Salaam Anjum,
You asked some good questions and, God-willing, I will try to answer them to the best of my limited knowledge and understanding.
You asked:
when should we break our fast?
With respect to when fast is to be broken, please read the article which the brother A.H.A has cited you which states that
Fasting has been prescribed for us from dawn till 'night', which is a period arguably after sunset.You also asked:
what is the time of fajr prayer?
With respect to the Fajir salat, I again please advice you to the read the article A.H.A has cited pertaining to this subject.
In that article, the author states that the
Fajir salat is performed at the beginning of dawn and remains active up until the point of sunrise.You also asked:
how should we pray...should we follow the hadees way of praying?
Again, I highly advice you to read the article A.H.A has cited you, which explains salat from a Quran perspective.
I would also like to add that I, personally, find nothing wrong with pray your salat the way you/we were raised/taught to pray. I find the way Muslims pray to be in complete accordance with the Quran.
You also asked:
How much zakat should we given?...is there any percentage?...can we give zakat to non-believers?
Again, please read the two article on Zakat and Sadaqqa that A.H.A has cited you.
With regards to zakat, I would also like to add the following:
We do not find in the Quran any percentage of Zakat we are to pay. We note that the traditional percentage of 2.5% has no Quranic reference. Yet, in the Quran we have very strong evidence that God never set a fixed percentage for the payment of Zakat. The evidence to this truth is found in the following verses:
"You shall give the due alms to the relatives, the needy, the poor, and the travelling alien, but do not be excessive, extravagant. The extravagant are brethren of the devils, and the devil is unappreciative of his Lord. Even if you have to turn away from them, as you pursue the mercy of your Lord, you shall treat them in the nicest manner. You shall not keep your hand stingily tied to your neck, nor shall you foolishly open it up, lest you end up blamed and sorry" [Quran: 17:26-29].
In the above verse, we should meditate on the words: "You shall not keep your hand stingily tied to your neck, nor shall you foolishly open it up, lest you end up blamed and sorry", and pose the question: If the traditional 2.5% rate is from God, then why would God command us not to be stingy nor too extravagant? Surely following a fixed 2.5% rate would not give rise to a situation where anyone would be stingy nor too extravagant! The command not to be stingy nor too extravagant confirm that the percentage is NOT fixed, but is flexible and that it has been left to each individuals means.
You also asked:
How should we perform ghusl after intercourse or monthly cycles according to quran
This is a good question. And unfortunately I don't have the correct answer. But if I were to take a guess, I would say that a simple bath/shower would be enough, as evident by the following verse which uses the term "until you have washed":
O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged (Arabic Sukara), until ye can understand all that you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have (sexually) contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving." [Quran 4:43].
You also asked:
does quran encourages killings of non-believers?...can we be friends with non believers?
Please read the articles A.H.A has cited you.
I would also like to add that the Quran DOES NOT encourage the killing of non-Muslims/believers. Allah has instructed us in the Quran to not kill innocent people, irregardless of their religious affiliation. The Quran ONLY instructs killing in two instances:
(1) In the case of a retribution for causing 'fasaad' (gross mischief / evil, beyond all bounds) in the land.
(2) In the case of a retribution for murder.
Anybody who says the Quran encourages the killing of non-Muslims/believers, upon them is the burden of proving their assertion from the Quran.
With respect to being friends with non-Muslims,I say yes you can be friend with them. Those who say otherwise, upon them is the burden to prove their assertion from the Quran.
Those who make the claim that being friends with Jews or Christians usually use the following verse to justify their claims:
"Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah." [Quran 3:28]
Brother Joseph Islam explains that verse beautify in another following discussion (link below). Please visit it:
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=260.0The Quran is best understood when verses do not conflict with one another (or when a command in one verse does not conflict with or contradict the command of/in another verse). That said, it becomes obvious that not being friends with non-Muslims is in contradiction of the Quran. And here's why: Allah has told us in the Quran that we (Muslims) are free to marry from 'people of the book' (meaning Jews and Christians):
"And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." [Quran 5:5].
So, how can being friends with Christians (or Jews) be 'haram' when Allah has already said we can marry them?
You asked:
and what does it mean by...lower your gaze?...does that mean that...we should not look at men or..men should not look at women?
