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Pets and Mercy Killing
Question:Last year we bought some rabbits; after few days one of them became paralyzed, and never got better. It is now getting worse day by day; My husband and I feel that it should be put to death, as it has no mobility. My daughter is totally against it. Allah (swt) will do what is best. What is your opinion?
Answer: The Shari’ah is silent on the issue of mercy killings regarding pet animals. In this regard, consequently, the matter seems to rest on human intellect. Both ways can be adopted depending upon the circumstances. If a person thinks that he should put an end to a poor animal's misery, he can do so and if he is of the view that he can soothe its ailment by some sort of treatment, he can continue to look after the creature in whatever way he is able to.
Oppressive Husbands
Question: Can a husband forbid his wife from seeing her parents? Are there any special circumstances under which this is allowed?
Answer: In no circumstances can a husband forbid his wife to see her parents. This is her inalienable right. Islam lays great stress on establishing strong family relationships. A husband who stops her wife from meeting her parents is actually stopping her from fulfilling an obligation imposed on her by the Qur’an, which is very specific in this regard:
Fear Allah through whom you seek mutual help, and fear breaking blood relationships. (4:1)
Looking after Parents
Question: In our male dominated society, it is believed that if the parents have both sons and daughters, then it is the duty of the sons to take care of their parents. The elderly parents are supposed to live with the son(s). It is considered bad on the part of the son(s) if, for any reason, the parents start living with their daughter(s). Would you please explain this from Islamic point of view?
Answer: Children whether sons or daughters are equally responsible for taking care of their old parents. Parents, however, generally feel more comfortable living with their sons since in this case they are dependant on someone more close than a son-in-law. But, there is absolutely no restriction if they live with their daughters as far as the Shari`ah is concerned.
In our society, the practice of parents living with daughters is considered improper since it is against the customs of this society. Social customs have their own importance and prudence demands that they should not be violated for trivial reasons. However, every person has the right to make a decision for his ownself in matters in which the Shari`ah has posed no restriction on him or her.
The Prophet (sws) and magic
Question: Did the Prophet (sws) ever remain under a magical spell?
Answer: There are many Ahadith which say that the occasion of revelation (shan-i-nuzul) of the last two surahs of the Qur’an was that some Jews had woven a magical spell on the Prophet (sws). A number of questions arise in this regard:
1. These Ahadith say that the Prophet (sws) remained a victim of this magical spell for almost six months. It is claimed that this situation in no way hindered his duties as a Prophet (sws), in spite of the fact that it caused amnesia (temporary loss of memory) in many of his daily routines. Sometimes, he thought that he had seen a thing when in fact he had not. At times, he thought that he had visited his wives while actually he had not. Now the question arises that if this condition really prevailed on the Prophet (sws) for a period of six months then how can it be safely said that during this time he received a revelation and did not have it written down, saw Gabriel when in fact he had not seen him, said his prayers when in reality he had not. Even if the Ahadith mention no such omission on the Prophet's part, it can be easily said that there are many details which do not find mention in Ahadith. Besides, the mental state which the Prophet (sws) remained in for such a long time as these Ahadith say, in fact, almost necessitates that, God forbid, he faltered in many of his obligations as a Prophet.
The greatest thing which questions this shan-i-nuzul is that it is in direct contradiction with the principle of infallibility of Prophets (`ismat-i-anbiya), which according to the Qur’an is a permanent feature of all Prophets. They cannot err in matters of religion. They remain under divine protection at all times whatsoever. No devil can in any way tamper with them. It is in fact this infallibility which gives credence to what these great personalities present before mankind on behalf of Allah.
2. If we judge these Ahadith on the principles of rawayah, a major weakness in the chain of narrators can be noted. These Ahadith are Akhbar-i-A^hadup to the third chain of narrators, that is up to the third chain the number of narrators is very small. In other words, this event came to general notice almost a hundred years after the Prophet's death. Before this, only a small number of people were aware of it. The nature of this event, however, is such that it should have been reported by a large number of people in the first three links of the chain.
3. None of the Muhaddithin of the Sihahregards these Ahadith as the shan-i-nuzul of these surahs. It is the later scholars who have linked these Ahadith with this shan-i-nuzul.
4. The subject matter of the surahs bears no connection to such a shan-i-nuzul.
Unless a sound answer is given to these questions, the Ahadith can in no way be accepted.
Magic and Enchanters (`A^mils)
Questions: In our society, a person who is supposed to be under the influence of magic is taken to so called ‘amil's who recite certain words and then discover whether the person is really a victim of black magic or not. Please note that I am not talking about hysteria patients. I am also not talking about witch doctors when I use the word ‘amil's. These ‘amil's are pious people who have spent their lives in finding the effects of various Qur’anic verses. My questions are:
1. How do we come to know that a person is a victim of black magic?
2. Should we consult ‘amil's?
3. Do verses have mystical effects? A common example is the recitation of ‘A^yah-i-Karimahto ask Allah to rescue one out of a bad patch in life?
