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Women leading Worship Rituals
Question: Why can’t women give the Friday sermon or lead the Friday prayer?
Answer: Before I answer this question, I would like to point out that in this regard, the Sunnah set by the Prophet (sws) is that the head of state and his representatives should deliver address and lead the Friday prayers in the various mosques of an Islamic state. However, in case of any legitimate plea on their part, some other person can address and lead the Friday prayers as their authorized representative.
The implications of this Sunnah are very clear: In Islam, mosques are meant to be the fountainhead of authority. Also, there is a complete negation of theocracy. A person whom the Muslims choose as their leader shall also lead them in worship, eliminating once and for all the division between state and religion.
After the Prophet (sws), his Companions solemnly adhered to this Sunnah in the Caliphate they established. However, in later times when, owing to their own ill-ways, the Muslim rulers could not stand face to face with the public, they themselves handed over the mosques to the ulema. This was perhaps one of the most tragic incident in our history. The result was that religion lost its grace and the state its grandeur.
Today religious scholars are forced to assume charge of the mosques because of this sorry state of affairs.
In this situation, coming to your question, I think no religious objection can be raised on a lady giving the Friday Sermon. This is more like delivering a lecture. If a learned lady wants to deliver a talk on some Islamic topic in the Friday Sermon, she should be allowed to. There may be cultural hindrances to this -- but then, if they can be overcome, I personally think that there is nothing wrong with it.
Leading the prayer congregation consisting of men whether it be of Friday or of the other five prayers however, in accordance with the established Sunnah of the Prophet (sws), is the responsibility of men. Keeping in view the norms of modesty men, it seems, are more suited for this task. Of course, if a woman leads a congregation of women only, then this cannot be objected to.
A Case of a Converts Relationship with her Family
Question: I have recently converted to Islam, which is wonderful, but my parents are Christian and do not approve of it. I want to be able to wear the Hijab and pray openly. Right now I have been praying, but I’ve been hiding away in my room, afraid that my parents might come in and see me. I know this is not how I should do it, but my parents do not approve of my conversion. I know that I should try to show them the way, but I know that they won’t listen and I still have to live with them. How should I handle this situation?
Answer: You should handle the situation very prudently. Islam does not require of you to immediately declare your conversion to your parents. If circumstances are such that they might react offensively and might even try to force you to change back, you can hold back your declaration till the time you think is feasible. It is up to you to decide.
A gradual way can be adopted. In this way, you yourself will become strong in your faith and gain inner strength. In the meantime, you can prepare your parents’ minds by telling them that you are seriously re-considering the basic questions of life viz: Who is our Creator? Why did He create us? What will happen to us when we die? Do human beings have the Book of God with them in its original shape? Why are there different religions?
In this way, you can prepare them that you have embarked upon the quest for the truth and that you are inclined to adopt whatever seems the truth to you on the basis of arguments and reasoning.
Keep asking Allah to make the task easier for you. Remember, prayers have great force and effect. Lastly, you must not be rude or disrespectful to your parents even if they scold or coerce you.
Islamic Guidelines for the Foreign Policy
Question: I was wondering how you believe Islam affects the foreign policy of a country, if at all?
Answer: Following are some of the important guidelines Islam gives to the makers of foreign policy of a Muslim country:
1. No aggression should be launched against a non-Muslim country to forcibly make it accept Islam or to annex it.
2. All contracts with various countries must be honoured in all circumstances -- unless of course the other country breaks or revises them.
3. War can only be declared on another country, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, if that country is guilty of oppression and tyranny and diplomatic talks fail. Here again war does not become obligatory; it merely becomes permissible.
4. Friendly ties should be initiated with all the countries of the world whatever be their religion.
5. The enmity of some country should not stop a Muslim country from being fair and just towards that country.
The Spoils of War
Question: There is a verse in the Qur’an which stipulates 1/5th of booty from war should be given to Prophet Mohammed (sws). Why? Also, why was the remaining amount distributed among the Muslim warriors? And how are these spoils to be distributed today if the situation arises?
Answer: The spoils of war obtained in the times of the Prophet (sws) in various battles fought in Arabia were owned by Allah and the Prophet (sws) because of the peculiar nature of these armed offensives.
They ask you about the spoils of war. Say: The spoils belong to Allah and the Prophet. (8:1)
In these battles, it was the Almighty who, in accordance with a divine law pertaining to his Rusul, had decisively helped the Prophet (sws) and His Companions to overcome the disbelievers. With these spoils, the Prophet (sws), as the head of state, and, as a Rasul, was provided with a way of financial income as well as with money he could spend for the collective welfare of his people. However, since the believers had also assisted in acquiring them by using their personal weapons, camels and horses as well as food, camps and various other items needed during these wars, it was deemed necessary to give them their due from these spoils. Nevertheless, even in these spoils the Qur’an reserved 1/5th of the share for these collective purposes. Consequently while 1/5th share was left at the disposal of the Prophet (sws), the remaining 4/5th was distributed among the fighters:
[You should] know that a fifth of the spoils you get hold of are for Allah and the Prophet and the near relatives and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. (8:41)
Today any course can be adopted in distributing the spoils of war. The above mentioned proportion was specifically meant for the Prophet (sws) since these battles were part of a divine scheme* .
Prohibition of Sadqah for the Prophet’s family
Question: Can you please explain why the Prophet (sws) forbade Sadqah for his family members. What I want to know is whether this rule applies today. If it does, then who are the people who fall in this category?
