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Barrier for Sisters
Question: Should there or should there not be a barrier separating men and women in the masjid? Are there any articles by well-known scholars about this issue?
Answer: I am not aware of any articles by well-known scholars on this issue, but what I can say is that both sides have a strong argument and it is imperative that we come to a middle ground regarding this issue. The proponents for a barrier argue that we are no longer in the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and that it is very easy to be distracted from worship and gaining closeness to Allah. Further they use the Hadith wherein Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that if the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had seen what the women have innovated, he would have surely prohibited women from going to the Masjids (mosques) just like the women of Banu Israil were prohibited (Muslim). They claim that the men of today as well as the women are not of that level of piety that the earlier generations were on, plus what is worn today by females is different than what was worn in the earlier days, thus a barrier is necessary. Their perception of the issue is that the honor of the woman is in her remaining as concealed as possible from the gazes of men. Plus the majority of females especially among the first generation immigrants prefer a barrier.
The proponents for the removal of the barrier argue that there was no barrier between males and females in the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), thus there should be no barrier today. Additionally they claim that being able to see the Imam or speaker helps them concentrate and understand better.
A middle-ground approach could be that a barrier be kept for those females who prefer to be behind a barrier and an area at the back of the brothers’ section be allocated for the sisters who prefer to be without a barrier, but with the condition that they don the hijab and abayah (long robe) before entering into the brother’s section. This way both sides will be compromising an aspect of their respected views.
And Allah knows best.
Virgins for Sisters?
Question: How come Muslim men get to have 70 virgins? Do women get nothing?
Question: Can Muslims be friends with non-Muslims?
Answer:Allah only prohibits from creating alliance and extremely close friendships with those who ACTUALLY fought you, in terms of your religion—they fought you because of your religion. If it is not detrimental to Islam, it is not wrong to form an “alliance”.
There is nothing wrong with having Christians, jews, and others as your friends, co-workers, or “whatever”, as long as they are not causing you to leave Islam.
Question: Are there other verses that say you cannot be allies with “them”?
Answer: Yes. And they all carry the same context we talked about.
Question: Aren’t Christians and Muslims kind of at war, like in Iraq?
Answer: Kind of. But, this is not what they say, they say it is not a war against Islam. Al-Qaeda is wrong. We should fight for justice in whatever peaceful manner.
Question: If Christians and Muslims were at war, would we be able to categorize all Christians as enemies?
Answer: No. Only the ones that are aggressively committing crimes against you. By default, we trust them, unless proven otherwise.
Correcting Husband in Prayer
Question: Can wife correct husband in his recitation.
Answer: Yes the wife may correct her husband in his recitation.
Dealing with Discrimination
Question: How did the Sahaba deal with religious based discrimination in Makkah?
Answer: While in Makkah, the command for the Sahaba was to be patience. Bear everything—even if you’re being physically abused or attacked. They were not allowed to retaliate in any manner. In the modern context, living in America is like a Makkah perioid, and a Muslim country is like a Madani period.
Question: Should we move to Muslim country?
Answer: If you are allowed to pray, and you are allowed to practice the major parts of your religion, then, it is not obligatory to move to a Muslim country.
Traveling Without Mahram
Question: Can a Muslim woman in western country travel without Mahram?
Answer: There are different schools of thought regarding the interpretation of the Hadith. Some schools take it literally, less than 48 miles she can travel freely, outside of that, she needs a Mahram. Maliki and Shaf’I school understand it in terms of “safety”. For example, your mahram takes you to the airport, and the plane ride has a certain understanding of “safety”, so the next part of the trip is valid.
Why Aren't Women Allowed to Drive in Saudi?
Question: How do we reconcile as American Muslims with the fact that Muslim women in Saudi aren’t even allowed to drive.
Answer: I don’t want to comment on behalf of the Saudi government. But there is nothing explicit in the hadith and Qur’an against it. The Saudi culture is different. From what I have been informed from people who live there is that their reasoning is safety i.e. it would be safer for the women if the didn't drive especially since driving conditions and the drivers in Saudi aren't very good. We must reconcile it by knowing the difference between Islam and culture.
Barrier for Sisters
Question: Should there or should there not be a barrier separating men and women in the masjid? Are there any articles by well-known scholars about this issue?
