| I have been
continuously receiving emails and queries about basics of
Islam from my esteemed visitors to my site ever since I
have been on line for last few months. May i say how
delighted I am at your evident eagerness and interest in
Islam. Me at Abdul Mateen Khan's Islamic Web Directory endeavor to answer queries about the
basics of Islam and I be only too pleased to try and assist
you in any way possible at all. A very respectable and
knowledgeable Muslim lady, Um-e-Khadija, has been kind enough
to do her best in responding and answering to the queries and
will continue to do so in future as well. May Allah reward her
for this selfless service. |
| I will post some
selected questions and answers on this page for the general
benefit of my visitors. Please send your question to
info@abdulmateen.com and
I
shall try to do my best to be of some help.
|
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|
Question |
| Is boxing
haram? |
|
Answer |
| It is
intriguing as to why boxing would be considered haram in
Islam. I do not know of any Islamic doctrinal evidence to
support what you suggest. It is a sport like most other
and because of it's potential to be fiery, the rules and
regulations should be adhered to most firmly. Wallaho Alam
Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| I would
like to make enquiries on the topic of "moortad" (not sure
of the spelling). My mother has converted from islam to
Christianity. Since then, I terminated contact with her.
Recently I met a Muslim male from Morocco. He stressed
that my actions are wrong. According to him the Holy Quran
teaches us that no matter what a mother does, a child must
still obey the mother. |
|
Answer |
| The Holy
Quran is the perfect, timeless guidance for all mankind.
It states on several occasions that there is no worldly
punishment for apostasy (turning away from a faith). Who
ever does so does it at their own peril and will be held
accountable by Allah. On the other hand the Holy Quran
gives us many directives to be kind and benevolent to our
parents. There is a verse in Surah Al-Ankabut which
translates as follows: "And We have enjoined on man
kindness to his parents; but if they contend with you so
that you too may associate partners with Me; of which you
have no knowledge whatsoever, then obey them not. Unto Me
is your return and I shall inform you of what you did." In
my humble opinion this verse is the perfect answer to your
dilemma. I understand from your message that your mother
is not in anyway forcing you into her new belief. Despite
your obvious hurt at her apostasy, fact remains that she
is your mother. Your Muslim faith strictly commands you to
treat her with benevolence. There are ahadeeth where the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has
enjoined Muslims to treat even pagan parents with kindness
and benevolence. Pray for your mother most earnestly that
she may one day come back to the beauty of Islam. Amen.
Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| Why woman
are not allowed to cover their faces during Hajj?
|
|
Answer |
| The Holy
Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be on
him) taught us to perform Hajj. His practices, traditions
and indeed his directives are carried out during the
ceremony of Hajj. The directive for women not to cover
their face during Hajj is one such instruction. All
traditions of the Holy prophet (peace and blessings on
him) are full of wisdom. The time and environment of Hajj
is steeped in spirituality. Mankind is at it's meekest,
most subservient self - in the true spirit of Hajj, paying
homage at the House of Allah, the mind and the eye do not
wander needlessly, hence the 'relaxing' of the 'purdah'.
It could also be "symbolic" of the fact that one arrives
at the most spiritual place on earth, in All-Knowing
Allah's attendance laying bare one's soul - as most
natural, open and forthright. Wallaho Alam Bissawab.
|
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|
Question |
| I'm just
curious about Islamic beliefs, etc. Do you believe in a
God or Gods? I may have some silly questions, so please
don't be offended by anything that I may ask in the
future. I am just curious about Islam as I am about other
religions. |
|
Answer |
| Thank you for
your email. We assure you that if your intention is to
find out more about Islam and other religions, then your
questions will not be offending in the least - assisting
you will be a pleasure. In answer to your first question;
the fundamental belief of Islam is that there is One God,
that He has no partner, He begets not, neither is He
begotten, He always was and always will be. He is All
Good, All Mercy and All Power. The Unity of God is the
basic Islamic belief and all other articles of our faith
are dependent on it. Hope to hear from you again soon.
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|
Question |
| I am
writing a report on the rise of Islam. I know that many
people started to believe in the year 622 when Mohammed (PBUH)
was around, but what is it that makes your religion today
so popular to so many people? I ask this because it is one
of the fastest growing religions in the world today, and
that fact alone as me curious as to what your religion is
all about and why it is growing so fast. If you could help
in any way with my questions I would be very appreciative.
|
|
Answer |
| We, as
Muslims believe that God taught religion gradually to
humanity through His prophets, from Adam to Jesus ( peace
be on them). He then perfected Divine teachings, through
Muhammad (may peace and blessings be on him) in the form
of Islam. The Muslim scripture is the Holy Quran, which
was revealed to Muhammad (may peace and blessings be on
him). This holy book remains intact in it's Arabic text
1,400 years after being first revealed. The first and
foremost belief in Islam is that of the Unity of God. That
there is One God and He is a Perfect Being. Islam gives a
message of eternal hope. That the path to spiritual
development is everlasting and that an individual can
embark on it and seek the love of God and establish a
permanent relationship with Him. Islam does not claim a
monopoly over truth. We believe that divine guidance is a
general bounty that has sustained humanity through ages.