Answers: As far as magic is concerned, one cannot deny its existence. The Qur’an specifically mentions it as an evil discipline (sifli `ilm) practiced by the devils from both among the men and the jinn-folk:
And they followed what the devils used to enchant in the reign of Solomon; Solomon did not commit kufr but these devils did: they used to teach magic to people and they followed such things as were revealed at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut.But neither of these taught anyone [such things] without saying: We are only for trial; so do not commit kufr. These people used to learn from them that which could sow discord between a man and his wife whereas these things cannot harm anyone without Allah’s permission. (2:102)
As specified by this verse, this magic is actually kufr (denial of faith), and therefore people should keep away from it. The question arises as to how should a person secure himself from becoming a victim to it. The answer is that, as a principle, in all things which can harm a person and which by nature are scientifically or medically explicable, help should be sought from the appropriate quarters. For example, if a person has an ulcer he should consult a gastroenterologist and if he has a bone fracture he should be shown to a specialist of orthopaedics. But if a person feels that he is the victim of some ailment which is not scientifically explicable, then the Qur’an teaches him to put all his trust in Allah and pray to Him. The most appropriate thing to do in such cases is to recite the last two surahs of the Qur’an and spend as much time as possible in remembering the Almighty. For, as the Qur’an says in (2:102) nothing can harm a person unless it is the will of the Almighty.
In contrast to magic, which is kufr as declared by the Qur’an, there seems to be another discipline (`ilm) which was revealed to the angels Harut and Marut; this was something of a defence against black magic so in vogue in the times of the Prophet Solomon (sws) in Babylon. Though it was not at all an evil `ilm, yet it was called a fitnah (test) which could be used the wrong way as well. This particular `ilm may be the one which lies with some of the ‘amils of today; but then, nothing can be said with certainty.
Now these `amil's are generally of two types in our society. The first category which constitutes almost 95% of them are those who generally fool the innocent masses by their buffoonery and by dramatic displays of wordplay. People end up losing lots of money and valuable time while getting "cured" from these fraudulent elements and sometimes pay the heaviest of prices for this -- they lose their relationship with Allah and become superstitious. To the second category belong those `amil's which are actually psychologists, who handle patients purely through psychotherapy by suggesting them various mental and physical exercises. However, they too are not entirely free from practices such as waza’if (incantations) which seem to have no basis in our religion. For example they will recite a verse of the Qur’an and contend that it creates such and such effect on the person who recites it. This is something which finds no mention in the Qur’an. Nowhere does Qur’an specify that words or verses have mystical effects. Therefore, they should not be used for this purpose.
Consequently, my opinion in this regard is that one should stay away from these `amil's as far as possible and spend one's time in remembering the Almighty and in seeking His protection by reciting the last two surahs of the Qur’an.Also, there are many supplications (ad`iyah) mentioned variousAhadith which serve the same purpose and can be recited.
The answer to your last question is that whenever a person is in difficulty, he should ask for Allah’s help in the very manner that has been prescribed in his Book. The Qur’an says:
Seek Allah’s help through perseverance and prayer. (2:45)
All other ways lead us astray.
Co-education and Hijab
Question: Can a girl who wears a Hijab study in co-education? This includes group studies with boys and giving presentations and preparing reports together.
Answer: Co-education seems to be in direct contradiction with the social values and the social set-up Islam intends to establish in a community. All Islamic countries should make efforts to set up schools, colleges and universities for both genders, or make proper arrangements, if this is not possible, to accommodate female students for this purpose. However, the way things stand at the moment, it becomes very difficult for a lady to choose an educational institution particularly at the undergraduate level which is free from this problem. If studying in co-education systems becomes unavoidable, then a lady should try to form a group with other fellow girls and remain in their company as far as possible.
About Fortune tellers
Question: One keeps hearing of people who are able to predict the future accurately. Has Allah given such powers to human beings (who are not necessarily religious)? Is it allowed in Islam? Is one supposed to believe them and follow their advice?
Answer: Predicting the future with accuracy has not become a science and it is quite unlikely that it will since it seems to be against the Almighty's scheme of running the affairs of this world. This world would no longer remain a place of trial and test for a person who knows what exactly is going to happen to him in the future.
Most people who are blessed with this "capability" base their predictions on conjectures, which, of course, sometimes come true. One should try to avoid such `fortune tellers' and should always base decisions on reason and concrete premises, other wise one enters the realm of superstition -- and superstition makes a person lose his relationship with Allah.
