Questions Frequently Asked
and Answered Now
Q. How best can we learn to love Allah and His Rasool S.A.W.S. and rise higher in our stature as Muslims?
A. The Islaami scholar Ibn al-Qaiyim informs us, from the Hadith Qudsi, of the ten steps that strengthen the bond of mutual love between Allah and His Slaves. They are:
- Reciting the Holy Qur'an, understanding its meaning and gaining deeper knowledge of the truths it conveys.
- Translating the knowledge into positive action to earn the approval of Allah, as conveyed in Hadith al-Bukhari: "My slave is getting closer to Me through optional deeds of his own volition until I love him."
- Constant remembrance of Allah under all circumstances, with our tongue, our heart and our good deeds. The more devoted and perfect we are in these three aspects, the greater is our love of Allah: With our tongue we sing the praise of Allah in our Salaah, recite His Glorious Names in Zik’r and we convey His Commands to people for righteous action.
- Yielding to what Allah loves and not indulging our base desires when we are assailed by temptations
- Training the heart to be a rose garden where Allah's Names and Attributes exude the fragrance of divine knowledge.
- Observing and celebrating every manifestation, seen and unseen, of Allah's Compassion, Grace and Generosity as Allah blesses all His creation with limitless bounties.
- The joy, the euphoria and the wonderful sense of fulfillment that waft in when our heart is soft, subdued and meek before Allah.
- Being alone and reciting the Holy Book of Allah during the last third of the night when the Lord descends to the Heaven nearest to Earth and we repent and ask for forgiveness and Our Glorious Creator inspires us to ask for and be granted rewards without limit.
- Sitting with those who have earned the Love of Allah and sincerely benefiting from their most fruitful speech. We refrain from speaking unless it advances our own and our listeners’ knowledge and wisdom.
- Not allowing anything to come between our heart and Allah.
Q. How best to loveOur Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S?
A. The Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. said, “None of you will have Faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind”. (Hadith narrated by the eminent companion Syedina Anas R.A.A. recorded in Sahih al Bukhari, Vol. 1: 14)
B. Q: What is the Best Way to Salvation?
A. The Islami Way to Salvation is to believe in Allah without
any reservation and to declare openly:
Allah is One and there is no other god.
Mohammed S.A.W.S. is the Prophet of Allah.
The Holy Qur’an is truly the Word of Allah and we are bound to abide by its Commands and the true Hadith, the Traditions (the Teachings and Life Account) of Prophet Mohammed S.A.W.S
Paradise and Hell Fire are truly in existence by Allah’s Command
The Day of Judgment will arrive at the moment chosen by Allah.
- Human life will end and Allah will resurrect all people, even those who have been dead and turned into ashes since time immemorial.
- And Allah will call them to account and award them retribution according to their good and evil deeds. No one will be wronged.
(From Islam, the Religion of Truth by Prof. Abdur Rahman ben Hammad al Omar of Darul Ifthah, Saudi Arabia)
Q. What are the Six Articles of Faith in Islam?
A. We must have unshakable faith in:
1) Allahu Sub’hanahu va tha Aalaa
2) His Angels
3) His Messengers led by Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S.
4) His Revealed Books. The Holy Qur’an is the Authentic Word of Allah revealed to us through Angel Jibrayeel. We also believe in and do not discriminate against the other Books of Revelation, the Suhoof of Ibrahim, the Torah of Moses and the Injeel of Jesus.
5) The Day of Resurrection.
6) Al Qadar: Whatever is destined by Allah, will come to pass and none can prevent it except the dua’yaen from human hearts.
Q. What is Kuf’r and how is it manifest?
A. Disbelief in any of the Articles of Faith in Islam, is tantamount to
Kuf’r and those indulging it, exclude themslves from Islam
Q. How are the righteous rewarded by Allah?
A. The Holy Qur’an conveys the Guarantee from Allahu Sub’hanahu va
tha Aalaa to all Humanity: “I grant real prosperity, fame and fortune,
to men and women who lead righteous lives and cherish True Faith
(in Me and in My Messenger Mohammed S.A.W.S.). Indeed the best
of their acts of devotion to Me and My Prophet) will be matched to
rewards of equal magnificence from Me (in Paradise)”.
(Holy Qur’an: Surah 16th: An Nah’l: 97)
Q. In a poetic tribute addressed to Prophet Mohammed S.A.W.S., the
Farsi poet Roumi says “Next to Allah, you are the Most
Magnificent!” Is this endorsed by the Holy Qur’an?