We do not believe that He is a God of Muslims, rather, He
is the Lord of mankind. We believe that the Holy Quran
carries message for all humanity until the end of time. It
is not a message revealed for the Arabs of circa 600AD,
rather it will guide mankind of all ages. The teachings of
Islam do not conflict with the laws of nature, they
constitute reason and logic. The true message of Islam is
that of peace. Indeed the Arabic word 'Islam' means peace
and total submission to the will of God. It safeguards an
individual's socio-economical rights. It covers and has an
answer for all needs of humanity, it conforms to the human
nature. In this age of apparent material success and
progress, hopelessness and despair have taken hold of the
human psyche. It has turned man/woman away from what is
the core of our existence, our soul. Indeed when people
study Islam with an open mind, it's inherent beauty and
logic most naturally brings about acceptance of what is so
evidently the perfect and timeless message . Wallaho Alam
Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| Hello. I
am a 7th grade student who is learning about the Islamic
Religion in my history class. One of our assignments is to
explain the symbolism behind the Muslim prayer rugs. I'm
not entirely sure what this means. Our teacher has talked
about the different colors, the flowers depicted on the
rugs and of the varying images they show. I have searched
all of the internet and my public library with very little
result. I was just wondering if you could help me by just
explaining a little but about these rugs and what they
mean. |
|
Answer |
| It is not
surprising that you have not found any material on the
motifs on the Muslim prayer rugs. They are of no
significance at all. Islam is not a religion of symbols.
The varied pleasant motifs and colors on prayer rugs are
made for mere aesthetics. Indeed the very concept of
having a special rug for prayer only stems from the need
to offer one's prayer on a clean surface. In the absence
of a prayer rug, the prayers can be made on a clean piece
of cloth or any other clean material. In tropical
countries the traditional prayer mats are made out of
plain straw. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| Is it
necessary to wear beard? - Kindly do give the answers to
clear my concepts. |
|
Answer |
| It is not
'fardh', meaning it is not obligatory. Those who do so, do
it in keeping with the Sunnah (practices) of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be on
him). Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| What is
the basic concept of Syed's and who are those who claim
themselves the same? |
|
Answer |
| There is no
'basic concept' in being a Syed. People who are
descendants of the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings
be on him) carry the name of Syed. The Arabic word syed
also means, lord; master; chief; a prince. Wallaho Alam
Bissawab. |
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|
Question |
| In Islam,
social evils such as consuming liquor and gambling are
prohibited, but why slavery is not prohibited?
|
|
Answer |
| The Holy
Quran, the Muslim scriptures, does not permit slavery.
Indeed it emphasizes that all human beings are equal and
no one has any kind of superiority over another. Islam
recognizes geographical divisions but certainly condemns
racial, economic or any such discrimination. At the time
when the message of Islam was brought in this world
slavery was an intrinsic part of the social fabric. Islam,
being a faith of moderation, set about to abolish this
system from society gradually, without causing any great
upheaval. Indeed, Islam totally rejects depriving a human
being of their liberty, the only exception being in the
event of a war when taking of prisoners of war is
permitted. However, there are strict guidelines to be
observed about their captivity and they are entitled to
freedom on payment of a ransom. |
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|
Question |
| What are
the terms and conditions for the marriage ceremony, I mean
can you explain me about the "Den mohor?" According to
Shira we are asked to pay a certain amount of money/goods
to wife at the first night. In that case if someone would
like to offer a Holy Quran as a "Den mohor" instead of
money/goods, is this allowable and acceptable according to
Shira. If it is not, then what is the best suggestion for
me to explain it? |
|
Answer |
| According to
Islamic teaching man is responsible for providing the
necessities of life for his wife and children. The Holy
Quran says: "Hand over to your women their dowries
willingly, but if they, of their own pleasure, remit to
you a part thereof, then enjoy it as a thing agreeable and
wholesome.” The sum of money, property or any other
valuable given to the wife as a dowry, is hers by right.
