Topics

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Islamic Duties / Is it possible to perform all the Hajj rituals in Umrah?

« on: September 13, 2015, 06:53:40 PM »

Considering Hajj can be performed anytime within the four sacred months. Instead of attending the Hajj in the 5 short days, it might be more convenient to perform outside the normal days but during the sacred months.

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Prophets and Messengers / Abraham lied three times

« on: August 14, 2015, 04:45:00 PM »

Quran clearly says, Abraham was a truthful man (19:41). I have no doubt in that. However, I cannot explain the versus quoted in the hadith below. Does anyone have an explanation? Thanks


Narrated Abu Hurairah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Ibrahim, peace be upon him, did not lie about anything at all - except for three: 'Verily I am sick (37:89)' while he was not sick. And his saying about Sarah: 'She is my sister' and his saying: 'Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it (21:63).'"
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الأُمَوِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَمْ يَكْذِبْ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فِي شَيْءٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ فِي ثَلاَثٍ قَوْلُهُ ‏:‏ ‏(‏إنِّي سَقِيمٌ ‏)‏ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ سَقِيمًا وَقَوْلُهُ لِسَارَةَ أُخْتِي وَقَوْلُهُ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ بلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا ‏)‏ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏
Grade   : Sahih (Darussalam)   
English reference    : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3166
Arabic reference    : Book 47, Hadith 3463

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General Discussions / Is God punishing the Muslims for abandoning the Quran?

« on: July 24, 2015, 07:24:07 AM »

With everything that is happening in almost every Muslim community around the world today, one only has to wonder if the Muslims are being punished by Allah. The Hadith Muslims believe that these are the signs of the last days and that their suffering is merely a test from God. From a Quranic perspective, is there any support for the notion that the suffering is because we have abandoned the Quran? Thanks

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General Discussions / Quran 2:54.....Kill yourselves......

« on: June 19, 2015, 06:46:08 AM »

Yusuf Ali
And remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Ye have indeed wronged yourselves by your worship of the calf: So turn (in repentance) to your Maker, and slay yourselves (the wrong-doers); that will be better for you in the sight of your Maker." Then He turned towards you (in forgiveness): For He is Oft- Returning, Most Merciful.

Sahih International
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

I came across this verse today, and I find it odd that the Prophet Moses would instruct his people to kill themselves. I thought it might have another meaning other than actual death but the next verse 2:56 says "Then We revived you after your death that perhaps you would be grateful."

What is your understanding of these verses? Thanks

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General Discussions / Smoking in Ramadhan from a Quranic perspective

« on: June 14, 2015, 08:56:28 AM »

Salaam members

According to the general understanding of Muslims, smoking is prohibited in the Quran during the fast. From the Quran, I only see...eating, drinking and sex. Can the ban on smoking be justified from a Quranic perspective?

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General Discussions / Any new articles?

« on: April 22, 2015, 06:57:14 PM »

How do we keep up to date with new articles?

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General Discussions / symbolism in Religion.

« on: February 14, 2015, 09:05:13 AM »

Do symbols have any significance in religion? Almost every religion including satanism and other secret societies have incorporated symbols as part of their faith. Would there be any harm in having these symbols around us even if we did not associate with their meanings?

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General Discussions / Hunting by shooting: Halaal?

« on: February 05, 2015, 12:26:46 PM »

According to the article http://quransmessage.com/articles/slaughtering%20of%20animals%20-%20the%20correct%20method%20of%20sacrifice%20FM3.htm
the only lawful way to kill an animal for food is by slaughter. Can anyone confirm whether shooting the animal or even using a bow and arrow can be halaal? Thanks

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General Discussions / The Evil Eye

« on: December 10, 2014, 09:53:11 AM »

What is it? Is it real?

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General Discussions / Joining family or loved one in heaven

« on: September 29, 2014, 03:02:16 PM »

Quran says we get all our hearts desires....but what if ones desire is to be with loved ones ....and those loved ones don't make it to heaven?? I guess this is open to anyone not only Joseph. Thanks

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General Discussions / Quran alone/centric community

« on: August 21, 2014, 08:40:00 AM »

The Quran alone online community is getting bigger by the day. Would it be wise to encourage local meetings and community groups? Do any of you belong to some of these local (not online) communities? Any advice appreciated...thanks

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General Discussions / Can the dead continue to benefit from their deeds?

