Islamic Jurisprudence Chapter 2

Question 12: What is the meaning of polytheism? And why does Islam reject it?
Answer 12: Polytheism means worshipping something else with God whether this thing is animate like a prophet, a messenger, a leader, a wealthy man, or a prominent person; or inanimate,like a stone, a planet and the like. Islam rejects polytheism altogether.It is regarded as the antithesis of faith, as there are different reasons that prove this, the most important of which are:
1. Anyone who really knows God, through His most beautiful Names, Qualities, Acts and Virtues, will despise having a peer to God.

2. Polytheism does not go with the true nature that God gave to man. A God-believing person feels contented, safe and psychologically settled, while a polytheist experiences an uneasy kind of life. His/her feelings are mostly distracted,and psychology unsettled. The least social study will show the great differences between the Islamic societies and other ones, the reason being the dogmas that direct each of these societies.

3. Polytheism contradicts reason.Rightful minds do not place the creator and created on equal grounds.The same applies to learned and ignorant persons, and the able and disable. When contemplating the world around us, we realize it inevitable that there exists a great, all-knowing and able creator of this universe, and all that it includes, according to a very accurate and meticulous system.Normal minds absolutely believe that this creator must be single and all alone, because if there were more than one deity, conflict and difference would have emerged. If there had been more than one deity, things would have gone wrong, and one of them would have dominated the other.


Question 13: What are the qualities of spirit?

Answer 13: Spirit is God’s most ambiguous and invisible secret।Only Him knows and realizes its everlasting truth and essence. Almighty God relates: “And they ask you (O Muhammad, concerning the spirit;say:‘the spirit is one of the things,the knowledge of which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little’.” (Holy Qur’an: 17: 85).

Contemporary scientists have attempted tom make some research on the truth of this secret. They have held conferences for the same purpose.But their conclusion was that the spirit is an unknown secret which mankind has not known its truth yet.

One of the conferences is the one which was held in New York in 1959, when six scientists from different parts of the world met at a round table in an attempt to understand something about the origin and evolution of life on the surface of this earth.The Russian scientist Alexander Obarin, a biochemist in he Soviet Academy of Sciences, and greatly interested in the evolution of life, was among the participants. The end of the conference was no better than its beginning. It did not lead to any findings, but confirmed the fact that the secret of life is unknown, and that there is no hope that science will reach one day.

We believe in the existence of the spirit because of its outstanding effects in a tangible world, which is replete with life and living creatures. The difference between the life of human beings and that of animals is that the life of the animal is instinctive and confined to the world of concrete material of food, drink and desire, while the life of man is distinguished to be above that, as it belongs to a world of values, manners, ideals, virtues and noble feelings, and the life of science, thought, and search for the secrets of the universe and benefiting from them.If human beings try to do without these values, they regresses into the world of animals. This fact is typically portrayed in the Qur’an, God says: “while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode” and “And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, and they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth).They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless ones.” (Holy Qur’an: 7:179)


Question 14: What is the relationship between life, death and the hereafter?
Answer 14: Almighty God is the one who created both life and death to see who is better in terms of deeds. This is the core of the matter “to see who is better in deeds” (Holy Qur’an: 67: 2). God has created this universe and showed the wonders of His capability so that His creatures could really know Him, give Him His due, and observe the system that He designed for them and live according to His decree.The entire universe is bound to show true submission due to God’s supreme power.This worldly life is the experimental setting, God wanted to see on it the obedient and the disobedient, the deviant and the straight, the just and the oppressive, the lost and the guided, the believer and the infidel. This is why God gave man wisdom and freedom, and granted him the authority and ability to choose between good and evil, guidance and aberration. He sent messengers and supported them with miracles in order to warn people and inform them that they should play the role of His vicegerent on earth, and implement His law accordingly.

God has provided man, through His prophets/messengers, with a complete system for life that goes well with his/her mind and nature.

Almighty God has announced to all people that this worldly life is an arena, or a wrestling ring. Reward or punishment is to be delayed to the hereafter, to which all people will go. This worldly life is limited and narrow, and cannot be sufficient for obtaining rights according to God’s criteria. This life is, therefore, a place for work. Death is only a bridge across which human beings move to the eternal life so that each could obtain his/her rights in accordance with fair judgment, which saves nothing, however it is small or big. God said: “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.” (Holy Qur’an: 100: 7-8). A poet expressed his view about the meaning of life by saying: “Death is but a journey from this perishing abode to the eternal one.”


Question 15: Will the other non-human creatures be resurrected beside man?
Answer 15: On the Doom’s Day almighty God will resurrect all living creatures and then will rule justly among them all.He will obtain the right of the oppressed from the oppressor, even the animals. Then He dignifies his honest worshippers by allowing them into Paradise and granting them eternal stay in it. He will punish the infidels and polytheists by forcing them into Hell and granting them eternal stay in it.

What indicates the resurrection of animals on the doom’s day is the prophet’s saying: “(On the doom’s day) everybody will get his/her due, even the hornless goat will be redressed from the one with horns.”


Question 16: Is man by nature sinful?
Answer 16: God created man and granted him an intrinsic nature of belief in the true religion.He provided him with a potential to do good or evil, right or wrong.He gave him talents and abilities, which enable him to do all of that completely at his own free will. God then sent messengers for man’s guidance, to follow the straight path, and warn people of the grave consequences in case they strayed off.With this perception, test and examination become fair, and man eventually may either succeed this test or fail it; hence, gain reward or punishment. If man had been born to be good and infallible only, how does he/she deserve reward then? On the other hand, if people were created to be evil only, how could they deserve punishment for something they themselves did not choose to do?




Question 17: If man dies as a non-Muslim, will he/she eternally stay in paradise or hell?
Answer: 17: God’s true religion is Islam; all previous religions were no more than preparations for this final and eternal religion, Islam. Before the advent of Islam, religions were limited to a certain time and place, and they were deemed to prepare people for the acceptance of the final divine religion embodied in the message of the last and seal of prophets, Muhammad (pbuh). God almighty says: “And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam it will never be accepted of him, and in the hereafter he will be one of the losers” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 85).


Question 18: What does make man eligible to enter Paradise?
Answer 18: Paradise, in the concept of Islam, is a delightful abode prepared for the believers to enter in the Hereafter.Every true Muslim that dies will ultimately enter paradise. This means that if a Muslim commits sins but who repents before his death, will be granted forgiveness by almighty God. God said: “And He it is who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows that you do” (Holy Qur’an: 42: 25). If, however, a sinful Muslim dies before repenting, it will be up to God, whether He punishes or forgives him/her.Prophet Muhammad reported that no single Muslim would eternally stay in hell, so long as he/she has the slightest amount of faith in his/her heart. The un-committed Muslims in this case will have to be tortured in Hell for a period God knows; then they come out to enter Heaven so that it could be their everlasting abode if God wills. Muslims believe that people would be admitted into paradise not because of their good deeds as much as the mercy of almighty God.

It is reported that prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “None of you will enter Paradise owing to his good deeds”. They asked: “Not even you, Messenger of God?”He said: “Not even me, unless God has bestowed mercy and blessing upon me.” However, the prophet confirmed the fact that God does not neglect the good deeds of anyone—the ultimate goal being to encourage Muslims to keep in touch with God, to resort to Him and plead Him. This helps to improve the conduct of Muslims in both their private and public lives.


Question 19: Is the reciting of the Holy Qur’an without understanding its meanings considered to be a kind of worship?
Answer 19: Reciting the Qur’an is indeed some kind of worship. However, there is a big difference between the one who recites it passively, and/or the one who deeply contemplates its meaning while reciting it. God rewards both types, but on varying level.The happy life in the shadows of the Noble Qur’an is difficult to achieve, except for one who contemplates ponder it when he reads or listens to it.The Holy Qur’an, has a great influences on man’s life and can easily change the course of people’s history.It did have its great influence on the prophet’s companions when it was being revealed upon the prophet.


Question 20: What is the wisdom behind each of Islam’s five pillars?
Answer 20: The pillars of Islam are five in number, they are:
1. The testimony that there is no deity except God and that Muhammad is His messenger,
2. Performing prayer,
3. Paying zakat,
4. Fasting the month of Ramadhan, and
5. Performing greater pilgrimage to Mecca for the one who can afford it.

It is on these foundations that Islam is built.The question cited above is too wide to handle in a limited period of time. Besides, it requires a comprehensive knowledge of this religion, its fundamentals and branches. This, however, does not prevent us from mentioning some part of the wisdom of these fundamentals and branches in accordance with God’s will and help.

There is no deity except God and Muhammad is His messenger:This is the testimony of truth and the foundation of Islamic faith, as there is no deity except God to be worshipped, to be surrendered to and resorted to in all times especially in crisis.This is the monotheistic creed, which guarantees tranquility and safety that is homogeneous to human nature.If there were two deities in heaven and earth, they would have been corrupted, and one of would have dominated the other. Muhammad is the messenger of God. He is the guide to God, and the conveyor of His system and rules of life according to which God runs life.The prophet is the one who guides people to their God and acquaints them with the methods of virtuous and happy life.

