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[Question 1:]

Salamun Alikum,

Please consider few questions. Your thoughts would be helpful but no rush. Sorry if questions are repetitive or I missed while reading your article.

Question 1:
"2:168, 'O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, Lawful (halalan) and good (tayyiban)'.
The word used is 'tayyiban' (good) but it also says 'halal' (lawful). The Quran states categorically in the Quran what is 'halal' and what isn't". 
I read your article, always very logical and reasonable.
I think Quran provides enough detail of Lawful (Halalan) but regarding Good (Tayyiban); it allows some permission what you feel comfortable with based on observation. For example human nature in normal circumstances repels consumption of insects, frog, crocodile etc.
I wonder if my thoughts are reasonable

Question 2:
005:005: "...and the food of those who were given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them..."
The verse above sounds like establishing a channel to come close and get chance to deliver true message of Islam. If it is restricting, then this question comes to mind, what about the food of Indians/Chines. Quran mentions messengers were sent to every nation but does not provides specific details about their scriptures.

Question 3:
Regarding salah there is much information in Quran and in your article you explored it very well. One of the requirements is "time specificity or performing at proper time as given in quran". However, is there any verse/command that addresses permission for "Qaza salah" (If you missed the right time of salah you can later offer that salah with the intention of Qaza). There are verses related to expiation of acts, I wonder if any of those verses directly/indirectly suggests that it is OK to compensate salah by offering at another time.

Question 4:
I heard many times that "Adopting child is not encouraged. If it is Male, he becomes Na-mehram for "mother" and if it is female, after reaching maturity she becomes Na-mehram for "father". However some people consider it as a charity and not a problem.
Would like to know your thoughts.

Question 5:
After divorce if kids are young enough (~9-11 yr). Do they have free will to live with either father or mother? In case if they chose to live with mother. Islam encourages father to take care of their needs until they become independent.

Thank you
May God make you more beneficial for the people and spreading Islam.

[By: Mubashir Inayat]

By: Mubashir Inayat


Salam Brother Joseph

Following question has been asked on Facebook. Seems to be a legitimate question. Have you written an article that may cover this issue?

Thanks, and no rush.

Regards,

Mubashir

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What is yours view on this Passage: Please make it simple comment on this post with perfect sweet answer
On the occasion of the battle of Uhud, some Qur'ânic verses were revealed to make the Muslims recall the events of the battle of Badr: How Allâh helped them and how He promised to send the angels to their aid, and how He actually did so. These verses are as under:
Allâh has certainly helped you at Badr while you were weak. So, fear Allâh so that you may be grateful. When you (O Prophet) were saying to the believers, 'Shall it not suffice you that your Lord shall aid you with three thousand angels being sent down? Why not? If you observe patience and fear Allâh and they come to you in this their heat, your Lord shall aid you with five thousand angels having distinct marks?' And Allâh did not make it but a good news for you so that your hearts might be satisfied. And there is no help except from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. (3:123-126)

The emphasized sentence of these verses attributes the good news of the aid of angels to Allâh Almighty, meaning thereby that the good news of this aid was given by Allâh Himself. But this good news given at the time of Badr is nowhere available in the Holy Qur'ân. In other words, there is no verse in the Holy Book revealed during the battle of Badr which implies the good news of the aid of the angels. What is quoted above is only a reference of that news, made at the time of a later battle, and it is expressly mentioned in this verse that the good news was given by the Holy Prophet. Still, the news is attributed to Allâh.

Thus, it is another example where the words of the Holy Prophet are held to be the words of Allâh. There is no reason for this expression other than that the words of the Prophet were inspired by a special revelation, not contained in the Holy Qur'ân, and this is what is called the "unrecited revelation."

Dear Brother,

I've recently read Lesley Hazleton's book on the prophet's life, The First Muslim, and she mentioned some troubling "facts", such as the Satanic Verses, the massacre of the jewish tribe of Qureyz, the killing of poets critical of the prophet. I'm not sure where or why she got these stories. Have you read her book and can you throw some light on these "historical" facts, please?"

