Topics

31

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Question about your view on "cutting off" the hand of thieves - For Joseph Islam

« on: July 11, 2016, 02:06:52 AM »

Salam brother Joseph,

I hope this reaches you well in this blessed month of Ramadan. I wanted to ask clarification as to why you translate the word "iqta" as cut off instead of cut. You often rely on the Quranic verse to follow the best of meanings. But the word iqta can clearly mean cut OR cut off, with the latter being much harsher. I understand your argument that the punishment would be reserved for the worst of thieves (as a general and specific deterrent), but I want to understand why you landed on "cut off" being the best of meaning (esp. in light of Surah Yusuf which also references the women cutting their hands).

Thanks,

32

Prophets and Messengers / How could the last prophet question the messengers? - For Brother Joseph

« on: October 24, 2015, 02:44:36 PM »

[Question for Brother Joseph]

Salaam

I'm reading surah Al -Zukhraf and verse 45 puzzles me. How could the last prophet question the messengers before him if they weren't alive. Does it mean they were still alive to be questioned.

It seems to me that way.

Shukran

33

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Head Coverage During Prayer

« on: February 16, 2015, 11:31:22 PM »

To Joseph:

Question asked on Facebook thread below:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/487157614754704

Many times I've faced one issue in traditional Muslim society - the head covering during the prayer, as it's not mentioned anywhere in the Quran. I pray without a head cover, which usually causes "finger pointing" on me by other muslim women and once even lead to a huge argument. In fact nobody of Muslimas say a word when they see non hijabi muslim, but they just get shocked to see a Muslim woman praying without a headscarf.

If the ritual of the prayer was transmitted by generations, does it mean we have to adopt things which are commonly practiced though there is no single word about it in the Quran? Or we can refer "garments" to a "head over"? then why for women only?

34

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Do Animals Have Any Sort of Accountability?

« on: February 06, 2015, 12:38:17 AM »

Salaam brother Joseph

Do Animals Have Any Sort of Accountability?

35

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / 'Good' Atheists?

« on: February 05, 2015, 11:24:24 PM »

Salam Again brother Joseph,

This question has been bothering me for some time and I would like to ask if an atheist does much good in their lives why will they still not be given paradise? Why does God not admit people into paradise for not believing in Him? Why does He care at all if He is All-Powerful?(May God forgive me for saying this). These questions are rely troubling me,

Your Brother in faith,

36

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Adultery and Sex with Slaves

« on: February 05, 2015, 11:18:02 PM »

Asalamualaikum brother Joseph

Can you help me with this. If adultery is so forbidden in Islam, then how does this work?

"In Islamic law (Sharia), Ma malakat aymanukum is the term for slaves or captives of war. According to Muslim theologians, it is lawful for male masters to have sexual relations with female captives and slaves,[50][51] regardless of whether or not the slave woman gave her consent.[52] The purchase of female slaves for sex was lawful from the perspective of Islamic law, and this was the most common motive for the purchase of slaves throughout Islamic history...  Slave women were required mainly as concubines and menials. A Muslim slaveholder was entitled by law to the sexual enjoyment of his slave women."

"And (also forbidden are) all married women except those whom your right hands possess (this is) Allah's ordinance to you" - The Quran, chapter 4 (An-Nisa), verse 24 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_views_on_slavery#Sexual_intercourse

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Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Using Ahadith as Historical Records

« on: February 05, 2015, 11:09:48 PM »

Dear brother Joseph Islam, 

Hope everything is well with you.

I would like to know one thing from you.  It is true hadiths has nothing to do with Islam as a source. However, what is your opinion about using them as historical records? The Quran instructs us to travel through the earth and to learn from other people who lived before. So understanding people and history is needed to appreciate all facts.  Can you tell me short notes on the historical records or writing we should rely.  As you know Abu Lahab is mentioned in the Quran and my question is which source we should rely if we want to know who is Abu Lahab.  I am aware, even understanding who is Abu Lahab is not material as such for guidance.  How do you view the whole issue. Do you have any writing on this or can you throw some light on this point.

Many thanks

Kind regards

38

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / What are Prophets?

« on: December 02, 2014, 03:36:34 AM »

Original Post: http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=1453

Salamun alaikum Br. Joseph

I was contemplating the verses and information provided by you in your article End of Prophethood. I found a wikipedia page about the Prophets and Messengers. This website mentions Noah, Lot (pbut) etc. as Prophets, but does the Qur'an confirm that Noah and Lot were Prophets?

Many are mentioned in this list, but some can't be confirmed as Prophets. In your article you wrote that Prophets are given a book (kitab), but can God also send more Prophets in order to help the first one?

19:41   And recall in the Book, Abraham; he was a man of truth, a prophet.
19:42   When he said to his father: "O father, why do you serve what does not hear or see, nor help you in anything?"
19:43   "My father, knowledge has come to me which did not come to you. So follow me that I will guide you to a level path."
19:44   "My father, do not serve the devil. For the devil was ever disobedient to the Almighty."
19:45   "My father, I fear that a retribution will inflict you from the Almighty and that you will become an ally to the devil."
19:46   He said: "Have you abandoned my gods O Abraham? If you do not stop this, I will stone you; and let me be."
19:47   He said: "Peace be upon you, I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. He has been most kind to me."
19:48   "And I will abandon you and what you call on besides God. And I will implore my Lord, hoping that I will not be mischievous in imploring my Lord."
19:49   So when he abandoned them and what they served besides God, We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and each of them We made a prophet.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were Prophets, does it mean that each one received a scripture or was it just one? - The suhuf of Abraham (pbuh) - 87:19

In your article, you said that Prophets are given a scripture, right? So why did not every Prophet receive a scripture? - Maybe it is not necessary? - What do you think?