Through this testimony the sources of slavery to God and the revelation from Him are unified. Beyond it, no man lives a lost or uneasy life.Through this testimony, man becomes able to know where he is going and to whom to surrender. With the testimony man cannot be confused as to the path he is leading in his life. It is drawn clearly as it was shown by the messenger who received revelation from God in the form of a complete and integrated system, which is lenient and easy in terms of perception and conduct, and as a method of public and private life.

Performance of prayer: It is the link between man and God. It implies submission to God and surrendering to Him. It is man’s address to the creator, supplication and request to Him for guidance in this world, which is the footstep to the hereafter.It is expressive of man’s willingness to follow God’s commands and avoid what He prohibits. Prayer is the food for spirit, it plants in the human soul emotions, love for purity, and order. A performance of prayer five times a day refreshes the feelings and purifies the soul every now and then. No sooner than man surrenders to life and its worldly affairs, which distract his/her spirit and overwhelm his/her mind and thought, than prayer is called for. When the prayer is called for, the Muslim promptly stands up to prepare himself/herself for the prayer (by cleaning up and/or making ablution). Then men (it is preferable that women perform their prayers at home) move to the mosque to stand in one respectable row addressing the Lord through reading supplications, invocations, and recitation of the Qur’anic verses. The Muslim’s attention in this context is revived and enlivened, his/her heart and conscience are awakened; and all are to be reflected on his/her personal qualities, manners and dealings with the society surrounding him/her, starting with the family and ending up with the society.

There is a huge difference between the life of a committed Muslim and a non-committed one in terms of hygiene, psychology, personality, society, and even private and public life.

Paying Zakat: Paying zakat in Islam is the basis of social solidarity in the Muslim community.It is the guarantor of the rights of the poor, set to them by God in order to sustain communication and mutual mercy among the various classes of society; and to nourish the feelings of love and cooperation among them. It is also meant to put an end to the incentives of grudge and vanity amongst the believers. Zakat is a symbol of an integrated economic structure in Islam, and a clear indication of the fact that this religion is not merely emotions inside the human self; rather a comprehensive system of life; in addition to being a dogma strong and alive in the human self. Islam is a religion that lives up to people’s demands and concerns, and tries to solve whatever problems Muslims face.As such, it paves the way to respectable and virtuous life; eventually makes everybody happy. By this, zakat is deemed to achieves security and stability to the community.

Fasting the month of Ramadhan: Fasting is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual desire for the from dawn to sunset in accordance with almighty God commandment. There is strength in fasting for both man self and will so that it goes above the captivity of necessities and desire and rises to transcendental horizons, and it implies control and order which should be familiar to Muslims in their lives. Thus he does not become negligent or careless.

Fasting makes Muslims accustomed to fasting at a specific time, to abstain from food and drink and at the same time to break their fast at a specific time. When the month of Ramadhan ends, the Muslims become God’s guests on the occasion of the Feast and he is prohibited from fasting that day after fasting was obligatory the day before. It is order, obedience, and noble education of the magnanimous selves.

Fasting in Islam is deemed to remind the rich and healthy of the concerns of the poor, the sick and the weak. When a wealthy person feels hungry, he/she will mostly remember the needy who might always be hungry. This will make the rich sympathize with them and takes interest in their affairs. Thus, a fasting person may conclude from his fast great spiritual, psychological and social lessons.

Pilgrimage to Mecca: Pilgrimage is also one of the great pillars of worship in Islam.It encourages Muslims to sacrifice their money, and comfort for the sake of God, in order to go above the material, and aspire to the world of values and ideals.

Pilgrimage is a strong link in the structure of Islamic system, which is used to bring up the Muslim society on values, like acquaintance, cooperation and consultation. Let us look at the educational array in this community:Islam legislated congregational prayer, which calls Muslims on a street level to meet five times a day, where they get acquainted with the concerns, pains and situations of each other. Islam legislated a meeting on the village or town level in the form of the Friday prayer, so that a preaching scholar from among them would remind, advice and guide them to the best of their interest. The Friday preacher treats the problems, which may have happened on a week’s term from a conscious Islamic educational perspective so that people leave the mosque after having known and taken a dose of guidance, and knowledge by which they make their way to the future.

Still, Islam legislated a larger meeting on the level of the whole Islamic world every year, i.e. the day of the Greater Pilgrimage to Holy Mecca, that blessed meeting when people are required to abandon their local customs, conventions, dress and languages, and perform universal rituals of the state of consecration, standing in `Arafat, circumambulating the Holy Kaabah, strolling between Safa and Marwa, and uttering devotional calls, standing around the Kaabah in heir prayers seeing one another, and calling altogether most of their time: “Here I am, O my Great God, answering Your call. I am indeed here to do Your bidding. You have no partner. Here I am to do Your bidding. Indeed, praise, bounty, grace and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner.”

The Islamic world meets in pilgrimage to benefit, and show the power and greatness of Islam in the form of one aim, one power and one unity. They exchange opinion and consultation pertaining to their urgent local and international concerns and problems and conclude useful lessons, wisdom and experience, which lighten their path in life and help them to achieve their purpose and great tasks. Pilgrimage, thus becomes sacrifice, cooperation, consultation, acquaintance with others, order, education, a symbol of unity and power, and many benefits from which each Muslim takes a specific part.

This is a quick reply and an expressive glimpse of wisdom and secrets of the pillars of Islam. What is more important is the taste of sweetness of slavery to almighty God through the scientific implementation of those pillars, while observing Islam sincerely and honestly, oneself and one’s strong keenness to follow the method of the prophet and imitating the guiding prophet (pbuh) in all rules and situations. From the altar of slavery, the lights of guidance rise and the darkness of life vanishes. Almighty God said:
“Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set on him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men–like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?” (Holy Qur’an: 6:122)


Question 21: Can a Muslim consider his failure in life as a kind of test by almighty God?
Answer 21: Failure in one’s life may have different reasons:
1. Failure to understand the rules of life and failure to recognize the law of causality and its effects on the results.Islam demands action and taking one’s way in life to search for rules, earning one’s living, and desiring God’s graces. Anyone who does not act and does not acquire anything but surrender to despair and gloom, and wait for the goodness and Godspeed to come to him effortlessly must be violating the command of almighty God and the teachings of Islam.God says: “… so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the Resurrection” (Holy Qur’an: 67:15)

2. The reason for one’s failure in life might be due to a punishment by God for his evil acts and intentions. Success in life is a blessing from God that might be denied to certain people.For instance, one who does not cooperate with people, help those in adversity, give a hand to the weak, relieve those having difficulties, and does not meet the needs of the paupers, such a person, if he/she has a problem or suffers from some difficult circumstances and God does not save him from his/her agony and gloom, he has to know that reward is the same as the act, and prophet Muhammad says: “Anyone who helps one in difficulty, God will help him in this life and in the hereafter, and almighty God said: “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to God and fears Him, And believes in al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient. And belies Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path for evil.” (Holy Qur’an: 92:5-10) and said also: “But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.” (Holy Qur’an: 35:43)

3. The visitation could be from God to his slaves in order to test their patience and faith. Surely, there might not be any lack of understanding of the divine rules which run life, and man might not be remiss in his/her action, and he/she might not have an evil intention towards others, yet he/she finds obstacles in the path of his life. In this way, the visitation is from God to probe the extent of the faith of the one inflicted, the extent of his strong belief and his adherence to principles. Almighty God said: “…and we shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to us you will be returned” (Holy Qur’an: 21:35). When a true believer inflicted he/she is patient, satisfied, contented, not feeling sorry for what he misses from the joys of life because his hopes will be much concentrated on the God’s reward in the hereafter. Prophet Muhammad says: “The case of the believer is fascinating, all of his situations are good for him; if he is granted provision he thanks God, which is good for him; and if he is inflicted with adversity, he is patient, and that is good for him too. That is not meant for anyone but the believer.

Islamic Jurisprudence Chapter 1

Question 01: What does faith mean?
Answer 01: Faith is the absolute belief in God, whose location is the heart. It is associated with the saying of the tongue and the observation of the senses. The basis of this faith is the belief in God, His angels, books, messengers, the doom’s day, fate (both good and evil) are all from almighty God. Therefore, the saying of the tongue indicates this absolute belief in those fundamentals and rules. The perfect action can best be testified by the implementation of Islam in the private and public life.