Salaamun Alaikum Dear Br. Joseph,

Hope things are fine with you and your family, Insha'Allah.  Last night, I was reading your article about Azabe Qabr, Masha'Allah very well said and, surprisingly, it resonates with my reasoning that I have been discussing with my family and friends for quite some times, particularly, your final thoughts and "SOME QUESTIONS" were in complete agreement with my thoughts, Alhamdolillah, you and I have reached the same conclusion because our reasoning were based on Qur'an.  You have been doing great work and I pray to Allah (SWT) to continue blessing you with wisdom, knowledge, and good health and happiness, Amin.

http://quransmessage.com/articles/grave%20punishment%20FM3.htm

Last night, I was with some of my family members and the topic of death came up. Someone said "Angels of death" ask Two questions at the time of death.  The person couldn't recall the two questions but send me the following verse.

4:97

Yusuf Ali
When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: "In what (plight) Were ye?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth." They say: "Was not the earth of God spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?" Such men will find their abode in Hell,- What an evil refuge! -
Pickthal
Lo! as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves, (the angels) will ask: In what were ye engaged ? They will say: We were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not Allah's earth spacious that ye could have migrated therein ? As for such, their habitation will be hell, an evil journey's end;
Shakir
Surely (as for) those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the earth. They shall say: Was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort

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I tried to read before and after verses to get the context but couldn't  get a solid understanding yet.  It seems that the conversation might be taking place at the time of death but the following verse 4:98 perplexes me. It appears it may have been on the day of judgement or it could be referring to a particular time and space?  I'd really appreciate your quick response. God bless...

Your brother in Islam

4:98

Yusuf Ali
Except those who are (really) weak and oppressed - men, women, and children - who have no means in their power, nor (a guide-post) to their way.
Pickthal
Except the feeble among men, and the women, and the children, who are unable to devise a plan and are not shown a way.
Shakir
Except the weak from among the men and the children who have not in their power the means nor can they find a way (to escape);

Brother Joseph Islam

I have been arguing with atheists about the word atom. They say it didn't existed such word on classic arab. Can you please clarify this to me?"

Dear Mr. Islam,

I am close to converting to Islam after having been raised in Christianity my whole life.  I have been doing lots of reading and research and the more I look into the history of Christianity, the more it falls apart.  I still have doubts and questions about Islam, but the more I research the more it appears it is truer to the religion of Abraham than anything else today.

What are the requirements to be a Muslim?  It seems like a simple question and answer, but the more I think about it, the more complicated it gets.  Muslim means one who submits to God, correct?  So if I pray to God and don't believe in the trinity, then am I Muslim?

What about the 5 pillars of Islam?  If I do not perform 5 daily ritual prayers am I not a Muslim or do I stop becoming one?  Common sense tells me "No", because there are many Muslims in this world who do not pray regularly.

What about eating Halal food?  It is not a pillar of Islam.  If I do everything else, including prayer and Zakat, but do not eat halal, does that only mean my rewards in paradise are reduced?

Your website already answered one of my questions about being required to pray in Arabic.  Thank you for taking the time to make the website and answer questions.  I did not grow up in an Arabic or Muslim culture and everything is new to me.

Thanks for your time and opinion on the matter.

[Joseph Islam's responses transcribed:]

Joseph Islam's responses transcribed:

"Uncle Joseph, who created God and how does He know everything?"

Joseph's Response:

Try to think with me of all of the creation, the universe, everything like inside a ball [like inside this tennis ball].

Inside this ball, we have something called 'time' and 'space'. This is creation. You and I and everything we know in the skies and on our planet are inside this ball. You see, God is not part of this ball as only created things live inside this ball. Also, God cannot be controlled by the rules within the ball as He created the rules in the first place. Therefore you will see that God exists outside His creation and this ball.

Now, if God is outside His creation (outside this ball), then He will also be 'timeless' and will also be 'uncreated', because anyone outside this ball will not be restricted by time or space that is inside this ball. Do you see?  - Because 'time' and 'space' only have any meaning inside this ball.

So questions like who created God is a question that would only be possible if God lived inside this ball and was part of His 'creation'. To someone like God who is outside this 'ball', this question does not mean anything. It is like asking 'what time is this chair?' Do you see? This question cannot apply here as it has no meaning.