A. There are hundreds of verses in the Holy Qur’an that are as full of praise for the Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. as the sonnet cited. Allah honors him with the title “Rah’mathullahil Aalameen”, the “Blessing of Allah to All the Universes”.
Allah also exhorts us to convey salutations and blessings to him in the way Allah Himself and His Devoted Angels do.
“And whaever the Messenger gives you, take it and whatever
he forbids, abastain from it”. (Holy Qur’an: Surah 59th: Al Hash’r: 7)
“Whoever obeys the Messenger
(Syedina Mohammed Sallallahu Alaihi va Sallam) has obeyed Allah”.
(Holy Qur’an: Surath 4th : An Nisaa: 80)
“Momineen! Believe in Allah and His Messenger (Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S) and the Book (the Holy Qur’an) that He has sent down to His Messenger and the Scripture that He sent down to those before (him) and whoever disbelieves in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messsenger and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away.” ( Ibid: Verse 136)
“O, Mankind, there has indeed, come to you the Messenger Mohammed S.A.W.S.) with the Truth from your Lord. So believe in him, it is better for you”. (Ibid: Verse 170)
Q. Allah expects us to lead humanity to righteous action and forbid evil. How can this be done?
A. The Holy Prophet S.A.W.S. Informs Us:
Whoever guides and inspires a person to a good deed receives (from
Allah) a reward equal to what is given.to the person who has actually
performed the good deed.
We are commanded: If you notice a wrong being done right it,
- By your hand. Defeat it through your own righteous action.
- By your tongue. Speak up and (prevent the wrong before it is done).
- By your eyes. Show your disgust. Give the wrongdoer a searing look.
- By your heart. If you cannot combat evil as above, nurture in your heart an utter revulsion to the wrongdoing (and pray to Allah for the triumph of righteousness and defeat of evil. (Hadith Bukhari & Muslim)
Q. Is Da’wah an essential duty for every Muslim?
A. Yes.
Da’wah is the labor of love we take on for Allah and His Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S:
It is our duty to convey Islam to All Humanity with clear knowledge and true wisdom and we must do this in kind and gentle words:
Thaw’heed is the unshakable belief we cherish: Allah is One and there is no other God. Any deviation from this straight path nullifies all our good deeds and we sentence ourselves to ignominy.
Ith’thiba’a ar Rasool: We follow with love and devotion the way of life of Our Leader. We strive sincerely to ensure that Our Life, Our Ideals, Our Actions and Our Services to Allah, His Rasool S.A.W.S and to all Humanity are in accord with the Glorious Example set for us by the Holy Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S.
Thaz’kiyah: stands for Purification of the Heart and Mind. This results when we abide by the above commands. Allah informs us: “You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah, an excellent example (Role Model) for him/her who hopes in Allah and the Final Day and who remembers Allah much” (Holy Qur’an: Surath Al-Ah'zaab: 21)
Q. There is so much dissension and mutual recrimination
sneaking into the the ranks of Islam. Why?
A. Allah Warns Us Against Those Who Create Schisms:
Minallazeena farraqoo Deenahum
Va kanoo shi’aiyan kullum hizbim
Bimaa ladaiyhim farihoon
(Surah 30th: Ar Roum: 32)
Of those who split up their religion and formed schisms,
invented deviations (bi’daa) and pursued vain desires,
each sect enjoining that (perversion) which it had embraced.
This Qur’ani injunction against the munaafiqeen, is reiterated in a Hadith narrated by Companion Abu Huraira R.A.A.: Our Glorious Prophet S.A.W.S. cited the breakup of earlier nations into mutually antagonistic sects and warned that Muslims also could be divided to seventythree religious sects: “All of them except one will be in Hell.”
That group will be his own and comprise his devoted followers
who abide by the Holy Qur’an and Hadith in everything
(and they never deviate from the straight path of Islam).
Q. When is a person guilty of Nifaq (Hypocrisy):
A. When anyone is guilty of attempting:
1) To belie the Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S.
2) To belie even in part, the Truths conveyed to us by the Prophet
S.A.W.S, namely the Holy Qur’an, his own Sunnaa (The Hadith),
the Legal Jurisprudence Shariyyah, and other Principles of Islam.
3) To hate the Prophet Syedina Mohammed S.A.W.S.
4) To hate, even in part, the Truths conveyed to us by the Prophet Mohammed S.A.W.S that there is one and Only God, Allah and other eternal truths enshrined in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith.
