إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

Chapter 6:

Matters Relating to Pilgrimage
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Question 92:
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 92:
The acts of pilgrimage, such as circumambulate the Holy Kabah, kissing the stone, and standing on a mount of Arafaat are not considered 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 93:
What is the idea behind circumambulating the Kaabah? Do Muslim worship the this building?

Answer 93:
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.

Chapter 7:

Family and Women Affairs
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Question 94:
Why did Islam limit the number of wives to four? And why does it confine man’s sexual pleasure to marriage commitments, home and tasks?

Answer 94:

Islam limited the number of wives to four as the maximum number for a variety of reasons. On the one hand nature and reality have proved the righteousness of this rule, especially when we take into account the rising percentage of women compared to that of men.

On the other hand men are more exposed than women to dangers and mortality like wars and perilous jobs. If man’s marriage is limited to one woman only, a number of women will be deprived from the bliss of marriage which is an instinctive demand in all human beings; which provides shelter, intimacy and marital life for every member of the family.

When allowing man to marry more than one wife Islam does not make the case obligatory, but rather something lawful. As a matter of fact, Islam encourages marrying only one wife for those men who do not have the ability to be fair amongst their wives. It proscribes its male followers to marry more than one if they cannot fulfill marital duties equally well among the wives.

Almighty God says:
“…then marry (other women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one...” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 3).

However, the percentage of those who marry more than one wife is limited, as most men limit themselves to one wife. The percentage is lesser among those who marry three or four women.

Islam prohibits intercourse between man and woman outside wedlock as this cause harm on to both the individual and on society. It causes many diseases, it leads to loss of lineage and it brings about the destruction of the family, which is the nucleus of any society.

It remains to say in this context that it is difficult to find a man or a woman in the western societies not having one or concubines. This is something that often happens at the expense of the family and its structure. It is strange how developed people would justify having concubines but not wives!

Question 95:
Why does Islam allow polygamy for men but not polyandry for women? Where is justice here?

Answer 95:
Only those who regard marriage as purely sexual relationship propagate this point of view. They ask: “Why cannot a woman have the same right as men, of marrying more than one man? The answer can be as follows: if a woman marries more than one man, the lineage will be lost, as the woman is responsible for pregnancy. If land is not good for planting more than one kind of plant at the same time, how could a woman be good for planting more than one kind of semen at the same time?

Science has proved that out of millions of sperms, only one is able to fertilize the egg. If the relationship of the woman is with one man within marriage, we know for sure that this fertilization has come from her single husband, not anybody else, even though the sperms are millions, but if the woman is married to more than one man, how could we know whose sperm it was that fertilized the egg of the woman; eventually, to whom should the child belong? And which of these husbands will be responsible for this family? Is it then justifiable that for the sake of equality with man in polygamy the lineage of children will be lost?

Naturally speaking, the majority of women reach the age of menopause early. The age of menopause ranges between 40 and 50. As to men, their potency continues until very late, on the one hand, and some women do not desire their husbands, which causes them sexual frigidity, which is much more common in women than in men. Women have their menstruation and confinement periods, and some of them have long menstruation periods. This prevents men from having sexual intercourse with them.

Question 96:
Why is it not lawful for man to have sex with his wife when she is having her menstrual period?

Answer 96:
What is forbidden during the menstrual period is the vaginal sexual intercourse only. All other forms of sexual pleasure are lawful, as almighty God said: “They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that is an adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they are purified (from menses and have taken a bath).

And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as God has ordained for you (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). 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).

Almighty God commands men to keep away from women during their menstrual period, that is, not to have vaginal sexual intercourse in the vagina. intercourse in the vagina during menstruation has been proved medically harmful.

In fact it comprises every kind of harm, as straight natures hate mixing with impurities. Judaism prohibited cohabiting with the woman during her menstruation, eating with her, and having sexual intercourse with her. Islam is a medial religion, it allows men and women to enjoy each others in any way except sexual intercourse.

Question 97:
Does Islam encourage marriages arranged by the parents without prior consent from the son or the daughter?

Answer 97:
Islam does not encourage arranged marriages without the consent of the son or the daughter, even though the guardian is the father, which is clear in what Prophet Muhammad said: “A widow is not married until she gives her consent, and a virgin is not married until she gives her permission.’

They asked, “O, Messenger of God, how can she give her permission?” He said, “By keeping silent.” And in other words “A widow has more right than her guardian to give her consent, and a virgin is asked and her permission is her silence.”

Khansa’ Bint Huzam related that her father married her off when she was a widow. She, therefore, came to the prophet (pbuh) to complain about it. The prophet annulled her marriage. It was also related that the a virgin maid came to the messenger of God and told him that her father had married her off by force, and the prophet gave her the choice to stay with her husband or to leave him.”

It was related too that a girl came to the messenger of God and told him: “My father married me off to his nephew for reputation;” whereupon the prophet gave her the choice to stay with her husband or to leave him. She said: “I have accepted what my father had done, but I wanted to tell the women that a father does not have the right to do so.”

These traditions and many others confirm that Islam does not allow a father or a guardian to marry his daughter or sister off except when she gives her full consent. And in the likely case she is forced to marry out of her consent, she can file a case to the court or to the authorities, which have the right to nullify the marriage.

Question 98:
Why does not Islam allow a Muslim woman to marry a Jew or a Christian at the time it allows the Muslim man to marry a Jewess or a Christian woman? Also why does not Islam allow Muslim men to marry other women than Jews or Christians (People of the Scripture)?

Answer 98:
Islam allows Muslim men to marry Jewish or Christian women. This is a clear indication of the extent to which it tolerates and honours the followers of these two heavenly religions. It deals with them in a special way which does not apply to the followers of other religions, in terms of eating from their food and marrying women from them. In all religions, the guardianship is in the hand of the man.

In this case if a Jew or a Christian man marries a Muslim woman, he might deal arbitrarily with her and use his right to force her (and their children if any) to abandon Islam.

But for this, Islam might have allowed equal treatment in marriage, like equal treatment in food.

Almighty God says:
“Made lawful to you this day are at-tayyibat [all kinds of halal (lawful) food, which God had made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits).

The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) before your time when you have given their due mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends.

And whosoever disbelieves in Faith [i.e. in the Oneness of God and in all the other Articles of Faith, i.e. His (God’s) Angles, His Holy Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection and al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments)], then fruitless is his work; and in the hereafter he will be among the losers” (Holy Qur’an: 3:5)

Islam gives equal treatment to the chaste Christian or Jewish woman as one as the Muslim women in terms of wage (dowry), prohibition of unlawful sexual intercourse, or making them concubines: it allows them to keep their religion while they are wives to Muslim men.

As to marriage of non-Muslim men to Muslim women, it is prohibited for particular reasons:
1. Man has the authority and guardianship on his wife, in which likely case he might affect her behavior, conduct, thought and beliefs.

2. In terms of equal treatment, Christianity and Judaism do not allow the marriage of Christian or Jewish woman to marry a Muslim man.

3. In order to prevent the authority of non-Muslims over Muslims, almighty God said: “And never will God grant to the disbeliveers a way (to triumph) over the believers” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 141).

Question 99:
Why can a Muslim divorce his wife any time likes, while a woman is not allowed to do so except after long and inconvenient procedures?

Answer 99:
Islam does not allow man to divorce his wife arbitrarily and unjustly. If he does so that means he has not maintained his responsibility efficiently. Islam legislated several measures which a man should adhere to before he can take the decision to divorce his wife.

These include:
1. advising her,
2. desertion her in bed,
3. beating her harmlessly,
4. arbitration, i.e. asking (any of her and/or his relations) for intervention,
5. first divorce (revocable),
6. second divorce (revocable),
7. third (or final) divorce (irrevocable).

Almighty God said:
“As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful)” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 34). After all of these stages, the irrevocable divorce can take place, and there are several stages that the husband has to follow, otherwise his divorce will be arbitrary and unfair to his wife.

On the other hand, there are several things to do, like:
1. man is usually less hasty or excited and has more self-control of nerves and emotions than woman;
2. man has authority and guardianship at home which commands him to spend on the wife and family.
3. man is the one who pays the marriage portion, whereas the woman takes it.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 5:36 am

Question 100:
Why should a woman wait if her husband has been away from her for a very long time until a judge can give a verdict of her divorce?

Answer 100:
It is not a matter of waiting as much as there should be confirmation and proof of the complete absence of news about the husband. Marriage is a real bondage and contract which implies intimacy, mercy, stability and tranquility.

Almighty God says:
“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect” (Holy Qur’an: 30: 21).

It is known that whenever the contract has grand effects, it is more difficult for the legislator to dissolve it and that depends on the contractors themselves. If the absence of the husband allowed the dissolution of the contract accordingly, there must be patience and confirmation, as mentioned before, in dissolving this contract, so that neither of the contractors would be done any harm because of haste.

This happens depending on the cause of absence and its justifications. The judge should estimate such matters and try to avoid harm to anyone as much as possible.

Question 101:
Why should there be a guardian and two righteous witnesses at the time of the marriage contract in Islam? Is it not possible for a woman to have her complete freedom in this respect, and not wait for someone to humiliate her in choosing and allow her to marry? Since men have the right to marry whenever they like, why, women are not granted the same status? And why her guardian’s consent is a prerequisite in this instance?

Answer 101:
Part of the answer has already been given in (Answer 97). Here is the rest of the answer. At the time of marriage, there should a guardian (usually the father) and two righteous witnesses. Marriage is different from unlawful adultery, and a woman is not allowed to marry without the consent of her guardian; the guardian in turn is not allowed to marry her off without taking her consent. The responsibility here is mutual; it cannot be achieved except through the consent of the two sides, both the guardian and the girl.

This signifies a respect for the woman and maintenance of her right. It takes care of her and does not cause her any harm or humiliation. If she happens to choose a suitable man and her guardian prevents her from marrying him, or in the likely case she has no guardian, the judge can be in charge of marrying her off in spite of the objection of her guardian. In Islamic jurisprudence the judge is the guardian of anyone who does not have a guardian, i.e. he can marry a woman off if she has no guardians.

If a woman wants to marry a man and there is another one who is better than him, the consent of the guardian and the witnesses will be superfluous, and her freedom will not be limited. But if the husband she has chosen is not an appropriate one (to the best of the guardian’s knowledge), her guardian can interfere.

Preventing her from such a marriage is deemed to her interest. Not all kinds of freedom necessarily bring benefit to man, and every kind of limitation is harmful to hime/her.

Almighty God says:
“…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. God knows but you do not know” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 216).

Question 102:
Is it lawful for a woman to divorce her husband if he is infertile, ill or having a chronic disease? And is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife if she is barren or has a chronic disease?

Answer 102:
As mentioned above, divorce is in the hand of man not woman because of reasons, most important of which is his right of guardianship. However, Islam has made it lawful for woman to dissolve the marriage contract (In Islamic jurisprudence–mukhaala’a), which happens when a woman asks the judicial authorities to dissolve the marriage contract, either because of the infertility of her husband or because of some harm caused by the husband to her, as is the case when the husband is chronically ill. This matter will be different if the woman knows about her husband’s situation before her marriage to him.

Question 103:
Why is not lawful for girls in some Muslim countries to choose any man she wants to marry?

Answer 103:
Islam should not be judged through the practices of some of its followers; people should be judged according to their implementation of Islam. Islam does respect the will of the girl, as mentioned above. However, the consent of the girl’s guardian should be achieved when she would like to marry and the marriage contract will not be valid without it.

A woman is free to choose any man she wants to marry; she is also free to reject any man she does not want to marry.

This is alright as long as her choice is right. As to the choice based on socialization between man and woman or unlawful courtship, it is undoubtedly a failing one. In this case, the guiding guardian, who takes in his consideration the benefit of his daughter or ward, should interfere.

Prophet Muhammad said:
“Any woman married off by an angry guardian, her marriage is invalid.” If the guardian is fair, he should interfere, as his consent is beneficial not only for the girl in this case, but also it goes beyond that to include his family and clan. Islam stresses familial and social relations. The fact that Islam is the religion of equality is true and right, because it holds similar things as equal, it draws distinctions between contradictions, antitheses and differences.

If it regards different things as equal it would be unfair and unjust. Man and woman are the same in terms of humanity, in reward and in punishment, in rights and in responsibility, and in many duties.

The same applies to the marital home, as almighty God said: “And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable…” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 228).

As man is responsible for work and expenditure for his family, and is exposed to more struggling in life, he was given an extra degree: “but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 228).

Almighty God also said:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 34).

Suspicion comes from adopting corrupt criteria; difference in jobs leads to differences in concepts. When a European woman wants to work, earn her living, and spending money, as man does, undoubtedly she will demand equality.

Troubles emerge from asking a woman to do what is not her duty. For this, and besides other reasons, Islam does not regard man and woman as equal in a variety of respects, including testimonies, inheritance, guardianship, custody, confinement after divorce, and the areas of the private parts of the body which should be covered, and the duty of expenditure, divorce, etc. It is a well know fact that organic and functional build of woman is different from that of the man.

The French scientist Alex Carrel stated:
The difference between man and woman does not come from the particular shape of their genitalia, or from the presence of womb in woman, or from the method of education, as the difference is of a more important nature than this.

The differences come from formation of texture itself, and from the fertilization of the body with specific chemical materials which the ovary exudes. Ignoring those essential facts by feminists led them to believe that both sexes should receive the same kind of education, and that both sexes should be given the same authorities and similar responsibilities. In fact, woman differs considerably from man, as every cell of her body carries the nature of her sex.

Question 104:
Since Islam is the religion of equality, why it gives man double what it gives to woman in matters of inheritance?

Answer 104:
Islam gave man double what it gave to woman in inheritance for several reasons:
1. Man’s need for money is more than that of woman, because he is charged of the financial burdens of life which are double the burdens of woman.

When he becomes adult, he is required to spend on himself (marriage expenses for example), at the time girl continues to be spent on by her guardian until she gets married. When she accepts to marry a man, her future husband gives her the marriage portion. When she gets married, her husband becomes in charge of spending on her.

2. Money is the nerve of life and proper management of finance is both an individualistic and collective duty. Man is often better at handling inherited money and better at managing and investing it.

3. Islam observed the possibility that the inheritors may share the inherited money: men mostly participate in running the business of their fathers, whom they inherited while women do not.

4. Giving man double the amount of the inheritance to woman man is not always the case, as both man and woman may get the same amount in some cases, as in the case of the brother of a mother, and the sister of a mother, and the father and mother from their son, if the son has inheriting descendents, and so on.

5. Inheritance is one of the forms of support, and men are much more supportive to their dependants more than women.

Question 105:
Why does not an infidel brother inherit his Muslim brother, and vice versa?

Answer 105:
Inheritance is an expression of loyalty, connection and relation. If the inheritor is different from the testator in terms of religion, there will not be guardianship or relation between them, since the most important relation is that of Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“Neither an infidel inherits a Muslim nor a Muslim inherits an infidel.”

Prevention of inheritance is a prevention of the forms of sympathy and relation, both of which might corrupt the Muslim’s faith. When Islam prevents inheritance between a Muslim and an infidel, it affirms the rule “profit against loss” and vice versa, which does not negate justice, but a kind of equal treatment.

Question 106:
Why does Islam prohibit an heir from inheriting his testator in case this latter was killed by his inheritor? In this case what is the fault of the killer’s children if they did not take part in the murder?

Answer 106:
Depriving the killer from inheriting his testator is a kind of prevention of a greater evil, as there could be more murders of testators. It is also a treatment of man according to the opposite intention of the killer and punishing him in a similar kind. The jurisprudential rule for this is: “Anyone who makes haste to get something before it is the right time is punished by depriving him from it.”

Depriving the killer from inheriting does not prevent his children from inheritance, as long as they are not prevented by other heirs because of other reasons of prevention, than killing.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 5:41 am

Question 107:
Why cannot a woman travel on her own, while man can? Why should she always be escorted by a mahram (unmarriageable relative man) if she wants to travel? Also, why she can not travel without her guardian’s consent?

Answer 107:
A woman may travel without a mahram but only for short distancees–less than a day and a night. In case she wanted to take more than this, she is required to be accompanied by a mahram or by a trusty group. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “A woman may not travel for more than one day and night on her own without a mahram.”

Islam disallows a woman from traveling on her own for a long distance for the sake of her safety, protection, reputation and to preventing any evil which might befall her. Of course she can always travel for any distance with a good company or a group of people provided that her safety is maintained and confirmed. Unless accompanied and/ or escorted by amahram a woman may not even travel to perform her pilgrimage, which is one of the greatest Islamic forms of worship.

Question 108:
Why would a woman wait for the consent of her husband or the companionship of one of her unmarriageable relatives if she wants to perform pilgrimage, although pilgrimage is an obligatory duty for women as well as for men who are allowed to travel without the consent of their wives?

Answer 108:
This question has already been answered (answer 107). However, we can also say that God Himself out of mercy and compassion with His people wanted to make life easier for them people. Some scholars mentioned that one of the conditions for women to perform pilgrimage is to be accompanied by a mahram.

This is not a condition of duty as much as a condition of performance. It is not a condition for acceptance: if she performs pilgrimage without mahram the pilgrimage is deemed to right and she would have fulfilled this ritual.

But God did not oblige her to do what she could not do and she is rendered sinful if she dies without performing pilgrimage if she does not find an accompanying mahram or a trustworthy company.

The consent of the husband for the wife to go with one of her unmarriageable relatives to perform pilgrimage remains a controversial matter among religious scholars.

Question 109:
Could you comment on the prophetic tradition which says:

“The people who give the leadership to a woman would never be successful.”

Answer 109:
This tradition has its own historical context. It was stated by the prophet as a response to the political change in the crumbling Persian Empire in the 6th century. In a failing attempt to save their empire, the Persian crowned Khosrau’s daughter, Buran, as their leader. When the prophet learned about this incident, he (pbuh) said: “The people who give the leadership to a woman would never be successful.”

Some scholars interpret this saying according to its historical context only, that is when the prophet foretold the downfall and the breaking-up of the Persian Empire—which is an historical fact. However, there are scholars who take the words in a more general sense.

They say that the authority of the woman will always be lacking because she might be exposed to difficult situations over which she might have no control because of her nature and weaknesses.

Question 110:
Why does not Islam allow women to take judicial positions, i.e. become judges?

Answer 110:
Depending on the prophetic hadith in question 109, most scholars believe that women cannot become judges, because of the discrepancy of their nature as dealing with legal problems requires more reason than passion.

However, Abu Hanifah, the well known leader of an Islamic school, stated that women may become judges but only in affairs where her testimony is indispensable and/or crucial. Ibn Jareer at-Tabari and the Malikis have no objection to women’s judicial positions.

Question 111:
What is meant by the prophetic statement regarding women that they have “Women have their own deficiencies in both minds and religion”?