Question 02: What is the meaning of “perfect worship”?
Answer 02: This means “to worship God as if you were seeing Him; as you cannot see Him, He sees you”, as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) related. It is a high degree of emotional feeling to the Muslim when dealing with God as if he were seeing Him before his own eyes in terms of ability, greatness, authority and power, mercy, assistance and generosity. One who feels these divine qualities and other ones in all his conditions, will be whole-heartedly sincere and good in all his acts, behavior, manners, and will not be affected by his materialistic and personal interests and benefits. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked by `Uqbah bin Nafi’ about the perfect manners, he said, “O `Uqbah, visit those who refrained from visiting you, be kind to whoever deprived you, and do not harm those who have harmed you.” This kind of honesty makes the self of the Muslim pure, immaculate privately and publicly, whether one is alone or with others, in times of prevention and bounty, in loyalty, and in integrity—indeed, in all matters, small and big, it is a self that believes in God and attached to Him while looking at him all the time. If man’s eye may sleep sometimes, it believes, nevertheless that God’s eye does not sleep and continues to see him, that is perfect worship (ihsan).

Question 03: When did man known faith for the first time? Did people in ancient times believe in almighty God, or were they unbelievers, as anthropologists claim?
Answer 03: Belief in God is deeply rooted in the human nature. It is intrinsic in people. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Every child is born intrinsically believing in God, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magi,” i.e. every newborn is born with spontaneous belief in almighty God and surrendering to him. Islam has its own concept about the beginning of creation and human evolution. The gist is that almighty God created Adam from earth and soul was then blown into him.Next Eve was created from Adam. Then marriage began and people multiplied and populated the earth.
Adam was the first believer. He recognized God’s power and greatness.Therefore, when he sinned, he soon regretted and asked God to pardon him: he prostrated before Him implored for reconciliation and forgiveness. Almighty God said; “They said ‘Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If you forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers”(Holy Qur’an: 7: 23). Almighty God has already said to them: “And We said; ‘O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in paradise, and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight, of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of thewrong-doers.’ Then Satan made them slip therefrom (paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: O get you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time.” Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, he is the One Who forgives, the Most Merciful.”
It is clear from the holy verses that Adam was a true believer in God। He lived in Paradise with his spouse, then he sinned because of the insinuations of Satan. But Adam soon repented, and God accepted his repentance. This incident indicates that faith occurred before disobedience, unbelieving and polytheism took place. Prophet Muhammad confirmed this fact by saying: “God created people to be intrinsically believing, but they were deceived by the devils.” This means that devils ornamented polytheism for people and they deviated from the right path.

Question 04: Since no one has able to see God, and since no dead person was resurrected to tell us what happened to him after death, how could we believe in any religion?
Answer 04: This question is based on the material world, where sense becomes the reference to determine the facts of the universe. Fundamentally, this basis is a void one. In this life we believe in many things without being able to see them or feel them tangibly. We do not know for example the essence of the soul, its secrets, and where does it inhabit our bodies? So far this field has been immune to scientists and scientific laboratories, fine radiology and microscopes, which biologists and doctors use. We absolutely believe in the presence of the soul although we do not see it. We also believe in the existence of many other things like magnetism, electric current, air and many other things, which we do not touch physically.
All religions are based on miracles, which God performs on the hands of the prophets. Ordinary human beings cannot perform these miracles. Only prophets could carry out these actions in order to confirm the fact that they are true emissaries of God. All prophets were sent to people and performed miracles in front of them, so that they believed them. These are well-known historical facts.
Prophet Moses (pbuh) performed miracles: his club was transformed into a snake, the sea was split into two parts through a hit with his club, and the bursting of the water from the rock in the form of twelve springs good for drinking.
Prophet Jesus (pbuh) healed the blind and the leprous, and gave life to the dead through God’s will.
Prophet Muhammad also had many miracles including the splitting apart of the moon, the gushing of water from his hands and the night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension though the heaven. But the most enduring and challenging miracle revealed through him is the Qur’an.
Belief in almighty God and in the unseen is therefore an intuitive matter, without which life cannot be right; without which the human self does not feel fully contented. People’s lives, both today and land in the past, testify this if only they are truthful about their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

Question 05: Do people inherit the religion of Islam from their parents?
Answer 05: It has already been stated above that people are born to be intrinsically God believing, i.e. Muslims. Islam regards a child before puberty to be subordinate to his father in terms of religion and belief. Coming of age, he/she becomes responsible and will be held accountable for his/her deeds. This requires him/her to embrace the religion of Islam as a result of conviction, thinking and choice. However, if the child dies before puberty age (15 years) he/she will be considered as one of the escapees from Hell even though his parents are non-believers. This is a prerequisite of the justice of God who says: “… and no burdens shall bear the burden of another” (Holy Qur’an: 6: 164).

Question 06: Is Islam to be imposed on people or do people have to embrace it willingly?
Answer 06: Islam is the religion of God, He knows human self better than human beings themselves. He also knows what is good and what is bad for them. It is to the best interest and righteousness to man of mankind if they follow the right path revealed by God out of conviction, choice, love and desire, so that they could be salvaged. Almighty God made this clear in the holy book: “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (false deities) and believes in God, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And God is All-Hearer, All-Knower” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 256). It has never occurred in history that Muslims compelled anyone to embrace Islam even when they were at the height of their power.

Question 07: Is it possible that the whole system of this universe has occurred by coincidence?
Answer 07: This can never be the case at all. In fact, no rational person could ever envisage that this world has come into existence without a wise capable and knowing creator. With the least contemplation, a rational person can recognize the invalidity of coincidence in this case. When a person looks at a beautiful building that is architecturally organized, wonderful and firm, foe example, he intuitively believes that someone must have built, organized and planned its plan and designed its foundations, lounges and balconies. When we look at the watch on our wrists, we cannot believe that its first maker found it by coincidence in that shape. So how could we believe that the creation of man to have come by coincidence? And how could this universe which runs according to an absolute accurate system (in terms of night and day, stars, planets and galaxies) how could it have come by pure coincidence? The idea of coincidence is something obsolete and has become outside the rational circle in the world of science and knowledge, and the world of reason and cause.

Question 08: If a person embraces Islam for mere secular benefits, like marriage, can he/she be still be regarded as true Muslim?
Answer 08: Islam is the religion of almighty God. It should be embraced exclusively for His sake. God says: “Surely the religion is for God only” (Holy Qur’an: 39:3). Almighty God does not accept anyone who converts for a particular interest while implying infidelity, his Islam. Prophet Muhammad reported that deeds will be judged by God according to people’s intentions:
“Deeds are rated according to the intentions of the people who carry them out. Each person is to be rewarded according to his/her intention. Anyone who migrates for the sake of God and His prophet, his migration will be to them then, and anyone who migrates for worldly interests, or a woman he wants to marry, his migration will be to what he has migrated to.”
There are, however, some people who embrace Islam for mere personal interests; but after a while, they become committed and truthful in their intention of faith. God will forgive this group of people and grant them salvation.
Muslims are required to deal with anyone who proclaims Islam publicly according to his/her actions and/or deeds. Only God can tell about people’s hearts and motivations. The word Muslims scholars most use in such likely contexts is: “We have to judge the apparent and only God judges the actual.” If this fake Muslim continues to be elusive, then he/she is deceiving the community and God will count him/her among the hypocrites. If the true character of this “hypocrite” is revealed to the community, then he/she will be held responsible and the divine rules of apostasy will apply upon him/her.


Question 09: Is person’s intention sufficient for him/her to be a Muslim or does he/she have to say the two testimonies: that there is no deity but God and that Muhammad is His messenger?
Answer 09: Intention is not sufficient. The two testimonies must be proclaimed, as announcing them is what distinguishes a Muslim from a non-Muslim. It is the proof of honesty and of being convinced of Islam, because it is difficult to know that person is a Muslim if he/she does not claim so? How could a Muslim perform his duties towards other Muslims if he does not know them and they do not know him? However, there are cases when intention becomes sufficient, especially if this person is afraid of being killed in case he/she announces Islam in a fanatic non-Muslim environment. In this case, he/she may practice Islam secretly and say the two testimonies privately until he/she could move to a safer environment and could perform their rituals in public.

Question 10: Is it possible for a convert to say the two testimonies in a language other than Arabic if he/she does not know this language?
Answer 10: Yes, it is possible to say the two testimonies in any language. Arabic is not required at this stage. However, once the convert is able to say the two testimonies in Arabic, it is advisable that he/she does so, in which case other Muslims could be more acquainted with him/her. If he cannot do that, it is not obligatory.

Question 11: Is it obligatory for a sister wanting to embrace Islam to be dictated the two testimonies by a Muslim female or should only a Muslim male achieve this?
Answer 11: Islam is the religion of God, it is an open invitation for everybody to join in. Anyone who says the two testimonies out of truthful intention has entered the gate of Islam. A convert does not have to be dictated how to become a Muslim if he/she knows how to. But in the likely case he/she does not know what to do, instructions become indispensable for mere educational purposes.
A convert is never required to have witnesses testifying his/her Islam. Embracing Islam starts with saying the two testimonies, which are followed by manner and conduct: all rites, like prayer, and fasting must be performed. These acts of worship when are performed well become enough witness for someone’s faith.
When need is required that someone proves his/her Islamic faith, like the cases and matters related to law and religious courts, then witnesses are rendered necessary in this case.

