Messages

361

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Need for Scholars?

« on: April 04, 2012, 12:00:32 PM »

Salam Brother
 
9:122 [Asad] With all this, it is not desirable that all of the believers take the field [in time of war]. From within every group in their midst, some shall refrain from going forth to war, and shall devote themselves [instead] to acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Faith. and [thus be able to] teach their home-coming brethren, so that these [too] might guard themselves against evil.

9:122 [Amatul] It is not possible for the believers to go forth (from their homes learning for religious learning) all together. Then, why should not a party from every section of them go forth, that they may (learn and) become well-versed in religion, and may warn their people when they return (home) to them, so that they too may guard against (unislamic ways of life).
 
Question: Does this suggests that there be a group of "scholars" among Muslims to teach Deen?

Thanks.
 

362

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Does the Testimony of One Male = Two Females?

« on: March 31, 2012, 11:20:35 PM »

Dear Brother Joseph
 
I hope all is well Inshallah.
 
For those of us who follow the true message , glorious Quran, we know that it speaks equality, fairness etc. There is one area however, which some people 'object' to and say 'it shows Islam is not treating Women equally', that is the verse (sorry i don't have the verse/chapter) where it stipulates that Two women witness are required.
 
Can you elaborate or shed any light from the Qurans perspective as to why Two women are required?
 
I noticed a recent article in the Times newspaper by a 'shia Scholar' that he and many others feel 'this is now a redundant verse' or no longer applicable. This is Not my view! But if you can help explain what this two women witness relates too, and any other information, I would very much appreciate.
 
Thank you in advance and look forward to your reply,
 
Your Brother
 

363

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Isra / Meraj

« on: March 29, 2012, 12:00:59 PM »

Salam brother,

I wanted to know about the "Meraj"ascension of the Prophet to the heavens that the Secondary Sources describe. I find the details difficult to believe.

364

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Allah Hu Akbar

« on: March 29, 2012, 11:52:00 AM »

Salam Brother
 
What is your take on this issue being raised on several forums. Linguistically, is it okay to say "Allahu Akbar?"
 
Thanks as always.


Examples:

ALLAH HU AKBAR
http://ourbeaconforum.com/cgi-bin/bbs60x/webbbs_config.pl/page/1/md/read/id/314123119174920

Some Of You Don't believe in "Allahu Akbar"?
http://free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=11596.0

365

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Reward Multiplication

« on: March 29, 2012, 11:42:10 AM »

Br. Joseph:

Assalamu Alaikum. I have two questions: 

1. In sura Lailatul Qadar., Allah (swt) said that the night of power is better than 1000 months.  Religious leaders interpret this ayat as " when someone prays in this night, the reward he gets is more than praying for 1000 months." What is your interpretation ? I feel that the reward of this magnitude is not so easy to get.

2.  When I went for Hajj couple of years ago, I was told by our group leader (Imam) that one prayer in Haram sharif is equivalent to 1 million times prayer in one's own house.   Similarly one prayer in Masjid un Nabi is multiplied 100,000 times and prayer in other mosque is multiplied 27 times.  What is your opinion ?

366

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Repent or Revert to?

« on: March 29, 2012, 10:49:34 AM »

Dear Brother Salam
 
Here are two different translations of 9:3
 
Kamal Omar
 
And (there is) an Announcement from Allah and His Messenger to mankind (on the) Youm ('Day', the afternoon of the 9th Day of the closing month of the lunar year) of Al-Hajj-il-Akbar that Allah is free from (all) obligations to the Mushrikun, and (so is) His Messenger. So if you (Mushrikun) repented (and returned to the teachings of Al-Kitab) then it (is) better for you, and if you turned away (as polytheists or pagans), then know that you are not one who can frustrate Allah. And give tidings to those who have disbelieved for a painful torment;
 
Asad
 
And a proclamation from God and His Apostle [is herewith made] unto all mankind on this day of the Greatest Pilgrimage: "God disavows all who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him, and [so does] His Apostle. Hence, if you repent, it shall be for your own good; and if you turn away, then know that you can never elude God!" And unto those who are bent on denying the truth give thou [O Prophet] the tiding of grievous chastisement.
 
Question: What are these Mushrikeen asked to come back/revert/repent to? Stop breaking treaties and live as peaceful citizens (while keeping their faith)  or renounce Shirk and return to Islam.
 