Answer 111:
It has been reported that the prophet (pbuh) once addressed women by saying: “O womenfolk, give alms. I have seen that the majority of the people in hell are women.” The women asked: “O, Messenger of God, why?” He said: “You keep swearing, and deny your husbands, I have not seen people with incomplete minds and religions who could affect the mind of the strict men like you.

Then they asked:

“What is our lack of mind and religion, O, Messenger of God?” He said: “Is not the testimony of woman half that of a man?” They said: “Yes.” He said: “That is the lack in her mind.”

He added: “Does not she abstain from praying and fasting when she has her period?” They said: “yes.” He concluded: “That is their lack of religion.” It is obvious from the answer of the prophet that the lack of woman’s mind is in the matter of testimony, which needs control and affirmation.

Man is more affirmative and controlling in this respect than woman. Also, he could afford to witness a crime more than a woman could do, that is because of the nature of woman who could not endure to do as a man can.

A woman needs another woman’s testimony to confirm hers, as women are often busy with their children, and home, which usually distracts her mind and thinking.

The first part of the tradition alludes to the cunning of women in some respect, that they affect the strict man’s mind. This is the most rhetorical description of women, as the self-controlled man is sometimes led by their intrigues. As such, one who is not self-controlled is more likely to be led by others.

As to the lack in woman’s religion, the prophet referred to that in the sense that when she menstruates, she neither prays nor fasts, which makes her more exposed to the devil’s insinuations. If she strengthens herself with supplication and giving alms, she will be more protected from the devil, God willing.

It has medically been proved that when a woman is menstruating, or in confinement she usually goes through an uncomfortable psychological and physical situation.

This is a part of the prophetic miracle, as it shows us that woman is exposed to such emergent lack, which is not a permanent lack in the nature of woman.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 5:44 am

Question 112:
Prophet Muhammad said:

“Woman was created from a bending rib.” What does this mean and is it also applicable on men?

Answer 112:
This tradition has been mentioned to take care of women and not to prejudice them, as some might think. The original saying stated by the prophet in this respect was: “I command you to take care of women, as they were created from a rib, and if a rib bends, it does at the top part of it. If you try to straighten it, it breaks, and if you leave it, it will continue to be bending. Therefore, take care of women.”

This can be taken to mean:
accept my command of women and behave accordingly. Take care of women and be kind when dealing with them, because of their delicate nature.

Traditions say that Eve was created from one of Adam’s ribs, i.e. she came out of it as a palm tree comes out from a nucleus—something that has been affirmed by other heavenly religions.

The meaning of “the most bending part of the rib is its top” could be a reference to the most bending part of woman, which is her tongue. The tradition connotes that the woman has a definite nature according to which she was created; it is difficult to change natures and men should cope with this fact. Anyone who tries to straighten a bending rib will break it, and breaking means divorce and/or separation.

It is a fact that almighty God created Adam from earth and water (clay) and created woman from his (Adam’s) rib, and created the jinn from fire.

Question 113:
Is it lawful for woman to enter the domain of political and parliamentary life? Is she allowed to vote to choose a certain ruler?

Answer 113:
Within the framework of the Islamic law, it is quite possible for women to involve in political and/or parliamentary lives. She is also free to vote for the political ruler of her choice.

Abdurrahman ibn `Awf consulted with women in their rooms when he was charged of choosing `Uthman or Ali as the third caliphate the death of Omar.

Question 114:
Why does Islam consider the testimony of a woman half that of a man? Are not men and women treated equally well in Islam?

Answer 114:
The number of witnesses has nothing to do with respecting the witness or humiliating him. This is due to the kind of testimony and its requirements. In many legal cases, especially those exclusively related to women, men’s testimonies are invalid; only the testimonies of women are to be accepted.

This of course does not degrade men. Also there are cases where the testimonies of both men and women are accepted, because they have the same thing witnessed, like the proof of seeing the moon of the month of Ramadhan.

There are also cases where the testimonies of men and women are accepted, but because of the lack of interest of women in them, and the probability of women’s forgetfulness, the testimonies of two women are equaled to one testimony of man. The aim here is to maintain right.

The Holy Qur’an says:

“…so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her.” (Holy Qur’an: 1: 282). This applies to financial matters; as it is the concern of men to work in markets, attend the contracts of financial negotiations, contrary to women who are not usually concerned with financial contracts.

Question 115:
Isn’t it a savagery of Islam to order for the stoning of the married adulterer and whip the unmarried one?

Answer 115:
There is no savagery in stoning a married adulterer and whipping an unmarried one, as their acts themselves are ones of bestiality and savagery. Adultery is a transgression of God’s right and natural law. All heavenly religions and conventions have agreed that adultery is heinous crime.

Therefore, secular laws are not fair, and Islam’s incurring of such punishments, of the adulterer and adulteress, is to curb man from committing such crime.

The stoning of an adulterer had existed in the creed of the Jews before that of Islam in the books of the Old Testament (the creed of the Jews and the Christians), but the followers of those two religions changed that creed and the scriptures remained until the time of prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

When two Jewish adulterers were brought him, he told them that their rule existed in their Torah, but they concealed it from him. To this denial God revealed to His prophet the following Qur’anic verse: “But how do they come to you for decision while they have he Torah, in which is the (plain) Decision of God; yet even after that, they turn away. For they are not (really) believers” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 43).

The punishment of the unmarried adulterer according to the Jewish faith was to soil his/her face with black color and to make him/her ride backwardly on an animal while it is led through streets of the village, town or city.

Inflicting a painful punishment on the adulterer and adulteress is not a savage matter, especially after discovering its destructive effects, which threaten societies with perdition. AIDS, syphilis, leukorrhea, to mention only few, are well know fatal diseases which are caused by illegal practices of sex.

Question 116:
Why does Islam restrict woman with niqab (hijab)l? Is not that a form of humiliating woman in every way in life? Is not faith in the heart? Is not it lawful for woman to enjoy the bliss of eyesight?

Answer 116:
Islam commanded woman to use the veil in order to protect and maintain her from harm and aggression. She is like a jewel that is to be wrapped up with the finest pieces of cloth, and placed in the most protected location, far away from the hands of the corrupted people.

This explanation is testified by almighty God’s words:
“O, Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And God is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 59).

This means the following:
1. Islam in its creed surrounds the woman with a halo of decency, which goes with her nature of instinctive shyness—something that exists in every heavenly religion. In Christianity, for example, a nun is made to be dressed decently, a way which is different from other women in her religion, whereas Islam made this rule apply to every woman, as religion is meant to be for all and not specific to a particular section, and this is the way in all of its rules.

2. It is true that faith lies in the heart, but man’s action and behaviour are supposed to testify to faith or belie.

Commitment to God’s commands is a proof of the existence of faith, and violating almighty God’s commands is a proof of the absence of faith and its weakness.

3. Islam does not prevent woman from enjoying any bliss, provided that the bliss is lawful. Hence, Islam does not prohibit women from enjoying lawful eyesight. Unlawful eyesight mostly lead to unlawful things, and what might be deemed to be a joy becomes a killing arrow, and a sigh in the heart. Islamic philosophy is based on the injunction of preventing evil, for everything that leads to unlawful things is unlawful.

Chapter 8:

Islamic Society and Human Relationships
================================
Question 117:
Why do Muslim countries apply Islamic law upon non-Muslims when problems arise in Islamic society?

Answer 117:
Islam does not enjoin the People of the Scripture to use or follow the divine creed of Islam.

The method of Islam is as follows:

if they resorted to Islamic methodology for arbitration, then the Islamic rule should be applied in this case, almighty God says:
“So if they come to you (O Muhammad), either judge between them, or turn away from them. If your turn away from them, they cannot hurt you in the least. And if you judge, judge with justice between them. Verily, God loves those who act justly” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 42)

In any other likely case, they could at any time follow their creeds, so long as these creeds have a heavenly origin. Also, God says: “But how do they come to you for decision while they have the Torah, in which is the (plain) Decision of God; yet even after that, they turn away. For they are not (really) believers” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 43). This has already been mentioned in the matters related to creeds and familial dealings and in case they are citizens in the Islamic countries.

As regards civil and financial cases, all people living in Muslim countries must commit themselves to observe the Islamic rules, as these rule serve the opinion of the majority of the citizens. This criteria, the rule of the majority, is applied everywhere in the world, especially in the west. In the various dealings of the common affairs (like traffic, health, education), Muslims themselves almost always refer to civil laws.

This also includes many other matters, which have nothing to do with dogma, liberty of belief, familial relationships (like marriage and other things so that they cannot collide with the religion of the Islamic society). As it is decided, contract is the law of the contractors; and anybody coming into the Islamic country will beforehand sign his commitment to the divine laws and manners; consequently, accept the rules of Islam to be applied, if required.

This is one form of proving sovereignty to the state, something which is applicable almost everywhere in the world. Constitutions of almost all world countries decree that in the likely case any crime takes place on the land or within the territorial boundaries of any country, then the law and rules of that particular countries are the ones to be applied, without discriminating between the nationalities of the people involved in the crime.

Question 118:
Since it is claimed that Islam has undertaken the question of liberating slaves and bondwomen, why do Muslims make of men slaves and women bondwomen when they go to wars? Does not that signify a contradiction in Islamic principles?

Answer 118:
It is a fact that Islam has called for the liberation of slaves. There are many proofs to attest for this:
1. Liberating a slave is a kind of atonement for some sins, like indeliberate murder, and dhihar (divorce), oath breaking, corruption of one’s fast in Ramadhan by sexual intercourse and so on.

2. God promised a great reward for those who voluntary liberate any of their slaves.

3. The right of the slave to liberate himself by buying himself from his master;

4. A Muslim is encouraged to pay a portion of his zakat money to those slaves willing to purchase themselves from their masters;

5. The Islamic rule of what is called “arrangement,” which incurs the liberation of the slave upon the death of his master, especially if the master does not have the desire to liberate him during his lifetime. So the choice of freeing oneself is open after the death of the master. The master may say to his slave: “You are be free after my death,” whereupon the slave becomes free immediately after the death of the master.

6. The Islamic rule regarding the women slaves in case they become mother of children to their master upon a sexual intercourse they might have with them. If the bondwoman conceives in this case, she may neither be sold nor rented; soon after her master’s death, she becomes free.

When a war takes place between Muslims and others, and Muslims come out victorious, if an agreement takes place between the Muslims and their enemies regarding the captives, the Muslims are bound to keep their word according to what they have pledged. If there is no such agreement or reconciliation,

then Muslims are free to opt for one of the following choices:
1. Ransoming their captives with captives from the enemies, or money is given instead.

2. Setting the captives free against nothing, out of kindness and charity.

3. Killing them to relieve mankind from their evil, and killing only the fighters from them.

4. Enslaving them as a kind of charity so that they could know Islam closely with the hope that they might become Muslims themselves. It is in the right of Islam to kill those who stood in the face of Islam as fighters, but in most cases they are kept alive and enslaved. This is some kind of showing the power of Islam and the humiliation of its enemies. The caliph is the only one who could command enslaving up, it is not left to individuals.

Question 119:
Why, upon the birth of a baby, Muslims slaughter one sheep for the girl but two for the boy?

Answer 119:
Following the tradition of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Muslims slaughter one sheep for the newly-born girl but two for the newly-born boy. The rationale behind the difference could be to stress the fact that there are differences between man and woman in terms of physical capability and the right of guardianship and responsibility.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“The baby-boy is ransomed by his slaughtered animal.” Since man fights in the path of God and carries the burden of struggle and earning living, he is more exposed to dangers and accidents than woman. Therefore, he is more required to be ransomed with two slaughtered animals for the protection of his body and optimism for his safety.

Question 120:
Is it lawful for a non-Muslim to enter the Holy Mosque in Mecca? If not, why?

Answer 120:
It is not lawful for a non-Muslim to enter the Holy Mosque in Mecca in accordance with what almighty God has said: “Verily, the mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolatries, disbeliveers in the Oneness of God, and in the Message of Muhammad) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near al-Masjidal-Haram (at Mecca) after this year” (Holy Qur’an: 9: 28).

As to other mosques, the reason for a non-Muslim entering a mosque should be taken into account before admitting him/her to do so. If it is for the sake of learning about Islam or for any other reason which meets the needs of Muslims, then it is lawful for non-Muslims to enter the mosque. Entering mosques for touristic or sightseeing purposes is not lawful.

Question 121:
According to the Qura’nic verse “So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them” (Holy Qur’an: 8: 57), we believe that Islam spread by the sword. What is your explanation regarding this?

Answer 121:
Islam did not spread by sword, and had it spread by sword or by force, people would have apostatized at the first chance they had, but the situation is just the opposite. Once those people embraced Islam, they turned into proselytize Islam in terms of tongue, money and sword. Holy fight in Islam is meant for overcoming the barriers before the call for Islam to people.

If it had been possible to call to Islam without facing barriers or objection by force, Muslims would not have used arms or force on the one hand. On the other hand, many countries, especially in South East Asia and the biggest part of Africa and those who embrace Islam in Europe today, the spread of Islam was in those countries by peaceful call, respectable Islamic dealing of Muslim traders, and Islamic missions in those countries.

The west used its colonial influence, societies, preaching missions sometimes in the name of medical AIDS and, sometimes in the name of schools and education. It used those means to spread Christianity; hence, the intention was not completely pure or for purely humanitarian reasons. It was for the sake of exploiting those peoples and reverting them off their various creeds.

Through its stooges, the west executed all of its terrorist and aggressive plans. The Christian west wanted to establish secular governments, which had nothing to do with religions, on the basis that those governments had nothing to do with Islam, which was considered by the west as archenemy without justifications.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 6:10 am

Question 122:
Tobacco did not exist at the time of prophet Muhammad, yet it is considered by many scholars today as unlawful. Why?

Answer 122:
Some prohibits have been rendered unlawful by Qur’anc texts, things like wine, eating flesh of dead meat, and pig’s meat. Some other prohibits were declared as unlawful because they were included in a total divine rule, or a general principle rule, things like impurities, and all that is harmful to the body or in wasting money uselessly. All of these things have their right divine evidence.

The prophet related:
“No harm should be done to oneself or to others.” This saying involves all kinds of harm one might cause to oneself, his money, or to others. It has been proved that smoking is harmful to the body. Islamic beliefs render everything good as lawful and everything bad as unlawful.

If we examine all prohibits, we find that they lead to harm to others because of what they cause. The creed produced general rules according to which things are considered throughout history and place.

Analogical deduction In Islam is one of the sources of legislation after the Noble Qur’an, prophetic tradition, and consensus of the companions of the prophet, which is one of the forms of the recognized independent reasoning, and approved by Muslims scholars, which is itself the secret of the survival of Islam, as it meets the renewed needs of Islam and judges their new acts of conduct.

To this end, the scholars rendered smoking as unlawful on the basis that it is harmful to the health of the smoker, and a waste for his/her money. Smoking is closer to the group of impurities than to that of purifies.

Almighty God said:
“he commands them for al-ma`rouf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from al-munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful at-tayyibat (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, person, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful al-khab`ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of God’s Covenant with the children of Israel), and from the fetters (bonding) that were upon them” (Holy Qur’an: 7: 157).

Question 123:
Almost all banks do not observe the religious teachings and they deal with interest. But dealing with the bank has almost become a necessity. What harm is there if one deposit his/her money in a bank, with and without interests?

Answer 123:
Putting money in interest banks is lawful because of necessity, and necessity is estimated according to its real situation. Accordingly, putting money in interest banks in a country which has monetary institutions, like Islamic banks and its subsidiaries, not dealing in interest is unlawful.

Putting one’s money in a bank is originally unlawful if one is not worried about the safety of his money from theft or robbery. If one feels unsafe about the money, there is no objection to putting it in an interest bank, because of the jurisprudential rule which says: “Necessities render prohibits as lawful.”

Anyone who puts his money in an account because he is obliged to keep it safe, can take interest on it, which is better than leaving it to the banks dealing with interest, but he cannot spend the money in the way he wants, as he does with his lawful money. He can give it to the poor and needy people, as they are the only people who could use the money.

Any kind of money whose owner is unknown has the reward of delivering it to the poor and needy, but does not have the reward of alms, as alms is given from his completely lawful money.

If the Muslim is obliged to put his money in an interest bank without taking the interest it is lawful too, and once he is able to do without dealing with that bank, he has to withdraw his money.

Question 124:
In Islam there is a saying, which goes like this:
“Wisdom is supposed to be the goal of every Muslim, he/she should seek it wherever it is.” Can a Muslim in this case follow and/or adopt good western principles a lifestyle?

Answer 124:
Muslins are always encouraged to follow what is good and avoid what is bad. However, when it comes to creed, worship, manners and many things, which have to do with personal dealings, Islam recommended everything good and prohibited everything evil.

Almighty God said:
“Verily, God enjoins al-adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but God Alone–Islamic monotheism) and al-ihsan [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to God, totally for God’s sake and in accordance with the sunah (legal ways) of the Prophet (pbuh) in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that God has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, and forbids al-fahisha (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and al-munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and al-baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppressions). He admonishes you, that you may take heed.” (Holy Qur’an: 16: 90)

Islam urges Muslims to learn useful sciences and advanced system especially in the domain of technology experimental sciences, and the like. Accordingly, there is no harm for a Muslim to benefit from what the west has used to advance itself, if what is used does not contradict the fixed and determined Islamic fundamentals, which are known as being good and useful to mankind.

There is, however, one thing that should be taken into consideration, i.e. some things might be useful temporarily and accidentally. Such things cannot be rendered as lawful though they might be useful temporarily from one point of view.

They could be subject to the conventions, customs and tastes of some people. All of this cannot render something lawful, as everything of those principles; conventions and customs should go with the Islamic fundamentals, and people should not differ as to whether people believe it is useful or beneficial.

Almighty God said:
“And no example or similitude do they bring (to oppose or to find fault in you or in this Qur’an), but We reveal to you the truth (against that similitude or example), and the better explanation thereof” (Holy Qur’an: 25: 33)

Question 125:
What is the purpose of prohibiting usury when both partners (the usurer and the one paying interest) are completely satisfied with the transaction?

Answer 125:
The satisfaction of both contractors does not render prohibited things lawful, as two adulterer and an adulteress accept to commit adultery, and the agreement of buyer and seller of drugs does not make such matters lawful.

Those who consider matters from a limited point of view want a quick or private benefit, regardless of what disasters of destruction and corruption of the Islamic nation such transactions may cause. Anyone, whether it is a person or a country, who resort to borrow money with interest must be in dire need for that money. What kind of humanity is this that exploits the need and adversity of that man or nation?

When the interest loan is intended for production, and the borrower loses, he shoulders the responsibility and is the only loser, which could be disastrous to him. Had he been able to support himself he would not have resorted to borrowing an interest loan.

The two partners should agree from the beginning on both profit and loss. If they make a profit, the profit is mutual and the same applies to loss. The one working will have lost his efforts and time and the lender will lose his money. Almighty God announced war on the borrower and lender dealing with interest.