Matterss of Physical and Moral Cleanness

Question 01: When is a person considered to be pure from the Islamic point of view?
Answer 01: Purity in Islam has two meanings: moral and physical. Moral purity is embodied in the belief in almighty God only and not believing in another deity besides Him. It also involves belief in God’s messengers/prophets, in His books, in the hereafter and the prerequisites of faith. What is also involved here is the cleanliness of the heart from grudge, from vanity, from hypocrisy, from pride and jealousy; and the acquisition of all virtues so that one may aspire above any immoral act or sinful custom.
As to the physical purity (hygiene and cleanliness), this can be of two kinds for man:
1. Purity or purification from major hadath (for men and women after a sexual intercourse; for women, after the menstruation period) by bathing. And purity from a minor hadath (after sleep and in case something comes out from the human body, whether material or immaterial) by ablution. All of that has a great deal of details, but they have no place here to discuss.

2. Cleanliness from impurities: one should keep away from all forms of impurities in terms of body, and clothes, and should remove any likely traces of such things as blood, urine, excrescence, wine, etc. If man’s heart is clear from polytheism, and endowed with moral virtues; and if man abstains from bad manners and cleans his body from impurities and dirt, he/she will be completely pure in the view of Islam.


Question 02: What is the relationship between the purity of the soul and that of the body?
Answer 02: Islam insists on purity (which of course include cleanliness and hygiene), as it accounts for half of the religion. Almighty God said: “Truly, God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers)” (Holy Qur’an 1: 222). Prophet Muhammad: “Cleanliness constitutes half man’s faith.” He also said: “God is gracious and loves graciousness, He is Pure and loves purity and.”
Purity, as such is values and beauty. But cleanliness of the soul and the heart from moral abominations is more important than the cleanliness of the body from material dirt and impurities. Islam insists on purity in general and the purity of the soul and the heart in particular. Anyone whose heart is pure and clean, his/her appearance is bound to be so, and vice-versa. This is the basis and the principle upon which the Islamic values are based. If this principle is missing in people’s lives, they will never know cleanliness, neither spiritually nor physically. The manifestations of physical cleanliness, which non-Muslims seem to enjoy, are not more than a deceptive appearance from afar. If one approaches any of them, he/she would mostly likely sense a disgusting smell coming out of them. This is not to mention purity of their soul and heart, which has no place in those who do not really believe in God. The least contemplation of the situation of the non-Islamic societies would give us so much evidence and proof.


Question 03: When a person embraces Islam, is it obligatory upon him/her to have a bath or shower?
Answer 03: Bathing or taking a shower for those who embrace Islam is a divine requirement. It is required and strongly recommended both physically and morally. What a beautiful beginning for one who embraces this religion, after saying the testimony, with the intention of starting a new period in his life based on physical and moral cleanliness. Also, it could be possible that the one who has embraced Islam has had a sexual intercourse with his wife. This, as such, confirms bathing and it becomes obligatory, as it is seen by the majority of scholars. The purpose of this bathing is the emphasis of the cleanliness.


Question 04: When a person embraces Islam, will ablution suffice for a bath, or is a bath obligatory?
Answer 04: Ablution does not exempt one who has embraced Islam from having a bath.

Question 05: If a person wants to embrace Islam and does not find water, what can he do?
Answer 05: Absence of water does not prevent one from embracing Islam. He embraces Islam and says the testimony: “There is no deity by God, and Muhammad is His Messenger”, then he/she can bathe when water becomes available.


Question 06: Is removing hair for one wanting to embrace Islam obligatory? And is that a part of purity and/or cleanliness?
Answer 06: The question about hair here is a vague one, for it does not specify which hair should be removed. However, if it refers to the hair of the head, it is not required to be removed, as it is not considered part of cleanliness to remove it. However, prophet Muhammad (pbuh) related: “Any man who has long hair, should honor it”, i.e. keep it clean and tidy. As to the moustaches and the beard, Islam shows their rule in the saying of the prophet: “Trim the moustaches and leave the beards.” So Muslims are required by this hadith to cut the hair of the moustache so that the edge of the upper lip could be seen; and to leave without shaving it, because it is an emblem of Islam and a sign of manhood.
As to the hair of the armpit and pubic hair (round the private parts) it is recommended to be removed whenever it gets long, but it should not be left for more than forty days. This as well as other things, like trimming the fingernails, is the natural signs according to which God created people.


Question 07: Can a convert wear garments he/she used to put on before his/her conversion while these clothes still have some of his/her sweat on the same clothes?
Answer 07: Sweat is not considered to be an impurity. If these clothes were known to have some impurity on them, like urine, it would suffice to wash them before wearing them again.


Question 08: Is not it self-contradictory in Islam when it urges its followers to be clean and to use water before prayer for cleanliness, and then requires them to use earth when water is not available?
Answer 08: There is no contradiction whatsoever between Islam’s legislative system and any of its rules. As mentioned above, Purity and/or cleanliness is a fundamental requirement in Islam. Using clean earth (or sand) in Islam does not contradict hygiene. The whole process can be summarized as follows: a Muslim can tap the earth with one’s hands without carrying anything, then rubbing the face with his hands. It is a symbolic meaning of the moral cleanliness, which should precede prayer when water is not available to be used in ablution, or when one is unable to use water for some reason, like illness. Observing almighty God’s commands and obeying Him in every matter is the deeper aim of washing one’s face with earth, though it is not regarded as a real cleaning material as much as a symbol of worship and compliance with God’s commands in the establishment of prayer and getting ready for it.


Question 09: In matters related to bathing, why do Muslims waste large amounts of water for bathing, while it might be possible to wash the private parts only, like an apple falling from a bag, it is enough to wash it in isolation of the other apples in the bag.
Answer 09: This sound to be a naïve question and far removed from truth. It is not rational to compare the refined human being (with all his/her qualities, feelings, emotions, texture, cells, nerves, etc.) to a bag of apples! I do not think that it is feasible to compare the sexual intercourse, in which the whole human being interacts and from which the extraction of man’s blood and genes comes, to an apple falling from a bag. This operation may cause a psychological change and form a new creature that has both its development and intricate living world. Islam requires bathing, because it is a rule of the all-knowing God, blessed by the Lord, the Best of Creators.


Question 10: What is Islam’s position regarding women’s circumcision? Isn’t it a savage act and a loss of dignity and abuse of their sexual rights?
Answer 10: Circumcision of women is legal if not desirable in Islam, depending on the state of the woman and her environment. In some countries with hot climate, woman circumcision might become a necessity for a perfect conjugal life with her husband. What harm or bestiality happens to the woman if she is circumcised? There is no difference between the circumcision of a male and that of a female. It is an extra piece of flesh in the body of a little child, which can carefully be removed and for the sake f purity, beauty; which verify the aspects of manhood in the circumcised little boy and the qualities of womanhood in the little girl. We see no wrong with it, and there is no loss whatsoever in dignity.


Question 11: Are Muslims allowed to eat from the food and/or slaughtered animals of the People of the Scripture (Christians and Jews)?
Answer 11: Muslims can at any time eat from the food and/or the slaughtered animals of the people of the book. Almighty God says: “The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the People of the Scripture is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them” (Holy Qur’an: 5:5). This testifies the ease of Islam and its tolerance in dealing with non-Muslims, so that they come closer to Muslim and cohabit with them peacefully. This is the beginning of the way to understand Islam closely through action and behavior, not through speech and pretension only.

Matters Relating to Pilgrimage

Question 01: How does Islam command its followers to kiss a stone in Makka with the aim of getting closer to God? Why should Muslims circumambulate a stone building, or stand on a mount of stones and rocks while, in the meantime, it ordains its followers to keep from statues and idols which are made of stone.Is not that self-contradictory?
Answer 01: The acts of pilgrimage, such as circumambulate the Holy Kabah, kissing the stone,and standing on a mount of Arafaat are notconsidered in any way to be a statue worship,which is strongly prohibited in Islam. The case of worshipping idols implies intention and a heart attached to these solid stones with the belief that these statues have power and can affect man’s life.Such beliefs are regarded by Islam as a matter of mental setback, for how could an inanimate object a living creature?

The whole rituals of pilgrimage represent complete obedience to God, which God Himself requested from man. Whether one can realize the secrets behind these rituals or not, a Muslim should follow the commands of God so long as He commands us to do so.God is All-Knowing and All-Wise, and He commands His slaves to do only what is beneficial and good to them.

