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Name
Marwa
-
Profession
Question
Salam alaykum! I was just wondering how European Muslims who work deal with Ramadan? Are they allowed a break when it is time for maghrib?
Answer
Dear sister,
As-slamu Alikum wa Rahmtu Allah wa Barkatu,
Ramdan Mubarak, thank you very much for your question. Muslim have been in the west since a long time ago, and the majority of them observe fasting regularly.
The winter days are always very short but the summer days in some areas are very lengthy, somtimes there is no night during June in some countries such as Norway but they have their fatwas.
In countries where the Islamic religion is recognized, Muslims can get some break to break their fast at Maghrib time depending on the relationship between the employer and the employee.
What a Muslim needs to break his fasting is just some dates and water and maybe some fruit or a sandwich and later on he can eat at night this is not a big problem for Muslim in Britain or in the West generally. We usualy advise Muslims to be more hard working and more productive in Ramdan as the early Muslims used to be, this will give also a good image and picture of Muslims during Ramdan and show that this month is a month of work and not sitting like some people may believe.
We hope there will come a time when Muslims can get a break for Iftar from work.
Name
Widya
- Indonesia
Profession
Question
Maybe my question is a bit out of topic, but I will marry a Czech Muslim and live there permanently... do u have picture how Muslim there?
Answer
Muslims in Czechoslovakia have suffered a lot earlier during the Communist period, but now there is good margin of freedom and there are some institutions, especially in universities.
Some Czech Muslims who were originally from a Muslim background are becoming more committed nowadays, and are learning more about Islam.
They have some mosques and there are imams received an Islamic education in Arab and Muslim countries.
Anyway, we wish you a good marriage life full of joy and committment and you yourself can be a good worker for Islam along with your husband and creat a unit in the Muslim ummah for a better future.
Name
Jamila
- Jordan
Profession
Question
First of all, Brother Kamal, Ini Ohiboka fe Allah..
Second, My questions are:
Is Ramadan and its pupose still vague for the non-Muslims?
How do they think of Ramadan as the month of the Holy Qur'an?
Answer
Dear sister,
Thank you very much for your question Jamila; you are a dear daughter and alhamdulillah that Muslims love each other according the principals of Qur'an and Sunnah.
Regarding Ramadan in the West, by time the British people especially those in large cities are beginning to know more about Ramadan. Some of the officials are giving Iftar parties to the Muslims and some Muslims institutions are inviting non-Muslims to attend Iftar parties as well.
Some schools ask the Muslim mosques and councils in different cities to explain to the students about Ramadan and fasting because young students see other young Muslims fasting in schools - they do not drink or eat during the whole day - so they find that could be diffcult but interesting at the same time.
The media also gives some programs and films about Ramadan and Muslims in different parts of the world. Media people - both Arabic and other media - write a lot of articles on Ramadan and the traditions of Muslims during that month. Ramadan is becoming prominent in the West and some words and terminology are used now by the western people like Iftar, Azan, Ramadan, Halal and other words as well.
Name
Moussa
- Kenya
Profession
Tandia
Question
Assalam alaikoum!
My sister wears pants and body shirts, how's her fasting?
Answer
Dear sir;
First of all Muslim women have a special respectable way of dressing whether in Ramadan or in other months. Women are not allowed to put on tight clothes that can describe their bodies, but fasting insha'Allah is acceptable. There will be more reward from God if you combine this matter and the code of dressing and behaviour, especially in the month of Ramadan, which is the month of forgiveness and mercy from Allah (S.W.T). Allah (S.W.T) says in the Qur'an that good deeds do away with bad deeds and actions.
Try to wear good-looking dresses sutiable to the body that do not describe parts of the body whether it is pants or tops.
I see in every street in London many Muslim girls who look neat and handsome with their spacious dresses and good behaviour they attract others to daawah by just dressing differently from non-Muslims.
Name
Malika
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
Salam alaykum.
Dear sir, here in Pakistan, Muslim families get together to break the fast (iftar). I understand that in Europe there are a lot of Muslims there who live alone or whose families are not Muslims. Do the mosques or Islamic centers in Europe arrange any kind of communal iftar or prayers to help these Muslims to feel the spirit of Ramadan? Or do the Muslims who are originally from Muslim countries ignore Muslim converts in Ramadan?
Answer
Dear sister;
As-salamu Alikum wa Rahmtu Allah wa Barkatu;
Thank you for your questions and congratulations for Muslims in Pakistan. We as a family enjoyed fasting in Pakistan for 5 years and we know how it is in Pakistan. It is really a good time for families to meet, eat and discuss matters togther.
This is an Islamic tradition and since it could be applied anywhere, Muslims in Europe also break fast either with their families or in the mosque, in Muslim schools, in Islamic centers. There are many good charitable persons from Europe or abroad who provide programs for Iftar Sa'im because they get more reward for that from Allah. Charity and relief organizations do arrange for Iftar in different institutions as well.
Name
Dr hassan el-massry
- United Kingdom
Profession
media counsultant
Question
How we can unite again the Islamic nation to carry its duties and fulfill its future?
Answer
Thank you very much Dr. Hassan for your question, it is really a very signficant one. Please give my regards to your family.
The question for uniting the Ummah is one of the major issues that concerns Muslims and non-Muslims. Muslims try to do so and others try to disunite them. I do not think that the unity of the Ummah is very difficult to achieve, especially after the Islamic movement spread in different parts of the world and many achievments have been realised.
I think that Islamists are proceeding steadliy and slowly to bring Islah for the Ummah and then there will come another stage where the Islamists can meet together, discuss together on solid grounds.
