Queries

The Online Team

 

 

(Answered under the supervision of the Editor)

 

 

‘Studying Islam’: Which School of Thought does it follow?

 

Question: My question pertains to the online education you offer at your sister web site ‘www.studying-islam.org’. I wanted to know which books you are using to teach the courses. There is not much detail about the way you have attained the knowledge available on the website. Is the knowledge based on a particular school of thought?

Answer: As evident from the texts of the courses the author(s) have tried to place the major viewpoints before the readers along with the arguments for and against the views discussed. We have tried our best to lead the readers to an objective study of an issue and come to a conclusion based on the arguments from the basic sources. 

We understand that Islamic teachings reside in the clear and well-defined sources of religious knowledge in Islam – the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. Therefore, we need only to turn to these sources to know the Islamic stance on a particular issue. All the articles, essays, and opinions expressed in the course material have been arrived at through an objective study of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. While understanding these two sources, many valuable works of Muslim scholars have been benefited from and even quoted in the course modules. We do not accept or proclaim any view merely because it comes from an eminent personality. Rather we form our opinions on the basis of arguments backed by the basic sources of Islam.

If a person studies the matter objectively being free of the fetters of preconceived ideas, it is hoped that he will reach a more reasonable conclusion. I believe it is only after you have studied a particular course that you will be able to understand the merits and demerits of the course modules. All input is welcome.

 

(Tariq Hashmi)

 

 

Listening to the Holy Qur’an

 

Question:I have heard that reading the Qur’an is optional while listening to it is obligatory. Is this true? Moreover if a person is sleeping and another person starts reading the Qur’an there with a loud voice such that the sleeping person gets disturbed, then what should the sleeping person do because ignoring the Qur’an is not good. Is it proper to read the Qur’an in such a way that it disturbs others? Please clarify.

Answer: The Islamic Shari‘ah has not classified listening and reading the Qur’an as two acts entailing two different obligations. It has never held that reading it is optional and listing to it is obligatory. Rather consulting the Qur’an for attaining guidance is necessary in all circumstances no matter how we do this. The Holy Qur’an is the word of God and is the last and final revelation sent down for the guidance of mankind regarding religious affairs. Therefore it should be given due regard and used for the purpose it has been revealed. We hope that God would reward those who read consciously and seek guidance from it. But I do not understand that merely reading it to accumulate reward does any good to us. For this is not the purpose of the revelation of the Qur’an. The Almighty requires us to advance in knowledge regarding his commandments and strive to act upon them to secure a place in Paradise. Nowhere does it exhort the believers to read it just for the sake of reading in order to earn reward.I understand that each and every book when read out to you with the purpose of drawing your attention to the message merits consideration. But that only relates to someone’s call to you regarding understanding it and paying heed to it. It should not be related to the recitation of the Qur’an one does for nothing other than getting reward. It is not a befitting attitude to start reciting in a gathering where people are engaged in their affairs or are taking rest. If someone does so, then he is the one who needs to be taught the right approach. It not only causes disturbance for others but also is disrespectful to the Book of God.

 

(Tariq Hashmi)

 

 

Start of the Menstrual Period

 

Question: I was at a mosque for intermediate Arabic class and a feminine question came up between us. One of the sisters is from Kazakhstan, a born Muslim; however, due to the Communist rule by once the Communist Russia, she has no knowledge of the Islamic customs, not even of Salah. So we are teaching her how to pray; we were trying to explain to her about when to pray and when one should not pray due to impurities. In other words, we were discussing exactly when a woman would be considered to be in the state of menstruation. Most of the sisters stated they stopped praying if they saw a spot and this was enough to be considered as being in a state of impurity. But with women sometimes this is difficult to determine as, at times, we have spots, but nothing happens. Other times, we know for sure. Should we stop praying when we are experiencing pre-menstrual cramps as a sign of the beginning of our cycles? We all have looked for an answer to this problem but haven’t found anything definite. Could you please help us resolve this matter?

Answer: We understand that it is upon a lady to decide when she is having her menstrual periods and when she is facing any other medical problem. If a lady is positive about the fact that the spots she has observed in fact indicate the beginning of the cycle she should stop praying. Generally, it is not difficult for women to discern the nature of the bloodspot(s). Even if one is wrong in one’s decision it would not be sin. We are only required to honestly use our reasoning power and reach a conclusion and if we err, we will not be held accountable.