How many Prophets exist in Islam and which of these were given a book?

Wa'salaam!
Ijaz, A.

39

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / The Quran as Divine and Why Are Strong Drinks Prohibited?

« on: November 29, 2014, 03:18:22 AM »

Salaam Brother,

I received the following questions from a friend. Please can you kindly assist.

1) How do we know that the Quran is divinely inspired?

2) Why is wine now forbidden when Jesus PBUH is known to have drunk it?

Thanks

40

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Questions About Prayer / Salaat

« on: November 18, 2014, 01:33:12 AM »

First of all I would like to thank you for your work. I have stumbled upon your website before two weeks, and i must say that I have been very blessed. I have been thinking the same way for several years even though my beliefs differ from the majority of muslims around me. After reading a few articles of yours, I was relieved and happy and a rush of emotions came to me and found myself addicted to your articles and wanting to learn more and more. Everything made sense to me. I seriously can't be any happier.

I wanted to email you to thank you and also ask you a question. I'm born sunni (but now prefer to be just called a muslim and not affiliate myself with any sect) and have been praying like a sunni all my life. However the tahiyat part didn't make sense to me at all. It wasn't logical that the prophet said that in his prayer. And I really want to pray how the qur'an tell us how to pray.
I tried searching for a detailed instruction of how to pray according to the qur'an but I didn't find it.

Can you please share that with me? I find myself lost with regards to this issue. So i would truly appreciate it if you would be so kind and give me detailed steps of prayer according to the qur'an.

Thank you in advance,
Regards,

41

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / How Do I Repent?

« on: November 18, 2014, 01:30:14 AM »

Sir I have a question to ask you? How do I repent?

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Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / The Sabbath Breakers

« on: November 18, 2014, 01:25:39 AM »

As-salaam-u-alaykum brother

I have seen your website and may Allah bless you and help you more in the achieving His Pleasure

There is one thing I would like to ask - it is regarding the Sabbath Breakers that was mentioned in the Quran. I feel bit confused. It has been said by scholars that the fish would appear on the Sabbath, and not on the other days. But how else would those Israelites catch fish if those fish only appeared on the Sabbath? Unless they appeared more often during the Sabbath Day compared to other days then I can appreciate that, but if they only appeared on Sabbath Day, then any person would be tempted right? But because this incident is mentioned in the Quran, then we know that something must have happened - it is very unlikely that Allah would rob them off their livelihood (as they were fisherman) for the rest of the week but the Sabbath; but more likely that the Israelites in that particular community were too greedy for their own good, and wanted more than they were allowed to, and the fact they put up nets the day before the Sabbath, in order to catch the fish, was a way of trying to twist Allah's Rule for their own gains, but instead they received the His Anger.

I hope you could clarify for me thanks

43

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Are Multiple Marriages for Men Permissible Only in a Specific Context?

« on: November 01, 2014, 02:10:13 AM »

As salamo Alaikum brother Joseph

In response to the article 'is polygyny a religious sanction?' You mentioned the following:

Indeed the verse you mention (4:3) is dealing with orphans but there is nothing explicit in the verse which suggests that polygyny is only for orphan related matters.

However i think it can be argued that the intentions of marrying (more than one wife) should be orphan related,  as the following is translated in Sahih International (4:3):

'And if you fear you will not deal justly with the orphans, then marry those that please you of (other) women...'

The permissibility of marrying (more than one wife) is given to those who QUALIFY the first part of the sentence which mentions ' and IF you fear you will not deal justly with the orphans' It then continues with 'THEN marry those that please you...' The words 'if' and 'then' are crucial as they give away the requirements of being given the right of marrying more than one wife.

Assume an individual says 'if you pay £10,000, then the business is yours.' The 'then' only applies if the individual fulfills the requirement of agreeing to pay £10,000. Thus, the offer is CONDITIONAL based on whether the buyer agrees to pay £10,000. Similarly, it can therefore be concluded that the right of marrying more than one wife is CONDITIONAL, directed to those who's intention suits this particular category (orphan related matters).

However, because my argument is based on a translation of this verse and not the actual Arabic version, the crucial words 'if' and 'then' may not even be a part of the verse.

I would very much appreciate your response brother Joseph.

Thank you,

44

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / The Concept of Free Will and One's Fate Fastened to One's Neck

« on: November 01, 2014, 02:07:36 AM »

Salamun Alaikum,

Thanks to Allah S.W.T because I recently found your website. Your deep understanding regarding the word of Allah had made me realize that I should keep try and try to ponder Qur'an more in order to further my understanding regarding Allah mercy and amnesty.

For your information I'm in the way to search the concrete truth even I was born as a MUSLIM.

I have one question regarding Surah Al-Isra' (17:13):

And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.

This ayah seems to contradict the free will concept or human volition as you mentioned in your articles. Please clarify this based on your understanding.

Regards,

45

Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only / Verse 22:36 and Sacrificial Camels

« on: November 01, 2014, 02:06:02 AM »

May Allah's peace and blessing be upon you Brother.
 
I was reading verse 22:36. Does bud'na mean only camels? Does this verse only apply to hajj or does it have general application?
 
If 22:36 requires the mentioning of Allah's name at the time of slaughter only for camels, does this mean I can eat KFC and Big Mac because mentioning Allah's name at the time of slaughter is not required for chicken, lamb and beef?
 
William