5) To be pleased with or rejoice over the problems and crises to which
Islam is subjected from time to time by its adversaries.
6) To dread or attempt to counter the possibility that the Faith of Islam will eventually triumph and prevail over all other beliefs.
Such Munaafiqeen indulging these six acts of hypocrisy, will be consigned “to the lowest depths of hell” and “find no helpers”, according to the Holy Qur’an: Surah 4th: An Nisaa: 145) May “Allah kindly save us from such a catastrophe. Aameen!
(From, the Chapter Al Nifaq in the Commentary on the Noble Qur’an by Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddin Al Hilali and Dr. Mohammed Muhsin Khan)
Q. How can we ensure that the Muslim Home remains a haven of peace and righteousness?
A. Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid writes in Naseeha Li-Islaah il-Booyouth:
“And Allah has made for you in your homes an abode” (Holy Qur’an: Surah 16th: al-Nahl : 80]
According to Ibn Katheer: “Allah has given them (Muslims) homes which are a peaceful abode for them, to which they retreat as a haven which covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits.”
What does the home represent to each one of us? Is it not the place where he eats, enjoys intimacy with his wife, sleeps and rests? Is it not the place where he can be alone and can meet with his wife and children?
Is the home not the place that offers cover and protection to women? Allah tells us (interpretation of the meaning): “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” (Surah 33rd: al-Ahzaab : 33)
When Allah punished the Banu Nadeer, He took away this blessing and expelled them from their homes, as He said “He it is Who drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering.” Then He said: “… they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).” [al-Hashr 59:2].
By putting his house in order, the Believer protects himself and his family from the Fire of Hell, safe and secure from the burning inferno: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. The angels in charge, are strong and severe who resist not Allah in that (to) which He commands them and do that (fulfill the responsibilities to ) which they are commanded.” (Surah 66th: al-Tahreem: 6)
The great responsibility borne by the head of the household on the Day of Reckoning:
The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah will ask every shepherd (or responsible person) about his flock (those for whom he was responsible), whether he took care of it or neglected it, until He asks a man about his household.”
The home is a place to protect oneself, to keep away from evil and to keep one's own evil away from people. It is the refuge prescribed by Islam at times of fithnah (strife, tribulation).
The Prophet S.A.W.S. said: “Blessed is the one who controls his tongue, whose house is sufficient for him, and who weeps over his mistakes.”
The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are five things, whoever does one of them, Allah will be with him: visiting the sick, going out for the defence of his community when it is under unjust attack, entering upon his leader with the intention of rebuking or respecting him (as may be needed) or sitting in his home so that the people are safe from him and he is safe from the people.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The safety of a man at times of fitnah is in his staying home.”
People usually spend most of their time at home, especially when it is very hot or very cold, when it is raining, early or late in the day, and after finishing work or school, so this time should be spent in worship and halaal pursuits, otherwise it will be spent in wrongdoing.
Most important: Paying attention to the home is the most important means of building a (viable) Muslim society, because the society is formed of the households and families that form its building blocks.
Households form neighbourhoods, and these form societies. If the building blocks are sound, the society will be based on the laws of Allah, standing firm in the face of enemies and filled with goodness that evil cannot penetrate. Then Muslim homes will produce pillars of society who will reform and guide it aright, such as exemplary dai’yahs, seekers of knowledge, sincere social activists, righteous wives, caring mothers and ideal reformers.
Because this subject is so important, and our homes are full of so many shortcomings and evils and examples of negligence, this begs the very important question: How to transform our homes to be havens of Peace and Faith?
The following contains advice on this topic. May Allah benefit us from it, and cause the Muslims to focus their efforts on reviving the Muslim home. All the following advice revolves around two things: achieving our interests, which is by establishing that which is right and good, and warding off evil, by removing that which can cause it or bring it into our homes.
The most difficult choice for a Muslim young man is: How to choose and marry the best possible Muslim bride? Make a good choice when choosing a wife
“And marry those among you who are single (i.e., a man who has no wife and a woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the saalihoon (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).” (Surah 14th: al-Noor :32 )
“A woman may be married for four things: her wealth, her lineage, her beauty or her religion. Choose the one who is religious, may your hands be rubbed with dust [i.e., may you prosper]!” (Agreed upon).