There are some institutions on the national level of the Ummah that claim taking care of this matter but it is politicized offer - that is why even Russia approached the OIC to become a member. It happened before that in history, the Ummah was disunited and invaded as it is now. However, Allah (S.W.T) selected some good leaders and Muslihs like Salah Eddin Al-Ayoubi who brought the Ummah back togther. Muhammad Al-Fatih also did a great effort.
We hope that the Islamic revival in different countries is the first basic step for the unity of the Ummah. This does not mean that we should sit waiting, rather, we have to work for it and every Muslim has a responsibility in this regard, whether in the field of media or in other fields as well.
It is necessary as well to keep away extremists and violence from the way of unifying the Ummah. What is going on in Palestine and in Iraq at the moment is a good sign of rejecting occupation and facing colonialists. A full program is required for that and I think that Hassan Al-Banna sorted out a good program for the unity of the Ummah based on understanding Islam and Tarbiyah of new generations.
Even during the time when the Ummah is disunited we can coordinate our efforts and deal with some different problems on the national level and regional level as well.
Name
Hassan
-
Profession
Question
Salamoun Aalaikoum,
I have psychiatrical problems and what happens when sometime don't have control over my habits and then ended up eating/drinking..ect..
Jazakoum allahou khayran
Answer
Dear Brother Hassan,
We pray Allah (S.W.T) to grant you a quick recovery. You should follow your treatment program with good doctors. There are very good Muslim psychiatrists in almost every country nowadays. If you need more details send to IslamOnline and they will advise you.
Fasting is obligatory on every Muslim who can fast without great hardship. The sick people or diseased have special treatmen. You should seek the opinion of a good Muslim psychiatrist about the habit of forgeting or not controling yourself. However, Allah (S.W.T) said in the Qur'an that there is no punishment for sick people. Allah will forgive them if they cannot keep fasting.
Your problem is not only a fiqhi problem, but it is also a medical one. Try to avoid looking at food and water during Ramadan, or sitting in coffe shops. Try also to mention to name of Allah from time to time and try to keep in good company most of the time, either at home or in school or at work. Also, you can read some verses of the Qur'an, as this may help you to control yourself in Ramadan.
Name
shaikh Din Mohammed
- India
Profession
executive
Question
Assalam o walekum,
First thing is i'm residing in jeddah i have done the umrah and i want to perform hajj InshaAllah this year i have to do umrah once again. this will be my first hajj. And also if i can perform hajj ahead of my mother she has not yet performed the hajj yet and also if i can perform hajj if i have bank loan on me kindly give the answer Shukran.
Answer
Thank you very much and congratulations for the Umrah you already performed, we ask Allah S.W.T to help you in performing other Umrah and make Hajj this year.
I do believe that there is no problem from the Islamic prespective if you do Hajj while you have a loan if your intention and resources can help you to settle the loan and if the loan is not required to be settled before Hajj, otherwise you have to ask the lender to be patient and accept payment after Hajj.
Yes, you can perform Hajj ahead of your mother, no problem in that. It is very good that you are thinking of your mother preforming the Hajj ,but if she is unable financially or physically, you can preform Hajj next year on her behalf.
Name
Do`aa
- Egypt
Profession
Question
What about the Ramadan activities in European Islamic centers and associations? Can you provide the IslamOnline Ramadan Activities page with some?
Thank you for your question, there are many acitivites in Ramadan in European Islamic centers:
1. Collective Iftar.
2. Tazkera after each prayers.
3. Qiyam Al-Layl and Taraweeh Prayers.
4. Collection of sadaqat (charity).
5. Preparation for Umrah and visits to Medina.
6. Visits among Muslim families.
7. Ramadan Radio in different cities in the UK.
You can entrust some of the young generations to write you about these activities in details.
Name
Rachael
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Salam Alaykum,
Inshallah I hope this finds you in good health and Imaam
My question is, If a woman is menstruating when it is Eid is it permissable for her to go to the mosque and pray Eid prayers. If not what can she do not to miss out on these blessings of praying?
Answer
Dear sister;
As-slamu Alikum wa Rahmtu Allah;
As for your question, a women can not pray if she is menstruating, but she can go and attend with other Muslims at the mosque but she cannot pray at all.
Name
akhtar
- United Kingdom
Profession
Executive officer- Civil Servent
Question
During the month of Ramadan we get live transmission of taraweeh from the mosque. My question, is it possible to pray along the live transmission, and if the answer is no, then how is it possible that we pray with the Imam in our local mosque while it is placed on a different floor from us and we folllow him via the speaker. why is one allowed and not the other, even though the Illah of the qiyas is the same.
Answer
Dear brother;
As-salamu Alikum wa Rahmtu Allah wa Barkatu;
I think it would be better to send this question to the Fatwa section.
Note from admin.: There will be a live Fatwa session today at 13:30 GMT.
Name
Soha
- United Kingdom
Profession
computer teacher
Question
I am running weekly Islamic and Arabic language school in the UK. It is the only Islamic school in the area. How can I transform this school to a regular daily Islamic school that also teaches the national curriculum?
Answer
Dear sister;
Thank you very much for your educational activities especially if it is the only Islamic school in the area that you are running, may allah bless you and accept your effort.
To run a full Islamic school according to the national curriculum it is very important to contact the Department of Education in your area or seek advice about procedures and requirements from the good Muslims who earlier started full Islamic schools like Sheikh Yusuf Islam who is running a good school in London, it is funded partly by the government at present, you can ask also Al-Hira school authority in Birmingham about the requirements.
I know that there is an association for Muslim schools you can try to ask them, there is also the Avenue School is in London run by Al-Rahma Foundation, the adminstration can help you probarly in this regard, there telephone number is 020 84593331.