Answer: I am not aware of any articles by well-known scholars on this issue, but what I can say is that both sides have a strong argument and it is imperative that we come to a middle ground regarding this issue. The proponents for a barrier argue that we are no longer in the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and that it is very easy to be distracted from worship and gaining closeness to Allah. Further they use the Hadith wherein Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that if the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had seen what the women have innovated, he would have surely prohibited women from going to the Masjids (mosques) just like the women of Banu Israil were prohibited (Muslim). They claim that the men of today as well as the women are not of that level of piety that the earlier generations were on, plus what is worn today by females is different than what was worn in the earlier days, thus a barrier is necessary. Their perception of the issue is that the honor of the woman is in her remaining as concealed as possible from the gazes of men. Plus the majority of females especially among the first generation immigrants prefer a barrier.
The proponents for the removal of the barrier argue that there was no barrier between males and females in the era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), thus there should be no barrier today. Additionally they claim that being able to see the Imam or speaker helps them concentrate and understand better.
A middle-ground approach could be that a barrier be kept for those females who prefer to be behind a barrier and an area at the back of the brothers’ section be allocated for the sisters who prefer to be without a barrier, but with the condition that they don the hijab and abayah (long robe) before entering into the brother’s section. This way both sides will be compromising an aspect of their respected views.
And Allah knows best.
Virgins for Sisters?
Question: How come Muslim men get to have 70 virgins? Do women get nothing?
Answer: One important principle to keep in mind when contemplating the Afterlife and the unseen in general is that the unseen cannot be compared with the seen. Similarly the afterlife and its affairs cannot be viewed with the lens of this world. Comparing the Afterlife with this world is analogous to comparing apples with oranges. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has stated that Allah has prepared for the believers in paradise what no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard and no heart has ever contemplated. Similarly, Allah says in the Quran that the believers will receive whatever they desire.
Almighty Allah in His infinite Wisdom and Knowledge has created man and woman from a single being and it is only Allah who knows the true biological, mental and spiritual structure of each individual, their needs and desires in this world and the afterlife; hence, if Allah Ta’ala wills that males should get Seventy-two virgins, He knows what pleases them. Similarly, females will be given what pleases them. Allah Ta’ala can do as He wishes and there is none to question His authority. One of the His attributes is that he is al-Adl (The Just), thus he will grant both males and females in paradise in an equitable manner.
However, some contemporary scholars have argued that the word used for virgins in the Quran and Hadith is hoor. Literally in Arabic this word is gender-neutral i.e. it can be used as both masculine and feminine. Thus Allah will create male partners for females to enjoy similar to what Allah has in store for males. This view though not supported by the traditional texts may hold some weight. Those who oppose this view state that the context underlying the usage of this word in the Quran and Hadith is always feminine i.e. using feminine pronouns etcetera.
Allah knows best.
Wearing Abayas
Wearing Abayas
Question: Is it obligatory for women to wear abayas in the West? How do you differentiate between what is fard and what has evolved as "fard" over time? Can you give us some do's and don't(s) for the youth, so we that we may know where to really focus?
Answer: What is obligatory for females in Islam is that they cover their whole body including their hair and excluding their face and hands. Apart from that, Islam teaches that it is highly recommended that the clothing not be skin-tight or transparent for both males and females. The abayah or jilbab (robe) does a very good job in ensuring that this recommendation is fulfilled, thus it has evolved to the level of highly recommended. Another type of garment that is loose and opaque may also replace the abayah.
The youth need to focus on having an awareness of Allah in their lives and offering their prayers on time and abstaining from the major sins. Every person should choose a scholar for guidance on juristic issues and everyday life. Also choosing the right friends and keeping good company should be a priority as well.
Allah knows best.
Question on Puberty for Boys
Question: At what age do young muslim boys hit puberty? That is, when do women need to start wearing hijab around them?
Answer: Boys hit puberty when they reach a stage when they can impregnate. Signs for this are axial, pubic or facial hair, or experiencing an emission while awake or asleep. If none of these signs are apparent, then it is 15 years.
Allah knows best.
Question about Missing Prayers
Question: I pray 5 times a day, however I have been experimenting with when to pray isha. Sometimes I feel great praying at the last third of the night and then being fully awake to pray fajr afterwards. Sometimes, I like praying Isha right as it starts. Pretty much both ways work just fine for me. But, there have been times where I go to sleep early with the intentions to pray isha a little before fajr, only to find myself in this state of paralysis, where my mind is trying to pray or get up and make wudu but my body won't move. I feel as if I'm praying in my mind but don't have a clue if my body moved at all or not. I keep trying to signal my body to get up, but it won't. I'm not sure what or where I am, and later I don't remember whether I prayed or not. It's a very weird state to be in, I end up missing Isha prayers and sometimes fajr too. I don't mean to do this, I just have no idea what to do in a situation like this? I can make it a habit to just pray isha before I sleep, but sometimes the same happens with fajr. I feel really afraid that I missed a salah, but it was semi-unintentional. What should I do?