“This world is all temporary conveniences, and the greatest joy in this life is a righteous wife.” (Reported by Muslim, 1468). “Let every one of you have a thankful heart, a remembering tongue [remembering Allah] and a believing wife who will help him with regard to the Hereafter.” (Reported by Ahmad, 5/282, and al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah from Thawbaan. Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5231).
According to another report: “A righteous wife to help you with your worldly and religious affairs is the best treasure anyone could have.” (Reported by al-Bayhaqi. Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4285).
“Marry one who is loving and fertile, for I will be proud before the other Prophets of your great numbers on the Day of Resurrection.” (Reported by Ahmad. Saheeh al-Irwa’, 6/195).
“I advise you to marry virgins, for their wombs are more fresh, their mouths are more sweet and they are more content with little.” According to another report: “… and they are less likely to deceive.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah. Al-Silsilah al-Saheeh, 623).
Just as a righteous wife is one of the four elements of happiness, so a bad wife is one of the four elements of misery, as it says in the saheeh hadeeth: “One of (the elements of) happiness is a righteous wife.
When you look at her you feel pleased, and when you are away, you feel that you can trust her with regard to herself and your property. And one of (the elements of) misery is a bad wife. When you see her, you feel upset, she keeps attacking you verbally, and when you are away, you do not feel that you can trust her with regard to herself and your property.”
On the other hand, it is also essential to look at the situation of the prospective husband who is proposing marriage to the Muslim woman, and to agree to his proposal in accordance with the following conditions:
The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If there comes to you one with whose religion and character you are pleased, then marry your daughter [or sister, etc.] to him, otherwise there will be fitnah and great corruption in the land.”
All of the above must be achieved through asking the right questions, verifying facts, gathering information and checking sources, so that the home will not be corrupted or destroyed.
The righteous man and righteous woman together will build a righteous home, because “the vegetation of a good land comes forth (easily) by the Permission of its Lord, and that which is bad, brings forth nothing but a little with difficulty…” (al-A’raaf 7:58 )
Striving to guide one’s wife: If one's wife is righteous, this is a blessing indeed, and this is from the Bounty of Allah. If she is not that righteous, then it is the duty of the head of the household to strive to guide her. Any of the following scenarios may apply:
A man may marry a woman who is not religious in the first place, because he himself is not religious at first, or he may have married her in the hope of guiding her, or under pressure from his relatives, for example. In these cases he must strive hard to guide her.
A man must also realize from the outset that guidance comes from Allah, and that Allah is the One Who reforms people. One of His blessings to his slave Zakariya was, as He said: “…and [We] cured his wife for him…” [al-Anbiya’ 21:90]. This curing or reforming may have been physical or religious. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “She was barren and could not have children, then she had a child.” ‘Ataa’ said: “She was harsh of tongue, and Allah reformed her.”
There are various means of guiding or reforming one’s wife:
- Pay attention and correct her manner of worship of Allah
- Strive to strengthen her eemaan.
- Encourage her to pray at night (qiyaam al-layl)
- Inspire her to her to read the Holy Qur’an, memorize as many aayaath as can, Azkaar and remember hkaar and reemember the appropriate times and occasions for saying them
- Motivate her to give charity.
- Bring her excellent and useful Islamic books to read and remember.
- Bring home useful Islamic cassettes and praise them that they will increase her knowledge and strengthen eemaan
- Help her to cultivate meaningful relationship with good, religious friends. She may form ties of sisterhood with them have mutually rewarding conversation and exchange purposeful visits with them.
- Protect her from evil. Keep her secure from unworthy contacts, bad companions and circles of spiritual decadence.
Q. How can we create an atmosphere of faith in the home:
A. Make the home a place for tremembrance of Allah: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of a house in which Allah is remembered and the house in which Allah is not remembered is that of the living and the dead, respectively.”
We must make our homes places where Allah is remembered in all kinds of ways, whether in our hearts, verbally, during prayer, by reading Qur’aan, by discussing Islamic issues, or by reading different kinds of Islamic books.
How many Muslim homes nowadays are dead because there is no remembrance of Allah, as mentioned in the hadeeth. What must they be like when all that is heard therein is the music of Shaytaan with instruments and singing, and backbiting, slander and gossip?
What must they be like when they are filled with evil and sin, such as the haraam mixing of the sexes and wanton display between relatives who are not mahram or with neighbours who enter the home?
How can the angels enter a home like this? Revive your homes with all kinds of dhik’r, may Allah have mercy on you!