The pilgrimage rituals imply great educational intentions, which have their effect on the life of the Islamic nation. They are the landmarks around which Muslims from all over the world meet, stand and move in the same direction. Circumambulating the Kaabah together in the same direction while all are clad in white, and repeating the same call is a real submission to God Will. All this reminds Muslims of their emotional, intellectual and dogmatic unity and the unity of their orientation towards great matters in life and the unity of their path and destiny.

It also reminds them of equality in rights and duties; people are equal, no one is unimportant or important, there is neither ruler nor ruled, neither a prince nor a commoner, and no one is distinguished from others in dress, circumambulating, standing or in any related ritual. Great must be the effect of pilgrimage on the rich and the famous when they are considered to be equal to the poor and the needy. Their pride is bound to be lessened—something which makes them feel the life of simplicity, deprivation and exhaustion; consequently they would reconsider the nature of their social relationship with the public.

Pilgrimage also has educational effects, when languages, colors and localities of the Islamic world meet and live together for a few days every year with the unity of feelings, language, behavior and intentions.

Now, could any rational person think that the pilgrimage rituals and acts are like the rituals of humbleness before an idol made of stone which cannot cause any harm or good to itself or to others?.


Question 02: What is the idea behind circumambulating the Kaabah? Do Muslim worship the this building?
Answer 02: Muslims worship God only and do not worship anything else besides Him. Circumambulating the Holy Kaabah is not a ritual of worshipping the stone building in itself. Rather, it is a symbol of total submission to God’s commands; around which the Muslims’ words and intentions unite, and on which their opinions unit. Despite all the differences in their colours, languages, countries, all Muslims meet around the Kaabah, which makes them feel their greatness, strength and unity, as mentioned before.On the other hand,there is a variety of worship thorough which the Muslims get closer to almighty God,the physical reason behind which is not known for sure; rather they are the emblem of yielding to That Great God Whom Muslims knew as enjoying strength, greatness, mercy and perfection. Muslims love God and believed in Him. One of the effects of that love is the haste a Muslim shows to carry out His command without knowing its effects. The obvious aim is their trust in God, and the desire to obtain the reward both here and hereafter

The matter of worship whose desired effect in particular is not known to Muslims is a kind of spiritual food them, so that their soul can be balanced and their nature be settled, as man is made from body, mind and spirit. The body is physical and has its material and concrete food, and the mind is the container of science and knowledge and has its food in Islam, as God opened before him the horizons of the universe and life and urged him to research and probe the depths of the universe and benefit from it. Also, God praised the mind and appreciated it so much in order to give it a confidence, testimony, and a value which helps him to achieve his tasks in life. As for the spirit, it is that transparent unknown being whose nature and essence has not been recognized yet. As to the spirit, God made its food from worships, and particular supplications, which provide for this basic element in man its growth, balance and coordination with the body and mind so that man could become complete, good and straight.

Matters Relating to Fasting

Question 01: Can not the fasting of Ramadhan be regarded as a kind of starving, self-torment and physical infliction when Muslims deprive themselves from food and drink for many hours every day and for a duration of a month? Why do not they fast as others (Jews and Christians) do?
Answer 01: Fasting in Islam–like every other ritual–invokes admiration of this religion and of its educational method in life.Islam is not a religion based on the satisfaction of emotions or benumbing of feelings. Also, it is not a religion which follows the inclinations of people or pleads them to meet around it like foam.It is a heavenly religion which came to build up the good man who qualifies for becoming of God’s vicegerent on earth, multiply in number, and establish both truth and justice. Great tasks like these require strong will and patience on the burden of life and its oddities.Nothing like fasting could sharpen the will. When a man feels hungry, out of his/her own will, at a time when nothing could prevent him/her from food; when man chooses to abstain from food and drink until a specific time, his/her will becomes subordinate to the mind and thought. As such a Muslim becomes able to abstain from things on the occasion of abstaining and moves forward in the location of action, and does and leave what he/she thinks right after thinking and contemplation, away from emotions and quick excitement, and respond to ideas and various obsessions. Fasting is also a kind of education of the rich and the well-to-do to taste the meaning of need and the sting of hunger which the poor always suffer from. When those feel as the others do, cooperation, solidarity and mercy prevail among the individuals of all society, but when fasting is merely superficial, as the followers of some other religions do, this does not go with the comprehensiveness of Islam and its distinction.This religion is characterized by its own rules and distinction of thoughts from other creeds so that what is good is known to be different from the bad. Scum always goes in vain, and what avails the people stays in the land.


Question 02: Islam is a religion of ease. What did God in his Almighty enjoins such a difficult task as fasting on the Muslim, especially those who live in hot areas?
Answer 02: There is no hardship in Islam and God does not charge man to do more than he/she could. Any obligation in Islam that is too difficult for man and may cause him too much difficulty will not continue to be an obligation. On the one hand, anyone who cannot fast may not do so provided that he/she compensate for not fasting by feeding a needy person for each day he/she did not fast. On the other hand, Islam is a heavenly religion with a great heavenly message which intends to build a nation, establish a civilization, and take care of society by defending its rights, and achieving a great role on the international level. Such a religion should in the first place prepare its followers to endure difficulties and hardships so that they could be qualified to build nations and develop civilizations. May God bless the soul of that who said: “If the souls are great the bodies will be tired because of their will.”

Desiring comfort and living in slackness, dullness and laziness are the qualities of one who is impatient, the kind of people who are not expected to be good to themselves or to others. Has ever a nation risen in history and was important while it was sitting dull, neither struggling nor getting tired or exhausted? Could such people know the taste of real comfort, unless they were exhausted because of work?Could people feel the pleasure of recovery without knowing the meaning of disease? Could people know the taste of freedom without suffering the agony of suppression?

By contemplating these great meanings, we realize that the obligation of fasting is a heavenly educational one and the difficulty in it may be intentional and deliberate, otherwise it would not achieve the desired aim in the formation of the nation and its preparation for grand tasks.


Question 03: How could a Muslim fast while living in a country where the sun does not set most of the hours of the day, as in the Scandinavian countries for instance?
Answer 03: Fasting is a kind of worship. It is a way of getting accustomed to patience and developing a serious will; and a Muslim has to be as strong as possible in terms of religion, will and body.The Muslims of such cold countries as the Scandinavian, where the sun does not set most of the hours of the day, should fast and be patient until the sun sets even though the day is much longer than the night. If someone, due to a certain defect or illness, feels unable to endure fasting for such a long time, he/she can choose not to fast but must make up for that when he/she becomes able to do so. Otherwise, if there is no possibility that the Muslim would be able to fast, then he has to compensate in terms of feeding a needy Muslim by providing him/her with average food, which he often offers to his family, for lunch or dinner for everyday he did not fast.

Matters Relating to Zakat

Question 01: If a Muslim struggles hard in order to achieve his own wealth, why should he/she give a certain amount of this wealth in the form of zakat? Is not all the money his/hers? Cannot God give the poor money?
Answer 01: Islam has its own comprehensive educational system which takes care of both the individual and the society at the same time. It maintains balance in rights and duties, chastens and purifies the soul from greed and miserliness, and makes man feel that he/she is an integral part of the society. Islam preaches that there is no complete happiness unless all are happy; a well known Muslim poet says: “No clouds should ever rain on me or on my land/ Unless it rains all over the place.” Islam has established a society based on cooperation,solidarity,reciprocal connection, mercy, love, benevolence and altruism. A true Muslim’s conscience suffers and gets tormented if people around him are under distress or hardship. A Muslim,who has been endowed,by God,with health and strength to collect money,is supposed to give thanks to his Lord for His gifts. The best way for a Muslim to give thanks is to help brethrens in Islam who need help,to give the deprived and poor from what God has given him. Love and intimacy as such would be established and maintained between the poor and the rich. In this way, society would feel better; and the spirit of cooperation and harmony would prevail among the members of the same community. Besides, the one who is poor and frugal might become rich one day,and vice versa;he who gives today might be in need in the future. Every right has one duty against it, and vice versa.
If we look at the modern advanced societies,we find them imposing different systems of social security,collecting taxes, and trying all the time to protect these systems by the force of law.Islam legislated the system of zakat, which is fundamentally is a test, in order to achieve solidarity for the sake of brotherhood, love,and goodwill.However, the rebellion of some people against this system obliges the Islamic state to take zakat from them by force so that the right of the society continues to be maintained before the right of individuals, so that happiness can prevail.Almighty God relates: “Help you one another in al-Birr and al-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 2) and prophet Muhammad related: “He is not a believer in me that who sleeps full at home while his neighbor beside him is hungry and he knows about him.”
It is in this way that Islam brought people up so that society could be a civilized one. History has not witnessed a similar example.Islam still has the aptitude to form such society based on these values and high ideals if it has the enlightened and conscious leadership and if people are enjoying an atmosphere of freedom and dignity.