"Ah! that's so cool! So what is the point of doing something, if God already knows you are going to do it then?"

Joseph's Response:

That is a very good question. Now let's think of this ball we talked about. Because God is outside 'time' as He is not part of this ball, He also knows what is in the past, present and future at once. That is because God can see all around the ball and because time does not exist outside this ball. Therefore, God can be everywhere at the same time or better still, we should say, God's knowledge is everywhere. Some people like to call this 'omnipresent' in that God (or His knowledge) is everywhere at the same time, in the East, West, North and South, basically in all directions.

So He knows what you will do but that does not mean He will make you do it. You are responsible for your own actions in what you have control over. For example, He knew you would ask these questions, but He didn't force you to ask these questions.

"So can we do whatever we like to do because we have this free will?"

Joseph's Response:

No, not really. You may want to think of it like this. 'Free-will' is better understood as 'managed' free will.  This means that we are only allowed to make certain choices and decisions in the framework in which God has allowed us to operate. In other words, it is like this ball. If I put a smaller ball inside this ball and shake it, the smaller ball can go anywhere inside the ball but not outside it. The smaller ball is therefore restricted to the boundaries of the bigger ball.

So in a real life example, if I need to get somewhere and the only way to get there is by using my car and God doesn't want me to get there, the car may simply refuse to start. 
This does not mean that the engine broke on the spot. But the defects in the car which will led to the broken engine started to go wrong a long time ago so that at a particular point, the car just won't start. 

Now it is only because God knew (as part of being outside that ball) that I should not be at a certain place and a certain time and because He does not will it due to the 'constraints' He wanted to put on me, He was able to allow the defects in the car over the course of time to cause a fault at an exact time which would stop me from doing what I wanted to do.

That does not mean I have no free will, but simply means that I have 'managed' free will which I exercise in the 'constraints' in which God allows.

"So does that mean that God can make bad things happen as well like disasters etc?"

Joseph's Response:

Sure. God can create very difficult situations for us in order to test us and think. Sometimes what we see as 'bad' will have a purpose and wisdom behind it which we may never be able to fully grasp.

Salaam Brother,

I ask your opinion on the following.

Wouldn't sharks..whales..dolphins be considered carnivores? Like cats..dogs..tigers..lions? Eating any other creature.. but meaning flesh... also, how can one hunt a big mammal like this without shooting, making it suffer which is not a way for slaughter?

First of all, you have to look at the context of the verse. It was revealed as part of the rules explaining the restrictions on a person who is in ihram (the pilgrim's garment) during the pilgrimage.

If the verse is saying that all kinds of the "game of sea and its food" is Permissible, then what would one say about the next sentence---Would all kind of land animals be allowed after the pilgrim is out of ihram?! No one takes the expression in the second sentence "the game of the land" as a blanket approval for all land animals.

Moreover, the words "the game of sea and ITS FOOD" show that not every "game/catch of sea" is food; otherwise, there was no need to add the words "and its food" in this sentence. It would mean that you are allowed to catch many things from the sea but only "its food" is permissible for you to eat.

Dear brother Joseph,

Salam alaikum

I am a guy from India who stumbled onto your website when trying to find the meaning of the word khimar, I ended up reading not just that article but a lot of your other articles as well. Your articles have helped me immensely in my spiritual journey by making the path a lot clearer, and I wholeheartedly thank you for that brother. May Allah continue to grant you wisdom, and may he grant you and your family goodness in this life as well as in the hereafter.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could share your thoughts with me on the matter of tawakkul or reliance on Allah. A few people that I know take it to a point where it becomes fatalism, they reject medical assistance even when they are in dire need of it saying that it is Allah that cures and not the medicine. While I vehemently disagree with them on that issue, I do find that I have my share of problems too with finding the balance between relying on one's effort and relying on Allah. Looking forward to your reply brother.

Warm Regards,

Dear Mr. Joseph,

I hope my email finds you well. I recently came across your website and found it very informative. May Allah reward you for all your efforts.

