Your Questions Answered Volume ١

Author: Allamah Sayyid Sa'eed Akhtar Rizvi
Publisher: Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania
Category:

• Q. 1: What is Islam?
• Q. 2: Why are you a Muslim?
• Q. 3: What is the best religion in this world?
• Q. 4: Who started the religion of Islam?
• Q. 5: What is the basis of faith and what role does it play in our lives?
• Q. 6;Where can I go to register myself as a Muslim and am I allowed to be a Muslim since I like the religion very much
• Q. 7: What should we do if we want to be the most God-Fearing person?
• Q. 8: What should we do if we want to be the richest of people?
• Q. 9: What should we do if we want to be the faithful?
• Q. 10: Here I seek some question on Islam. I think of a man, who sincerely believes in all the fundamentals and professes them in words but he neither observes prayer nor performs pilgrimage. Would it be right to call him a true Muslim?
• Q. 11: How many Muslims are in the World and where is the headquarter?
• Q. 12: The other day my cousin asked me what proof have we got that Islam is the true religion. I told him that the Qur'an proves it. But he said that even Christians have Bible for their own proof. How should I reply him?
• Q. 13: All religions believe in God. So do I. But where did God come from?
• Q. 14: Does our Ithna-Asheri faith accept the theory of evolution, i.e., we were not created at an instant, but were evolved?
• Q. 15: Does this verse support human evolution? “And surely He has made you Fashion after Fashion”. (71:14)
• Q. 16: About how many years ago, Nabii Adam was created?
• Q. 17: How can I be convinced that Allah was the God which Muhammad preached?
• Q. 18: Why does God exist?
• Q. 19: Why have we been created?
• Q. 20: How far away from the earth is the moon?
• Q. 21: I believe God is nature; that means that nature is God. Is it right?
• Q. 22: I have been told that Nabii Elias went to the Heavens and is still awaited by the Jews. Is this also what we believe?
• Q. 23: Is Hazrat Isa (A.S.) still alive or dead? If the former is the answer where is he?
• Q. 24: Who was Muhammad? (S.A.W.W.)
• Q. 25: Where was Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) born, and where and when did he expire?
• Q. 26: How old was Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) when he first began to preach?
• Q. 27: Our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.W.) got his spiritual power from God after reaching the age of 40, to preach Islam. Why not before, when there were other people who were worshipping idols during that time and also needed preaching of Islam
• Q. 28: When we mention the apostle's name, Muhammad, we say (S.A.W.W.) Why? What does it mean?
• Q. 29: Had the Prophet Muhammad any other names as we read in Christians' Bible that Jesus had other names as Christ, etc.?
• Q. 30: How many wives Prophet Muhammad had besides Khadija? What are their names, if any?
• Q. 31: He died as a Prophet, but where or in which country did he die and was buried?
• Q. 32: How old was Muhammad the Prophet when he died in 632 A.D, and when he started Islam?
• Q. 33: Who buried him?
• Q. 34: Did Muhammad the Prophet arise as Christ from the dead?
• Q. 35: Who wrote the Qur’an and in which year?
• Q. 36: I would like to know the languages into which the Qur'an has been translated?
• Q. 37: Is it a sin reading the Bible?
• Q. 38: What is Sura Yaasin' generally held to signify?
• Q. 39: Who succeeded as Caliph after Muhammad?
• Q. 40: A certain community believes to such an extent that Hazrat Ali (A.S.) is greater than the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and probably as great as God. I shall be extremely obliged if you will please supply me with necessary text and satisfactory explanation so that this absurd notion could be checked
• Q. 41: They also argue that the Imam can change the "Furu" and not the "Usul"
• Q. 42: The same community also argued that Imam Hasan (A. S.) was not given Imamat because Hazrat Ali (A.S.) knew that Imam Hasan's descendants were not to survive, and, therefore, the Imamat was given direct to Imam Husain (A.S.)
• Q. 43: I have been told that after we die, we still feel pain if someone touches us. But as the soul has left the body (after our death) how can we feel pain?
• Q. 44: If a man knows nothing about Qur'an nor about praying and he is a Muslim and if he fasts, does he get any "God's Reward" or not and why?
• Q. 45: We believe that our 12th Imam is alive but he is "Ghayab". We also believe that when our Prophet died, he left two things to guide us, namely Qur'an and Ahlul-bait. Till 11th Imam, two things were going along together. Now, we have Qur'an but why not our Imam in person?
• Q. 46: Can we have a direct contact with our Imam?
• Q. 47: Can you, please; direct us with reference to Qur'an when, why and where our Imam was "Ghayab"?
• Q. 48: What is the main difference between Islam and Christianity?
• Q. 49: Is Islam related in anyway with the Chritianity?
• Q. 50: What is the message of Islam to the non-Muslims?
• Q. 51: Why is Islam and Ahmadiyyas not same in their beliefs?