However, if ladies who experience such problems are in doubt, they should consult their doctor. You ask whether one should stop praying when one experiences premenstrual cramps. I understand that since it is the bleeding, which marks the beginning and end of the cycle therefore one should rely on such bleeding only and not cramps. Since women experience the phenomenon continuously, they should come to a positive conclusion regarding which spots relate to which kind of bleeding.

 

(Tariq Hashmi)

 

 

 

Is Disliking the Stepfather Sinful?

 

Question:A girl has developed a disliking for her stepfather because of some valid reasons but her natural mother – because of social pressure – always forces her to mingle with him. Will her hatred be regarded as sinful by God? After all, emotional turmoil is a big turmoil for the girl. After getting married with that man, her mother somehow wants to get rid of her, the daughter being a token of her ex-husband, who died so many years ago. What does Islam say in this matter?

Answer: It is obviously not easy to accept another man taking the place of your father. And it is also true that, more often than not, the usual negative depiction of a step relation comes close to reality. You mention that she has developed a disliking for her stepfather because of some valid reasons and that her relationship with her mother is also not very harmonious. In this situation, it is understandable that she is going through an emotional turmoil. She must be feeling very lonely in the world, the loss of her father aggravated by another man trying to take his place.

However, in my view, rather than taking up a collision course with her father, which essentially means pitting herself against her mother as well, she should try to accept the situation as it is; and develop a better relationship with her stepfather. It is very much possible that she has not understood him well or has not allowed him to develop a fatherly place in her heart. If she gives him a chance, he may start treating her well and she will also begin to like him or understand him better. A lot of our relationship problems are a direct consequence of poor communication. Developing better communication with him, forgiving him even if he is at times not very affable and making her mother realize that she is doing her best to build bridges are some of the means she can use to win him over.

Hating someone without any cause is definitely not the trait of a good Muslim. Hating for a good reason at times might not be objected to as is usually beyond one’s control; but rather than hating the patient we should hate the disease. The example of the Prophet (sws) in this regard is for all of us to emulate. He endured all gestures of hatred directed at him with utmost patience and tolerance and returned them with his most beautiful and characteristic mannerism that turned his foes into loving friends. The spirit of Islam will bring out the same character and attitude in a Muslim. God will most certainly help her in this test. She should rest assured that great reward awaits her if she only be steadfast.

 

(Razi Allah)

 

 

A Marriage Dilemma

 

Question: Could you please advise me on the following matter: A friend of mine is engaged to marry her sunt’s son who is religious. However my friend has her heart set on another individual who is also religious; and wants to marry him. She has discussed the issue with her parents but they are not accepting her wishes. As I understand, Islam allows a woman to marry a person of her choice, who she intends to live with for the rest of her life. However my friend is trapped in a very difficult position and doesn’t know what to do. On the one hand she doesn’t want to upset the family surrounding; but she also wants to marry the person of her own choice with the consent of her family. This young man also wants to marry her and has pleaded my friend to make her parents understand. What should one do in such a matter?

Answer:This, unfortunately, is a recurrent problem in many Muslim societies of today: girls are forced into marrying a person they do not like. The stance of Islam is quite clear in this regard and I think the issue has more to do with the arrogated family pride and false and inflated ego of the parties involved. However, it would not be fair to blame only the parents in every case for there are instances when they see what their children cannot (or simply do not). Young minds are more impressionable and prone to emotional rather than rational decision-making.

Having said that let me assert that no one – not even the parents – has  the right to impose their decision upon a boy or a girl at least as far as marriage is concerned. A marriage contract will be considered void without the free consent of the girl. It is admirable that your friend is sensible not to think of any drastic step and wants to marry the person of her choice with her family’s consent. The young man’s approach is also laudable. There are two ways to go about it. Although, as you mention, she has already discussed the issue with her parents but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of discussion. She could try to look for suitable instances for getting her point across. Usually mothers are more receptive to their daughters’ ideas; she can try to engage her mother more effectively in a discussion before making an attempt to convince her father. The next step could be to engage her fiancé. It might be that he is of better understanding; he may help her in persuading her family to allow this marriage. The help of siblings, if any, can also be sought, which can serve as a pressure group in the positive sense of the word. Basically she has to allay her parents’ concerns about this young man and make them realize that she’ll live very happily with him. If this does not work, the only recourse then is to either give in to the parents’ demand or to opt for a court marriage, which obviously is the least desirable. I realize that this is a tough situation and it is easier to give advice than to act it out. She can base her arguments on the free will that Islam has granted her in deciding about her life partner. This can at least convince her fiancé who, as you wrote, is a religious man.I hope and pray that things turn out to be the best for her.

 

(Razi Allah)