Interaction between men and women
Question: In our country, there are quite a few places where women go for shopping etc., and where vendors come in physical contact with ladies. One example is shops where bangles are sold. Ladies ask men to put bangles on their hands. Another example is where ladies go for making a hole in their ears or nose for jewelry. The hole is made by men. Similarly, at many tailors shops, the measurements are taken by men. I personally think that most of these things can be avoided but this has become a part of our culture that people don't consider these things bad. In many public transport vehicles, ladies don't mind sitting next to men. What is the Islamic point of view in this regard?
Answer: Haya(the closest English equivalent is modesty) is the real honour of a woman. In no circumstances, should a believing woman sacrifice it. It is quite painful to see our sisters and daughters showing indifference to this trait which is the culmination of a woman's personality.
The Islamic viewpoint is very explicit in this regard: Only in unavoidable circumstances should a man and woman, who are strangers, may come in physical contact with one another. For example, in medical examinations, there may be situations, in which a woman has no option but to show herself to a male doctor.
Strict Mothers-in-Law
Question: If one’s mother-in-law’s or mother’s attitude towards the poor especially the servants is very strict and it is really disturbing for the other person, then what is one supposed to do?
Answer: The best way to change a person is to become an embodiment of what you want him or her to adopt. You can become a great source of reforming the attitudes of your mother or mother-in-law by setting an example yourself in dealing with servants. This I think can prove most effective. But you will have to be very patient. People take time to change. Always keep in mind that your duty is to persist with what is right and to leave the rest to Allah.
The other thing you can do is to console and sympathize with servants whenever an incident takes place which hurts their feelings. Affection and sweet words do help.
Helpless Wives
Question: Can a husband stop his wife from covering her head? What if the husband is so opposed to the idea of his wife covering her head that it can lead to a divorce? Then what is one supposed to do?
Answer: A husband has no authority to stop his wife from covering her head. He cannot overrule the directives of the Almighty.
As far as the second part of the question is concerned, a woman can seek divorce from her husband on these grounds if she can bear the consequences of such a divorce. Allah will definitely reward her for this. However, she must be very realistic in this regard. Facing the consequences of divorce is not easy at all in this society. If she thinks that this would be too much for her, then, of course, she has a genuine excuse to continue with her husband. She must know that Allah never requires of a person something which is not in his or her control and always entertains legitimate pleas.
Terrorism or Jihad
Question: The concept of Jihad is greatly misunderstood. Unfortunately, a number of terrorist organizations (claiming to be Islamic) have used Jihad to justify their cowardly acts of terrorism. Please explain in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah.
Answer: You are absolutely right here. Quite unfortunately, Jihadhas become one of the most misunderstood directives of Islam. The following points about it may help in clarifying the stance of Islam:
First and foremost, only an Islamic state has the authority to launch Jihad. No group or organization has been given the right to start an armed struggle in a society in any way.
Secondly, apart from self-defence (which is an entirely different matter) the only legitimate reason for an Islamic State to launch Jihad is to curb oppression and persecution in any other country -- whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
Thirdly, the Jihad carried out by the Prophet (sws) and his companions after him was governed by a specific law meant only for the Prophets of Allah and the nation towards which they are directly assigned. It has nothing to do with us.
Non-Muslim Neighbours
Question: How should an Islamic government behave with its non-Muslim neighbors?
Answer: All Islamic countries should try to establish cordial and friendly relations with their non-Muslim neighbours so that an atmosphere conducive to inter-faith dialogue is created. They have no right to make their neighbours forcibly accept Islam. With tact and wisdom, they should present the message of Islam and give a patient hearing to their criticisms.
Relaxation in Islamic Punishments
Question: Can punishments be relaxed in certain dire circumstances? For example, during the days of Umar (rta) there was a big famine and the punishment for stealing food was reduced.
Answer: Islamic Punishments are another set of directives which have been grossly misunderstood in this age. All punishments mentioned in the Qur’an are the ultimate forms of chastisement and should only be administered when after considering the extent and circumstances of the crime, a judge is satisfied that the criminal deserves no lenience. In other words, they are only given when the crime has been committed in its ultimate form and when the criminal is worthy of no mitigation. Umar (rta), unlike some of our ulema of today, knew full well the conditions and implications of the punishment of amputating the hands; he gave the ruling that stealing in conditions of famine is not the same in extent as stealing in normal circumstances and therefore does not deserve the ultimate form of punishment.
Welfare of non-Muslim citizens
Question: How does an Islamic State guard the welfare of its non-Muslim citizens?