Question 02: Is it permissible for a convert to give zakat to non-Muslim relatives for reconciliation so that they may embrace Islam?
Answer 02: Yes, it is possible to give zakat to relatives for reconciliation so that they may embrace Islam. In fact they are entitled to get such zakat.Almighty God says: “As-sadaqat (here it means zakat) are only for the poor, and to the needy (but do no beg) and those employed to collect (the funds), and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam)” (Holy Qur’an: 9: 60). Though non-Muslims, these people must be given from the money of zakat so that they may,hopefully,embrace Islam.Many people have embraced Islam out of their desire to get money, but later they became interested in the religion and became good Muslims.


Question 03: Out of the eight ways of spending zakat comes “and those who are in the path of God.” Does this include sponsoring Islamic promulgators and buying books for free distribution?
Answer 03: Zakat should go to those specified by almighty God in the Qur’an. According to the majority of scholars, the type mentioned above, in the path God, means jihad (holy war) against the enemies of God. As to those who have devoted their time for Islamic call and have nothing to earn their living from, they are entitled to the zakat money. As to buying books and distributing them free, if the books are useful to those who are going to receive them, especially in the field of religion, and they were among those entitled to zakat money, there is no objection to this. Generally speaking, distributing books to the poor and to the needy, it is one of the most useful deeds which bring the Muslim closer to God and it is the most important kind of the ways to spread the Islamic call, but this should not come from the zakat money. The charitable people should assign an amount of money as alms for this kind of activity.

Matters Relating to Prayer

Question 01: Is it all right for a Muslim to say his/hers prayer in a languages other than Arabic? Can he/she read surah al-fatiha (the opening chapter of the Qur’an) and any other (short) surah in a different language than Arabic? Also, is it obligatory to supplicate and revere God in Arabic only?
Answer 01: Saying one’s prayer cannot not be considered acceptable unless it is read in Arabic. Every non-Arab Muslim should learn some Arabic so that he/she could at least perform his obligatory religious rituals. Arabic is the language of the Qur’an and Islam.However,it is possible only temporarily to read the meaning of the surat al-fatiha in another language (other than Arabic) until the person has learnt to read it in Arabic.It should be emphasized at the same time that learning to read Arabic is easy, especially the Noble Qur’an. Almighty God says: “And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; then is there an one who will remember (or receive admonition)?” (Holy Qur’an: 54: 17).
As to supplication and glorification in languages other than Arabic it is lawful, though it is preferable to be performed in the language of the Qur’an itself.

Question 02: What is the divine rule regarding a non-committed Muslim who does not perform his/her prayer, not out of denial, but negligence? Is he/she considered to be an infidel?
Answer 02: Prayer is one of the basic pillars of Islam, if not the most important one. It comes second to the declaration of faith (the two testimonies). It is the pillar, which distinguishes the Muslim from the infidel.It is usually the last thing that Muslims maintain from Islam. Any Muslim who abandons it becomes so close to infidelity,if not considered an infidel indeed. Some scholars believe that when a Muslim neglects prayer because of laziness,he/she becomes an infidel. Others regard it as sinful and very close to infidelity, so long as this lazy Muslim recognizes it and believes it is obligation.

Question 03: Is the prayer performed when one is absent-minded or busy about worldly affairs considered to be invalid?
Answer 03: Prayer is not considered invalid when one is absent-minded or busy, but the worshipper will not obtain the reward of this prayer. Full reward cannot be achieved except through humble and content prayer.

Question 04: Does it suffice a Muslim to perform his/her prayer only verbally? Are the physical movements (of bowing, prostrating, etc.) integrated in the prayer itself?
Answer 04: Prayer is worshipping God, and it is made in a particular manner which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught us.Almighty God instructed the prophet to perform it this manner through the revelation of angel Gabriel. The prophet (pbuh) said: “Pray in the manner you saw me doing.” Following the prophet’s tradition is an Islamic obligation, whether we realize the purpose of some of his deeds or not. However, when we do not fully comprehend the purpose and surrender to God’s commands, that is a kind of belief in the unseen and a testimony to the belief in God—although we can never see Him.

Question 05: Is it permissible for a Muslim to pray in a church if he/she does not have time or could not find a more appropriate place?
Answer 05: Praying in a church is undesirable because it is a place for non-Muslims. A Muslim can perform his/her prayer in any other place on earth, so long as it is clean pure. The prophet says that whole of the globe has been made a place for worshipping. A Muslims who does not have enough time to pray while he is in a church for some reason could go out and pray nearby the church, in the street, or in any other clean place. However, prayer in a clean church for a Muslim can still be valid though it may not be favourable.

Question 06: What is the divine rule concerning the convert’s past obligatory prayers, which he had missed before conversion? She he/she perform them all?
Answer 06: Islam is a religion of tolerance. “It nullifies everything before it,” as related by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Accordingly, a person who has embraced Islam is not required to compensate for any Islamic obligations before embracing Islam.

Question 07: Is the prayer of someone who has converted but not yet circumcised, acceptable?
Answer 07: The prayer of one who has embraced Islam and has not been circumcised is acceptable if he insures that he cleans the circumcision location properly, i.e. if he is sure that he has cleaned the inner part of the piece to be cut in circumcision, and he has to do circumcision as soon as possible, for it is one of the requirement of Islam.

Selections from Questions

Question 01 : Who is your Lord?
Answer 01 : My Lord is ALLAH the creator of the universe and all creatures.

Question 02: How many Gods are there?
Answer 02: There is only one God not two or three; and no partners He has or co-Gods.

Question 03: How did Allah introduce Himself to mankind?!
Answer 03: Allah has sent messengers to deliver His significance to both mankind and jinn.

Question 04: What is your religion?
Answer 04: My religion is "Islam" it means "submission" to the one and only God [ALLAH] and to have full obedience to Him and to His messengers.

Question 05: Who is your messenger?!
Answer 05 : Mohammad the son of Abdullah from the tribe of Quraish who received revelation from Allah through angel Gabriel to all mankind; to worship Allah and no other God or Gods.


Question 06: What is your Holy Book?
Answer 06 : My Holy Book is the "Koran" it means "Readable" it contains Allah's words and dominions and regulations to the followers of Islam.


Question 07: What is the Sunnah?
Answer 07: "Sunnah" is the oral teachings of Prophet Mohammad collected by his followers and comrades containing explanations of daily actions taken by Muslims and clarifying some guidelines in the Koran.

Question08: What is Emaan (Faith)?
Answer 08 : Emaan is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and the Day of Resurrection and in destiny with its goodness or badness.


Question 09 : What is 'Ihsan?
Answer 09 : 'Ihsan is to worship Allah as you are seeing Him; but though you can't see Him; He sees you.

Question 10: What is the difference between a Prophet and a Messenger?
Answer 10 : a Prophet is a person who obtained a revelation from Allah without delivering it to specific people (i.e. Ishmael, Isaac, Job...); but a messenger is a person who obtained a revelation from Allah with the task of delivering it to either specific people or to all people, for example; Jesus Christ was a messenger only to Israelis but Mohammad was a messenger to all mankind and jinn.

Question 11: For what purpose Allah had created us?
Answer 11 : For the purpose of worshipping Him.

Question 12: How to worship Him?
Answer 12 : by full obedience to His orders and not interfering any other partner nor associate with Him.

Question 13: What is the meaning of "No God but Allah"?
Answer 13 : None is worth to be worshipped except Allah.

Question 14: On which Islam was based on?
Answer 14 : Islam was based on five basic pillars:

1 - Testimony there is no God but allah and mohammad is his messenger

Testimony or the Profession of Faith (in Arabic Shahada) which is the declaration that "there is no God but Allah; Mohammad is the His Messenger". When anyone declares Shahada, he automatically becomes a Muslim. The text of the Shahada is "I bear witness there is no God but Allah; and I bear witness that Mohammad is His Messenger" but the pronunciation must be in Arabic; in Arabic its pronounced as "Ash-hado a'lla elaha ella Allah wa ash-hado anna Mohammadan rasool Allah", without testimony a person can't be a Muslim even if he complies with the other four pillars. even if he complies with the other four pillars.
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2 - prayer

It consists of a series of formal prostrations (in the traditions of all Prophets), genuflections, and pious statement and supplications. The prayers are in the Arabic language and require reading from the Koran (our Holy Book), and are offered five times a day – at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and nightfall. Prayers must be attended on time as Allah stated:

(When ye pass (congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah's praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up regular prayers: for such prayers are
Enjoined on Believers at stated times) Chapter: 4 Verse: 103

Prophet Mohammad also stressed on prayers and made it the thin line between belief and disbelief as he said:

(The covenant between us and those [infidels, Jews, Christians, polytheists] is prayer; whom ever leaves it he disbelieved) – narrated by Bukhari.
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3 - Alms- tithe ( Zakah )

It is paid in kind in varying proportions according to the nature of the goods. The payment is meant for the welfare of the poor and the needy (2.5% of the capital money yearly; it was set to 2.5% because at the time of the Prophet they used to spend 25 Dinar out of 1,000). Zakah differs from charity;
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4 - Fasting the holy month of Ramadan