Answer: Allah obligates us according to our capacity. We have to try our best and adopt all means available to us to ensure we offer all our prayers on time. If despite making all efforts, a person is not able to wake up on time, he/she must offer the missed prayer as soon as he/she wakes up, and pray that Allah forgives our shortcomings and weaknesses. Istighfar (reciting astaghfirullah and seeking forgiveness) should be a daily routine for us as it is beneficial for all aspects of life.
As long as you are healthy and happy, I do not think you need to worry about the state you described in your question. However, if this is affecting your health, appetite, energy, relations with others, studies and other duties and normal life, I suggest you may want to have a medical check up.
Allah knows best.
Wearing a High Bun Under Hijab
Question: I wear a high bun under my hijab because it keeps me cool without my hair all over the nape. Apparently there is a hadith narrated by Muslim, 2128 stating that it is either not permissible or highly disliked. In a place where it is so hot and you are not putting your hair up to imitate non-Muslims, is it still bad for one to do that?
Answer: It would be permissible in your case due to your intention, but try to refrain from it when it isn’t hot.
Allah knows best.
Question about Eye for Eye in the Quran
Question: What is the context in which the ayaat mentioned below were revealed and what is their significance to American Muslims living in a democratic society that isn't based on shari'ah?
Surah 5:
45. We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers.
46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
47.Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
Surah 5:
45. We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers.
46. And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.
47.Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.
Answer: In short, these verses are not applicable to Muslims living in non-Muslim countries. These verses are applicable only to the rulers of an Islamic state, and are to be implemented by the Islamic state to its citizens only.
The Quran sometimes addresses humankind as a whole. Sometimes it addresses the believers only. At times, it addresses the leaders of Islamic states only, and those verses are to be implemented by the leaders only or by those authorized to implement them by the state. The ordinary citizens are not obligated or recommended to implement them in any form. The verses above fall under the last category and are to be implemented by an Islamic state only.
The context of the verses is that when the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) emigrated to Madina and set up an Islamic state, he entered into a truce with the neighboring polytheist and Jewish tribes. A Jewish tribe by the name of Banu Quraidha brought a case to the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) stating that another Jewish tribe by the name of Banu Nadhir, due to its power and influence would punish Banu Quraidha for murder by taking the life of one of their (Banu Quraydha’s) men and on top of that would charge blood-money from them as well. While when one of Banu Nadhir’s men killed any of Banu Quraydha’s men, no capital punishment would be implemented and they (Banu Nadhir) would only be liable to half the blood-money. Allah exposed the injustice of Banu Nadhir by stating that even in the Tawrah, Allah had commanded the Jews to be fair and that they could not charge anything surplus of the capital punishment.
Allah knows best.
Befriending Non-Muslims
Befriending Non-Muslims
Question: Can Muslims be friends with non-Muslims?
Answer:Allah only prohibits from creating alliance and extremely close friendships with those who ACTUALLY fought you, in terms of your religion—they fought you because of your religion. If it is not detrimental to Islam, it is not wrong to form an “alliance”.
There is nothing wrong with having Christians, jews, and others as your friends, co-workers, or “whatever”, as long as they are not causing you to leave Islam.
Question: Are there other verses that say you cannot be allies with “them”?
Answer: Yes. And they all carry the same context we talked about.
Question: Aren’t Christians and Muslims kind of at war, like in Iraq?
Answer: Kind of. But, this is not what they say, they say it is not a war against Islam. Al-Qaeda is wrong. We should fight for justice in whatever peaceful manner.
Question: If Christians and Muslims were at war, would we be able to categorize all Christians as enemies?
Answer: No. Only the ones that are aggressively committing crimes against you. By default, we trust them, unless proven otherwise.
Correcting Husband in Prayer
Question: Can wife correct husband in his recitation.
Answer: Yes the wife may correct her husband in his recitation.
Dealing with Discrimination
Question: How did the Sahaba deal with religious based discrimination in Makkah?
Answer: While in Makkah, the command for the Sahaba was to be patience. Bear everything—even if you’re being physically abused or attacked. They were not allowed to retaliate in any manner. In the modern context, living in America is like a Makkah perioid, and a Muslim country is like a Madani period.
Question: Should we move to Muslim country?
Answer: If you are allowed to pray, and you are allowed to practice the major parts of your religion, then, it is not obligatory to move to a Muslim country.