On principle the dowry must be paid immediately at
marriage; but with the wife’s consent the payment can be
made over a period of time. The nature of the gifts and
the method of payment is specified at the time of the
Nikah and is incorporated into the marriage contract. The
amount depends on the means of the groom but should
neither be excessive nor meager. The dowry must be paid to
the wife unless she agrees to forego it. The husband can
increase the amount of the dowry at a later stage, if he
so desires; but he cannot decrease it except with the
permission of the wife. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| What is
the foundation of being Muslim? |
|
Answer |
| The
foundation of being a Muslim is to believe in the Unity of
God, to believe that He alone is worthy of worship and
that Muhammad (may peace and blessings be on him) was
God's Messenger. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| What is
the history of the Muslim religion? |
|
Answer |
| The Muslim
religion called Islam started 1,400 years ago in Arabia.
It's message was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings
of Allah be on him) from God, amidst Arabians who led
barbaric lives. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was an
upright and thoroughly honest man, and was given to
solitude and reflection . He would go outside town to a
isolated spot, Hira, to reflect and meditate. It is here
that, at the age of forty, God's angel Gabriel came to him
with a Divine message and told him that he was God's
chosen person and that he was to take the message to the
people of Arabia and all mankind. This was the beginning
of Islam. A religion in which God brought together all the
excellent teachings of the older scriptures through the
Holy Quran. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| What must
one do to become Muslim? |
|
Answer |
| One must
believe in the Unity of God, that there is only One God
and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace
and blessings on him) is His Messenger. Muslims believe in
all the prophets of God: From Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
(peace be on all of them); they believe in all the older
scriptures, Torah and the Gospels and many more. They
believe in angels and they believe in the Day of Judgment.
|
| |
|
Question |
| Who is the
founder of the religion? |
|
Answer |
| As stated
above, Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) gave the
message of Islam to the world. |
| |
|
Question |
| When was
this religion founded? |
|
Answer |
| Muhammad
(peace and blessings be on him) received his first
revelation from God at the age of forty, this was in 610
AD. He took the message he had received to his family and
friends who immediately believed him and thus the Islamic
faith was founded. |
| |
|
Question |
| What
percentage of the world are Muslims? |
|
Answer |
| I believe
approximately 10% of the world population is Muslim.
Please note this is an estimate and not a precise
calculation. |
| |
|
Question |
| How many
Muslims are in North America? |
|
Answer |
| Accordingly
to the most recently available census data there are 8-9
million Muslims in North America. |
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|
Question |
| What are
Muslims outlook on other religions? |
|
Answer |
| Muslims
believe in all the prophets of God from Adam to Jesus
(peace be on all of them). Muslims believe that Moses
(peace be on him) received revelation from God and that
Torah was a revealed book. They believe that Jesus (on
whom be peace) was a man and a prophet of God. The Holy
Quran (the Muslim scriptures) teaches equity for all
mankind. |
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|
Question |
| What are
Muslims taught about abortions? |
|
Answer |
| The Muslim
outlook on abortion is based on common sense. God gives
indeed all life and He alone has the right to take it back
- in that abortion to accommodate one's own life style
etc. is not permissible. However, Islam has a
compassionate view in certain medical conditions/instances
and abortion is allowed if carried out within the first
few weeks of the pregnancy, before the embryo develops
into a fetus. During the embryonic stage, there is only
'physical' life and the 'soul' is not yet placed in the
body. Therefore in certain medical cases it is
compassionate to allow a termination of the pregnancy.
Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| What are
Muslims taught about the death penalty? |
|
Answer |
| This requires
a detailed answer. In short, Islamic law of retaliation,
under which a person who shows a callous disregard for the
life of another human loses his title to live as a member
of the human race. This provides effective and practical
means to put a stop to murders and safeguard human life.
However, in special circumstances the murderer can be
saved from the death penalty if the relatives of the slain
person decide upon receiving blood-money from him. The
bereaved also have the option to fully pardon the
murderer. Such pardons are allowed in circumstances where
there is a likelihood of matters improving. Muslims
believe that the manner in which God has laid down the law
of retaliation makes it indispensable for the preservation
and protection of human life. The Holy Quran says,
"....the recompense of an injury is an injury the like
thereof......." The Islamic principles of punishment might
not appeal to visionaries but Islam is a most practical
religion. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| Do Muslims
believe in an " after life"? |
|
Answer |
| Indeed. It is
one of the articles of the Muslim faith to believe in the
Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. |
| |
|
Question |
| If Muslims
believe in an " after life ", what do they believe about
it? |
|
Answer |
| They believe
that life after death is not a new phenomenon; in that all
it's manifestations will be reflections of what one does
in this life. They believe that each soul will be held
accountable for what it has done and that God will punish
and reward accordingly. They believe life as we know it is
only transitory and that life after death is a permanent
state. |
| |
|
Question |
| How do
Muslims believe the "after life" interacts with the
living? |
|
Answer |
| Muslims
believe that once a soul departs from earth it severs all
ties from life as we know it. However, with Allah's
permission and at His will, some souls are allowed to have
a connection with the present life. |
| |
|
Question |
| What are
Muslims taught about other religions? |
|
Answer |
| That all
great religions of this world were brought by prophets of
God and that they received revelation from God to spread
their message. However, all scriptures have been
interpolated by man. The Muslim holy book, the Holy Quran
has a Divine guarantee that it will be safeguarded. It's
1,400 old Arabic text has not been changed a jot to this
day and the Muslim belief is that it will stay the same
till the end of time. |
| |
|
Question |
| What
things/ideas do other religions most commonly perceive
wrong about Muslims? |
|
Answer |
| There are
plenty of misconceptions and misinterpretations of the
Muslim faith. The one aspect that springs to mind is the
Western media's gross misunderstanding of the Islamic law
concerning women. |
| |
|
Question |
| How many
spouses are Muslims able to have? |
|
Answer |
| Muslim males
are allowed up to four wives. However, there are strict
laws governing this kind of an arrangement. Men are
enjoined to keep emotional balance between the wives and
to provide for them most adequately. |
| |
|
Question |
| What
divides the Muslim religion? Are there different beliefs
or different denominations? |
|
Answer |
| The Muslim
faith is based on the ONE belief of Unity of God and that
Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) is His Messenger.