Fasting is done throughout the month of Ramadan. During the fast, from dawn to sunset, complete abstention is required from food, drink and every extraneous material taken through the mouth or nose as well as conjugal intercourse.
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5 - Pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are capable of (Hajj)

Going to Mecca in the month of Dhul-Hejja to perform ceremonies and rituals for 3 days or 2, Hajj is confined to whom are capable only.
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Belief in the Divine Scriptures

Belief in the Divine Scriptures

Question 01: You always say that the Old and New Testaments contain fabrications. Why then do you sometimes use them as references when it is convenient for you?
Answer 01: I would like to clarify that Muslims believe that books were revealed by God to His prophets; and among these are the Torah, the Gospels, David’s Psalms, and the Qur’an and accounts of prophet Abraham’s life. Their belief in these reveations is a fundamental aspect of islamic teachings. Therefore, the Muslims believe that, generally speaking, the Torah and the Gospels are divinely revealed. But people who follow these revelations have introduced fabrications in them. God has revealed this fact to us in the Qur’an. Therefore not all of the Bible is fabricated. And not all that Jews and Christians claim to be true of the Bible is wholly from God. As a result Islamic scholars have articulated a sound position regarding these books which can be summerized as follows:
1. Whatever is in acordance with the Qur’an, we believe in and quote for the benefit of those who follow these scriptures.

2. Whatever contradicts the Qur’an, we reject, knowing that it is a fabrication. We do not quote it, and do not believe in it.

3. We maintain silence over what neither agrees nor contradicts Qur’anic teachings. This is due to our fear of refuting what may be well true or accepting what might be false.

The latter attitude is imposed by the teachings of the prophet (pbuh), who said: “Do not give credence to what the people of the Book (Jews and Christians); and do not refute it outright.” Therefore, when we quote te Bible, we are in fact quoting what finds support in the qur’an, and not arbitrarily.

Question 02: Why do you believe that the divine reveltions were not preserved in the same way that you claim the Qur’an was?
Answer 02: God made the preservation of earlier scriptures the responsibilities of the followers of these books. God says: “…For to them was entrusted the protection of God’s books, and they were witnesses thereto” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 44). But they were negligent of this; distorted the books with their interpolations and the reversal of some facts. This is not a total loss, because God intended another scripture whose teachings and principles will serve the good of man and under all conditions.
God did not give the responsibility of protecting the Qur’an to man. He pledged to protect it Himself, knowing that this was the last revelation to mankind. This is the absolute necessity that it be preserved intact. God says: “Verily, it is We Who have sent down the dhikr (the Qur’an) and surely, we will guard it (from corruption)” (Holy Qur’an: 15: 9). Due to this divine pledge, the Qur’an has been preserved. It is impossible for anyone to do to the Qur’an what was done to previous scriptures.

Question 03: To what extent, do you think, are the present Gospels authentic?
Answer 03: The present Gospels, as attested by Christian scholars, were written by historians. They are therefore not totally authentic. Parts of these books are authentic, others are fabricated. The falsehood in them supercedes the truth, espacially in those parts which deify Jesus Christ (pbuh) and make him the son of God. The Muslim accepts what is in accord with the Islamic teachings and rejects what contrdicts them. He is silent over aspects that are not clearly in agreement or disagreement with Islamic teachings.

Question 04: How can you tell a true religion from a false one?
Answer 04: All the religions that God revealed through His prophets are true. Any discernible corruption in these religions is a result of human interpolation. People had been entrusted with the preservation of these religions, but failed to fully care for this trust. We can mention here a few criteria that can help distinguish a true religion from a false one.
1. Examine the core contents of the religion both in terms of the foundational texts and how they have been transmitted from generation to generaion. See if there is internal consistency in the texts. Do the prescriptions of the religion uplift man or oppress him?
2. Examine the methods of transmission in terms of their reliability and the claims of transmision.
3. Look into the life of the founder of the religion (the prophet), if applicable.
4. Look into the lives of the disciples of the prophet.
5. Is the religion monotheistic or ploytheistic?
6. Are the religion’s teachings in clear contradiction with known facts about the world?

Question 05: Can Muslisms read scriptures, other tha the Qur’an? Explain with regards to the prophet’s position on this question?
Answer 05: The prophet (pbuh) once showed displeasure when he saw Umar ibn al-Khattab reading the Bible. Umar asked the prophet: “Sometimes we hear fine words from the Jews, can we write some of these words?” The prophet replied: “Are you confused about your religion, just as the Jews and the Christians are about theirs? I have brought you a crystal clear teaching. Had Moses been alive, no doubt he would have been my follower.” In the beginnig of the prophet’s mission he disallowed his disciples from meddling with Torah for fear of confusing it with the Qur’an, which was being revealed. The Qur’an having, been completely revealed, the prophet told his disciples to teach about the Jews. The prophet says: “Do not believ the people of the Book or disbelieve them, but say ‘We believ in God and that which has been sent down to us (Holy Qur’an: 2: 136)’.” The study of different sacred texts can only strengthen a Muslim’s faith. What is true in these faiths has been confirmed by the Qur’an; and falsehood in them had likewise been made manifest in the Qur’an.

Question 06: Where in the Bible was the prophet’s name mentioned?
Answer 06: In John 14: 16. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John: 14: 16).
Parclete means “Muhammad” or “Ahmad.” The statement that the “Parclete will remain with us forever points to the eternal validity of Muhammad’s religion, book and way of life. God vowed to protect and preserve them. This is what is meant by “He will remain with you forever.”

Question 07: Why did God reveal the Qur’an in Arabic, rather than in another language? What is the wisdom behind this choice?
Answer 07: It was God’s choice to reveal Qur’an in Arabic, just as it was his choice to reveal previous scriptures in other languages. God does as He pleases. No one has the right to question His will; He can question the actions of His creatures. The wisdom behind the choice of Arabic to be the vehicle in which the Qur’an was revealed can be summed up in the follwoing points:
1. The prophet through whom the Qur’an was revealed was an Arab, and Arabic was his language. How could God have revealed to him a scripture in a foreign tongue?

2. The past people to whom the prophet was sent were Arabs. Had the book been revealed in other than their language, that would have given them a pretext to reject it. They would have accused him of absurd innovations and would have refused to heed his call.

3. Arabic os best equipped to articulate the nuance of the revelatin.

Belief in Prophets and Missions

Belief in Prophets and Missions



Question 01: What is the indisputable evidence that the teachings of Muhammad have all come from God?
Answer 01: There are numerous irrefutable evidences indicating that such teachings originated from God almighty. Here are some:
1. All that has been enjoined, and denied, can be found highly propitious and useful to all mankind, everywhere and at any time.They are commensurate with the sound mind and the chaste insight. Examples are commandments on solidifying family ties,preserving superior moral qualities, avoiding usury and all misdemeanors. All that the prophet (pbuh) has been told in inspiration has been proved valid. Such material falls in two categories:

A. Pertaining to the past. These are corroborated by former books as well as authenticated evidence confirmed by science and modern discoveries, e.g. finindgs in geology as the era of the deluge, in archeology as the relics from the epochs of Thamud and the Pharaos.

B. Pertaining to the future. Certain incidents were predicted by the prophet, e.g. the fire which blasted Medina in 654 hijra, the good offices performed by Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib in reconcilating between two major factions of Muslims, the gathering of the Jews in Palestine today, the emergence of nudist women who earn their living in immodest ways, and the spread of ususry, corruption, murder, etc.

C. Evidences derived from the prophet’s own life and morals, a study of both of which can only cofirms that such actions can never emerge except from one who is both true and honest. Whoever considers God’s support of His prophet (pbuh), the victory over his enemies, and the spread of his religion, must come to the conclusion that this prophet was sustained by God and that all he preached had come from the Almighty.

D. Some contemporary scientific discoveries support the prophet’s tenets, e.g. stages of the life of the embryo, the way in which milk comes into being in the mammals, the existence of the aquarian barrier between two adjecent seas, the fact that the Dead Sea is the nethermost place on earth, etc.

E. The miracles performed by him: these were simultaneously witnessed by both his followers and antagonists, e.g. the fissure of the moon surface, the springing of water from his fingers, the healing of the sick, etc. His greatest miracle remains the glorious Qur’an that has proved the authenticity of its contents over the ages.

Question 02: Who is the prophet?
Answer 02: He is a man chosen by almighty God, inspired by Him, and enjoined to proclaim the call to the people he was sent to.