I'd like to inquire about one thing. In this article, you discuss the "hurs" of the Qur'an.

http://quransmessage.com/articles/sexy%20female%20virgins%20for%20men%20in%20heaven%20FM3.htm

While your explanation of the other verses struck me as quite satisfactory, there are two verses you did not mention, that of 55:56, 55:74 in regards to them "not having been touched". I'd appreciate it if you would elaborate further on your view in the light of these verses.

Thank you,

A sister

Salamun alaykum Joseph, i feel blessed finding your website. Alhamdulillah.

I have a question about halal/haram of smoking cigarette (tobacco). Is it intoxicant? (Khamr). I'd be very glad to your reply.

From Indonesia

Salam,

Found your web site about Islam. You do not cover aurah. My particular concern is about whether it is sinful to shake hands with women if you are a man and vice versa.

Thanks.

Greetings Mr. Islam,

I came across your website and found it very interesting. It has touched on some points that I have really struggled with regarding Islam. I was born a Sunni Muslim and have practiced the faith without ever really looking too deeply into it.

Since moving to the Middle East about four years ago from the USA, I have a lot of time to observe Muslims and their behavior and how they go about their day to day lives and how they treat each other people from other and Non-Muslims. What I observed that actually caused to investigate the faith more deeper is a people who were once the leaders of the world in science are now struggling with the basic concept of common sense. I could write volumes on this area but my point is something else.

What I believe is that the Quran is the word of God for all of mankind. But in order for the Quran to be fully followed, Hadith have to play a role in that. For instance, how are we supposed to do Wudu, pray, perform Hajj, etc.?

On the other hand, reasons as to why we don't have any original Hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) or the Sahaba's is what's troubling me to perfectly implement the perfect book.

It is difficult to believe that the Prophet (PBUH) forbade the writing of Hadith because it would somehow get mixed with the Quran. These are the reasons cited in the literature. Does anybody actually believe this? He was memorizing it, having trusted people write it down, had access to an angel Gabriel, and God promised that no one could affect the perfection of the Quran. Additionally, a statement in Quran states that no one could produce even a single chapter like. I don't think anybody had anything to worry about as far as Hadith getting mixed in with Quran. But alternatively, the Prophet (PBUH) understood the importance of the written word as evidence by his knowledge of previous corrupted scripture i.e. Bible, first Testament.

Since the Explanation of the Quran (Hadith) is essential for its understanding and to perform what is prescribed in the Quran, it doesn't make sense that Hadith were not written.

From what I have read, Hadith were written down and Abu Bakr but later burned them. The reason for burning them was that he was afraid that what he wrote down may not have been in perfect alignment with what was said. If we are to accept this, then why do we accept his verbal words 20 transmitters later? Instead of burning them, he could have begun his work on perfecting them if that was really his concern. From what we read about him, he was not a bad guy who would intentionally lie about the Prophet (PBUP).

Umar further forbade the writing of Hadith and supposed burned other written Hadith books because he did not want anyone to abandon the Quran and focus on Hadith. Again, not sure what that means. Those people were the same illiterate society and the Hadith were alive and well verbally. Writing them down would not have increased their significance for anybody as the oral tradition was being utilized in peoples lives already. Writing the Hadith down would have kept them for around for mankind. He could have also just produced a single copy to preserve for future generations instead of making many copies to distribute. There are many he could have accomplished the task of preservation and kept focus on the Quran.

How can we trust one Hadith while others are not be trusted like when Aisha is quoted talking about sexual issues. Can somebody actually trust that she was so open about this issue with all of humanity? Aren't these private issues even if they were the way they are stated in Hadith? Other hadiths seem absolutely absurd.

Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have the original sayings of the prophet without centuries of debate about this chain or that chain, strong versus weak, etc.? And who do you follow? I'm not Shia but when they claim Hadith from Ali, it would seem those to be more reliable then generations removed from Umar and Abu Bakr? Yet these Hadiths are only used by them. I don't know enough about Shia's to have an opinion but these are things that make me think.

My questions for you is something that I have wanted to asked a learned person for sometime now for only my understanding:

Are reason why we don't have the original Hadith which are essential for the explanation of the Quran in some cases and needed for step by step practice of the faith in other cases due to what Abu Bakr and Umar did or did not do?