If we take the latter meaning, then the question is were these Mushrikeen once Muslims? If they were not former Muslims but are being asked to accept Islam then would this not be taken as compulsion in Deen?
 
Thanks.
 
Mubashir

367

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Does the Soul Have a Gender?

« on: March 26, 2012, 04:18:35 AM »

Peace to you Brother,

I dont know if there is already an article on this on your website but could you please shed some light on the gender of the soul or Ruh. Does the Quran say something on this?

368

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Friday Prayer

« on: March 24, 2012, 11:13:49 AM »

Br. Joseph;

Assalamu Alaikum. Do you have any article written about Jumma prayer (Friday Prayer)? I did not find anything about this in Quran.

369

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / The Quran on Homosexuality

« on: March 22, 2012, 10:11:47 AM »

Assalam,

Is there an Aya about this subject? Verse 4:16 does not say two men, are there any others?

Thanks.

370

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Does Shariah Mean Divine Law?

« on: March 22, 2012, 04:25:08 AM »

Salam Brother
 
In the following video, Br Farouq argues that the term Shariah does not mean Divine Law.
 
Wonder if you agree with him?
 
Thanks.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5CBpearXSg&feature=context&context=C48a9fa3VDvjVQa1PpcFM1Q_zLfO5T1HF4RuaChc5x8aITnpTGBgk=

371

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Re: Prophet Muhammad's Letter to the Christian Monks

« on: March 21, 2012, 11:30:30 PM »

Salam Br Joseph
 
Thanks for your response Brother.

Comment advanced:
 
One way of ascertaining whether the document is authentic or not is to check if any clause on it are against Allah's Word. Except "The Muslims are to fight for them" which needs further clarification, it seems to me that most of it are within the framework of Quran.

Related Question posted on another forum:

Could another way to check for it's possible authenticity would be to see if it contents match with guidelines of the Qur'an with respect to the rights of the People of the Book to practice their faith??

http://ourbeaconforum.com/cgi-bin/bbs60x/webbbs_config.pl/page/1/md/read/id/314123119174699

372

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Prophet Muhammad's Letter to the Christian Monks

« on: March 21, 2012, 03:57:59 AM »

Salam brother Joseph,

How authentic is the following document?

Regards

________________________


The Greek Orthodox monks living in the monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai have in their possession many precious documents going back many centuries.
Their library is one of the finest in the world for ancient manuscripts. One of the most precious documents of all is the copy of a letter narrated by Prophet Muhammad  to the monks in the year 628.
 
Its contents might come as a surprise to many, since in this precious manuscript Muslims are exhorted to protect the Christians living within their midst. The words are so beautiful that we repeat them in full here:

- This is a message from Mohamed ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.
- Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
- No compulsion is to be on them.
- Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
- No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.
- Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
- No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.
- The Muslims are to fight for them.
- If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
- Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.
- No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (The end of the world - Judgement day.).
     
It should be quite clear from this that, far from being a threat, Islam is actually the guardian of the Christian presence in the Middle East.
These words of the Prophet Mohammed should be made known to Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the world.

373

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Jizya and Dhimmi Status

« on: March 21, 2012, 12:54:05 AM »

Salam Joseph,

If religion had no compulsion then why were all the followers of a different relgion such as the Jews and Christians made 'dhimmis' and asked to pay tax?
 

374

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Rape

« on: March 18, 2012, 12:38:38 AM »

Dear Brother,

There is a challenge that there is no punishment for rape in the Qur'an hence one needs Hadith for support.

Would the following not cover molestation/rape as well?
 
33:58 And those who unjustly hurt the men or the women in whose hearts reigns piety or offend them for no valid reason will have born malice against themselves and shall stand manifest of a major sin.
33:59 O you the Prophet: Tell your wives and your daughters and all Muslim women to dress in flowing outer garments which cover them over. This makes it less likely to be identified and be assaulted. And Allah has always been Ghafurun and Rahimun.
33:60 Unless the hypocrites and those whose hearts reflect the morbidity inherent in their inmost being as well as those who incite to rebellion against the Muslims in the city and molest the women cease from such actions, We will instigate you to war upon them and give you mastery over them and they shall then find it difficult to neighbour with you therein but for a short while.
33:61 Cursed wherever they may be and seized they shall be wherever found and be slain without mercy.

375

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Yajuj wa Majuj (Gog and Magog)

« on: March 16, 2012, 11:16:12 PM »

Assalamu Alaikum Br. Joseph:

I want to know about Yazuz and Mazuz.  Regards.