Question 03: How can prophet Muhammad (pbuh) be the imam (leader) of all the prophets when he is the last messenger?
Answer 03: Preference is God’s own prerogative. It is exclusive to such and not to others, in accordance with His emmiscience and wisdom. Preference has no relation with precedence or antecedence in time. Moses and Jesus are are among the latter batch of prophets, still they are the best among all those who preceded them except Noah and Abraham (peace be uponh them).Furthermore, prophet Muhammad’s religion, in terms of creeds and the morals, conforms to those preached by the previous prophets. As for the rules of these religions, the prophet (pbuh), by commandments from almighty God, nullified some, modified others; altered some, and augmented others. Accordingly, his call has become more comprehensive, more perfect, hence has dominion over precedences. The one in charge of such a call deserves being an imam to those who preceded him. Those were made to pledge to the be faithful to him and support him, almighty God says:
“And (remember) when God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: ‘Take whatever I gave you from the book and hikmah (understanding of the laws of God), and afterwards there will come to you a messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.’ God said: ‘Do you agree (to it) and will you take up my covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 81).

Such favours prove that he is the best.

Question 04: What evidence proves that Jesus was not a God, but only a messenger from God?
Answer 04: Jesus Christ (pbuh), following both the Gospels and the Qur’an, was born of the virgin Mary, who was just like any other human being. It is common knowledge that whoever is born cannot be deified. Jesus Christ was a human being who used to eat and drink just like anybody else. He was susceptible to hunger, grief and/or merriment. He experienced all the
paraphernalia pertaining to human life. His miraculous creation from no father is no stranger than that of Adam,a being who was both fatherless and motherless.This is an evidence of God’s omnipotence. Jesus Christ was no more than a servant to,and messenger of God,who revealed the scripture in order to promulgate it and carry out His call. On the day of judgement Jesus Christ is not to be judged because of those who deified him in exclusion of God or thought of him as parallel. In the Qur’an we have a mentioning of this, where in the hereafter God will ask Jesus if he had asked his followers to deify him, whereby Jesus will answer God by saying: “If you punish them, they are your slaves, and if you forgive them, verily, you, only you, are the all-Mighty, the all-Wise” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 118). Here is one more reply to the one who seeks an evidence as to the deification of Jesus Christ, while he has none of the qualities of God. Whatever miracles he performed emanated from God, just as He supported other prophets.

Question 05: In what way was Jesus Christ a Muslim, as well as all the other prophets?
Answer 05: There is no doubt that all prophets (peace be upon them), beginning with Adam and ending in Muhammad, preached one religion—the worship of God alone and disregarding all other powers. This is something advocated by Islam. God says: “Truly, the true religion with God is Islam” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 19). About Abraham (pbuh), God says: “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but was a true Muslim (hanif: monotheist—a worshipper one God alone) and he was not a mushrik—a polytheist” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 67). On the question of the disciples of Jesus, God says: “And when I (God) inspired al-hawariun (the disciples of Jesus) to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: ‘We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims’.” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 111). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) confirmed this in his saying: “Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”

Question 06: If people have managed to distort the message of Christ, is not this sufficient evidence that he failed in his mission? If he was great, how could God allow his call to peter out into failure?
Answer 06: Christ (pbuh) cannot be said to have failed in his mission. God supported him with
astounding miracle and convincing arguments. Whatever distortion has befallen the scripture preached by Christ, it must have happened after his ascention to heaven. Failure and disintegration are the works of the followes who fell a prey to whims and caprice.In this connection God says:
[And (remember) when God will say (on the day of reurrection): ‘O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto men: ‘worship me and my mother as two gods besides God?’ He will say: ‘Glory is to You! It is not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely, have know it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours; truly You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden (and seen). Never did I say to them aught except what You (God) did command me to say: worship God my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when you took me up, You were the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to all things’.”] (Holy Qur’an: 5: 116-117)

Question 07: Seeing that God’s message to humanity is one and the same, why was it partitioned among more than one prophet and not revealed in one package?
Answer 07: The message entrusted to all prophets is one and the same. It finds expression in a call for the worship of the one God and the avoidance of false dieties, God says: “And verily, we have sent among every ummah (community/nation) a messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship God (alone), and avoid taghut (all false deities)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 16: 36). God almighty also said: “And We did not send any messenger before you (Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying): ‘None has the right to be worshipped but I (God), so worship Me (alone and none else)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 21: 25). As for the multiplicity of the prophets, it has been caused by various motives:
1. So that people in any age may not have the pretext as to have been ignorant of God’s commandments. God says: “Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against God after the (coming of) messengers.” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 165).

2. Specifying individual laws for each nation which shall conform to its nature and circumstances. God says: “…To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way…” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 48).

3. The differences among languages and their multiplicity, required entrusting more than one prophet/messenger, each speaks the language of a certain nation. This is obvious in the Almighty’s words: “And We sent not a messenger except with the language of his people in order that he make (the message) clear for them” (Holy Qur’an: 14: 4).

Question 08: Is the Muslim entitled to blend his/her faith with other faiths or creeds?
Answer 08: In no way should a Mulslim adopt other creeds or principles which conflict with the fundamentals underlying the Islamic doctrine. Monotheism runs counter to polytheism, nor does sunna (prophet’s words and deeds) agrees with innovations.Likewise, the love of God is incompatiable with the love of some other power, etc.

Question 09: Why were the first batch of prophets sent to certain geographical areas and not others? How can we judge those areas which received no prophets? Why were they left without the word of God?
Answer 09: Judging by the accounts given by the prophet’s hadiths (sayings) God sent to various folks 124,000 prophets, while God’s messengers numbered 314. Such a large number of prophets and messengers prove that not one nation or area went without one (or some). In this regard God almighty says: “…And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them” (Holy Qur’an: 35: 24). And again, He also says: “And verily, we have sent among every ummah (community/nation) a messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship God (alone), and avoid taghut (all false deities)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 16: 36).

Question 10: Why should Muhammad (pbuh) be considered the last prophet while Jesus Christ will reappear?
Answer 10: Muhammad (pbuh) is actually the last of all prophets, according to what he siad. The descent of Jesus Christ (pbuh) from heaven is not a new mission. It is a return whose aim is to reinforce Islam and its shari’a (Islamic laws and rules) our propeht called for, and the last celestial techings. This is clear in his words: “The coming of Jesus is imminent.He will come as a just ruler, destroy the cross, and nullify the poll tax. There would be so much money that no one would accept charity.” In another long hadith, he says: “…He (Jesus Christ) will call peope to Islam and God would abolish all religions leaving Islam alone.
It is quite obvious from the above evidences that whatever Jesus Christ preaches is nothing but Islam and the law of Muhammad (peace be upon them both). He will even pray behind a Muslim. The prophet says: “How will you be when the son of Mary (Jesus Christ)
descends among you, while you are praying behind an imam (a prayer leader) from among you?”
Muslim scholars referred to the return of Jesus Christ (pbuh) at the end of time. They mentioned that his return will be especially significant to:
1. Empashize the facts of Islam as preached by prophet Muhammad (pbuh); 2. Reply to the claims of the Jews and the Christians as to his death, crucifixion.;
3. His return indicates the approach of the end of his life and his his burial.
4. The prophet’s report about Jesus Christ must be the truth, because it is something that had been revealed to him from God.

Question 11: How can you claim that Jesus did not die while his death is actually mentioned in Surrat Al-Imraan (Chapter 3 of the Holy Qur’an)?
Answer 11: No verse in the Qur’an relates the death of Jesus Christ (pbuh). The term used in the chapter ‘wafaat‘ does not refer to death as much as it refers to departure from earthly existence. His appointed time on earth had elapsed. Accordingly, God says: “And (remember ) when God said: ‘O Jesus! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you of those who disbelieve…’.” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 55).This can be paraphrased thus: I have teken you body and soul. The term wafaat can also be used to indicate sleep. God says: “It is He who takes your sould by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day…” (Holy Qur’an: 6: 60).
Contrary to what the Chrstians claim, the Qur’an confirms that Jesus Christ (pbuh) was not killed. God raised him up to Himself: “…For Surely, they killed him (Jesus) not. But God raised him up (with his body and soul) unto Himself…” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 157-158). The truth of the matter is that Jesus was ascended alive and will come back alive.

Question 12: How can you prove that Jesus Christ was not crucified?
Answer 12:This question can be answered from different angles:
1. There are many ambiguities surrounding the issue of Christ’s crucifixion in the canonical Gospels. How was the Crucifixion carried out? For how long did Jesus hungon the cross? What are the precise dates? Who carried the cross? What was his prayer while he was on the cross? How do you explain his cry of despair? Who were the witnesses?What happened after the crucifixion?There is no consensus on these questions. So much of the crucifixion story is based on mere conjecture.
2. The issue of crucifixion is based on the belief in the original sin and redemption by blood. This issue contradicts common sense, and it is irreconcilable with God’s justice and mercy. How can the innocents be held accountable for the actions of the guilty?
3. Finally, the Qur’an has unambiguously refuted the Bible’s crucifixion story. God says: “…They killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man, and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, they killed him (Jesus) not. But God raised him up (with his body and soul) unto Himself. And God is ever all-powerful, all wise” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 157-158).