• Q. 52: I am really confused about my attitude towards the Ahmadiyya Sect
• Q. 53: ("Note: This letter was sent to Mr. Jamifur Rahman Rafiq, Chief Missionary of Ahmadiya Mission of Kenya, Nairobi. No reply was ever received)
• Q. 54: I write this letter in reply to your advertisement in the Uganda Argus of 13th November, 1969. I am a student of Islam at Makerere University College and at present I am faced with many unanswered questions, theological, historical and others about Islam. For example, "Western critics claim that Sufism was borrowed from Christianity or other religions outside Islam"' and not within Islam itself
• Q. 55: Can a Sunni Muslim pray with Ismailis or Bohras in the same Mosque?
• Q. 56: Explain why Ismailism is a complete way of life?
• Q. 57: What is the difference between Shia and Sunni sects of Islam?
• Q. 58: What is the difference between Shia and Ithna-Asheri?
• Q. 59: The following letter was written in reply to some questions sent by Sheikh Omar Schubert Al-Muhtadi, Vice-President of Islamic Community in Hamburg, (West) Germany
• Q. 60: Can a woman recite Qur'an or Dua during her monthly period?
• Q. 61: What are the rules concerning white secretion from woman if it is not connected with sexual act or thought?
• Q. 62: The sweat produced on human body after masturbation but before "Ghusl" is najis. Is the sweat produced after night ejaculations during dream (wetbed) najis also?
• Q. 63: Why do Muslims pray five times a day?
• Q. 64: I always pray with sincere intention and wish but I cannot concentrate while praying. So, are my prayers accepted and valid? Will I ever be able to concentrate? I try very hard but in vain?
• Q. 65: I find it impossible to repay my KAZA fasts and prayers due to lack of time and some personal reasons. Any other ways to repay them back?
• Q. 66: What happens when you combine all the prayers of the week and you pray them all on one day?
• Q. 67: Maghrib prayer time ends at midnight. How can we know the exact midnight?
• Q. 68: Ghusl of Mass-e-Mayyit becomes wajib after touching a dead body. Now if some-one is a doctor or nurse, and he/she has to touch dead-bodies every now and then, should he/she do Ghusl after every contact?
• Q. 69: Can Friday and Idd prayers be prayed individually?
• Q. 70: What are the qualifications of a peshnamaz?
• Q. 71: Can an Ithna-Asheri pray in a Sunni mosque (a) individually (b) with Jamaat led by a Sunni?
• Q. 72: If there is no Ithna-Asheri mosque in a town can the Friday prayer be prayed in a Jamaat led by a Sunni?
• Q. 73: In July, my cousin and I went to the gathering of 'Federation of Students' Islamic Society of England and Ireland (FOSIS). We prayed Jamaat namaaz. Now, the Imam was a Sunni (as majority were sunn is); We prayed behind him. My cousin and I had already prayed (Namaz) in our rooms and then we went and prayed the Jamat Namaz. Was it alright what we did? Do we have to have a special Niyyat if we pray Sunni Jamaat Namaaz?
• Q. 74: If, in a prayer, we don't keep 'mohr' (although we have it, without any fear), is our prayer void? If I don't have 'mohr' on what can I prostrate?
• Q. 75: During our Prayers when we have said "ADDUA U BAINAS SAJDATAIN" we prostrate as before for the second time. There is book which I have read and reads 'After that say Atlah-O-Akbar and stand up again for second rakaat and do as you did before. After the Sura-tul-Fatiha and another Sura or a portion of the Holy Qur'an. When you have done two prostrations, sit down and read Tashah-hud! Please would you explain me what this means so that I can start praying. Please, could you explain all the 5 hours of praying. Is there any book which I can buy which tells all about Islam translated in English. Please answer me these questions
• Q. 76: Can you translate 'Tahiyatu' in English for me?
• Q. 77: IHTIYAT PRAYERS - How and which time is it prayed?
• Q. 78: Will you please explain the necessary rules and method of 'Swalatul- Meyyit'
• Q. 79: What are the differences between the methods of prayer of different Muslim sects?
• Q. 80: Is it correct to pray Dhuhuri at 1.30 after Juma?
• Q. 81: Give me full particulars if someone finds that they have prayed Eight Rakats in Taraweeh. How he should recover them?
• Q. 82: Christians allow anybody or any religion to worship in their Churches
• Q. 83: Why the Muslim women are not allowed to get in Mosque and yet when the time comes for fasting they are fasting like men
• Q. 84: Is Ramadhan a special word to express the Ramazan in English like Minaret for Minar?
• Q. 85: What are the actual sources that make we Moslems all over the world fast during the month of Ramadhan, why, who introduced and when?
• Q. 86: When are we expected to fast according to your calculations?
• Q. 87: If a Muslim resides in a place where days and nights are of more than 24
• Q. 88: Being the Headmaster of a Secondary School attended by a few Pakistani pupils observing the Moslem Religion I should be glad to receive your opinion on the following points
• Q. 89: Can a woman fast when pregnant? And is it a MUST in Ramadhan?
• Q. 90: What sort of sacrifice should a person perform after having sexual intercourse during the month of Ramadhan before breaking the fast? Well, he did not intend to make love with his wife since it is forbidden during the day time. It was sort of strong temptation of the wife. She just went to her husband's bedroom while he was resting and she stripped from head to toe and forced him to make love - the couple were newly weds
• Q. 91: Reference your latest issue of "THE LIGHT" Magazine, page 10, on the subject "ABOUT ZAKAT", one person has commented as under
• Q. 92: I shall be highly obliged if you will kindly enlighten me regarding Khums
• Q. 93: I am working and earning only £15; have I got to give Zakat to the poor during the month of Ramadhan since I got my parent to support - my father died twelve years ago. And if so how much should I give the poor people?