« on: July 17, 2014, 05:09:53 PM »

Common belief for Muslims is that the dead can continue to benefit from deeds they did while still alive or from deeds others do because of them. Hadith such as these are commonly quoted:

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) says " When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity, e.g. a waqf or endowment), beneficial knowledge (which he has left behind), or a righteous child who will pray for him."
[Ref: Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no 1376; he said this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth, Sahih Muslim 1631]

However, some Quran verses seem not to support this idea
53:39 "And that there is not for man except that for which he strives",

45:15 "Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and whoever does evil - it is against the self. Then to your Lord you will be returned".

6:164 "And nobody does anything but to his own account, and no bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another".

And other Quran verses seem to support it
36:12 "We record that (deeds) which they have put forward and their traces (that which they have left behind)."

Can the footprints "waāthārahum" in 36:12 refer to the deeds such as sadaqah jaariyah as described in hadiths? Thanks

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Islamic Duties / Best time for dua: Times Dua is more likely to be answered

« on: July 14, 2014, 06:23:21 AM »

It is very common among Muslims to cite hadiths stating the best time for duas, in which there is a higher chance of them being accepted. These conversations come up especially during ramadhan like we are in right now. 

For example this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHG2HYhDW4

and this: http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/best.html

I am aware of verses in Quran that can refute this such as ....."God being nearer to us than our jugular veins and another saying He answers the prayers of every supplicant when they call"...however it would be nice if brother Joseph would write an article on this. This is only a article suggestion as I know Brother Joseph has a lot on his plate. Thanks

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Islamic Duties / For those who find it hard to fast......Quran 2:184

« on: July 12, 2014, 07:55:32 AM »

“allatheena yuteeqoonahu” in Quran 2:184 is translated as
1.   “those who find it hard to fast”
2.   “those who afford it”
3.   “those who are able”

Most translators choose the first option with the least choosing the third option. It becomes really hard for believers to understand what the message is when all those translations give a completely different picture. However we would be inclined to choose the first option simply because most translators have chosen it. If there is no hardship mentioned in the Quran, why are most translators opting for that??

Sahih International Quran 2:184:
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. AND UPON THOSE WHO ARE ABLE [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

allatheena yuteeqoonahu ……….

Muhammad Asad:   those who can afford it
M. M. Pickthall:  and for those who can afford it
Shakir:   and those who are not able to do it
Yusuf Ali:   For those who can do it (With hardship),
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar: for those who cannot fast
Wahiduddin Khan:  For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty,
T.B.Irving: For those who can [scarcely] afford it
[Al-Muntakhab]:   for those who experience hardship caused by fasting,
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition):  for those who can do so but with difficulty
Abdel Haleem:  For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty,
Abdul Majid Daryabadi:   for those who can keep it with hardship
Ahmed Ali:  those who find it hard to fast
Aisha Bewley: For those who are able to fast,
Ali Ünal:   for those who can no longer manage to fast
Ali Quli Qara'i:   Those who find it straining
Hamid S. Aziz:   those who can do it with hardship
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali:   and against the ones who can afford it
Muhammad Sarwar:   Those who can afford a redemption.
Muhammad Taqi Usmani:   those who have the strength, (still, they do not opt for fasting,)
Shabbir Ahmed:  For those who can go through Abstinence only with hardship
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition):  As for those who can do so but with difficulty,
http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Twq#(2:184:16): those who can afford it

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General Discussions / What is a Muslim to do under oppression?

« on: July 10, 2014, 12:44:57 PM »

 Quran 4:97
"Lo! as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves, (the angels) will ask: In what were you engaged? They will say: We were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not God's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein? As for such, their habitation will be hell, an evil journey's end"


From the above verse, emigration is the solution...but are we allowed to fight and wage war or is that only for those who fight you? (2:190 "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you..."). It seems to me that fighting is only against those that fight you.