Almighty God says:
“And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from God and His Messenger but if your repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums). And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till is easy for him to replay…” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 278-80)

Question126:
Since the Prophet (pbuh) referred to the acceptability of entertaining oneself, are we allowed to play chess or cards for a mere passing of time?

Answer 126:
There are certain Islamic rules and regulations that govern the use of different pleasure facilities and entertaining oneself. These rules and regulations conclude any form of entertainment that has been evidently forbidden may not be used for entertaining oneself. Some scholars say they have grounds to believe that chess was forbidden; therefore, Muslims should not play it.

Playing any other kind of game, which is good for health and/or mind, is permissible, provided that there is no evidence of its prohibition. However, playing lawful games should not distract us from fulfilling our duties or indulge us in sinful deeds.

Muslim scholars agree that playing chess is forbidden if it is played as a form of gambling, or if it causes one to neglect a duty like performing prayer. It is also disallowed if it implies lying or cause swearing and/or leads to any kind of harm. Yet, scholars have different opinions: some of them prohibit paying chess altogether, others say it is not recommended; others still, say it is allowed provided that players do not swear, that Muslims should not play with non-good Muslims in the streets, and that it should not be played very often because it may waste the time of Muslims and make them heedless of their religious obligations such as remembering God and worshipping.

However, scholars recommend that Muslims are better off not playing such games because the prophet (pbuh) says: “Leave doubtful things, and do things that are certain (to be allowed).”

PART THREE
Questions and Answers on
The Holy Qur’an and
the Tradition of the Prophet (pbuh)
Translated by:
Muhammad Kheir Nadman
Ahmad H. Al-Hout
==============
Chapter 1:
Issues Concerning the Holy Qur’an
===========================
Question 127:
Is the Holy Qur’an the word of God or that of Mohammad (pbuh)?

Answer 127:
The Holy Qur’an is the word of God, and it was revealed to Prophet Mohammad through the Angel Gabriel. God made the Holy Qur’an Prophet Mohammad’s miracle, and He challenged people to bring about anything similar, but they couldn’t meet the challenge, and the miracle and the challenge are still valid now, and they will be until the Day of Judgment. Allah says: “Or do they say ‘He forged it’?

Say: ‘Bring then a sura like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth!” (Holy Qur’an: 10: 38). This challenge to bring just one sura, no matter how short it is, similar to the ones that are in the Holy Qur’an is a testimony that this holy book was not written by Man, for had Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) fabricated it, another human would have been able to bring something similar.

It is interesting and valuable to know, in this respect, the difference between the style of the Holy Qur’an and that of the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh). We have at our disposal thousands of books containing the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh), and anyone with any knowledge of Arabic stylistics can easily recognize the great difference between the two styles.

The style of the Holy Qur’an is far superior to that of the sayings of the Prophet (pbuh), and beyond the ability of any human to imitate. The Arabs at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) knew him very well, and knew his linguistic abilities before the Qur’an was revealed to him, for they were eloquent and articulate people, and they used to hold public festivities for reciting poetry.

Yet, given the clear stylistic differences between the language of the Holy Qur’an and that of the Prophet (pbuh), none of them could say with fairness that the Qur’an was invented by Mohammad (pbuh). Moreover, for all his life before the Revelation, he was never known to have any oratory or poetic abilities, and he never took part in any of the cultural activities they used to hold, because, as everybody knew, he was an illiterate person.

A close investigative look at the Holy Qur’an shows many facets of its miraculous nature that further proves that it was revealed by almighty God to the Prophet:
1. The language and style of the Holy Qur’an. We have already mentioned that the prophet challenged the Arabs to bring something similar, but they failed to meet that challenge. The Holy Qur’an still poses the same challenge to people all over the world: “Say: ‘If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support’.” (Holy Qur’an: 17: 88)

2. The way it was composed. The Holy Qur’an was not revealed all at once. Rather, it was revealed throughout more than a twenty-year period, and every time new verse(s) was/were revealed to the Prophet, he asked his companions to place it/them at a certain place in the Qur’an to form a unique sequence. Nevertheless, the Holy Qur’an was completed in its present form as a homogeneous unit, so much so the reader would think that it was revealed all at once.

3. The knowledge it contains. The Holy Qur’an contains a lot of information and knowledge that guides people to the right path. The kind of information it contains is so deep and profound that it would have been impossible for an illiterate person like Mohammad (pbuh), or for any other human, to fabricate it.

4. Its fulfillment of human needs at all times. This makes the Holy Qur’an unique, because It reformed all beliefs, worships and ethics. It also reformed society through guiding people to be united and relinquish tribalism because they are all descendants of Adam and Eve, and that no human is better than another except through piety. The Qur’an teaches people that they are all equal before God. It also preaches justice, forbids usury, allows trade, and so on and so forth.

5. What the Holy Qur’an had revealed after a long wait. The Holy Qur’an contains many verses that dealt with great issues, yet they were only revealed after a long wait. This shows that the Holy Qur’an is the word of almighty God; had it been that of Mohammad (pbuh), there would have been no need for the long wait, as was the case in the verses commenting on the hadith of calumny, and the delay in answering the question of the infidels about the nature of the spirit.

6. Some suras (chapters) of the Holy Qur’an start by the command “say”, and more than 332 verses contain the same command which was addressed to the prophet (pbuh). This clearly indicates that the Holy Qur’an was not the word of Mohammad (pbuh), but that of God.

7. The scientific evidence it contains. The Holy Qur’an contains many scientific facts that were not known at the time of revelation. To save time and space only few examples can be mentioned here; those who want a more detailed account can always refer to the many many books dealing with the Scientific Inimitability in the Holy Qur’an.

The Holy Qur’an states:
“Man we did create from a quintessence (of clay); then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed; then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (fetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the Best to create!” (Holy Qur’an: 23: 12-14).

These verses contain a detailed description of the developmental stages of the embryo, a description that has only been verified by contemporary scientists. So who could have told Mohammad (pbuh) about these stages of embryological development? It has been only possible for modern scientists to learn about these stages through the help of modern X-ray and other technological equipments.
Therefore, some scientists converted to Islam as soon as they came across verses like these in the Holy Qur’an, because they knew that no human could have known these facts 1400 years ago. These verses could have only come from the Creator.

Another example is the description of the forming of clouds and rain, something that nobody knew anything about at the time.

Allah (swt) says in the Holy Qur’an says:
“Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? -then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountains masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases. The vivid flash of its lightening well-nigh blinds the sight” (Holy Qur’an: 24: 43).

Almighty God explains in this verse how small clouds get together in the sky, and when they form a big cloud rain falls. It is doubtful that anybody had known about this mechanism before modern times. The Holy Qur’an also talks about the breathlessness caused by ascending to the sky.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Those whom Allah willeth to guide, -He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying, -He maketh their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah lay abomination on those who refuse to believe (Holy Qur’an: 6: 125).

This verse describes the condition of the aberrant as that of a person ascending towards the sky where there is a lack of oxygen: the higher he gets, the more breathless he feels. So who could have told Mohammad (pbuh) about that other than the Great Master of the universe?

There are so many other verses that testify to the fact that the Holy Qur’an is the Word of God through exposing scientific evidence relating to man, the earth, the sky, the sea, the stars, and the planets.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 6:49 am

Question 128:
How do you prove that the Qur’an Muslims read today is the same that was revealed upon Mohammad (pbuh), and that it has not been altered or that it does not contain fabrications?

Answer128:
The Holy Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) through Angel Gabriel. The prophet’s sole and initial concern was to memorize every single piece of it. However, God Himself has promised to preserve this holy book in the prophet’s memory and to enable him to read it.

In the Qur’an God says:
“Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur’an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to recite it, follow though its recital (as promulgated): Nay more, it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear)” (Holy Qur’an: 75: 16-19).

Every time the prophet received revelations, he would peruse that to his companions slowly so that they could learn it well and understand its secrets. Night after night the Prophet would spend teaching his companions the Qur’an.

He also used to read it during prayers, and Angel Gabriel used to read it with him once a year, and in the last year of his life the Angel read it with him twice.

The Prophet’s companions made every single effort to make sure that they memorized the Qur’an from the very beginning, and they used to pride themselves on having memorized more of the Holy Qur’an. Thus, memorizers and/or reciters of the Qur’an were so many during the prophet’s life. Moreover, the prophet himself (pbuh) had writers of the Divine Revelation, and every time something new was revealed to him he used to say “place it after God’s saying so and so and before His saying so and so.” By the time the prophet (pbuh) passed away, the Holy Qur’an had been already written and memorized. Then it was collected in one book, and later on it was collected again and copied during the era of caliph Uthman (3rd caliph) and distributed these copies all over the Islamic State.

Thus, the Holy Qur’an was passed from generation to generation through its memorization and written form, and this is a unique honor to the Islamic nation. Muslims have spread all over the world since, carrying with them copies of the Holy Qur’an; nevertheless, there is no difference whatsoever in the Qur’an that Muslims read in Africa, Asia, Europe, America or Australia, and we have never heard that they have disagreed ever about the precision of the Qur’an, for all of them have agreed that the Holy Qur’an that they have today is the same Qur’an that was revealed to prophet Mohammad (pbuh) by God. Moreover, God promised to preserve the Qur’an. He says: “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; And We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)” (Holy Qur’an: 15: 9).

Question 129:
What are the similarities and differences between the Qur’an and the other earlier Holy Books?

Answer 129:
Islam is Allah’s sole and true religion, all prophets preached Islam. Islam means full submission to God through unqualified obedience and relinquishing polytheism, because all religions preach monotheism. Almighty God says: “Not a messenger did we send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no God but I; therefore worship and serve Me” (Holy Qur’an: 21: 25).

As far as basic beliefs and worship practices are concerned all religions are also similar.

In the Qur’an God says:
“The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined On Noah-the which We have sent by inspiration to thee- and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should Remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him)” (Holy Qur’an: 42: 13).

Thus, all prophets preached monotheism, informed people about God and the hereafter, and advocated the basic belief in the same messages of divine Books. The main differences, however, lie in the legislative and commandment laws, because the divine laws are based on looking after the interests of those required to worship.

However, what might be feasible for one nation might not necessarily be the same for another. Therefore, the details kept changing without touching the basics, until human societies developed and matured. It was then that God sent His final and eternal religion, Islam. God points to the differences in religious legislations when He says: “To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an Open Way.” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 48).

Question 130:
How has it been possible to preserve the Holy Qur’an until the present time? And what is the methodology that was followed to preserve it without change?

Answer 130:
The Holy Qur’an has been preserved with great care, and no other book has ever received such attention. During the period of revelation, the prophet (pbuh) did his utmost best to memorize the Holy Qur’an, so much so that God promised His prophet to preserve it: “Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur’an) to make haste therewith. It is for us to collect it and to recite it: But when we have recited it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated).” (Holy Qur’an: 75: 16-18).

Every time new verse(s) was/were revealed to him, the prophet (pbuh) used to memorize it/them himself, teach them to his companions and request some of his companions to write and arrange it/them in a special place before or after specific previously revealed verses. The companions of the prophet (pbuh), and the Arabs in general, were (and still) great memorizers. Ibn Masoud said: “I memorized from the mouth of the prophet seventy suras of the Holy Qur’an while Zaid ibn Thabit (another memorizer) was still a young boy playing with the kids.”

Ibn Masoud also said:
”I know where and why every verse of the Holy Qur’an was revealed, and had I known someone who knew more about the Holy Qur’an than me I would have ridden my camel and gone to him”. The prophet’s companions were truly hard workers, and many of them memorized the entire Holy Qur’an such as Zaid ibn Thabet, Ibn Masoud, and Ubai ibn Ka’b, to name but a few.

The complete Holy Qur’an was written during the time of the prophet, but it was written on separate sheets of paper that were not unified in one volume. After the death of the prophet, the first caliph Abu Bakr (may God be pleased with him) decided to collect the Holy Qur’an in one volume.

Therefore, he commissioned a group of the memorizers of the Holy Qur’an, headed by Zaid ibn Thabet, to do the Job. The chosen committee followed a great methodology in collecting the written sheets of the Holy Qur’an and comparing what was written with what was memorized. One of the main stipulations of that committee was the presence of at least two written copies of the same verses.

They did not accept the written version unless it corresponded to the memorized one, and vice versa. Zaid and his colleagues did their utmost best to insure the authenticity of their work. It was related that Zaid asked to be exonerated from this task when he was first selected, but upon the insistence of both Omar and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them), he agreed reluctantly. He described his great sense of responsibility towards the great task by saying: “I swear by Allah that had they asked me to move a mountain from one place to another I’d would have felt more at ease.”

The Holy Qur’an was first written in one volume during the era of Abu Bakr, and it was kept in his safekeeping until he died. Then Omar took it into his safekeeping, and when Omar died, Hafsa (his daughter and the prophet’s widow) took over the task of taking care of the –till then- only complete volume of the Holy Qur’an.

When Uthman became caliph after Omar, he instructed another committee headed, again, by Zaid ibn Thabet, to write many copies of the Holy Qur’an in order to distribute them in all parts of the Islamic Empire that was growing bigger and bigger.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 6:53 am

From what has been said so far, we may conclude the following:
1. Muslims took a great care in writing and memorizing the Holy Qur’an.

2. The Holy Qur’an was written at a very early stage during the life of the Prophet (pbuh). Shortly after his death (within two years), the Holy Qur’an was collected in one volume, and in the era of Uthman, copies of it were distributed in all parts of the Islamic Empire.

3. This great care continues until our modern time. Generations after generations of Muslims have memorized the Holy Qur’an and kept written records of it until now, and every effort has been directed towards keeping the Holy Qur’an safe from any deduction or addition in all parts of the Islamic world. Therefore, it can be said, with absolute accuracy, that the Holy Qur’an that Muslims read in the East and West, South and North is the same one that God revealed to His messenger hundreds of years ago.

It is worth mentioning that the style of the Holy Qur’an is so unique that if someone makes a mistake while reciting it, it is usually possible for the person listening to the recitation to recognize the mistake even if the listener does not memorize the Holy Qur’an. Above all, God took upon Himself to keep His Book safe.

He says:
“We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)” (Holy Qur’an: 15: 9). One of the indications of this divine preservation is materialistic means that God has facilitated in order to preserve this Qur’an, such as making its memorization easy.

Hod says:
“And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?” (Holy Qur’an: 54: 32). Nowadays, the methods of preserving the Holy Qur’an have become more advanced, especially after employing modern audiovisual equipments to serve this purpose. Some excellent reciters have recorded the complete Qur’an, adding to the Islamic audio library hundreds of different beautiful voices reciting the Holy Qur’an, and many of these recitations have been recorded on audiovisual tapes, compact disks, and it has been made available for access on the Internet as well. Thus, almighty God has inspired Muslims to write the Holy Qur’an and take care of it since it was first revealed to the prophet (pbuh) until now, and this will continue to be true till the Day of Judgment.

Question 131:
Is the convert’s reward for reading a translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an the same as that he/she can get for reading the actual Arabic text of the Holy Qur’an?

Answer 131:
The actual Arabic text of the Holy Qur’an is the word of almighty God that He revealed to His prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Therefore, reading the actual text is not the same as reading the translation. Muslims are supposed to get one hasanah (merit) for each letter they read from the Qur’an, and each merit is doubled ten times. The translations of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an are the words of humans, and the reward for reading them is similar to that which we get for reading Islamic books and commentary interpretations of the Holy Qur’an.

Question 132:
How can a non-Muslim learn about the Holy Qur’an if he/she is not allowed to touch it?

Answer 132:
Non-Muslims can learn about the Holy Qur’an through listening to it or reading it over the Internet for example. He may also read books that talk about Islam and explain the meanings of the Qur’an. Otherwise, he could be taught about Islam and invited to be a Muslim, and if he/she reverts to Islam he/she will be able to handle the Holy Qur’an and read it.

Question 133:
The Holy Qur’an includes precise and similar verses, as well as abrogating and abrogated verses. What is the wisdom behind such divisions?

Answer 133:
The Holy Qur’an is precise and perfect book because God formed it in such a meticulous way that no stylistic or semantic corruption can ever affect it. It is also all-similar because the rules mentioned in it are similar and do not contribute to ambiguity in its verses and vocabulary. The wisdom of having precise verses is clear from its definition.

As for the similar, Islamic scholars divided it into three types:
1. A type that cannot be known like the time of the Day of Judgment and so on.

2. Another type that man can know like foreign expressions and some rules.

3. A third type that has features of both types (1) and (2), and this type is only understood by well-educated scholars like Ibn Abbas for whom the prophet made the following du’aa, prayer: “May Allah make him well-versed in the religion (of Islam) and teach him interpretation (of the Holy Qur’an)”.

The wisdom of having similar verses can be summarized in the following:
1. God’s mercy upon the weak human being who cannot bear learning everything. If the mountain collapsed and Moses fell unconscious when God revealed Himself, what would it have been like if He had revealed Himself to ordinary humans? It is partly for this reason that God kept the time of the Day of Judgment as a secret.

2. Putting man to affliction and trial: would people believe in the unseen simply because the truthful Prophet told us about it or not? Those who are guided to the right path say we believe! And those who have doubts in their hearts deny it and follow the similar verses as a way of getting around religion.

3. To give an evidence of the weakness and ignorance of man regardless of how technologically advanced people become, and to show the superior powers of God the All-Knowing, so that man would obey and say what the angels said in the Holly Qur’an: “They said: “Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none, save What Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom” (Holy Qur’an: 2: 32).

4. To accomplish the miraculous quality of the Holy Qur’an. As for abrogation, we say that it occurred in Islamic law in the sense that God abrogated all previous religions by Islam, and abrogated some Islamic principles by other Islamic ones. The wisdom behind abrogating all other religions by Islam is due to the fact that the latter has the most perfect laws that satisfy the needs of human beings at all times.

The teachings of different religions came to satisfy the specific needs of human beings at certain times of historical developments. Islam, however, came only when man was developed enough to receive this perfect religion as the last divine set of laws that combines the benefit of humans with the flexibility of rules, and the needs of both body and soul. It also compromised religion with science and regulated the relationship between God and humans on the one hand, and humans with the world around them until the Day of Judgment.

On the other hand, we can say that God’s wisdom behind abrogating some Islamic rules by other Islamic rules is due to the policy of the Islamic nation, where rules are stipulated step by step to make them easier to follow until they reach perfection. This was possible by guiding Muslims from easy rules to more difficult ones, until success was achieved. The wisdom of abrogating difficult rules by easier ones was to make things easier for Muslims and to show the bounty of God.

The wisdom of abrogating a rule with an equally difficult or easy one was to put Muslims to the test so that hypocrites would be known and punished, and believers would be known and rewarded. The wisdom of abrogating easy rules by more difficult ones was to train Muslims and get them ready for what was to come, such as the attitude of Islam towards alcoholic drinks where Muslims were prepared step by step for the acceptance of its final prohibition. This principle of gradual prohibition is unique to Islam.