Indeed as with all major faiths of the world there are
different viewpoints, hence different denominations. It is
worth mentioning here that the Arabic text of the Holy
Quran all the Muslims, despite their different
denominations, read and follow through out the world today
and have been doing for over a thousand years remains 100%
intact and the same as when it was revealed. |
| |
|
Question |
| My
daughter is doing a project for school and needs to know
how Mohammed, the founder of Islam, died. We know he died
suddenly and unexpectedly, but can you tell us or point us
to an article which will tell us how he died. It would be
appreciated. |
|
Answer |
| The Holy
Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be on
him) passed away at the age of 62 or 63 after a brief
illness. He had offered the annual pilgrimage to Mecca
where he gave a farewell address, which was an epitome of
the entire teachings of Islam. Soon afterwards he started
teaching and training his followers, raising their moral
standards. He also prepared the Muslims of his own death
by this time, through revelations he received. Months
later he fell ill. For some days he continued to visit the
mosque to lead the prayers. Later he became too weak to do
this. He spent his last days with his wife Aisha (may
Allah be pleased with her). When his time came and he was
on his deathbed, he told his followers to worship the One
and Only God. In the end, he said "To my Friend the
Highest of the High - to my Friend the Highest of the
High,"meaning that he was heading towards God. Wallaho
Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| I want ask
(in short) about if I can work in the banking sector or
not? |
|
Answer |
| The simple
and correct answer to your question is, why indeed, yes.
As an employee you are not responsible for the un-Islamic
policies of your employer. |
| |
|
Question |
| I have a
question about Islam. What is the Islamic view about
adoption? My husband is a Muslim and he seems reluctant to
adopt abandoned children even though I have told him that
he could raise them under Islam. Could his reservations be
based on the Koran? |
|
Answer |
| The Islamic
view on adoption is quite clear. The adopted child has to
be informed of all the facts from the beginning. His
family name must remain the same. This insures the child's
basic human rights are preserved and his identity is not
muddled. There are a few rules about inheritance as well.
In general, Islam ensures to safeguard the identity of the
child and recognizes that as his birthright. Adoption only
facilitates his upbringing takes place in a safe, loving
environment rather change his distinctiveness of who
he/she was born as. Wallaho Alam Bissawab. |
| |
|
Question |
| What is
Hajj? Why do Muslims take part? Are there any
difficulties? |
|
Answer |
| Hajj is the
fifth Pillar of Islam. It is an annual pilgrimage to the
holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can
afford it, has to perform once in life time. Muslims
perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the holy
sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a
pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first
place of worship ever built on this earth, Muslims thus
refer to it as House of God. The ceremony of Hajj is also
symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four
corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and
worship God. There are no difficulties to perform Hajj
apart from the obvious financial commitment in order to
travel to Mecca. That is the reason why, strictly
speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those who have
fulfilled all their worldly needs and have no pressing
commitments left and indeed can afford the passage to
Mecca. It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He
answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed
going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and
nearness to God is the not the issue. However, it is the
physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy
places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational
worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves
an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is
a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to
God. |
| |
|
Question |
| Why is
allowing a dog to touch you or your clothes haram?
|
|
Answer |
| Upon the
touch of a dog nothing gets 'haram', rather it is gets
unclean. Muslims pray 5 times a day for which they require
to have clean clothes on and cleanliness has a high status
in Islam in any case, therefore the touch of an unclean
animal is considered foul. Wallaho Alam Bissawab.
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