Answer: An Islamic government should give the same importance to the welfare of all its citizens whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Non-Muslim citizens of a Muslim country are called Mu‘ahads that is, they become citizens of an Islamic State on account of a treaty with it. All dealings with them should be according to the terms of the peace treaty concluded with them. Muslims must abide by these terms in all circumstances and should never violate them in the slightest way. Such violations according to Islam are totally forbidden and, in fact, amount to a grave transgression. The Qur’an says:
Keep [your] covenants; because indeed on the Day of Judgement you will be held accountable for them. (17:34)
The Prophet (sws) is reported to have said:
Beware! I myself shall invoke the justice of the Almighty on the Day of Judgement against the person who oppresses and persecutes a Mu‘ahad or reduces his rights, or burdens him [with responsibilities] he cannot bear, or takes something from him against his will." (Abu Da`wud: Kitabu’l Jihad)
Following are some basic rights of non-Muslim citizens:
--- Their life, wealth and honour should be protected by the state such that no one whosoever is able to lay hands on them.
--- The needy and poor among them should be provided wih the basic necessities of life.
--- Their personal matters and religious rituals should be exempted from the law of the state and no interference should be made in their faith and religion.
--- Their places of worship should not be tampered with.
--- They should be allowed to present their religion to others in a non-seditious manner.
In short, they should be given all the rights which are sanctioned by the norms of justice and fairness for people in a civilized society, and in this regard all dealings should be done in a befitting manner -- because Allah likes people who adopt this attitude.
Differences between Shi`as & Sunnis
Question: Could you please tell me the differences between Sunnis andShi`ahs?
Answer: In my opinion, the basic difference between the Shi`ah and the Sunni schools of thought is that in the Shi`ah school the imams (their religious and spiritual leaders) are granted a unique status. It is held these imams cannot err (ma`sum `ani’l khata), they are chosen by Allah (mansus mina’l Allah) and that they must be followed like Prophets of Allah (muftaridhu’l taah). It is also believed that their imams receive a revelation of a certain kind.
In other words, though the Prophet (sws) is apparently regarded as the last of the messenger of Allah, yet in reality this fact is virtually denied.
All other differences are offshoots or corollaries of this basic difference.
TheMannat of Bibi Fatima
Question: The mannat of Bibi Fatima is that once your mannat has been fulfilled, you read the story of Bibi Fatima and then distribute sweets amongst women and children only. Isn't this the sort of a thing that people do when they go to Data Darbar? Isn't this a form of 'shirk'?
Answer: I think there is no need to comment on such a senseless practice. The thing, however, which needs to be kept in mind is that making religious vows (nazar/mannat) in itself is something which is discouraged by Islam. It is not a very sound approach to make good deeds conditional to certain results of the future if they come out be as a person desires. The Prophet (sws), it is known, never made a vow.
Of course! making vows is not forbidden. In fact, if a person happens to make one he should go on to fulfil it. The Prophet (sws) has said that all vows which result in the disobedience of Allah or are against Islam as well as sense and reason must be broken and must also be atoned for. This atonement (kaffarah) is a punishment for being irresponsible and is the same as that of breaking oaths mentioned by the Qur’an (See 5:89).
Crowing Cocks and Braying Donkeys
Question: Is it true that when one hears dogs barking, donkeys braying and cocks crowing at night, it means that the dogs and the donkeys sense the presence of Satan and cocks sense an angel passing?
Answer: Some apparent phenomena of this world have certain hidden aspects which, it seems, came to the knowledge of the Prophet (sws) through archangel Gabriel. Such details are not part of the content of Islam.
However, there is no reason to deny such information given to us by the Prophet (sws). It is common practice to attribute the good in this world to Allah and the evil to Satan. For example, in Surah Kahaf, the young associate of the Prophet Moses (sws) attributes his forgetfulness to Satan:
I did indeed forgot about the fish; none but Satan made me forget. (18:63)
The things you have referred to appear to belong to this category..
Sajdahand Nafal Prayers
Question: At what times is one allowed to offer nafal prayers and how often can one offer sajdah?
Answer: Except for the time period during which the sun rises and sets, one can offer nafal prayers and sajdah.Sajdah is perhaps the pinnacle of prayers and as such has great importance. Itcan even done when one is not praying. The Prophet (sws) is reported to have said:
A person is nearest to Allah when he doessajdah. So say a lot of prayers [in this state]. (Mishkat, Kitabu’l Salat)
‘Aqiqah
Question: What is the concept of ‘aqiqah in Islam?
Answer: ‘Aqiqah was a ritual of the pre-Islamic Jahilliyyah period. The Prophet (sws) did not give religious sanction to it. Therefore, it is not part of the Islamic Shari`ah. However, animal sacrifice to express one's gratitude on a new addition to one's family is a deed which pleases the Almighty just as the prayer at an instance of joy pleases Him.