Question 134:
How were the suras (chapters) of the Holy Qur’an arranged? And who gave the suras their present names?

Answer 134:
The majority of the Islamic scholars are of the opinion that the arrangement of the suras in the Holy Qur’an came about through revelation. There are some who believe that only part of the arrangement was done through revelation and that the other part was done through the jurisprudence of the prophet’s companions. However, ever since caliph Uthman compiled the Holy Qur’an and arranged it in its present form, the whole Islamic nation accepted it without any alteration or reservation.

Therefore, it is a duty upon all Muslims to respect this arrangement and abide by it to preserve the sacredness of the Word of God. As for naming the suras of the Holy Qur’an, there are different opinions: some scholars, such as Al-Suyti, believe that the names were revealed to the prophet; others believe that it was the prophet’s companions who gave these names.

However, the existence of more than one name for some suras is evidence that these names were given to suras by the companions. Dr. Subhi Al-Saleh argues that we do not have strong evidence that the names of suras were revealed.

Chapter 2:

Tradition of the Prophet (pbuh):
========================
Question135:
What are the differences among the following terms: Holy Qur’an, the hadith (saying, action or approval of the prophet pbuh) and the qudsi (sacred) hadith?

Answer 135:
The Holy Qur’an is the primary source of Islamic law. It tells how a good Muslim should be and how he should behave with his family and in society at large. The rules set by the Qur’an are religiously binding and no Muslim is allowed to break these rules. The Qur’an was revealed to prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in a sequence and on certain occasions that necessitated certain rules.

Each sura was either revealed in full or in part according the occasion. The prophet (pbuh) used to ask the revelation writers of his companions to write down what was revealed, and that is how the Holy Qur’an was preserved.

The prophet used to recite verses of the Holy Qur’an in his prayers and during his Friday sermons, and teach it to his companions. Ibn Masoud said: “I memorized from the mouth of the Prophet seventy suras of the Holy Qur’an.” The companions used to memorize the Holy Qur’an to recite it in their prayers.

It was the divine inspiration that was used to reveal the verse and show its location in the Holy Qur’an. This is why the arranged sequence of the verses and suras in the Holy Qur’an is divine and cannot be tampered with by humans. The Holy Qur’an challenged the Arabs, who were well versed in language, to write an equivalent book to the Qur’an, ten suras, or even one sura. But they failed to do so, and so did the one who followed until our present day, and those who attempted came out with some funny texts. The tradition or hadith of the prophet is defined as any “sayings and/or actions of the prophet (pbuh)”.

The differences between the Holy Qur’an and the hadith can be summarized in the following points:
1. The Holy Qur’an is the word of God, which is unique in its style, rhythm and content.

2. The wording, meaning, style, stories, proverbs and laws of the Holy Qur’an are miraculous.

3. God has promised to preserve this miracle, the Holy Qur’an, from any changes or alterations till the Day of Judgment. He says: “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)” (Holy Qur’an: 15: 9). Therefore, it is one of the conditions of correct reading that the style of writing should be identical to that which was written in era of caliph Uthman, which was in turn identical to the version that was written in the time of prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

4. The Holy Qur’an has been transmitted from one generation to the other in a traditionary way (tawatur), whereby reciters of the Holy Qur’an have been groups of people who could not have conspired to lie. Therefore, the Holy Qur’an has been the most correct book on earth since it was revealed through Angel Gabriel to the Prophet (pbuh).

5. Anyone denying the authenticity of the Holy Qur’an –or part of it- is regarded as blasphemous (kafir).

6. The Holy Qur’an consists of a limited number of chapters (suras) amounting to 114 suras, and each sura is divided into smaller parts called verses (ayat).

7. Reciting certain verses of the Holy Qur’an in each prayer is obligatory, and no prayer is true unless verses of the Qur’an are recited in it.

8. Anyone with minor ritual impurity is not allowed to touch the Holy Qur’an, and anyone with a major ritual impurity is not allowed to recite it.

9. Muslims are rewarded one merit for reading each letter of the Holy Qur’an.

10. The Holy Qur’an should be recited literally and not in the form of interpretation.

The above are the main characteristics of the Holy Qur’an that distinguish it from all other religious texts, including the traditions of the prophet hadith.

The qudsi (sacred) hadith are those that did not originate from the prophet (pbuh), but from God. Thus, the qudsi hadith occupies an intermediate place between the Holy Qur’an and the tradition of the prophet (nabawi hadith).

The wording, meaning and sequence of the Holy Qur’an were revealed from God directly to the prophet (pbuh). The qudsi hadith was revealed as meaning only to the Prophet (pbuh) from almighty God, but the wording was from the Prophet (pbuh) himself. Therefore, the qudsi hadiths share with the Holy Qur’an the quality of being ascribed to almighty God, and differ with it in all other qualities. The qudsi hadith shares the qualities of the nabawi hadith in being subject to categorization: true, sound, or weak hadith.

The qudsi hadith can not be recited in prayers, a person with minor ritual impurity may touch the book containing it, a person with a major ritual impurity may recite it, and it can be related in the form of interpretation, etc.

The tradition of the Prophet (pbuh) differs from the qudsi hadith, although they were both inspired by almighty God in the light of what He says in the Holy Qur’an: “For Allah hath sent down to thee the Book and Wisdom and taught thee what thou knewest not (before)” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 113); and “Nor does he (the Prophet) say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him” (Holy Qur’an: 53: 3-4).

The prophet (pbuh) also says “I have been given the Holy Qur’an and another similar thing” in a reference to the fact that the qudsi hadith was revealed by God like the Holy Qur’an. But while the Qur’an was a direct revelation, the qudsi hadith was a mere inspiration. It must be stressed that the tradition of the prophet was guided by God so that the prophet (pbuh) would not do anything against the teachings of Islamic laws. It is in this sense that the tradition of the prophet is ascribed to divine inspiration as well.

Question 136:
What is the difference between the tradition (sunnah) of the prophet and the biography (sirah) of the prophet (pbuh)?

Answer 136:
The tradition (sunnah) of the prophet is, as we have already defined it, the collections of recorded words, actions, and sanctions of prophet Mohammad (pbuh). It is a recommended, rather compulsory deed. It is usually organized according to the subject under discussion, such as belief, prayer, purity, alms, fasting, pilgrimage, etc. On the other hand; the biography (sirah) of the prophet (pbuh) is the story of the life of the prophet. It tells the actions that happened to him in a historical order. However, sunnah and sirah do sometimes, because sunnah itself is one of the sources of the sirah. And any prophetic saying relates what happened with the prophet at a certain time is recorded as part of the sirah.

Sirah is the practical application of the Holy Qur’an and sunnah, and thus it is more general because it incorporates sunnah as well as what the Prophet as the leader of the Islamic nation and as a human, i.e. actions that did not have religious implications.

Chapter 3:

The Prophetic Biography (the Sirah)
============================
Question 137:
How can I really know that Mohammad was a true messenger of God?

Answer 137:
We have to point out that:
A. The belief that Mohamed (pbuh) is a messenger of God is a sub-issue that is based on the belief in God. It is illogical to give a single proof that Mohammad (pbuh) is a true messenger of God to an atheist.

B. Looking back into the history of mankind, we realize that God sent a messenger and/ or prophet to each nation to teach them His book(s) and wisdom, and to show them the right path they should follow to enjoy a comfortable and peaceful life, so that they would form a virtuous society and apply His system on earth. No society would ever enjoy righteousness unless its members follow the commands of their Creator, because He knows best what is good for them in this life and the hereafter, since, originally, He ordains what is good for them. But if ordaining is left to people, the society will not be safe. Man-made systems have never been complete, because the human mind cannot comprehend what is good for them in this life and the hereafter.

However, in order to answer the original question we can say:
1. I refer the reader to the argument above in which I gave evidence that the Holy Qur’an is the word of God. To prove that the Holy Qur’an is the word of God is at the same time to prove that Mohammad (pbuh) is His prophet and messenger, because it is universally agreed that the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Mohammad (pbuh).

2. Mohammad (pbuh) claimed that he is a messenger of God fourteen centuries ago; since then, God has not sent any other messenger to contradict this claim. On the contrary, we have seen that God supported Mohammad (pbuh) by giving him many miracles to corroborate his claim of being a true messenger of God.

3. Prophethood is claimed either by an absolutely truthful person, or by a complete liar, and only the ignorant won’t be able to distinguish between the two. There are many ways to distinguish between a liar and a truthful person in matters that are even less important that the claim of prophethood, so it should be easier to distinguish between the two in such matters.

No liar has ever claimed prophethood without being exposed by aspects of ignorance, lying and profligacy, and without showing signs of being obsessed by demons. A true messenger/prophet has to tell about things, give commands and do things that show either his lying or truthfulness. Those who knew the messenger and his truthful nature, knew for sure that he was not lying in his claim of prophethood. A knowledgeable person can tell when a man is satisfied, and when he is in the state of, love, hatred, happiness, sadness, and other states of mind that show on the face of a person.

God says
“Had We so willed, we could have shown them up to thee, and thou shouldst have known them by their marks: but surely thou wilt know them by the tone of their speech! And God knows all that ye do (Holy Qur’an: 37: 40).”

Uthman ibn Affan (the third caliph) said:
“No one has ever intended something secretly without getting exposed by God by showing signs of his secrets on his face and making the person say accidentally what he is hiding”. If this is true of normal daily matters, it is even more so when a crucial issue like prophethood is involved.

Khadijah (the prophet’s first wife) knew his truthfulness and honesty. Therefore, when the messenger (pbuh) told her, having received the first revelation, that he was afraid, she said to him:” Nay. God will never let ye down. For you keep good relations with your kith and kin, tell the truth, look after the sick, receive your guests hospitably, give to the poor, and help people in their daily affairs”.

She praised his high values and character, and, surely, God never lets down people with these qualities and values. Khadija soon accompanied the messenger to Warqa’ ibn Nawfal (one of her relatives who was well known Christian priest and among the first to write the Bible in Arabic) and asked him: “Hear thee, uncle, what (Mohammad) says.” Having heard Muhammad, Waraqa’ said “This is the kind of revelation (Angel) that used to come to Moses.”

Negus, who was Emperor of Ethiopia during the messenger’s time, said about him: “His preaching and that of Moses come from the same source”.

Hercules, the Roman emperor, having received a letter from Mohammad (pbuh) inviting him to Islam, summoned all Arabs who were in Al-Sham (greater Syria) at the time, including Abu Sufian who was there on business. Hercules asked about the qualities and status of Mohammad (pbuh), and he realized from Abu Sufian’s answers that he (Mohammad) carried all the signs and qualities of all the true messengers mentioned in the Old and New Testaments, and which Hercules knew only too well. It was documented that Hercules would have become a Muslim had he not feared the wrath of his people, and the loss of reign.

The following conversation took place

between Hercules (H) and Abu Sufian (AS).

***********************************

H: ”Has anyone claimed (prophethood) before him?”
AS: ”No”.
H: “Does he have a good lineage among the Arabs?”
AS: “Yes he has”.
H: “Has he ever been accused of lying before he claimed prophethood?”
AS: “Not really, we have never known him to be a liar”.
H: “Was he followed by the weak people or the rich and powerful ones?”
AS: “The weak ones”.
H: “Was anyone of his ancestors a king?”
AS: “No”.
H: “Are his followers on the increase or decrease?”
AS: “They are on the increase”
H: “Has any of his followers apostatized?”
AS: “No”
H: “Does he betray?”
AS: “No”
H: “Have you fought him?”
AS: “Yes”
H: “How is your war with him progressing?”
AS: “Sometimes we win sometimes, somettimes he does.”
H: “What does he ask you to do?”
AS: “To worship one God only and associate Him with nothing; to abandon the commands of our ancestors, perform prayer, be truthful, chaste, and to have good relations with our kith and kin”

*************************

H:

“I asked you about his ancestry, you said he had good lineage, and messengers are usually chosen from good ancestry.

I asked you if anyone of you claimed to be a prophet before him, you said no

and I say had someone before him claimed to be a prophet I would have said that he was just emulating other people.

I asked if any of his ancestors was king, you said no, and I say that had any of his ancestors been king I would have accused him of seeking his ancestor’s reign.

I asked if you ever accused of being a liar before he claimed prophethood, and you said no.

I say that he wouldn’t have left lying to people to lying to God.

I asked if his followers were the weak or noble people, and you said that they were the weak, and those are the followers of messengers.

I asked if his followers were increasing or decreasing, you said they were increasing, and this is the way of faith until it is complete.

I asked if any of his followers apostatized, and you said no, and that is how faith is when it touches the heart.

I asked if he betrays, and you said no, and messengers never betray.

I asked what he orders you to do, and you said to worship God and associate no one with Him, and forbids you from worshipping idles, and orders you to pray and be truthful and chaste.

If all what you say is true, he will conquer my own kingdom.

I knew he was forthcoming, but I did not expect him to be one of you (an Arab).

If I knew I could reach him, I would have made an effort to meet him, and if I were with him I would wash his feet.”
***************************
4. The holy Qur’an that was revealed by God to Mohammad (pbuh) foretold many future events that happened later on in the same way the Qur’an said they would.

These events include:
a. God says in the Holy Qur’an:

“Truly did God fulfill the vision for His messenger: Ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if God wills, with minds secure, heads shaved, hair cut, and without fear. For He knew what ye Knew not, and He granted, besides this, a speedy victory” (Holy Qur’an: 48: 27).. And this is what exactly happened, the prophet’s companions entered the Holy Mosque with their heads shaved or their hair cut, feeling secure.

b. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
“God has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion –the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘they will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.’ If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked” (Holy Qur’an: 24: 55). And, truly, God fulfilled His promise in a short time, for within thirty years of the caliphate era, Muslims reached the borders of China in the East, and the Atlantic Ocean in the West.

c. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
“When comes the Help of God, and Victory * And thou dost see the people enter God’s Religion in crowds” (Holy Qur’an: 110: 1-2). Later on, Mecca was conquered, and people entered the religion of God in crowds.

d. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Say to those who reject Faith: ‘Soon will ye be vanquished’.” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 12). And this is exactly what happened later on, and the non-believers became vanquished.

5. The messenger (pbuh) foretold many events before they actually happened.

Some of these events include:
a. When he described the immigration to Medina to his companions, and it happened as he described.

b. He predicted that Muslims would conquer Mecca, Jerusalem, Yemen, Al-Sham (greater Syria) and Iraq.

c. He prophesied that security would prevail in the Arabian Peninsula so much so that a woman would be able to travel from Hira to Mecca fearing nothing but God.

d. Once he told his companions that Ali would conquer the town of Kheibar the next day, and he did.

e. He predicted that Muslims would distribute the treasures of the Persian and Roman Emperors.

f. He said that Persian women would serve in the homes of Muslims, and this happened during the life of his companions.

g. He foretold that the era of the companions would last for one hundred years, and the last companion died in the year 110 H.

h. He predicted that sedition amongst Muslims would not appear as long as Omar, the second caliph was alive.

i. He said that Uthman, the third caliph, would be killed while reading the Holy Qur’an. And there are plenty of other similar events.

6. In order for people to believe messengers in their claims to be true messengers of God, and in order to strengthen their positions, God aided them with miracles. Some miracles are physical such as the camel of Saleh, Moses’ club, and the miracles given to Jesus such as curing the blind and the leprous and bringing the dead back to life, etc.

Miracles could also be abstract and mind challenging such as the Holy Qur’an. Since Mohammad (pbuh) is the last prophet and messenger, God blessed him with many physical, abstract and mind challenging miracles. Some of these are: splitting the moon, the flow of water from between his fingers, increasing the quantity of food and drink, talking to animals, foretelling future events that happened later, being greeted and obeyed by trees and stones, curing the sick, and many other miracles. We recommend the reader here to refer to the book of the Prophet’s Miracles, which is written by Al-Hafiz Abi Al-Fida Ishmael ibn Katheer.

However, Mohammad’s greatest everlasting miracle is the Holy Qur’an, which is miraculous in many ways: the choice of its vocabulary, its rhetorical structure that challenged humans and Jin to bring forward a similar one and they failed, then the Holy Qur’an challenged them to bring forward ten suras like the ones it contains and they failed, and they even failed to meet its challenge to bring forward one sura.

Such a challenge would only emanate from a Source that is sure that the Holy Qur’an cannot be imitated by humans. Had it been produced by a human being, such a challenge would not have been posed. The Holy Qur’an is also miraculous because it is so precise in relating the history of ancient nations and their stories with their prophets. It also foretold future events that actually happened later on in the way the Holy Qur’an said they would. These are all miracles, especially since Mohammad (pbuh) was illiterate, and did not study history.

The fact that these historical and future events were told by an illiterate man can only serve to give evidence that he was a true messenger of God. The just and comprehensive laws and regulations stipulated in Holy Qur’an provide a further proof that it is miraculous. Thus, the Holy Qur’an is miraculous in its entirety: its choice of vocabulary, telling of events, and its verdicts. It is a physical and mind challenging evidence on the true prophethood and message of Mohammad (pbuh).

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 1:45 pm

Question 138:
Islamists are nowadays accused of being terrorists and fundamentalists because they often resort to violence, which they call jihad. Is this religiously justifiable?

Answer 138:
In order to answer this question, we have to take some matters inot consideration:
1. We have to keep in mind that the media steers the public to the direction that its owners desire. Today, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the only remaining enemy of the West is Islam, because it is the only religion that the West could not, and will not be able to, distort its teachings, suppress its voice, and stop its spread throughout the world. People of knowledge should not become victims of the media that tries to make the general public think that Muslims are terrorists and fundamentalists who exploit the name of jihad in their terrorism and fundamentalism.

2. We need to ask:
Who does describe Islamists as terrorists? The enemies of Islam who live inside and outside Islamic countries, and who are afraid of Islam, are the ones who invented this label to Muslims with the aim of degrading Islam and Muslims, alienating people from it, and to put Muslims in the position of the accused in the eyes of international community that is dominated by the USA.

In his book The Arab World Today Murd Burger says:
The fear of the Arabs and our interest in the Arab nation does not stem from the existence of oil in huge quantities in their area, but because of Islam! Islam has to be fought to prevent the unification of the Arabs, because this unification could strengthen them. The strength of the Arabs has always coincided with the strength and spread of Islam” .

Dan Quail, the former American vice president said:

“The only remaining enemy of the West is Islam”. Quail classified Islam in the same category as Communism and Nazism, and the Western media coined a new word to describe Islam “fundamentalism.” The Times magazine once published on its cover a picture that combines a mosque minaret with a machine gun under the headline: “Islamic Danger.” Our natural response to such a description cannot be taken seriously because it comes from an enemy, and enemies have never been fair.

Moreover, those who follow the biased Western media that invented these descriptions of Muslims, and those who follow the writings and declarations of Western thinkers and politicians realize that using these descriptions of Muslims when Muslims defend their religion, usurped Holy places, occupied lands, stolen rights and their dignity.