• Q. 94: Is it a Must that every Muslim must go to Mecca, if so what of those who don't go there?
• Q. 95: Is there any limitation to age of going to Mecca? If so, what is the minimum? I am aged 23 years and I would like to go next year
• Q. 96: What is the most liked house to God?
• Q. 97: What is Jihad-e-Akbar and what steps would you take to fight Jihade- Akbar?
• Q. 98: I understand that Jihad is a holy war. Is it true that if someone dies in the battle, he goes straight to Paradise? If so why is that?
• Q. 99: What is the purpose of marriage?
• Q. 100: The Islamic religion allows polygamy and not polyandry. Explain briefly why a man is allowed polygamy and a woman forbidden polyandry instead of both of them forbidden
• Q. 101: Can a Muslim man be a husband of many wives - and if so how many at least?
• Q. 102: Can a wife divorce her husband if he marries another woman and does not care about her?
• Q. 103: Can a Muslim woman be married to a man who is not a Muslim or viceversa?
• Q. 104: Is civil marriage unlawful in our religion? Why?
• Q. 105: Does Islam religion agree with family planning?
• Q. 106: The thing is that I have been brought up in a very bad environment
• Q. 107: Is homosexuality of any kind Haram?
• Q. 108: Is masturbation allowed?
• Q. 109: Adultery is forbidden, would you mind to write me a verse from the Quran forbidding adultery?
• Q. 110: Is it unlawful to read a novel on sexual treatise such as the Famous PERFUMED GARDEN written by Sheikh Nafzaoun translated by Sir Richard Burton?
• Q. 111: I have been employed a shop where I have to accept orders of delivering wines, write invoices, collect amount due for payment and do correspondence for wines in addition to other commodities for which the Company associates
• Q. 112: There are only a few of us Ithna-asheris in Mozambique. All of us are engaged in trade and commerce. Some of us have ration shops. But the difficulty here is that the population drinks liquor very much; and beer and wine is considered a part of grocery. As we, the Ithna-asheris, are not allowed by our religion to sell or keep liquor, we do not get as much business as we could if we kept the liquor. The Ismaitis keep liquor, in their shops, and as a result, their businesses prosper, while ours remain small
• Q. 113: Is it possible, in any way, for a Muslim to open a Super market (which will have wines, spirits, etc.)?
• Q. 114: Is goat's meat slaughtered by a Jew 'Halal'? I heard that they recite some words before slaughtering it
• Q. 115: Is food prepared by (a) Sunni (b) Ismaili (c) Bohora allowed to be eaten?
• Q. 116: I heard from one of my friends that we are allowed to take food prepared by Christian; is this true? and if this is true, I shall try to make you remember the answer you gave in LIGHT Magazine (Vol. III. No. 1) of Q. 1., that we are permitted to take food prepared by any sect of Islam, conditionally that it is not prepared by someone who associates God with human beings? Do Christians not believe Christ as son of God?
• Q. 117: Do the Muslims modify such rules like eating meat that a non-moslem has slaughtered?
• Q. 118: Why don't you like to touch dogs; And eat the meat of pigs and some other animals?
• Q. 119: Can a Muslim eat a hen or poultry?
• Q. 120: Can indoor games, e.g. ludo, cards, chess, etc. be played (with the intention of time-passing) without introducing money?
• Q. 121: For a man to keep Beard is wajib according to our sheriet. What benefit one derives by keeping Beard and when it grows after a certain length, it is not advisable, why?
• Q. 122: I refer to your reply in latest "LIGHT" why Beard? It could be assumed by your reply that all those who shave may have weak eyes and those who do not shave may have bright eyes - then why Dear Mr. Rizvi you having never shaved in your life have to wear spectacles?
• Q. 123: What does 786/110 mean?
• Q. 124: Can anyone believing in God be affected by witch-craft? Do we have to recite Al-Falaq and An-Nas to be clear from witch-craft?
• Q. 125: Is Smoking bad in Islam? Why is it Makruh?
• Q. 126: Is it allowed for a muslim to smoke in the lavatory of the Mosque?
• Q. 127: In checking the Holy Qur’anic verses purporting to taking of Liquor to be haram (unauthorized, sinful) is said that ‘it (taking of liquor) has more vices than virtue? If yes then why smoking of tobacco, which has all the vices is allowed among the shias?
• Q. 128: Do we believe in the Astrologer and the palmistry?
• Q. 129: Is there any written proof that animals were created to be eaten? Aren’t men animals? They are animals which man is given to them as a name’’
• Q. 130: How do Muslims count their years? E.g. When Muhammad did migrate to Medina it was 622 A.D
• Q. 131: Why is it said that a Muslim cannot enslave his brother Muslim in some books; but also in some books we find the Muslims having slaving whom also they pray in Mosque together?