Answer: It seems that this was merely a precautionary measure adopted by the Prophet (sws) lest people should start giving preference to his family in case they had to choose between a person who deserved charity from among his own family and someone else.
Perhaps the Prophet (sws) also had before him the evil that had crept into the family of the Prophet Moses (sws). Moses’ family/tribe was called the Levites. It had been divinely ordained that the Levites would receive the tithe (1/10 th share of the harvest)*. This had made them corrupt. The Prophet (sws) thinking that the same fate might befall his family, forbade S~adqah for them.
This of course was a directive of those times. It has no link with the survivors of the Prophet’s family found today.
Should Women cover their Feet while Praying?
Question: Recently, I heard a friend say that it is necessary for us women to cover our feet when offering prayers. Is this true?
Answer: There is nothing positive or negative in this regard in the Shari‘ah given to us. It is up to a Muslim lady to do whatever makes her comfortable.
Were our progenitors Incestuous?
Question: Are we an incestuous race? The children of Adam and Eve were married among themselves. – right.
Answer: No doubt the children of Adam and Eve married between themselves. Earlier on there was no prohibition in this matter simply because, it seems, that there was no other way out. Later this prohibition came into affect. This incestuous relationship, if you prefer to call it by this name, was rendered weak in a particular way: The progeny of Adam and Eve was mostly born in the form of twins -- a boy and a girl. These twins were born after many years in between them. The boy of one twin pair married the girl of another twin pair.
In this way, a weakness was incorporated in the relationship. Later on, of course, this relationship was completely prohibited.
The Significance of the Fortieth Year of One’s Life
Question: There is a verse in the Qur’an which says that before the age of forty we are not responsible for our deeds. Does that mean we will all go to heaven if we die before forty?
Answer: No I am afraid this is not the correct conclusion. If the style, stress and context of the verse (46:15) are given due consideration, it means that till forty years, if a person is living in a bad society or in the worst of circumstances, the Almighty will treat him leniently as far as his religious responsibilities are concerned. However, after this age no allowance will be given to him if he still remains indifferent.
The real age in which one’s responsibilities start is the age of one develops the cognisance of good and evil. This is different for different people and varies in the circumstances they live in. Forty years, it seems, is the last limit of attaining this cognisance fully. This also does not mean that it is forty years for every person. It means that, in human beings in general, this is the latest age by which a person should mend his ways.
The Evil Eye (Nazr i Badd)
Question: I know a person who is sick – not physically, rather emotionally. He says that he has been the victim of an evil eye (Nazr i Badd). What should he do to undo it ?
Answer: It is a matter of common experience that passing a comment on someone psychologically affects him. Particularly if he is praised. Often such a person starts blushing. Sometimes, he even gets ill. At times, the response can be pretty severe as is as narrated in the following Hadith.
AbuUthamah narrates: My father, Sahal Ibn H~anif, had a bath in Kharrar. He was wearing a gown. When he was taking it off, ‘A%mir Ibn Rabi‘ah was looking at him. Sahal was a very fair and handsome person. ‘A%mir remarked that I have not even seen the body of a virgin more beautiful than yours. At once, fever overcame Sahal and its severity increased. A person came to the Prophet and told him that Sahal has been infected with fever and he would not be able to go with him (ie. the Prophet). The Prophet came over and Sahal told him what had happened. At this, the Prophet said: Why do any of you kill your brother without any reason. To become ill because of a gaze is an established phenomenon. For this, do Wudu for him. ‘A^mir did Wudu for Sahal and Sahal recovered from the illness and went along with the Prophet quite hale and hearty. (Mu’tta; Kitabu’l-Jami‘)
As is suggested in the H~adith, if the person who has praised and caused this reaction is known, he can be asked to do Wudu for the sick person. And if the person if not known, then instead of getting superstitious about such things, the affected person should pray to the Almighty to grant him health. In this regard, reciting the last two Surahs of the Qur’an may prove useful. Saying the following prayer may also help: A%udhu bi ‘izzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajid (‘I seek refuge in the Power and Strength of the Almighty from the evil that has touched me.’)
Genetic Homosexuality
Question: I am a male aged 22. I am gay and have strong homosexual tendencies. I know that, according to Islam, practising homosexuality is not good and should be stopped. However, I am a born homosexual. I really want to have sex with men. So what should I do? I know that if I try for that I can do it, but I know that its not natural. But then, why did God made me like this? This is not fair? I can’t marry a woman because I don’t like women, but like other humans I also burn in the fire of sex. Other people are allowed to marry and extinguish their fire but what should people like me do?
Comment: You yourself have acknowledged the fact that homosexuality is unnatural and prohibited in Islam. After this, the only thing I can say is that your problem seems to be psychological. I would therefore advise you to consult a doctor. And if the problem is genetical as you seem to claim, then even this does not give you the license to go ahead, for it is not a sin to be afflicted with a problem, but it sure is one not to make an effort to get out of it. If there is something truly beyond your capacity, then the only thing it may warrant is that your accountability in this regard will be proportionate to the free will you can exercise.
Moreover, you should consider your state as a form of trial and test -- the principle on which the Almighty has created this world. He created people in various moulds in various circumstances in order to test them and reward them if they succeed in this test. If He has deprived people from some faculty or some ability, it is to test them. He has created children who are born blind or handicapped in some other way. If God is unfair to you, then perhaps He is even more unfair to such children. I think that the correct way to look at such departures is to understand scheme of the Merciful Creator on which He has created us, for though each one of us has different circumstances, yet each one of us has an equal opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven on the basis of the effort we make.