This was the case when Afghanis and their Muslim bretherns fought the occupying forces of Communism, which violated international law by occupying other people’s land and killing the people of this land. The West, represented in its media and politics, did not describe then such actions as terrorism or violence, but when the Afghani people rose to defend themselves, their land and religion, their enemies condemned that and described them as terrorists and fundamentalists, and the lying Jewish media promoted these accusations that spread very quickly throughout the international community.

This is quite natural given the fact that almost the whole world listens to the West and its media, thinkers, and politicians. They want Muslims to surrender to their enemy, give up their religion and abandon their rights without any resistance; when they do so they resist they will be called terrorists, and what was said about the Afghani people is being said now about the Palestinians in their struggle against Israel. The struggle of the Palestinians is being called terrorism and violence, because they are defending themselves, their Holy places and their land.

On the other hand, what the Jews did in Qubayyah, Deir Yaseen, Sabra and Shatilla, Qana, and other ugly massacres that were carried out against the Palestinian people were not in the eyes of the West and its media terrorism nor violence, but self defense.

The most obvious example in our modern day are the fabrications surrounding the Bosnian war that was witnessed by the whole world, and the international tribunal in The Hague prosecuted its war criminals. We pose the question: has the West found one Muslim war criminal? Weren’t all the criminals either from the Serbs or the Croats? So who should be called terrorists: Muslims or the others?

The same can be said about what is happening to Muslims in Germany, where extremists are killing Muslims and burning their houses, and in France, where Muslim women have been prevented from wearing the Islamic veil. So who should be called terrorists, those who simply want to practice their religion, or those who massacre innocents, burn houses, and deprive others from their basic personal freedom and religious rights? Many events like these are taking place all over the world, where Muslims are being persecuted and deprived from their personal human rights that should be respected by all international laws, yet the international media promotes the idea of Muslims being terrorists and extremists!

This is the twisted logic and reckless judgment of the international community today, a community that turns away from the message of God, suffers from ignorance, and does not follow the right path of God.

God says in the Holy Qur’an:
“But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment” (Holy Qur’an: 20: 121).

Muslims are, now more than ever, required to be strong in order to raise the Islamic nation above, and feared by all other nations, so that no side will ever think of hurting Muslims or attacking their beliefs,

God says:
“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of God, and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know” (Holy Qur’an: 8: 60).

Concerning this Qur’anic verse Sayyed Qutb says gives the following commentary:
Islam has to have the sort of power that enables it to advance throughout the world to free Man, and the first domain where this power should be used is the domain of Da’wa (preaching Islam): to make sure that those who chose to be Muslims are free to do so, and are not afraid of getting persecuted for becoming Muslims. Secondly, this power should be used to intimidate the enemies of Islam, so that they do not contemplate attacking the Muslim nation that is protected by this power.”

Thus, Muslims are requested to frighten the enemies of God and His messenger who defend His religion, because such enemies should live in humiliation and disgrace, for this is the way of God with His creatures, and not the laws of Darwen who says: It is natural disposition that only those who prove to be fit should survive, and those who perish do so because they are too weak that they deserve to perish, and those who survive deserve to survive.

What “natural disposition” is he talking about? This is certainly not the way God has meant humans to be.

However, when Muslims deal with each others they are requested to show humbleness, sympathy and and provide each other with valuable advice. This is how our forefathers were “…Lowly with the Believers, mighty against the Rejecters…”(Holy Qur’an: 5: 54).

The West, which promotes the image of Muslims as terrorists, aims at keeping Muslims busy defending themselves to exhaust their resources while they try to clear themselves of the accusations that have been wrongly thrown at them, and thus they do not find the time to unveil the bad face of the Western culture which talks carries the banners of Human Rights and other colorful slogans, while dominating other peoples’ fortunes, and to keep silent while massacres take place here and there to achieve their goals.

As for the second part of the question:
(Do they accuse all Islamists of being terrorists?), we can say that it is noted that enemies of Islam target their accusations mainly on ardent and committed Muslims, who seek the application of the Islamic Law, refuse to make alliances with anyone but God and His messenger and call for the unity of Muslims, of being terrorists because they do not yield to the wishes and commands of enemies of Islam, and decline to facilitate the theft of the fortunes of the Islamic nation by these enemies. But so-called Muslims who ally themselves with the West and its civilization, and accept to be lead by the West in obvious contradiction with Islamic teaching, are called “moderates” by the West.

However, there are some individuals who commit acts of aggression against innocent civilians in different parts of the world in the name of jihad, and some of these acts are attributed to Islam although they are committed by non-Islamic organizations. To this we say: jihad has its rules and means, and killing innocent civilians is not part of it. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) forbid the killing of women, children and covenanters. He says:”He who kills a covenanter will not (even) smell paradise, (although) it can be smelled from a forty year walking distance”. There are many proofs and a lot of evidence in the Holy Qur’an and the tradition of the Prophet that prohibit killing innocent civilians and destroying towns. If someone goes against these teachings of Islam, blame should no be put on Islam, but on the person himself.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 1:55 pm

Question 139:
Why did prophet Muhammad marry several women and limited the marriage of Muslim men to only four women?

Answer 139:
This question has some confusion appearing in “limited the marriage of Muslim men to only four women.” Every Muslim knows that Muhammad (pbuh) is a me ssenger whose basic task is to convey what has been revealed to him from God. He can not limit out of his own will and does not make something legal to himself. God the Almighty allowed Muslims to marry more than one woman, He says: “but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 3).

Concerning the prophet (pbuh), God the Almighty said:
“O Prophet (Muhammad (pbuh)! Verily, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), and those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses – whom God has given to you, and the daughters of your khal (maternal uncles) and the daughters of your khalah (maternal aunts) who migrated (from Makkah) with you, and a believing woman if she offers herself to the Prophet, and the Prophet wishes to marry her – a privilege for you only, not for (the rest of) the believers.

Indeed We know what We have enjoined upon them about their wives and those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, in order that there should be no difficulty on you. And God is Ever oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. You (O Mhammad can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive whom you will. And whomsoever you desire of those whom you have set aside (her turn temporarily), it is no sin on you (to receive her again); that is better that they may be comforted and not grieved, and may all be pleased with what you give them. God knows what is in your hearts.

And God is Ever All-Knowing, Most Forbearing. It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And God is Ever a Watcher over all things”(Holy Qur’an: 4: 3).

Examine the above holy verses which show that God the Almighty who allowed the prophet to marry the wives whom he had granted bridal-money, and God took the responsibility to explain that in order to silence all who talk about the messenger of God (pbuh), as if God the Almighty said, “We made you marry those women, and that is the original thing, i.e. God sent him to his creatures and he was being taken care of by God the Almighty as he was in his care in all of his matters, including marriage.

We also see that in those holy verses, God the Almighty prevented him from marrying any more women after those whom he married by saying to him “It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this” i.e. those are your wives only, so you cannot marry other ones. So lawfulness and unlawfulness, permission and prevention are God’s concern, not the messenger’s.

Polygamy was a common practice in the human and Arab environment before Islam; it was familiar to previous prophet and their followers. The prophet (pbuh) said that one of the prophets of the Jews, married one hundred wives, and Solomon (pbuh) married more than that.

As to why the prophet married several women and limited Muslims to four, that was one of the specialties, i.e. it is not lawful for any other Muslim to imitate him in this. He has other specialties, like continuing to fast after sunset; when his companions continued their fast after sunset, he prohibited them by saying: “I am not like you, God provides me with food and drink;” and like the unlawfulness of his wives’ marriage after death, as they are the mothers of believers; and like the unlawfulness to marry more than his nine wives or divorce one of them.

Pondering into his biography, we find that the prophet (pbuh) did not marry more than one until he emigrated to Medina, and that was after exceeding fifty three of his age, an age when, usually, no one marries for purely sexual purposes or desires.

All the ladies whom he married in Medina were widows, except Aishahh; as was mentioned earlier, the prophet married these ladies for legislative and reformative purposes, including:
1. Spread of education:
It suffices to know that half the society were women, and they needed culture and education exactly as men did and that are, two or three could not perform their role in transmission, education and guidance. Therefore, a group of women were indispensable to educate the other women of the society, especially in matters relating to women, as they feel shy to ask men about it.

For example, it is cited in Bukhari and Muslim that Aysha reported that one Ansari woman asked the prophet about the after-menstruation-bath. The prophet told her what to do by saying: "Purify yourself with a piece of cloth scented with musk." The woman asked, "How shall I purify myself with it." The prophet felt shy to clarify it any further; at which appropriate time, I (Aysha) pulled the woman aside and told her: "Use the cloth to rub the place soiled with blood."

The prophet’s various houses were centres for teaching women their religious rules, and especially to enlighten men about matters relating to women.

Verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed in support of this by addressing the mothers of believers (the prophet’s wives):

“And remember (O you the members of the Prophets family, the Graces of Your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of God and al-Hikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah – legal ways, so give your thanks to God and glorify His Praises for this Qur’an and the sunnah). Verily, God is Ever Most Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all things” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 34).

2. Completing the Legislation:
The prophet (pbuh) married several women for legislative purposes, like abolishing the adoption custom, and contributing to the subject of relating the prophetic traditions, which are the second source of legislation after the Holy Qur’an. The prophet’s wives contributed to the narration and conveyance of every tradition they heard from him and every act of the messenger they saw. In this way, a big number of prophetic traditions reached the Muslim community through his wives. Narrators of the traditions mentioned that the number of hadith the prophet’s wives related were more than three thousands.

3. Achievement of solidarity:
The prophet (pbuh) married women who had nobody to look after them, especially after they had lost husbands. He married them out of mercy, like the Makhzomite lady Hind Ummu Salamah, Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan and other ladies whose biographies had been mentioned in the biographies of the prophet (pbuh), which show us that his mercy (pbuh) upon women like these, his care for orphans, sponsorship of widows and consoling those inflicted with calamities.

4. Exemplification:
The messenger of God (pbuh) is the good example and high ideal of good treatment of his wives and achievement of justice among them and respect of their opinions, helping them in their household works, and loyalty to those who died from them. Anyone who looks for a good example and a high idea in dealing with wives, he needs to learn about the guidance of the prophet (pbuh) in the books of his biography, which embodied and portrayed to us his life with his wives, as if we were living with him (pbuh) and in his homes.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 2:07 pm

Question 140:
There is a contradiction between the Qur’an and the events in the prophetic traditions. God promised Muhammad and his companions victory, but they were defeated in Uhud, for example. How do you explain this?

Answer 140:
The first side of this question involves the victory, which God promised His messenger and believers and means the outcome of the struggle between them and their enemies. God the Almighty crowned the jihad of His prophet, and the companions who supported him, with decisive victory. All Arab tribes pledged their obedience to the prophet and became subjects to the state of Islam—something that appeared clearly in the Delegations Year (the tenth year after hijra) as delegations came one after another to Medina from the various Arab tribes and pledged their obedience to the messenger of God for Islam. All these tribes ultimately became subject to Islam and recognized the state of Islam.

The messenger of God with his own eye witnessed this victory during his lifetime. Also The prophet foretold great victories to his companions, victories which were achieved after his death. Only a few years passed after his death when Muslims conquered the two greatest empires of the day, the Persian and Roman empires; and subjected their territories and most of their peoples to the Islamic rule. Thus, God’s promise of victory to his believing servants was achieved.

On the way to reach final victory the prophet (pbuh) and his companions were exposed to various kinds of pain, wounds, losses in property and souls, but that is God’s law.

God says:
“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of God?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of God is near!”’ (Holy Qur’an: 2: 214).

This is the nature of conflict between truth and its supporters on the one hand and falsity and its party.

The way of calling to God is a thorny one paved with obstacles, hardships, wounds and pains, which are like lessons to the believing league which may have its violations, or they are like examinations to test the believers and purify the Muslim row from the greedy, the vindictive and opportunistic. That is what happened in Uhud Battle when Muslims learned a real and practical lesson as a punishment for violating the order of their prophet and leader (pbuh).

After the notorious victory the Muslims had achieved in Badr Battle (the first battle in Islam), some Muslims thought they would never lose a battle whatsoever, so long as they were Muslims and others infidels. In the Battle of Uhud the Muslims were shocked by what had befallen to them.

God says:
“(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: “From where does this come to us?” Say (to them), “It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds.” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 165).

The other side of the question is that the Muslims not only were defeated in Uhud Battle, but many were killed and injured. Militarily speaking, the Muslims achieved victory in spite of the great losses they had in the battle. Victory can be explained in this way: first, the Muslims were victorious in the beginning; they chased the polytheists out of their camp and surrounded their women and property, and dropped their banner in the field of war, but when, after the end of battle, the Muslim hurlers violated the prophet’s order and abandoned their strategic positions and hurried down to take their shares, Khalid Bin al-Waleed (a polytheist then) returned to the battlefield again, ambushed the Muslim army, and caused them a great deal of loss.

Yet those polytheists were unable to destroy the Islamic movement, neither physically nor morally. Later, the Muslims were able under the leadership of the messenger of God (pbuh) to overcome this crisis and gained the upper hand in the battle; soon the enemies ran away.

Had the polytheists been triumphant, the euphoria of victory would have urged them to stay in the battlefield in order to conquer the Muslim army, or at least its leading figures, about whom Abu Sufyan asked at the end of the battle; they are the Messenger of God (pbuh) Abu Bakr and Umar Bin al-Khattab. The polytheists would have attacked Medina in which there were only women, old people and supporters of the polytheists of hypocrites and Jews.

It would have been an opportunity for them, but Abu Sufyan, the leader of the polytheists, realized that what happened in the second round of the battle was not because of the bravery and courage of his soldiers; he knew them in the first round of the battle when they ran away before the Muslims, and that was only because of the mistake of the Muslims. That is how it happened as a matter of fate destined by God for some reasons He wanted.

The Muslims under the leadership of the prophet (pbuh) the following morning chased the polytheists to Hamrah al-Asad. When the polytheists learned about this, they continued their way hurriedly towards Makkah for fear of the Muslims, whose spirits were high and whose will was strong. Here I ask: “Does a defeated army chase its enemy, and does a victorious army flee? This cannot happen from a military point of view and cannot be accepted by wise people.

The third aspect of the truth of the victory of the Muslims in Uhud Battle can be recognized when we know the fact that every single nation must make some mistakes, and those mistakes are natural in the lives of nations, but nations have different attitudes towards their mistakes in their lives.

Some nations make mistakes, and then more mistakes but they do not learn a lesson from them (not to make the same mistakes later on). Such nations are ones whose insight has been blinded, so they stumble on their way of construction and their pursuit for reaching their aim was impossible; and some nations make mistakes but they learn lessons from them, so their mistakes decrease in their lives, and goodness and building excel evil and destruction.

So their conditions improved and their building developed. Such nations have insight and achieve victory. That is what happened to Muslims in Uhud Battle. The companions made use of this newly learned lesson and learned a great deal from their mistakes. We know that from what happened the following morning, when the prophet declared jihad among his companions who were injured the day before in Uhud battle, all of them attended in spite of their wounds and pains, although some of them were not able to walk except between two men to lean on. The benefit of the Muslims from their mistakes is itself considered a great victory. If the Muslims make use of their mistakes and learn lesson, as their ancestors did, their situation will change considerably.

God the Almighty, after this battle, addressed Muslims to show them that what happened was a natural law, the law of God, that you will defeat or be defeated, and that the natural result will be in your favor, but after jihad, infliction and putting you to test. The triumph of the polytheists over the Muslims in the second round of the battle is not an established law, but a transitory event behind which there is a lot of heavenly wisdom and lessons.

God said:
“Many similar ways (and mishaps of life) were faced by nations (believers and disbelievers) that have passed away before you (as you have faced in the battle of Uhud), so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of God, and disobeyed Him and His Messenger. This (the Qur’an) is a plain statement for mankind, a guidance and instruction to those who are al-muttaqun (the pious).

So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior(in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. Ad so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that God may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you.

And God likes not the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers). And that God may test (or purity) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers. Do you think that y will enter Paradise before God tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are as-sabirun (the patient)” (Holy Qur’an: 3: 137-142).

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 2:19 pm

Question 141:
Are Muslims required to follow the example of the prophet (Peace be upon him) according to what came in his biography?

Answer 141:
The prophetic biography as a whole is a true method of life pure of any stains and blemishes. It suffices that it is a true picture of the life of a man chosen by God as a mercy for mankind. Therefore, every Muslim who hopes for escape for himself and success in this life and in the hereafter is required to study and contemplate the biography of the prophet (Peace be upon him) to benefit from his worship, to call to Islam, jihad and all of his life. His life (Peace be upon him) is all lessons and wisdom, those who follow it succeed and escape and those abandon it lose and perish.

Dr. Rajih Abdulkareem al-Karm says:
Understanding the biography of the Messenger (Peace be upon him) is, in fact, part and parcel of understanding Islam, for its is a practical and lively witness showing the fruit of faith and absolute belief in his religion embodied by the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) as a practical and high ideal.

He adds:
Studying the Messenger’s biography plays an important role in the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an, which is the trusted record of actions and events of the biography and the invasions, events and causes of revelation and method of calling to God, bases of legislation and direction, which the Messenger of God pointed out and implemented practically.

So, the prophet’s biography is an explanation of the Holy Qur’an and an interpretation of it. Studying it is a study of the interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. As such, understanding Islam is connected with the understanding of the Holy Prophetic biography.

Furthermore, studying the prophetic biography is a legal necessity to imitate the prophet (Peace be upon him) about whom God said: “Indeed in the Messenger of God (Muhammad (Peace be upon him) you have a good example” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 21). Studying the prophetic biography carefully and sincerely helps the sincere Muslims to imitate the prophet (Peace be upon him).

I conclude that the major part of his biography (Peace be upon him) especially the one related to his life after the mission until his death (Peace be upon him) includes a great deal of divine rules relating to peace, war, settlement and travel; to health, illness, worship, dealings and other things we are required to follow and worship God by doing so. On the other hand, the other side of his biography (Peace be upon him), especially those relating to that period before the mission, does not show divine rules and Muslims do not have to follow them.

They are personal or general matters Muslims can read for the sake of knowledge and not worship. For example, his biography shows that as a baby, he was breastfed in the desert of Bani Sa`d. In his youth he worked sometimes as a shepherd, sometimes in trading, and so on. No Muslim is required to follow this side of his life (Peace be upon him), but may be some lessons could be deduced and more feedback acquired about the true personality of the prophet.

God says, “Or is it that they did not recognize their Messenger (Muhammad) so hey deny him?” (Holy Qur’an: 23: 69).

Question 142:
Muslims say that Muhammad had performed miracles. How can one differentiate between these miracles and magic?