When Allah instructs men and women to lower their gaze this should not be seen/accepted as an instruction for the genders to stay away from one another or to avoid complete eye contact with the opposite gender. Rather what it means is that is that men and women who believe in Allah and the Last Day, must behave modestly and carry themselves humbly between one another. Not only is this an interpretation based on reason, it is also supported by Quranic understanding. The other occasions the root word "غض (to lower/reduce)" has been used in the Qur'an are as follows:
"It is those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah's messenger and whose hearts Allah has proved to be aware - they will have forgiveness and a great reward." (Qur'an 49:3)
We cannot, by looking at the above expression, say that the verse is suggesting not to speak to the messenger at all just because it says "lower their voice" (which compares with "lower their gaze"). Rather, what is expressed here is that the believers should not have arrogance or haughtiness in their voice and attitude when interacting with the messenger. Likewise, to "reduce/lower their gaze" does not mean to avoid eye contact with the opposite gender, rather it means to carry a modest, humbleness when dealing with one another. In other words, both sex should not wonder their eyes (and stare at the others private parts). But it’s not only the eyes which should be lowered, the
minds eyes must also be lowered; in other words you should not, in your mind, sexually undress the person (opposite gender) in you are watching or conversing with.
You also asked:
is there any things called makhru?...as people say...disliked things by God
All things dislike and unpleasing to Allah has been fully alluded to in the Quran. And you should be fine if you stay clear away from them.
You asked:
are we allowed to watch movies or read novels or romantics novels...and go outings?...are we allowed to enjoy our lives...while...remembering God...too
Yes you can absolutely enjoy live while also remembering Allah. It's unfortunate that many Muslims have complicated the religion by introducing rituals/practices which find no support from the Quran; while also forbidding the good things Allah has made lawful for his servant.
Allah has created all blessings on earth solely for the purpose of mankind thanking and praising Him for it. This includes all things in life, such as the sweet taste of a fruit, all the wonderful fragrances we smell, the delightful clothes that we wear, or our spouses whom we enjoy, and everything else we possess and find joy in. Please ponder over the following verses which makes it clear that we should take enjoyment in this world while also remembering Allah:
"Say, 'Who has forbidden the wonderful things and good provisions that Allah has brought forth for His servants?" Say, 'They are meant for those who believe during this worldly life, and they will be exclusive for them on the Day of Resurrection.' It is such that We explain the Revelations for those who know." (Qur'an 7:32).
"But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters." [Quran 28:77]
In the above verse, the words
do not forget your share of the world confirms that God wants us to enjoy all the provisions, luxuries and blessings of life.
But Allah also warns us against being too excessively pre-occupied with the material things in life to the extent of forgetting our prime duty of worshiping God, but as long as we worship God sincerely and observe our religious obligations.
You asked:
Are we not allowed to see the private parts of others?...while watching TV...are we allowed to see the private parts in drawing or cartoons?..like..when reading science books...or other books...for some knowledge...as it is not any person...can we?...
Allah in the Quran (24:30-31) instructs us to lower our gaze, as I have mentioned above. But there are certain instances in which, I believe, we can look at the private parts.
Consider, for example doctors. As part of a doctors duty is to examine patients. And some it is necessary for the patients to remove his/her clothing to better examine them.
So, when it comes to looking at the private parts of other, as long as you are not doing it for the purpose of getting sexually aroused from it, then I find nothing wrong with it. God knows best.
You also asked:
Can we pray while sitting?...as I m working...we do not have facility here to pray...so I pray at my seat itslf...and we do nt have space to pray while standing...so can I pray while sitting?...I do bow and prostrate...can I?
First off, I am sorry that in your job you don't have facilitates for you to pray at. I am not sure if praying sitting down is permitted in instances such as yours. But, taking into account the following verse which, in part, reads "Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship", I would assume if sitting down is the only way you can perform your pray than it may be acceptable:
"...Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." [Quran 2:185].
You also asked:
And...are we not allowed to enter temples or churches?
Speaking solely from a Quran perspective, there is no prohibition against entering temples, churches, synagogues. In fact, Allah Himself acknowledges that those sanctuaries (along with mosques) are places of worship, and instruct us to safeguard them:
"[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah." And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." [Quran 22:40].
I, myself have offered my prayers in churches and synagogues as times (when the nearest mosques was miles away).
With respect your question regarding your atheists, I am sorry but I am in no position (knowledge wise) to answer it. Perhaps brother Joseph Islam, or other members of this forum, will answer it for you.
I hope I was able to answer all you question.
And please I highly advice you to visit and read all the articles/links brother A.H.A has cited you, as well as the many other articles brother Joseph Islam has written; I believe they will do a great job in clear any and all doubts you may have:
http://quransmessage.com/articles/articles%20FM3.htmPeace.
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