Traveling Without Mahram
Question: Can a Muslim woman in western country travel without Mahram?
Answer: There are different schools of thought regarding the interpretation of the Hadith. Some schools take it literally, less than 48 miles she can travel freely, outside of that, she needs a Mahram. Maliki and Shaf’I school understand it in terms of “safety”. For example, your mahram takes you to the airport, and the plane ride has a certain understanding of “safety”, so the next part of the trip is valid.
Why Aren't Women Allowed to Drive in Saudi?
Question: How do we reconcile as American Muslims with the fact that Muslim women in Saudi aren’t even allowed to drive.
Answer: I don’t want to comment on behalf of the Saudi government. But there is nothing explicit in the hadith and Qur’an against it. The Saudi culture is different. From what I have been informed from people who live there is that their reasoning is safety i.e. it would be safer for the women if the didn't drive especially since driving conditions and the drivers in Saudi aren't very good. We must reconcile it by knowing the difference between Islam and culture.
Question About the Return of Isa (peace be upon him)
Question: What happens or what will be different when prophet Jesus (pbuh) returns? How long will he stay for? What are the signs of his return?
Answer: Jesus (peace be upon him) will return at a time when the Muslms will be an extremely weak state and Dajjal (Anti-Christ) will be spreading terror on earth. He will descend and be a follower of the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam). He will not bring his own shariah (law). At the time, Imam Mahdi will be the leader of the Muslims and Isa/Jesus (peace be upon him) will help him defeat the Anti-Christ, as a matter of fact, it is reported that as soon as the Anti-Christ sees Isa (peace be upon him), he will begin to melt and that will be his end. After that he will remain on earth for forty years during which there will be peace and prosperity on earth to the extent that it will be extremely difficult to find someone to accept zakat (charity). It is also reported that he will marry and have children during his second coming to earth.
Some of the signs of his return are that evil and strife will become dominant. Disobedience to parents, adultery, fornication, consumption of alcohol, unknown diseases, natural disasters and other things will become rampant.
Allah knows best.
The Significance of Isa’s (peace be upon him) birth
What was the significance of Prophet Jesus's (pbuh) virgin birth?
The commentator of the Quran Ibn Kathir states that Allah granted miracles to the Prophets according to their times and circumstances. In the time of Isa (peace be upon him), people had become extremely engrossed in scientific intricacies and had firm belief in the law of cause and effect. Allah wanted to show them His infinite power and prove to them that He is above the law of cause and effect, thus He caused Isa (peace be upon him) to be born without a father. Additionally, He granted Isa (peace be upon him) other miracles that defied the law of cause and effect such as bring some of the dead back to life, blowing into birds made from clay and causing them to fly, informing people of what they have stored in their houses and curing the blind and lepers.
Allah knows best.
Why Childbearing for Women Only?
Question: Why does a woman have to go through childbearing? This isn't a feminist based question, but is there any significance or any particular reason why she has been given this responsibility?
Answer: Honestly, the only way I can answer this question is by affirming our belief that Almighty Allah in His infinite Wisdom and Knowledge has created man and woman from a single being and it is only Allah who knows the true biological, mental and spiritual structure of each individual, their needs and desires in this world and the afterlife; hence, if Allah Ta’ala willed that females bear the responsibility of childbirth then Allah Ta’ala can do as He wishes and there is none to question His authority.
Our intellect is very limited and can only comprehend within its scope. Trying to understand every aspect of Allah’s will is like a five year old trying to understand what is taught in universities.
Allah knows best.
What can we do for Palestine?
Question: How do we deal with the atrocities around us everyday apart from just praying for our brothers and sisters in Palestine?
Answer: We should not downplay the importance an effect of prayer and duas. Prayers can accomplish what no material thing can even come close to. Apart from prayers, we should support them financially through legal means, and raise our voices against the atrocities committed against the innocent Palestinian men and women. Raise awareness and reach out to the human rights groups and their supporters. Talk about it in all circles at home or outside.
Allah knows best.
On Polygyny
Question: Why are men allowed to marry 4 women? Isn't one hard enough in responsibility? I understand back in the day when there were battles, the ratio of women were higher than man hence a man was allowed to marry more to take care of them. but in this day and age, providing EQUAL emotional support is impossible. Would you say in this case that this rule of men being able to marry 4 should not be recommended anymore?
Answer: Firstly, the permission given in the Quran to marry up to four wives does not apply to Muslims living in a country that disallows polygamy. This only applies to Muslims living in countries that allow it.