Answer 142:
A miracle is originally a supernatural event that goes against the natural law. People witness it and God allows it to happen at the hands of his prophets, while “magic” is an event whose cause is unseen and imagined to be something different. It uses the method of camouflage and misleading, and it is all seen as true and accurate.

The most famous kind of magic of is the one based on the use of earthly spirits like jinn, where magicians usually get assistance. Magicians also rely on a devil or a goblin to achieve something he wants; hence, magic is associated with blasphemy.

God said,
“They followed what the shayatin (devils) gave out (falsely of the magic) in the lifetime of Sulaiman (Solomon). Sulaiman did not disbelieve, but the shayatin (devils) disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels. Harut and Marut, but neither of these two (angels taught anyone (such things) till they had said, ‘We are only for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 1:102).

Al-Nisai mentioned that Abu Hurayrah related that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“Any one who knots a knot then blows in it, he has performed magic and anyone who performs magic has associated another deity with God, and anyone who hangs am amulet, he is given to it.”

There is also the magic of deceiving and misleading the eyes, as God said about the Pharaoh’s sorcerers:
“they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them, and they displayed a great magic” (Holy Qur’an: 7:116), i.e. they camouflaged what they did until people thought that the ropes and sticks were moving. God said, “And their sticks, by their magic, appeared to him as though they moved fast” (Holy Qur’an: 20: 66).

Hence we can know some differences between a miracle and magic, like a miracle is a support from God to his prophet or messenger to prove his prophecy and message, so what he performs is miraculous, and the Holy Qur’an mentioned many of them, while magic is a support of the devil to his followers. A good servant of God, a messenger or a prophet performs a miracle, and a good servant cannot be a magician because magic is blasphemy.

God may allow a good servant to perform miraculous things, a servant who is not a prophet or a messenger, and that is a blessing while magic comes from someone who denied God, associated someone with Him, and followed the Devil. Therefore, if you see something miraculous performed by someone, we should examine his state.

If he is a servant of God, does what God orders and abstains from what God prohibits, pure in appearance and heart away from every kind of evil action, then learn that it is a miracle that he is performing, and if he is an evil lecherous malignant person who commits sins and disobeys God, then he is a sorcerer.

A miracle changes the reality of things and makes it a real fact, and that is the secret of the embracement of Islam of Pharaoh’s sorcerers when Moses threw his stick which tuned into a snake that swallowed the sticks and ropes of the magicians, which we see to have been transformed under the effect of sorcery into snakes, except the magicians who were not charmed themselves. They saw Moses’ stick, which was transformed into a snake eating their sticks and ropes.

God said:
“And the sorcerers fell down prostrate. Saying:

“We believe in the Lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists), the Lord of Moses and Aaron” (Holy Qur’an: 26: 46-47).

Magic does not change the reality of things, but a sorcerer affects the senses of people so that they feel that the things before them have taken new forms and shapes, while the things themselves continue to be the same, without changing their reality, as the sorcerers of Pharaoh did, they bewitched the eyes of people when people were made to imagine that the sticks and ropes became snakes in the arena, and in fact, they remained the same, unchanging ropes and sticks.

A miracle is performed to achieve a noble intention like healing the blind and the leprous, healing patients, supporting messengers, and strengthening the believers, etc. It always achieves something good, whereas magic is used for evil purposes, like separation between husband and wife, inflicting people with disease and illness and maybe death.

Miracles and magic are, then, essentially two things different in essence and purpose and those who perform them are dissimilar except in some apparent effects, but it is easy for every understanding person to differentiate between them. In addition, any act if it is magic and not a heavenly miracle; it means that it is a human act that can be performed by magicians on earth, whereas God makes a miracle. Therefore, it can be achieved in the same manner by any human being.

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 2:27 pm

Question 143:
God says about Muhammad: “God will protect you from mankind” (The Holy Qur’an: 5: 67). How was he bewitched, poisoned and, more than once, wounded?

Answer 143:
The verse mentioned in this question is part of the fifth verse of chapter (sura) 67 (Holy Qur’an: 5: 67) from al-Maida.

God said:
“O Messenger (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord, And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. God will protect you from mankind. Verily, God guides not the people who disbelieve.” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 67).

In this holy verse, there is an order from God the Almighty to his Messenger to pursue his call to Islam and inform others of what he has been informed regardless of the enemies, their intrigues and conspiracies against him (Peace be upon him). Before the revelation of this verse, while calling to God, the prophet felt afraid about himself that he might be killed or assassinated, and God the Almighty knew what went on in the heart of his chosen prophet, and knew that the enemies intended to kill His Messenger.

He, therefore, revealed this verse to him to appease him and tell him that he is in His protection, care and maintenance, and anyone who is under God’s care and protection, what could the weak enemies do to him? Imam Ahmad related that Aishah related: “The Messenger of God stayed up late at night while I was beside him. She said, she addressed the prophet saying ‘What is wrong, Messenger of God?’

He answered:
‘I wish one righteous companion of mine would guard me tonight.’ She said, ‘While I was listening to him, I heard a weapon cluttering.’ He said, “Who is there?” He [the one outside] said, ‘I am Sa`d ibn Malik.’ He said, ‘What brought you here at this moment?’ Sa’d said, ‘I’ve come to guard you.’ She said, ‘Then I heard the Messenger of God soundly asleep.” Ibn Abi Hatim mentioned that Aishah said: “The prophet used to be guarded until the verse “And God will protect you from people” was revealed. She said, “The prophet watched out of the dome and said, “O, people!

You could leave, God has protected us.” What is meant by the Arabic word (‘Isma) in the prophetic tradition is God the Almighty will protect His messenger (Peace be upon him) from killing. The prophet (Peace be upon him) was exposed, especially after hijra to Medina, to many assassination attempts by the Jews, the hypocrites, the pagans and others. Except for the protection of God, the prophet would have been killed from the very early days of his public call to Islam.

Anyone interested in learning about those attempts, he could refer to the book entitled And God will Protect You from People by Ahmad aj-Jadi` in which he described the attempts of assassination of the prophet (Peace be upon him) starting with that big attempt by Quraish, so God saved him from them, and allowed him to emigrate to Medina.

As to verbal and practical harm less than killing, the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) was exposed to many incidents, especially in Makkah, and this is the situation of callers to God everywhere all the time and that is God’s law of testing and trying, as He said: “Verily, (many) Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him), but with patience they bore the denial, and they were hurt; till Our help reached them, and none can alter the Words (Decisions) of God. Surly there has reached you the information (news) about the Messengers (before you)” (Holy Qur’an: 6: 34).

And the prophet himself said, “The most inflicted amongst you are the messengers, then those who are similar to them, and then those are similar to them” and God’s protection of his Messenger from killing was particular to him (Peace be upon him) unlike other callers and conveyers, as he is the one conveying the message of God. Therefore, he was protected from killing until he conveys God’s message in the manner that God wanted.

Question 144:
There is a controversy and ambiguity around the marriages of the prophet to Zainab Bint Jahsh. Could you clarify this ambiguity and explain the circumstances of this marriage clearly?

Answer 144:
Zainab Bint Jahsh is the prophet’s cousin on his father’s side. Her mother is Umaymah Bint Abdulmuttalib and she is the sister of Abdullah Bin Jahsh who was martyred in Uhud Battle. The Messenger of God married her after she was divorced by his slave Zayd ibn Haritha without a human contract, because it was God the Almighty who married her off to him, in order to cancel the custom of adoption and the custom of prohibiting marriage to the wife of adopted sons, which was common then amongst Arabs. God the Almighty revealed some verses to be recited from the Holy Qur’an to show that.

He says:
“And (remember) when you said to him (Zayd bin Harithah the freed-slave of the Prophet) on whom God has bestowed Grace (by guiding him to Islam) and you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him) too) have done favor (by manumitting him): “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear God.”

But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what God has already made known to you that he will give her to you in marriage) that which God will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas God had a better right that you should fear Him.

So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And God’s Command must be fulfilled” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 37).

God also says,
“But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what God had already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which God will make manifest, you did fear the people” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 37)

The minds of people started wondering as to what the prophet concealed from them and forgot about God’s words which is understood to mean that God the Almighty revealed in His words what the Messenger had concealed. The verse is clear that God the Almighty revealed in it that Zainab being a wife of Muhammad, not anything else. The right thing to do was to contemplate the Holy Qur’an and not give a free rein to their imagination and to say about the prophet (Peace be upon him) what should not be said.

Let’s explain the story of this blessed marriage:
Zayd ibn Harithah is an Arab from the tribe of Bani Kalb. One tribe attacked his and took him captive as this usually happened before Islam and sold him. Hakeem ibn Hizam bought him to his aunt Khadeejah and she, in turn, offered him to her husband, the prophet. His folks had been looking for him to restore him; they learned about his whereabouts, in Makkah. They came to the prophet (Peace be upon him) and asked him and begged him to give them their son back.

They were the caretakers of the Holy Mosque and deserve this good deed. The prophet, in turn, made them another offer, i.e. to come to Zayd and make him choose between his father and folks or staying with Muhammad. He chose Muhammad after seeing his sublime manners, good treatment and nice dealing. His folks said to him, “Do you prefer slavery to freedom?”

The prophet (Peace be upon him) announced in Quraish Club the adoption of Zaid and that he could inherit him. Zayd was called afterwards Zayd ibn Muhammad, then God revealed Islam and Zayd was the first slave to embrace Islam. When he grew under the care of the prophet (Peace be upon him), the prophet wanted to reward him back, he married him to his cousin on his father’s side, Zainab, to confirm his freedom and adoption of him, and to raise his social status.

The prophet proposed to Zainabl for Zayd. She declined as she was Quraishi from a noble family and she found Zayd below her social status. So God the Almighty revealed: “It is not for a believer, man or woman, when God and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 36).

So Zaynab said, “O, messenger of God, I have accepted what you have accepted for me.” Zayd married her and lived with her for around a year.

This has been related by as-Sadi. He said, “We learned that this verse was revealed for Zainab Bint Jahsh, whose mother is Umayyma Bint Abdulmuttalib, the aunt of the prophet (Peace be upon him) who wanted to marry her to Zayd Bin Haritha – his slave – so she was reluctant to do so. Then she accepted what the prophet did and he married her to him, then God informed His prophet (Peace be upon him) that she is one of his wives. The prophet was shy to inform her of her divorce, and people knew that Zainab and Zayd were married.

The prophet (Peace be upon him) told him to keep his wife and to fear God and was afraid that people would blame him and say that he married his daughter-in-law as he had already adopted Zayd as his son. What the prophet (Peace be upon him) concealed was not love to Zaynab, as some liars claimed, as had it been love to Zainab, God the Almighty would have showed that in the Holy Qur’an, and the prophet would not have done that as he was infallible, and as he was described by God in this way “And Verily, for you (O Muhammad are on an exalted (standard of) character” (Holy Qur’an: 68: 4).

What he really feared was that people would say and the hypocrites and Jews would say: “How could he prohibit marrying the daughter-in-law and he himself marry the wife of his (adopted) son? The marital life did not last between Zayd and Zaynab, so she was divorced.

Anas said, “When Zainab finished her confinement after divorce, the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him) said to Zayd, ‘Propose to her for me.’ He said, ‘I set out and said to her “O, Zainab, I have a good news for you. The prophet wants to propose to you.’ She said, ‘I’m not doing anything unless I am ordered by my Lord God. She went then to her prayer room and the verse was revealed to the prophet (Peace be upon him) and he went in to see her without permission’.”

Ibn Hajar said:
That was the greatest event to happen then, and that her previous husband would be an in-between in order that nobody would think that it was done by force without his satisfaction, and it tests whether he has feelings towards her: “Did anything remain there?

And God the Almighty says:
“So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them)” (Holy Qur’an: 33: 37).

So, prophet (Peace be upon him) married her to nullify two pre-Islamic customs which were common then; the custom of not marrying the wife of the adopted son, and the habit of superiority and pride of belonging to a noble family, as a nobility would not conventionally marry someone humble, and to confirm the basis of preference, God says: “Verily, the most honorable of you with God is that (believer) who has at-taqwa [i.e. he is one of the muttaqun (the pious)]” (Holy Qur’an: 49: 13).

PART FOUR
Questions and Answers on
The Inimitability of the Holy Qur’an
Translated by: Ahmad H. Al-Hout
==========================
Chapter 1

:Selections from the Inimitability of the Holy Qur’an
==============
Question 145:
What are the forms of inimitability found in the Holy Qur’an and holy prophetic traditions?

Answer 145:
The miraculous forms of the Holy Qur’an and true prophetic traditions share common totalities, which include:
1. The Linguistic Inimitability:
The Holy Qur’an is of the highest degree of eloquence and rhetoric in the Arabic language and has always rendered the people of eloquence and rhetoric incapable of producing something similar.

2. The Legislative Inimitability:
The Holy Qur’an contains a perfect code of life to secure the interests of the servants of God in this world and save them from punishment in the Hereafter. It is valid for all times and places.

3. The Informative inimitability:
A great deal of news was given in the Holy Qur’an as to what would happen in the future; events took place accordingly. It also gave news about past events that had happened long time before, like telling about the peoples of Noah, Hud, Salih and others. Without what was revealed in the Holy Qur’an, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) , he would not have known anything himself.

4. The Scientific Inimitability:
Some verses in the Noble Qur’an indicate scientific facts which had not been known before, and science has been discovering them with the course of time. These verses include empirical, human, natural as well as other kinds of science.

5. The Inimitability of Guidance:
This is embodied in various examples; anyone wanting to learn about them, he can refer to the books written on scientific inimitability in the Noble Qur’an, in the Prophetic traditions and in the Inimitability magazine, which is issued by the Islamic World Association.

Question 146:
How did the modern scientific discoveries confirm the truth of the well-known saying that “the Qur’an’s inimitability does not know an end?”

Answer 146:
God the Almighty has pointed out that He taught His prophet what he had not known before. He says:
“God has sent down to you the book (The Qur’an), and al-Hikmah (Islamic laws, knowledge of legal and illegal things i.e. the Prophet’s Sunnah–legal ways), and taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of God unto you (O Muhammad (pbuh).” (Holy Qur’an: 4: 113).

These types of knowledge conveyed through the messenger of God (pbuh) were brought in the form of revelation from God the Almighty and from the kinds of knowledge the prophet had. The God’s prophet (pbuh) said: “Every prophet was given knowledge which made his people believe him and I hope I will be the most followed prophet on the Resurrection Day.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) showed that the miracles of his predecessor prophets (peace be upon the all) were kinds of miracles admitted by the peoples in their own times. They were supernatural and could not be challenged neither in their own times nor in times to come; all confirming the prophethood of those who showed them.

The miracles of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) were both scientific and intellectual. They were heavenly revelations. It will take a man’s life-long to realize and recognize essence and truth of the heavenly revelation (the Qur’an). Yet, the miracles of this holy book do not end in the course of time; in every age a clear sign of this revelation is confirmed and a bright proof is seen—all conforming to the true revelation, the Holy Qur’an, from God upon His prophet/messenger. This also confirms the prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh).

We see in every age natural scientists producing facts after a long reach and efforts. These facts are taken for granted by the Muslim who reads the book of God the Almighty and contemplates its meanings.

Embryology, for example, is considered to be one of the most modern sciences which scientists could not explore until modern civilization provided them with instruments that could show what was happening in the womb of the mother without hurting the mother or the fetus. They reached some facts which had been taken for granted by Muslims, things like the beginning of the formation of the fetus, when the sperm enters the ovum of the woman.

Almighty God said:

“And that He [God] creates the pairs, male and female, from Nutfah (drops of semen – male and female discharges) when it is emitted.” (Holy Qur’an: 53: 45-46). God also said: “Was he not a nutfah (mixed male and female sexual discharge) of semen emitted (poured forth)?” (Holy Qur’an: 75: 37).

Out of the millions sperms man ejaculates during his sexual intercourse, only one fertilizes the ovum. Human semen forms 99% of the ejaculated liquid, while the sperms form between 0% and 1% from the total amount of the semen.

Only one sperm out of millions in the semen is made to fertilizes the ovum, according to the will of God, so that it grows and becomes a fetus, then a child, then a young boy or girl, then a man or a woman. Abi Saeed al-Khudri related that the messenger of God (pbuh) was once asked about ejaculation outside the vagina during sexual intercourse (for contraceptive purposes), he said: “The child does not come from all the liquid (sermen) and if God intends to create anything, nothing can prevent it (from coming into existence).

This prophetic hadith show that a woman perceives from some of the semen, as modern science says, and that there might be ejaculation without conception. Also conception is not necessarily formed after each sexual intercourse, and that there might be ejaculation without conception. This is explained by gynaecologists who say that the days between the menstruation periods are not the same with respect to the possibility of pregnancy, and that sperms might not be strong enough to fertilises the ovum. Science has proved that the sperms in the semen must be lively, active and gushing forth, which is one condition for fertilisation, as science has proved. Science has also proved that the woman’s liquid, which contains the ovum, comes out flowingly to the womb canal (Fallopian canal) and that the ovum must be lively, active and flowing so that fertilisation could be achieved. God the Almighty said: “So let man see from what he is created! He is created from a water gushing forth” (Holy Qur’an: 86: 5-6).

Determination of the baby’s sex (male or female):
Scientists have found out that the number of genes in every human cell is 23 pairs, one gene from each pair is responsible for determining the sex of the baby in all dimensions of man, physical and psychological, and that the key to the determination of the sex of the baby exists in this pair of genes. It was noticed that this pair in the male is different and it is referred to as (XY). Also, the feminine ova have only one chromosome of one shape (XX), while the sperms of man have two shapes of genes (X) and (Y).

The determination of the baby’s sex as such becomes obvious. The sperm is responsible for the determination of the sex of the baby for it contains the contrasted shapes of sexual genes. If the sperm has a (Y) gene, and it combines with an (X) gene in the ovum, the bay will be a baby-boy, and if an (X) gene unites with an (X) gene in the ovum, the baby will be a baby-girl.

Here are some formulas clarifying the point further:
A (Y) gene + (X) = baby-boy (YX)
An (X) gene + (X) = baby-girl

موضوع: رد: 153 Question in Islam الأحد 01 أكتوبر 2017, 9:56 pm

Four possibilities:
1) XX female
2) YX male
3) XX female
4) YX male

This is what has been mentioned in the Noble Qur’an fourteen hundred years ago, when it attributed the responsibility of determining the sex of the baby to the sperm of the man. God Almighty said: “And that He [God] creates the pairs, male and female, from Nutfah (drops of semen – male and female discharges) when it is emitted.” (Holy Qur’an: 53: 45-46).

The prophetic tradition expresses this fact accurately. If the sperm of the man dominates, i.e. (Y) gene dominates and united with an (X) chromosome – the baby will be a boy, and if the liquid of the woman dominates, the baby will be a girl. Thawban related that a Jew once approached the prophet and asked him about the (sex) of the child.

The prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
“The reproductive substance of man is white and that of woman (i. e. ovum central portion) yellow, and when they have sexual intercourse and the male's substance (chromosomes and genes) prevails upon the female's substance (chromosomes and genes), it is the male child that is created by Allah's Decree, and when the substance of the female prevails upon the substance contributed by the male, a female child is formed by God’s decree.” After fourteen hundred years, nobody can speak more clearly than what the prophet has stated.

Question 147:
Modern technology has helped contemporary scientists to understand the scientific inimitability in the Qur’an and the prophetic traditions. How could the Muslim ancestors understand this inimitability without possessing the modern technology?

Answer 147:
The Muslim surely believes that the Noble Qur’an is the words of God the Almighty, and that the prophetic traditions are what He revealed to His messenger, prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Everything mentioned in either source is completely true, and should be taken for granted by every faithful believer whether he/she knew know that before, or could not know it practically.

These above mentioned scientific matters like the embryo, for example, are regarded as absolutely true by the Muslim. It is taken for granted as absolutely true, because it is the word of God, although the Muslim could not see what happened in the womb of the woman.

Modern technology has only made these facts clearer. The same applies to other matters: for example, Muslims believe that mountains are pegs to fix the land although he does not know that a third of the mountain height goes above the land while two thirds are deeply planted under the earth, like pegs.

The same could be said about the formation of mountain-like clouds in the sky. The hale stones come down from those mountains of clouds. The Muslim believes that although he did not ascend to sky. He knows that clouds gather together in the form of mountains.

He absolutely believes and acknowledges every scientific discovery that had already been mentioned in the Qur’an or concorded with it, or even came mentioned in the tradition of the prophet. The Noble Qur’an, therefore, refers to the scientific discoveries that will show people the miracles of God the Almighty. God says: “We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth.” (Holy Qur’an: 43: 53).

Question 148:
Muslims believe that only God knows what exists in the wombs, how could they reconcile between this and the modern technology that could show the embryo and know its sex before birth?

Answer 148:
This question refers to the saying of God the Almighty:
“Verily, Allah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, he sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily God is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things) (Holy Qur’an: 31:34).

Abdullah Bin Umar related that the prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “The keys to the unseen world are five and nobody knows them except Allah,” then he quoted the above verse from the Noble Qur’an. It is God alone who knows absolutely what is in the wombs in every moment and at every stage; He knows everything small and big.

No doubt that He knows every conception when it comes into existence, when the conception does not even show a sign of weight or form; and He knows whether the sex of the conception is male or female, at the time when no one could have the ability to know anything about at the first moment of the uniting of the sperm and the ovum, and the features, the characteristics, the condition and readiness of the embryo.

This knowledge is absolutely exclusive to God, the All-Knowing, and the All-Aware. The term “what is in the womb” is more general than the embryo, and mean more than its sex, whether it is perfect or imperfect in physically, sane or insane, believing or non-believing.

We have already mentioned in a previous answer the possible equation of the determination of the sex of the embryo, whether male or female. The same could be said about every characteristic of the embryo, as to what colour of the complexion and body will be, the colour of the eyes, the size of every organ, etc.

All this is subject to the law of possibilities, according to medical specialists. This is an uncontrolled law, and nobody knows how the chromosomes will combine in the embryo, how the new features will be.

No one knows when the baby will be a boy or a girl. Man is unable to know that before and during its happening. It is only God who knows this. As to the period after its determination, it becomes a fact and is not more a part of the unseen. Man may know something about the embryo, as he knew the stages of the formation of the embryo.

The verse and the prophetic traditions speak about the stage when the baby is a part of the unseen. If it becomes a part of the factual world that man can know, there is no objection to knowing it.

Question 149:
I would like you to explain the following Qur’anic verses scientifically:
A. “The likeliness of those who take (false deities as) Auliya’ (protectors, helpers) other than God is the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house – if they but knew.

Verily, God knows what things they invoke instead of Him.
He is the Al-Mighty, the All-Wise. And these similitudes We put forward for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge (of God, and His Signs)” (Holy Qur’an: 29: 41-43).

B. “So I swear by the setting of the stars. And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know” (Holy Qur’an: 56:75-76).

C. “See they not that We gradually reduce the land (of the disbelievers, by giving it to the believers, in war) from its outlying borders” (Holy Qur’an: 13:41).

D. “With power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are Able to extend the vastness of space thereof” (Holy Qur’an: 51:47).

E. “And whomsoever God will s to guide, He opens his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky” (Holy Qur’an: 3:26).

F. “And has made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp” (Holy Qur’an: 71:16).

Answer 149:

The answer to this question is as follows:
A. The esteemed verses are given as sayings for those who worship deities other than God the Almighty, they depend on, trust, and give them their pledges and charters ignoring that resorting to those powers, whether they are in the hands of individuals or groups, are like the resort of the spider to its web. The spider’s web is weak, powerless and defenseless against its molluscan physique: spiders are helpless against their weak houses.

God, the Almighty, and the all-Powerful protect them. It is this great fact that the Noble Qur’an is interested in establishing in the selves of the faithful. It is with this fact that the faithful were more powerful than all the powers that tried to block their way, and treaded on the pride of the oppressors on this earth and destroyed their fortresses and castles. The enemies of the call for God who seek the help of supporters other than Him, who knows the truth about those supporters, it is the truth described in the previous saying, a spider seeking refuge in its web.

The witty scholar is the one who understands this saying, and realizes that everyone on earth is as powerless and weak as the spider’s web. The inimitability in this verse is the reference to the web rather than to its threads. Scientifically speaking, the threads of the spider, in terms of length and diameter, are four times stronger than cast iron. The weakness lies in the web not in the threads. The spider’s web, despite the strength of its threads, is weak from within, as it stands for the killing of its household.

The female spider kills its male mate after impregnation if it does not run away from it quickly, and it eats its offspring when they hatch if they do not flee, and the little ones each other. The spider’s web, then, is the most rhetorical example of what man may imagine about the best house which becomes the worst in destiny. The conclusion of the holy verse “if they but knew” has come as a reference to the fact that there will come a time when man will know that fact though this might come late. It is known that these biological secrets have been scientifically proved only recently.

B. Those addressed in this verse, “So I swear by the setting of the stars. And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know” (Holy Qur’an: 56:75-76) knew only little about the setting of the stars which they saw with their naked eyes, yet they felt the greatness of their setting in their hearts.

Despite our limited knowledge of the settings of the stars; yet, we do recognize the greatness of this oath (which is related to God who swear by His own creation). We know for example that the star galaxy our solar system belongs to comprises billions of starts, some of these stars could see with the naked eye, others can only be seen with microscopes/ and or telescopes, still others cannot be seen.

All these stars swim in the mysterious space, and there is no possibility that one magnetic orbit can come near another, or that one star would run into another orbit. The location of each star, which must be far from its fellow stars, has been situated carefully and wisely: it is well-coordinated in terms of effects and mutual effects with all the other stars and planets so that all of them could be balanced in this vast space.

The positions of stars in their orbits are the secrets of their balance; neither a star goes near another, nor a planet goes near another, nor a sun goes near another. Each has its own position in which it revolves and does not go beyond or exceed. If a star deviates from its position and moves in another track, it will be gravitated into another space and will collide with another star, which adds to the size of the new star formed from the collision of the two stars.

Eventually, its gravitation increases and attracts a third star, and so on and so forth until the end of the universe as a whole. This is what is referred to, according to scholars, by God’s words “the perforating star”, which is described by space scientists as “the black hole.” Therefore, God’s oath by the setting of stars, which He created for us, is an allusion to contemplate and know that this universe is run under the management of the Lord of the heavens and earth.

One of the examples of the setting of stars is the sun, as mentioned in the French magazine Science and Life (issue: June, 1986) which includes the following facts: if the position of the earth with respect to the sun where the ray of its orbit around the sun is 4% less than it is now, i.e. 144 km instead of 150 million km, the temperature of the earth will increase gradually to 450 centigrade, will cause the water to evaporate and life will disappear, as it is on Venus.

Likewise, if location of the earth is 1% more, i.e. 151.5 million km, the temperature of the earth will be go down gradually to –4 centigrade, and water will freeze and life will be impossible on its surface, as the case is on mars. It is said that the galaxies and stars may seem static, but they are mobile and their distances increase continuously, as it is the case in the theory in the expansion of the universe.

Eventually, the star acquires new positions continuously and with those new positions of billions of galaxies and stars, the balance of the powers of the universe remain as gravitation forces. All of this makes the oath in the verse so great.

C. “See they not that We gradually reduce the land (of the disbelievers, by giving it to the believers, in war) from its outlying borders.” (Holy Qur’an: 13:41). This verse means that the land is gradually reduced from its outlying borders and that people can see that? How does this happen?

First,
the reduction of the land from its northern and southern sides should include its two poles. It is known that the land is not completely globular, it is elliptical, i.e. the equator is longer than the line going through the two poles.

Scientists have found out that the equator is 21 km longer and that this length increases gradually in the course of time and the globe becomes more elliptical, and the line going through the two poles is getting shorter and shorter.

Second,
the crust of the earth is exposed to sunshine, rain, wind and the various elements of corrosion and erosion—something that reduces the crust of the earth gradually.

Scientists expect that the continuous corrosion is the cause of the earthquakes and giving away of the earth. This also indicates that the earth is reduced from its outlying borders, which is one of the things that man can see in all parts of the earth. It is a clear scientific miracle throughout all ages.

D. This verse shows that God the Almighty created the vast sky including the stars, planets and suns and moons; it continues to expand throughout time, and this verse, which proves the expansion of the universe. The well-known theory of the expansion of the universe has come into existence in the scientific field. In 1912, this theory was affirmed by the scientist Silipher who said that certain galaxies are moving away, increasingly, from our galaxy.

In 1916, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity has come to confirm the theory of the universe expansion. He tried to calculate the speed of that expansion associating it with the speed of the light, 300,000 km/s. In 1929, the two scientists Hobble and Humoson confirmed the theory of the expansion of the universe. Hobble has set a law carrying his name, which estimates the increasing distance of the galaxies from each other and from ours. By virtue of this law, it was possible to use the reverse way to calculate the approximate age of the universe.

With the progress of modern physics and the introduction of the study of specter, it was possible to study the light of stars and galaxies, and the turning of the specter into red, and eventually calculated the speed of the departing of the galaxies away from each other according to the theory. The further the galaxies and stars depart from our galaxy, the redder their specter turns. For instance, the distance of the galaxy Amos de Lavierge from ours, the milky way, increases at 1200 km/s, and the distance of Amos de Lavierge increases at 60 km/s. It is two billion light year speed. Contemporary astrologists confirm that theory.

Hubert Reeves said: “We can say that the expansion of the universe is almost certain.” Maurice Bukaille said: “The expansion of the universe is the greatest phenomenon modern science has discovered and completely confirmed today. The discussion deal only with the pattern through which the expansion is happening.” One of the phenomena that support this theory is what is called the “night darkness.” In spite of the big number of galaxies in the sky, and although they consist of billions of stars, there are not enough stars to fill the sky with light. Moreover, the expansion of the universe disperses the light of the stars.

Therefore, the light seems insufficient although it is very strong and the night appears dark. The point of inimitability in this Qur’anic verse is that suppose there was a man in the present age who knew nothing about astronomy and scientific laws, did not have any modern technology, especially optical one, furthermore if he had lived in a remote unknown jungle, a desert or a mountain, stated such laws, and reached those conclusions which scientists reached only after spending a great deal of efforts, long research and coordinated efforts of cooperation, people would consider that a sort of fiction and an impossibility.

Eventually they would attribute such information to an external supernatural power. What could be said then about this man, the prophet, who lived fourteen hundreds ago? He was illiterate, living in a desert far from the centers of any science and civilization then, and in age whose people knew nothing about the universe, its beginning, life and its evolution. This man states his theory firmly and in a certain manner, while connecting it firmly with other phenomena and theories. What could be said then? It is undoubtedly, the information coming from revelation from God the Almighty.

E. “And whomsoever God will s to guide, He opens his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky” (Holy Qur’an: 3:26).

This verse gives a picture of two personalities:
First,

the Islamic personality which believes in God and the prophethood of Muhammad; whose breast opened, expanded and felt the spaciousness of the world crated by God the Almighty; and recognized the universal and Qur’anic miracles

Second,

the non-believing personality which is fed up with Islam and does not get guided to the right path. It feels breathless because disbelief is a kind of contrition and stagnation. It is discomfort, deviation from the easy human common sense; it is hardship, deprivation and worry. God the Almighty gave an example of this kind of personality and described it as feeling breathless like the one who climbs to the sky.

But why does one’s breast feel closed when climbing to the sky? One may wonder, who told Muhammad (pbuh) in the 6th century A.D. that the layers of air get looser the more we rise up in the sky? Oxygen decreases and breathing becomes difficult. It is well know that scientists have discovered this fact only recently. There is no doubt that these words in this verse were the revelation of God upon His prophet.

Man feels more difficult to breathe the more he goes up into the sky, which is well-known, scientifically speaking, as the upper air layers are looser and their pressure is lower. Now, who taught Muhammad (pbuh) this scientific truth, which was unknown to the people of his age and even to the people of the later ages after him until the present age with its amazing advanced technology to prove the scientific truth? It is the Lord of mankind and the jinn, the Lord who created everything, then proportioned it, and who has measured preordainments, then guided, and Who taught us what we had not known.

F. “And has made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp” (Holy Qur’an: 71:16). In this verse, we find that God the Almighty differentiates in His description between His two creations the sun and the moon. He describes the sun as a “lamp.” In another verse of the Holy Qur’an God says: “and We have made (therein) a shining lamp (the sun) (Holy Qur’an: 78:13).

The sun is described a glowing lamp. It is the heat-generating machine, on whose power so many things in life depend. It affects the formation of the clouds, through the evaporation of water from the vast ocean one earth and raising it to the upper layers of air. In the lamp, there is burning, heat and light; all are available in the sun. The choice of the word “lamp” is so accurate and has been chosen carefully to suit reality.

As for the moon, God describes it as illuminating only, something which does not mean that it is a source of heat: it only conveys light. The scientific discoveries have come to prove that the sun is a source of heat. The temperature degree of it mounts to 15 million centigrade. The sun only reflects the sunlight, not more. It is not a source of light; it only reflects as a mirror does. Therefore, the Qur’anic expression about the moon is also an accurate one.

Astronomers have established this fact only recently. The sun light consists of seven shining waves known as “white light” which constitutes the spectrum colors (from ultra to infra violet). It also contains gamma rays, radio short waves, and some unknown kinds of rays. The accuracy of the Qur’anic description is crystal clear in God’s words: “It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light.” So the light that comes from the moon is not more a reflection of the sunshine, which falls on its surface. As to the sunlight, it consists of seen shining (light and heat), and unseen ray (which scientists use in the lighting, x-ray films, astronomy and biology).

Question 150:
Why does the Holy Qur’an focus on man’s forelock and not other parts of the body in God’s words “if he ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock”— The frontal lobe is mentioned in another verse: “I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has the grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord ion the Straight Path (the truth)” (Holy Qur’an: 11: 56).

Answer 150:
At to the top of the forehead, there is one bone in the skull called frontal bone. It protects the frontal lobe which contains many neural centers: the main and secondary centers of motion, the frontal eye field, the centers of articulation movements, and the most important part, the pre-frontal cortex which represents the biggest part of the frontal lobe of the brain. The function of the frontal cortex is associated with the formation of the individual’s personality; it performs an organized role in the depth of the individual’s senses and feelings. It influences the taking of initiative and judgment. It directs some of man’s acts which express his personality, like honesty, lying, right and wrong.

The destruction of this cortex because of a certain disease, tumor, or an accident, leads to the loss of initiative taking and recognition. Some emotional changes may take place also; which leads to cheering up and trance. One loses his interest in his social appearance. Instead of being wise, observing others’ affairs around him, he becomes indifferent, irresponsible for himself and for others around him. The intoxicating drinks affect the tissues of the frontal areas of the brain.

The frontal folds of the brain are important for the mind, for they are connected with the supreme mental acts. We do those plans inside these folds. Thus, they affect the acts and functions of the other parts of the brain, like our thoughts, feelings and emotions.

The frontal lobe, then, is the location that controls the behavior of animals; eventually those ayas which were mentioned in the Noble Qur’an in the seventh century (A.D.) include knowledge understanding the whole functions of the frontal folds of the brain.

Chapter 2:

Selections from the Inimitability

of the Prophet’s Tradition (Sunnah)
===========================
Question 151:
What is the attitude of modern science towards the prophetic hadith: “When a dog licks a utensil belonging to any one of you, (the thing contained in it) should be thrown away and then (the utensil) should be washed seven times, the first one with earth.”

Answer 151:
This hadith was reported by Abu Hurayrah, who was one of the prophet’s close companions. Jurisprudents and scholars were surprised by that fact that earth could be used as a purifier: they thought that it soils, rather than cleans.

However, it was (and still) believed to be a matter of worship which must be taken for granted. So, Muslims have to wash pots which dogs have licked (or eaten in) seven times including one with earth. Muslims just follow the apparent meaning of the words of the hadith because it came to us from the prophet.

The Noble Qur’an has come with its studies, researches and advanced means that facilitate research and prove things that were difficult for people to conduct in the previous ages simply because of lack of advanced technology.

One of the researches was conducted on the relationship between earth and rabies. Rabies is a disease whose bacteria lie in the saliva of the dog and they are transmittable to man. The dog may have this kind of bacteria even though the symptoms of rabies do not appear on the dog. It may have the disease, just like any animal or living being having or carrying the disease without being infected by it. Research on this matter was conducted in Spain long time ago; recently by a Pakistani doctor. It was found that rabies and its germs no matter how much are washed with water; the germs will not be removed completely unless rubbed at least once with earth. Earth kills germs completely. The same applies to other diseases, which confirms the prophetic tradition.

Question 152:
What is the form of inimitability in each of the following matters:
A. Women’s menstruation/period.
B. Circumcision of sexes, males and females.
C. Eating the meat of dead animals.
D. Prohibition of eating the pig’s meat.
E. Fasting during the “white days”.
F. AIDS spread as a result of adultery.

Answer 152:
The answer to this question comprises the following:
A. In the Holy Qur’an God the Almighty say:
“They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: “That is the an adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they are purified (from menses and have taken a bath. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as God has ordained for your (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). 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, bodes, for their prayers) (Holy Qur’an: 1: 222).

Clearly, this was God’s revelation to this enquiry which was once raised by one of the companions of the prophet about menstruation (the monthly menstruation of the woman). God calls it adha (a harmful thing). Therefore, men should refrain from an sexual intercourse with their wives during their period, as it might cause harm for either the man or woman, or both. In this context, the prophet (pbuh) said: “Do everything except sexual intercourse.” In the same context it was reported that Hakeem Bin Huzam once asked the prophet (pbuh): “What can I do with my wife while she is having her period?”