Q. How to make our home a Qiblah, a place of worship?
A. Allah informs us: “And We inspired Moosa and his brother (saying)” ‘Take dwellings for your people in Egypt, and make your dwellings as places for your worship, and perform al-salaah, and give glad tidings to the believers.’” Surah 10th: Yoonus 10:87) Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “They were commanded to take their dwellings as places of prayer . (Masaajid).”
“O you who believe! Seek help (from Allah) with patience and prayer” (Holy Qur’an: Surah 2nd: al-Baqarah 2: 153) and as it was reported in the hadeeth that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), when he was distressed by something, would pray.”
In this context we may think of the mihraab of Maryam, which was her place of worship, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Every time Zakariya entered the mihraab to visit her, he found her supplied with sustenance…” (Holy Qur’an: Surah 3rd: Aale Imraan: 37]
The Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them) used to be keen to pray at home – apart from the fard or obligatory Spiritual training for the members of the household
‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allah peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray Qiyaam at night, and when he prayed With’r he would say, ‘Get up and pray With’r, O ‘Aa’ishah!’” (Reported by Muslim, Muslim bi Sharh al-Nawawi, 6/23).
The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes up his wife to pray, and if she refuses he throws water in her face.” (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawood. Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3488).
If the family members see an example among them fasting on al-Ayyaam al-Beed (the 13th, 14th and 15th of each Hijri month), Mondays and Thursdays, Thaasoo’aa’ and ‘Aashooraa’ (the 9th and 10th of Muharram), Arafaah, and frequently in Muharram and Sha’baan, this will be a motive for them to do likewise.
Adkhaar while leaving the home: Abu Dawood reported in his Sunan that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If a man goes out of his house and says, ‘Bismillah, tawakkalthu ‘ala Allah, laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa Billah (In th name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, there is no help and no strength except in Allah),’ it will be said to him:
‘This will take care of you, you are guided, you have what you need and you are protected.’ The Shaythaan will stay away from him, and another shaythaan will say to him, ‘What can you do with a man who is guided, provided for and protected (by Allah)?’” (Reported by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi. Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 499)
Siwaak:Imaam Muslim reported in his Saheeh that Syedathi Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered his house, the first thing he would do was use siwaak.” (Reported by Muslim, Kitaab al-Tahaarah, chapter 15, no. 44).
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do not turn your houses into graves. The Shaythaan flees from a house in which Surath al-Baqarah is recited.” (Reported by Muslim, 1/539)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Recite Surath al-Baqarah in your houses, for the Shaythaan does not enter a house in which Surath al-Baqarah is recited.” (Reported by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak. 1/561; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1170).
Q. How can the heads of Muslim families provide Islami Knowledge in the home to their own families and to others interested?
A. The heads of Muslim families are commanded by Allah: “Believers! Ward off from yourselves and your families a (Hell) Fire whose fuel is men and stones” (Holy Qur’an: Surah 66th: al-Thahreem: 6). It is their duty to guarantee their dependents an Islami upbringing and help them to obey Allah and His Rasool S.A.W.S. and never disobey Him.”
Syedina Ali R.A.A. exhorts us: “Teach them and discipline them.” Scholar Al-Tabari said: “We must teach our children and wives the religion and righteousness and whatever the best of good manners.
We are called upon to to hold a study-circle at home at prescribed timings and invite the family and relatives to come and participate on a regular and ongoing basis. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) set us an example by such meetings.
Al-Bukhaari quotes the Hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri R.A.A: “The women said to the Prophet S.A.W.S: ‘The men always crowd us out and we cannot reach you. So set aside a day for us when we can come (and seek guidance from you.)”
Accordingly, he set aside a day for them and told them, ‘Your appointment is in the house of so and so’ and he came to them and spoke to them (there).’”
Q. How are our good and bad deeds recorded?
A. The pre-eminent Scholar and Companion Ibn Abbas R.A.A. has informed us: “The Prophet S.A.W.S. informed us: Allah instructed the angels as to how they should record the good and bad deeds of everyone. If a person intends sincerely to perform a good deed and fails to do so, Allah will have it recorded as a full good deed in that person’s account. And if the person actually fulfills his intent and performs the good deed he will be accorded the equal reward, that could be ten to seven hundred times its worth or even more in his/her account. And when a person intends to do something bad but finally desists from the evil act, the reward of one full good deed is credited to his/her account. And if a person intends and goes on to perform an evil deed (and does not repent it) only one bad deed will be written into his/her account.
(Sahih al Bukhari: Vol. 8 No.498)