The Quran is perfect but is its understanding and implementation deficient as a result of mismanagement of Hadith?

If we are to follow the Quran only as Hadith are not reliable, then how can we pray, do Wudu, perform Hajj, etc? And what about the explanation of the Quran? Where does the explanation come in some cases if we discount Hadith as a explanatory source?

If we chose to follow Quran with good Hadith, isn't this also problematic as how will we know which ones are acceptable and which are not? We are essentially cherry picking which is not right either. But I would find it hard to believe that Aesha was talking about her intimate issues with the Prophet (PBUH) with the community.

What I struggle with is how can the perfect book not have the perfect implementation or explanation?

Regards,

Salam Brother Joseph.

My question is, how would you know that the Quran is the word of God? How can we know that the Quran might not have been corrupted? I don't want answers like : 'Because the Quran says that it is the word of God.' or 'Because Allah says in the Quran that he will protect it.'.

Peace.

[Question for Joseph, Daniel, Abbsrayray, Marealta and All,]

Question for Joseph, Daniel, Abbsrayray, Marealta and All,

Salaam

I need to ask something important. I was born Christian.  Converted to islam five years ago after believing in quran but told I had to convert so I don't go to hell. Allah tells us in the quran that the people of the book must follow their book in order to be successful.  Does that mean I must follow the old and new testament as legislation


Say: "O people of the Scripture, you are not upon anything until you uphold the TAWRAH and the INJIL AND WHAT HAS BEEN REVEALED TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD." And for many of them, what was sent down to you from your Lord will only increase them in transgression and rejection. So do not feel sorry for the rejecting people." Sura 5/68


From a sister

Salaam Brother Joseph!

Happy 2014! Could you please enlighten me about this link, tashadud and reciting the dua during salat is alright.

http://www.quranicpath.com/misconceptions/durood_in_salah.html

Allah Hafiz and Take Care!!

Salam Alaykum Joseph,

I just read your mashallah excellent article on the highjacking of the term "Muslim."

In the article, it says that Abraham named us Muslims in 22:78.

Did you mean to say God instead of Abraham who "named us before and in this (scripture)."?

http://quransmessage.com/articles/term%20muslim%20hijacked%20FM3.htm

Thanks much,

Your brother and friend

Salam Joseph,

First off, I'd like to say that I enjoy your writing a lot.

I was wondering if you had any thoughts about verse 2:178.  The part that confuses me is the following: "the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female."

Muhammad Asad had interesting explanation, but I'm not sure if he "proved" his argument; he writes:

"Read in conjunction with the term "just retribution" which introduces this passage, it is clear that the stipulation "the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman" cannot - and has not been intended to - be taken in its literal, restrictive sense: for this would preclude its application to many cases of homicide, e.g., the killing of a free man by a slave, or of a woman by a man, or vice-versa. Thus, the above stipulation must be regarded as an example of the elliptical mode of expression (ijaz) so frequently employed in the Qur'an, and can have but one meaning, namely: "if a free man has committed the crime, the free man must be punished; if a slave has committed the crime. ..", etc.-in other words, whatever the status of the guilty person, he or she (and he or she alone) is to be punished in a manner appropriate to the crime."

I think "if a free man has committed the crime, the free man must be punished" makes a lot more sense, but I am not sure how he went from "the free for the free" to that.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks.
[Name Removed]
--
M.D.
Resident Physician

Selam alleykum, after a long journey "seeking for the truth" I found your amazing website. I Hope You Are able To help me namely do you have any ideas where can get any religious guidelines (only quran) how To teach my small kids (9,6,3) the real or True Islam. My husband is a sunnit and dont Know too much about Islam but what he know is that his parents and forfathers are right and not my idea to belive only in the quran . Hope you will find a second To answer. Thank you...

Salam Alaikon Joseph:

I was just reading your website and I understand what the Quran says about "Hur" and how they are us recreated in the afterlife. However, what is "Houri"? Are they servants? I used to be so bothered by the fact that men will have many wives in heaven. Thanks for clearing things up. Some Muslims feel as though they have to believe the secondary sources but if it doesn't make sense then something is not right. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.