The prophet’s answer was:
“Everything above the waist wrapper is yours.” Concerning menstruation, research has proved the following facts:
-Harmful bacteria exist plentifully in the vagina during the period, while dederline organisms disappear. Dederline organisms exist naturally in the vagina, they are considered as a natural guard against harmful germs. These organisms live on the sugar preserved in the vagina walls. Their number decreases until they disappear completely a few hours before menstruation and during it. Doderlins reach their highest number of growth and activity half way during the absence of menstruation period. Their normal rate is 5x1 mm, but it decreases sharply before menstruation.

-During menstruation, the degree of acid ionization of the vagina changes from acid to alkaline. This makes the organisms die while blood takes them out of the vagina on its way. During the period, the vagina becomes the most appropriate place for the production, development, and activity of the harmful germs. In the absence of these organisms, with the change of acid ionization into an alkaline one, and in the presence of blood, the vagina becomes extremely liable all kinds of the harmful germs, that find a fertile soil for growing and reproduction.

The activity is not limited to those organisms, but also to its accompanying anus and urine pass way germs while the guard, the doderline organisms, are absent. There is no harmful germs than those which might penetrate into the womb’s broken walls at this particular time, as they might go into the abdomen; consequently, into the body. They can quite easily find their way to the loose tissues which become so soft in that critical time; nothing would prevent them except the blood stream coming in the opposite direction from top to bottom. It is not wise or logical then at all to defy nature by breaking into the first defense line and other lines of menstruation.

Studies have found out that the parasite trichomonas vaginalis becomes guardable during menstruation. This parasite exists the tope of the vagina during menstruation awaiting its chance and watching its catch. It is known that it causes infection in the urinal and reproductive system of man. It is conveyed to man only through sexual intercourse.

Both the Qur’anic text and prophetic hadith in this context lay the condition for the intercourse after the menstruation that cleanliness is a must. In order to achieve cleanliness, blood should stop first; then it traces must be removed with clean water. It was reported by Aishah (the prophet’s wife) that a woman once asked the prophet about bathing after menstruation. He told her how to bathe by saying: “Take a clean and perfumed piece of cotton and bathe three times.”

She asked:
“How can I purify?” The Prophet (pbuh) was shy to answer her. So, Aishah says, “I took her by the hand and told her what the Prophet (pbuh) meant, i.e. “follow the path of the blood.”

In that way of purifying, the harmful germs disappear at the time when there is no running current of blood to wash them naturally and prepare the atmosphere for the existence of doderline once more, especially that the prophetic tradition commands the use of musk (perfume), which germicides, not to mention its fragrance.

B. Circumcision of sexes, males and females:
Abu Hurayrah related that the prophet (pbuh) said: “There are five things that ever man should naturally do: circumcision, shaving the public hair, taking out the armpit hair, nail trimming, moustache cutting.”

Circumcision is cutting off the piece of skin which covers the glans. It is recommended that the whole piece should be removed. Shaddad Bin Aws related the following hadith from the prophet (pbuh): “Circumcision is obligatory for men, and a dignitary act for women.” Circumcision is a regulation for Muslims and a discriminatory mark and an emblem. The Jews share Muslims this tradition, because the first prophet to command it was Ibrahim (Abraham, pbuh).

In 1987 The Medical British Magazine published an article stating:

“Penis cancer is rare among the Jews, and in the Muslim countries, where circumcision is done during infancy...” The American magazine Pediatrics stated: “The Jewish and Muslim religious obligation plays an essential role in urging them to practice this natural deed, circumcision. In other words, the foreskin surrounding the glans is like a moor, where most disease circumstances develop, and urine irrigates it; white material is formed on the walls of this pocket resulting from the remaining germs and fungi, the excretions of the fat and sweat glands with the phosphate of the mucous tissue, and the remains of urine and its elements.

It is easy for us now to imagine the interference of disease factors, like urine meatus with the uncircumcised. This substance goes into the urethra, then into the bladder, then the kidney. It may continue its way to prostate, the testicle and epididymis; it may cause infertility to men as a result of testitis and epididymitis. Circumcision prevents the top-of-the-penis cancer, as this kind of circumcision rare with the uncircumcised men. Any likely infection in the penis may quite easily be transmitted to the woman, which causes her aidoiitis/vulvitis, and elytritis bartholinitis, it may cause the womb neck to be infected or to ulcerate.

This infection could develop further ominously and affect the womb, or its accessories, which may lead to infertility. I do not say the circumcision prevents, or reduces those infections significantly only, but there are certain diseases, which can be prevented only by circumcision, such diseases as the narrowing of the back foreskin, or front and back foreskin infection, the sticking of the foreskin with the glans, and some forms of frequent urinary continence caused by the foreskin. The husband’s circumcision plays an important role in preventing the wife of most of the women’s gynecological infections.

As for women’s circumcision, which is known in Islamic sharia as khafdh, it is optional. Women are urged to circumcise, especially when the outer genitals, like the clitoris, or labia minora, are overgrown—cases which might cause repellence or disgust. Also, this overgrowth and dangling outside may cause in the future continuous sexual excitement because of constant friction, which may lead to lack of shyness at her, and she may deviate to perversion and disobedience, and that is whey the God prophet called it a “noble” deed.

When those genitals overgrow to the extreme, they may prevent sexual intercourse: it prevents the penis from penetrating the vagina. If the girl has no overgrown genitals to be cut off, or if her genitals are moderate in length, there is no justification for circumcision.

It is generally noticed that women’s outer genitals are longer the colder they get to the Equator, and the shorter they the further we move north. This becomes rare in the northern people.

C. Eating the meat of a dead animal:
Dr. Jon Hanover, a Profess at the Department of bacteriology, Guess Hospital, the governmental and biggest hospital in Copenhagen stated: “the meat of dead animals is a reservoir of germs, and – reservoir of killing diseases.

Therefore, laws were legislated in Europe to prohibit eating it.” He mentioned that animals that die because of suffocation, the germs in which are transmitted to their meat eaters, as the wall of the large entrails, where the excrement is, works as a barrier that prevents the transmission of germs from the large entrails to the body of the animal and to its blood as long as the animal is alive.

It is known that the large entrails are a big reservoir of germs, which are harmful to man. The internal wall of these entrails prevents the movement of those germs to the body of the animal. Also, in the blood of the animals there is another wall that prevents to movement of the germs to the animal’s blood. If an animal is suffocated, it dies slowly, and the danger lies in this kind of death, as the resistance of the wall coating the large entrails loses its strength gradually which eventually allows the harmful germs to penetrate the wall of the entrails and go into the blood and neighbouring flesh, then they move through the blood cycle to the rest of the body, for the animal is not dead yet.

The germs go out from the wall of the veins to the flesh due to the lack of resistance in the walls of the veins, which consequently makes the animal a big reservoir of these harmful germs, which attack the health of the animal until it dies. The death of the animal in this way means there is a big danger in the body of the creature which has been strangled to death. Dr. Hanover added that all this might happen any animal that dies in any other way except slaughtering. Muslims slaughter the animal in order to purify it animal from such likely germs.

In this light we can understand God’s words better:
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: al-maitah (the dead animals – cattle – beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that one which Allah’s name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns – and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal – unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death)” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 3).

D. Prohibition of eating the pig’s meat (and its derivatives: pork, ham, etc.):
Dr. John Hanover Larsen stated that he discovered a new germ called “parsina.” This germ exists only in pigs, and lives only at low temperature degrees, 4 centigrade. Many Europeans contract it and many diseases that infect the backbone and joints are attributed to this germ (See Inimitability Magazine, No. 3). Besides, he discovered tapeworms and their coated eggs in their meat, blood and bowls in spite of the many attempts of the veterinarians to burn quantities of pig’s meat to get rid of that tapeworms, as they re-appear constantly.

Psychoanalysts have found that a man eating the meat of a certain animal might become infected by certain qualities of this animal. The pigsty is one of the filthiest places and this animal is least jealous among animals about its females. The lack of jealousy about one’s own mother, sister(s), spouse, and daughter(s) in the west might be attributed to their devouring of vast quantities of pork.

E. Fasting 6 days of the 10th Hijri month, Shawwal (the month that comes after the fasting month of Ramadhan):
These are known as the “white days.” Many prophetic traditions urged Muslims to fast three days of every month, the three days whose nights are white because of the moonlight when it is a full moon. They are 13, 14 and 15 of every lunar month. Abu Dhar reported that the prophet (pbuh) “commanded us to fast the three white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.”

Researchers have found out that during these three days, the moon becomes a full at night and the sea ebbing reaches its highest level—something that causes a big excitement. They also noticed that this excitement during those days, particularly in sexual activities, affects man. They also found out that during these three days of every month crimes increase. Other researchers connected between what happens on earth with that in the human body, as the percentage of water on the globe is 75% and that in the body of the human being is approximately the same.

Fasting had been the only medicine, which reduces man’s tension and/or his sexual excitement. It is a fact that the strongest motives in man are the natural ones, then the motive for food, then sexual motives. Fasting reduces the strength of man’s motive for food, drink and sex. Thus, we realize that God the Almighty gave man a natural and useful medicine to appease him in the time of agitation and excitement. The prophet’s tradition echoes this.

F. AIDS spread as a result of the spread of adultery:
Sodomy (homosexuality) is one of the most wicked and ugliest crimes. It indicates the deviation of inborn nature, corruption in the mind and perversion. It denotes sexual intercourse between two males, or between a male and a female where male has sex with a female in the anus. God the Almighty said: “You - Go you in unto the males of the alamin (mankind),” and leave those whom God has created for your to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!” (Holy Qur’an: 26:164-5).

In Arabic it was is known as Liwaat, adjective of Lut’s people, who were the first people to have practiced this act, “which none has preceded you in committing” in the alamin (mankind and jinn,” as God said. God the Almighty punished the people of Lut most severely by making the earth sink under them; they were rained with stones as a punishment for their dirty act. Qur’anic verses were revealed condemning their act, which is still being recited throughout the world and will continue to be recited for generations to come.

God said:
“So when Our Commandment came, We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down, and rained on them stones of backed clay, in a well-arranged manner one after another, marked from your Lord; and they are not ever far from the zalimun (polytheists, evil-doers)” (Holy Qur’an: 11:34).

This has been proved in the history of mankind. God punished them by killing them all, so that not a single criminal would remain alive would remain to transmit any social and/or physical diseases to ancestor generation. God wants man’s life to be clean of the dirt of vice and perversion; hence, the prophet’s guidance cam to show us the great atrocity of this crime in the prophetic traditions which made the path of truth clear to be taken.

Jabir ibn Abdullah related that prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“The most thing I fear about my nation is the act of the people of Lut (homosexuality).” Ibn Abbas reported another hadith from the prophet, who said: “God does not look at a man who went in unto a man, or woman in her anus.” Abu Hurayrah also reported that the prophet said: “May he be cursed, he who does the deed of the Lutians (homosexuality).” “Curse” means here the dismissal from the mercy of God the Almighty. This is deserved only because of the one of the heinous acts of sin and disgust of it, the repetition of that in the crime of sodomy is a clear proof of the heinousness of this sin, and the one who does it deserves every kind of punishment. There are many prophetic traditions in this respect. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) warned us against the committing of sins as a whole and particularly committing sin public.

Abdullah ibn Amr related that the prophet said:

“O, folk of immigrants, there are five sins I take resort in God from that you do not see: ‘No people amongst whom adultery appears publicly will escape being plagued with pestilence, diseases which did not appear among their ancestors, and if they do not weight properly what they sell, they will be inflicted with famine, adversity and the oppression of the ruler.

If they do not pay zakat from their money, they will not have rain from the sky. Had it not been for the animals, they would not be rained. If they disobey God and His messenger, God will allow an enemy from others to take some of what they have. If their rulers do not implement Allah’s book and choose from what God has revealed, God will make their strength among themselves’.”

Those crimes which the prophet (pbuh) mentioned are inflicted upon anyone who avoids Islam partly or completely. Every criminal act has its own consequence: sodomy and its spread in the human society brings about new diseases which did not exist before among the ancestors, which is what we live in this century.

In the 20th century God decreed to send to those who commit sodomy a wild dragon in order to awaken the sleepy and cause horror in the hearts of those whose insight has been blinded by false civilization. How could they be prevented without having any deterrent system or considerable values? The 20th century civilization has paddled in the liberty of sex, and did not leave any virtue without fooling with it, or honour or chastity without destroying its pillars, nor left women’s dignity without desecrating it. AIDS hs been a cry that turned the life of the west upside down. it has been a stigma on those who avoided marriage and practiced sodomy as a way of living.

Dr. George Dunia wrote:
“The demonstrations of the sexual perverts in the streets had disappeared. The public water closets have closed their doors and the call for purity, chastity and marriage to one woman has returned, and he fear of AIDS has many restored the moral and social values of the 50s to reappear and the sanctifying of the virgin woman may come back again.” Purity,” “chastity” and “virgin women” are words that are being repeated by millions. They had been absent for long years in vice and immorality.

Statistics classified AIDS patients into four kinds:
1. Sexual perverts, whose percentage in Britain is 84% out of the total number.
2. Drug addicts who take drugs by syringes.
3. Adulterers who commit adultery with more than one woman.
4. Patients who have contracted AIDS through blood transfusion.

AIDS also appeared among women, especially whores and drug addicts. The several perverts or drug addicts are to be blamed for the spread of AIDS. They are responsible for the spread of AIDS in the society. The only way to avoid AIDS is the confinement of men to an honest marital relationship. If man had done so, and the wife to her relationship with her husband only, the possibility of contracting this disease will be almost impossible; hence, the accuracy of the Islamic rules explained by the prophetic traditions.

The punishment of this act, killing the doers, the positive and the negative, came to wipe out the effect of the crime both physically and morally. The inimitability of the prophetic traditions in this subject t when it stated that the spread of vice in society is a cause for the appearance of illnesses which have not been known before, and this is what has our present century has witnessed.

Question 153:
What is the form of scientific inimitability in prophetic medicine? Can you give some examples?

Answer 153:
The form of inimitability in prophetic traditions appear in all fields of anatomy, physiological, pathological medicines. Because of time and space, I am going to give only a few examples. Annuman ibn Basheer related that the prophet said: “the believers in mutual intimacy and mercy are like one body; if one organ suffers, the whole body will suffer.”

The portrayal of the tradition is an accurate scientific description of what happens in the body. The body temperature rises and the body is affected with fever that prevents it from sleeping and is worried at night, and torments him during the day. This connection is not only related to the organs of the body, but it goes beyond that to the psychological aspect as well.

Also, the prophet said:
“There is in the body one morsel, if it is good, the whole body will be good, and if it is corrupted, the whole body will be corrupted too, it is the heart.” So it is void of diseases, free of illnesses, the whole body will be sound as a whole.

Abdullah ibn Abbas related that the prophet said:
“Use antimony as kohl, it makes the hair grow and sharpens the eyesight.” Ali ibn Abi Talib related that the prophet of God said: “Use antimony, it makes the hair grow, dismisses the motes and sharpens the eyesight.” Antimony is used as an ingredient of the medicine used for the treatment of trachoma. If studies continue, other results may be discovered.

Al-Miqdad ibn Ma`d Yathrib related that he heard the prophet say:

“Man not filled more harmful pot than his stomach. It suffices man to have a few morsels to give him strength. If it is impossible to do this, he can give a third of his stomach to food, a third to drink and a third to breath.” This hadith gives us an accurate organization of man’s food, so that it does not go beyond the need and does not become less than what I necessary. In this manner, man lives comfortably away from obesity which tires the body and the heart which is the 20th century plague. Abullah ibn Abbas related that the messenger of God said: “Nothing replace food and drink except milk.” In another version: “I do not know any drink that can replace food except milk.”

Here the prophet refers to the useful substances which are necessary for the human body whether it is small or big. He referred to the value of nutritional value of milk in a time when people did not know the ingredients of milk and the elements it contains, and the important ingredients of vital food which cannot be found together in another drink.

Aishah related that the prophet said:
“A home in which there are no dates is a home whose householders are hungry” and in another version: “A home without dates is like a foodless home.” This shows that dates are a sufficient food of man and it satiates him so he does not need other kinds of food. It has been proved that dates contain so many minerals that they are called a mine of minerals. Dates form a complete and excellent meal containing vitamin A and B. It is easy to digest their sugar, unlike the starchy substances.

The prophet (pbuh) said:

“Every intoxicating substance is wine, and every kind of wine is prohibited.” All the modern studies confirm the harm of wine on man’s health; it causes many physical and psychological diseases The prophet (pbuh) set a rule: Every mind-killing and intoxicating drink is wine, and the rule of wine applies to it, prohibition. Abdullah ibn Abbas related that the messenger of God said: “Two blessing many people are many people wish to have, good health and free time.”

Abu Hurayrah related that the prophet said:

“There is no supplication of the servant better than “O, God, I ask you for good health in this life and in the hereafter.” In these two hadiths, and in many many more, the prophet (pbuh) stresses the importance of health and fitness; and this is what is being done by the health authorities in all countries all over the world for the sake of preserving the health and fitness of individuals. Osama ibn Zayd related that the prophet said: “If you hear of a plague in a land, do not go into it, and if it inflicts a land you are in, do not leave it.” This hadith sets the essential rule of health quarantine performed by countries to protect the people from the coming diseases and there are many examples of prophetic inimitability.

موضوع: Conclusion الإثنين 02 أكتوبر 2017, 7:13 am

Conclusion
Praise be to God Who has facilitated the completion of this humble work, and we ask Him to accept it purely for His sake, and benefit us and all Muslims by it. We ask Him to reward everyone who contributed to the realization of this book, and make that in their good deeds balance in the Day of Judgment.

We have to remind readers that this book included answers to some questions that were asked by different people who were considering converting (or reverting) to Islam, by some new Muslims, and by some people living in close proximity to Muslims because of their work, common interests, or general life.

The answers in this book have been directed to these groups of people in general, and all the questions that have been included here real enquiries, rather than anticipated or selected questions.

This book could be considered a beginning and an incentive for more in-depth studies that interest those who are active in the field of preaching and spreading Islam amongst non-Muslim minorities living in Muslim communities.

Those who are working actively for Islam may dedicate part of their precious time to investigate the needs of inviting different non-Muslims to Islam and the ideas these people could have about Islam, and provide some writings that clarify misconceptions about Islam, and support these writings with solid proof.

Contemporary preachers of Islam are supposed to reflect modern life and realize the challenges and dangers of backward thinking. They should also prepare themselves to shoulder their great responsibilities in such a way that reflects their deep belief in God and His messenger, prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

» Why Islam? The question "why?" demands a rational answer
» Misconceptions that the enemies of Islam falsely attribute to Islam and a brief refutation of it.
» What is Islam?: The Core of Islam
» A Brief History of Islam: The Prophet of Islam
» Very important question

إجازة الشيخ أحمد بن محمد بن أحمد لبن بقراءة الإمام عاصم

153 Question in Islam