Secondly, the Quran does not mandate polygyny. It merely grants permission due to circumstances. Otherwise the Quran discourages it in 4: 129 due to it being extremely difficult to be just.
Thirdly, I certainly agree with you that one is hard enough in responsibility.
Fourthly, yes I do agree with you that polygyny should not be recommended, especially due to the atrocities and injustices that are normally committed against the older wife.
Fifthly, an Islamic state is allowed to temporarily disallow permissible acts due to atrocities and oppression resulting thereof.
Sixthly, it should be borne in mind that Allah has permitted polygyny since the time of Adam (peace be upon him). The Quran is the only scripture that limited it to four wives only.
Allah knows best.
Missing Payers Because of Work
Question: I work very very long hours and sometimes everyday. Praying during work is hard. I sometimes come home and forget to make up the prayers due to my tiredness. How do I tackle this constant not praying during the day and being too tired to pray when I come back home? It’s the same situation every day.
Answer: You need to find time during work for your prayers. If the nature of your work is such that you have to miss prayers every single day, then you need to look for alternative. Make dua earnestly and Allah will help you. I do not know the nature of your job but you can only miss prayers if the nature of your job is such that by praying you may be putting your life or a limb or somebody else’s life or limb in danger. I pray that Allah helps you.
Allah knows best.
Question About Relationship With Sibling
Question: I have never had a relationship with my sibling who lives in a different country and did not have the opportunity to grow up with her. It is hard to impart Islamic knowledge to her from such a distance. How do I do this?
Answer: It is good to hear that you are concerned for your family. The question can be answered from many angles depending on additional details to your situation. What level of knowledge are you intending to impart? What level of knowledge is she at? Is it possible for her to find someone locally? Is there any specific type of knowledge you had in mind?
Allah knows best.
Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Question: If I see a friend doing something wrong and talking to him/her about it does not do anything but push him/her away from me: What do I do in this situation?
Answer: Every adult Muslim male and female is obligated to enjoin good and forbid evil according to his/her capacity. If the evil is limited to the person in question, then it is sufficient for you to tell him/her once and be absolved of your obligation. If the evil harms others or has the potential to harm others, then you are obligated to tell the other party about it. If the evil pertains to breaking a law of the country, you are obligated to inform the authorities.
Allah knows best.
Missing Jumuah
Question: If I have class during Jummah prayer and I keep missing it, Do I become a non muslim? since it is said that the person who misses 3 jummahs are not muslim anymore. (Most places do not have the option of multiple jummah prayers as Austin does).
Answer: It is quite common among the masses that a person who misses 3 Jumuahs (Friday prayers), he will become a disbeliever. This is incorrect. The Hadith states that a person who misses three Jumuahs will have his heart sealed (Tirmidhy). Although this is not as serious as becoming a disbeliever, we should not downplay the importance of attending the Friday prayer. When a person’s heart is sealed, goodness and piety will not enter him and that is serious enough.
An alternative is to follow the Hanafi opinion regarding the ending time for Dhuhr and offer the Duhr or Jumuah prayer after school. Additionally, the minimum number of attendees for the Jumuah prayer in the hanafi opinion is three. So with three congregants the Jumuah prayer may be offered after school.
Allah knows best.
Premarital Relations
Questions: I understand its a sin if men and women have relations out of wedlock but if a man and woman have relations before marriage and DO get married later on, is it still considered a sin for their actions before.
Answer: In Islam, premarital relations in the form of physical contact are forbidden even if they end up getting married later. Both must repent.
Allah knows best.
Speaking with a Prospect Without Informing Parents
Question: How do you get married to a person in this day and age without getting to know them, keeping the cultural aspect in mind? One might say to involve your families and parents before considering to talk to this person. But, what if you just have no idea if you ever would want to consider this person? Lets say for example, if one was to consider a brother Islamically by involving parents, culturally in most families it is very hard to break off something with someone while you are in the "interrogation" period.
Point being, what if you just don't know the person and you just want to see if you could even be able to carry a conversation on with this person?
Point being, what if you just don't know the person and you just want to see if you could even be able to carry a conversation on with this person?
Answer: I answered this question during last chat session in quite a bit of detail. Questions like these are best answered one-on-one with specific details.
One thing for sure is that no male or female should feel compelled to accept the proposal during the interrogation period or any other time prior to the actual marriage. Both have full rights to bail out at anytime prior to the marriage and any culture that restricts this right needs to be shunned.
Allah knows best.
Jury Duty
Question: Can Muslims participate in a jury?
Answer: Yes generally speaking Muslims may participate in a jury.
Allah knows best.
