q & A: Do Islam degrades women by keeping them behind the veil?

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Question:

Do Islam degrades women by keeping them behind the veil?

Answer:

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘Hijab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘Hijab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam

1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:

Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.

Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and [Banned Word Used] were common amongst the Romans.

Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

Hijab for men
People usually only discuss ‘Hijab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah Subhana Wa Taala first mentions ‘Hijab’ for men before ‘Hijab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”
[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijab for women.
The next verse of Surah Noor, says:

” And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons…”
[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

3. Six criteria for Hijab.

According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:

Extent:

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.

All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.

The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.

4. Hijab includes conduct and behavior among other things

Complete ‘Hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behavior, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘Hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘Hijab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘Hijab’ of the eyes, ‘Hijab’ of the heart, ‘Hijab’ of thought and ‘Hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.

5. Hijab prevents molestation

The reason why Hijab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.

6. Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic Hijab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that Hijab prevents women from being molested.

7. Capital punishment for the rapists

Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?

8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women

Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honor. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colorful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.

9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic Hijab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic Hijab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands up to the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?

10. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes

Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.
 
And Allah knows best..
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