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Yours,
IOL Homepage Editor
Answer
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Name
repentant
-
Profession
Question
Salams Altaf,
May Allah forgive me and all Muslims, and may He, the Almighty, accept my repentance, Amen.
I know than one should not declare his/her sins publicly, but I was suffering from Bulimia (eating disorder), but I take the step and broke free from the beginning of August, and thanks God I'm still fighting and happy with my breaking free.
The problem is that I consider Ramadan as a start and as a new beginning, but I'm afraid ha when Ramadan ends that I shall return to my old misdeeds?.
Can you give me some steps to keep myself a way from this eating disorder? But bear in mind that it's impossible to consult a doctor, but all my weapons is the sincere repentance.
Answer
Thank you so much for joining us for this live dialog. In general, it is recommended that we do not discuss our sins publicly, but in your case, the disclosure is done in a respectful way and it is done anonymously. We also make du'a that anyone reading your question and our response will find the exchange of benefit to them.
We are not sure why you cannot seek professional help, especially from a medical doctor. Eating disorders should not be taken lightly because they rarely occur in a vacuum. There are usually other issues such as overwhelming guilt or depression, which are sometimes associated with bulimia, especially. It is only marginally possible to help yourself to have a bulimia-free lifestyle. It is therefore recommended that in addition to making lots of du'a to Allah, doing your best to repent and restrain yourself from engaging in such behavior, that you also consult a medical doctor and then ultimately work with a therapist.
Make du'a for the best this Ramadan. You can change insha'Allah, with concerted effort, professional interventions, and most importantly, the help and guidance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Allah knows best.
Name
Rahman Khan
- Pakistan
Profession
Engineer
Question
Asalam O Alaikum!
I hope you are doing fine and ok.
I don’t know the exact wordings to explain my problem but I will try my best to explain in detail.
Well, about four years ago I promised Allah s.w.t and decided that if I get admission in some engineering college for my intended studies, I will stop shaving my beard and become a beard Muslim.
Now, as I have completed my degree and became an engineer, I am in dilemma about such promise. You know things seem big and large at the beginning. Anyways, now, due to this and other reasons, I do not want to withhold my that promise and continue shaving.
So, if Allah will forgive my disobedience (or what ever you may call) or is there anyway to compensate for such mistake?
I hope you got my problem.
Jazakallah,
Regards,
Mohammad Rahman Khan
Answer
Thank you so much for joining this live dialog. When it comes to making promises to Allah, he is not affected the least bit if we break our promises to Him. He on the other hand, never breaks His promise. Although you associated somehow getting admission into college and becoming as you say, a "beard Muslim," there is actually no relationship between the two because no matter what, as a Muslim man, it is incumbent upon you to follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. We know from the narration of Ibn 'Umar radhi Allahu anhuma, that our beloved Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, "cut the moustaches short and leave the beard (as it is)." (Sahih Bukhari, Book #72, Hadith #781). In all matters of life, we rely on the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam to engage in behavior which is pleasing to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The growing a beard would be one sure way of emulating the Prophetic tradition and therefore pleasing Allah 'azza wa jal.
Without getting embroiled in a discussion more worthy of being engaged in by our Islamic scholars about whether growing a beard is mandatory for Muslim men or not, we can say to you that you should talk to a local Imam about the particular promise you made and which you now find necessary to break. Keep in mind for the future that making promises to Allah, taking an oath etc., are very serious matters which should not be uttered in jest or without sincere and firm conviction to fulfill those promises or the uphold the oath. Make du'a to Allah to strengthen your faith and to enter into your heart a strong desire to follow Allah and His messenger in all aspects of your life.
Allah knows best.
Name
Asma
-
Profession
researcher
Question
I just want to feel good, close to God and protected by God. It´s sometimes difficult to that you are a muslim and that you are proud of that, especcially when dealing with non-muslim. I find being a visible muslim (wearing a headscarf) undermines my selfconfidence. Being a muslim to me sometimes feels more like a burden than a protection, and I don't want to feel like this. What should I do?
Answer
Thank you so much for joining this live dialog. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala bless you for asking a question which will be of benefit to so many other Muslim men and women who are experiencing similar feelings about being Muslim in this day and age.
While Muslim men can on the most part blend into mainstream society with less challenges, we appreciate the tremendous burdens that our Muslim sisters undertake in being a "visible Muslim," by virtue of their modest clothing - especially wearing the hijab. The world is slowly coming to terms with the growing revival of faith among Muslims. There are clearly still many among people of other faiths, for whom the hijab on women and beards on men, are sources of discomfort at the least and outright hatred at worst.
Having said all that, we want to remind you that it although we might not be able to change how others feel about Muslims or how they deal with us, we can do our best to change how we feel about ourselves and how we deal with people of other faiths. You could start for example by reminding yourself that by wearing the hijab you are pleasing Allah while also practicing modesty. If you treat the hijab as a part of who you are, then over time, you will present yourself as one package, a complete, God-conscious person, as opposed to a woman who has a piece of cloth on her head.
Practice with each interaction, with people of other faiths, to present yourself with confidence, knowing that you are a member of a religion that has over a billion followers, knowing that there are millions and millions of other women who are your sisters in this faith and who are also struggling just like you to maintain their self-confidence and self-esteem in the face of outright hostility sometimes, towards Islam and Muslims. Be prepared to work hard to maintain the focus of your dealings with people of other faiths on topics of human concern and not always about Islam. If you always feel like you have to talk about Islam, or to defend Islam, you will make yourself overly self-conscious. If you wear the hijab, conduct yourself in a modest manner and go about being a human being with certain skills, talents, and something to contribute to this world, your own focus and the attention of others will be less on the hijab and your being a Muslim and more on the collective contribution you all can make to make this world a better place insha'Allah.
Allah knows best.
Name
Mohammed Nazeer Ahmed
- India
Profession
Question
after namaz what we will read in our finger ? and what is a dua for after namaz duaa?
Answer
Thank you for joining us for this live dialog.
After namaz (salah), it is recommended that we not rush off to our worldly affairs, rather we should remain calm, and focused, and seek the assistance and guidance from Allah. According to the Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, the time following immediately after the fard salah is one of the times when our supplication or du'a is accepted. Unlike the supplications during the salah which must be in Arabic, we are given the freedom to seek help from Allah through making du'a in our native languages.
As for your question about what will be "read in our finger," we assume you are referring to making dhikr while counting on our fingers the number of times we are saying a particular phrase. Again, according to the Prophetic tradition, we should say Subhanallah (33 times), Alhamdulillah (33 times), and Allahu Akbar (33 times). These add up to 99, and we complete this session of the dhikr with saying 'la ilaha il-Allah,' essentially having remembered Allah one hundred times. Please take this Ramadan as the starting point for you to practice making such du'a and dhikr and continue this blessed routine after Ramadan as well.
Allah knows best.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
What is the role of youth in the prospective change that we seek in Ramadan?
Answer
Thank you for this question. It is common to hear that change in general is more difficult to make as we become older in age. Although none of us is beyond making change no matter how old we are, over time, people have found that younger people are more receptive and more capable of making change and sustaining the changes. During Ramadan, the routine of waking up for suhur, praying fajr, making dhikr afterwards, going to school or work, playing, completing the other obligatory prayers, breaking the fast at maghrib, praying tarawih prayers, establishing a qiyam or late night prayer routine etc., take a toll on our bodies. In addition, there is also a psychological impact depending on what particular dysfunctional habits we are trying to break in Ramadan. If we do not pray on time regularly, if we find it difficult to practice restraint in our speech, in our eating habits, in how we spend our time in general, then Ramadan is the time to focus in making these changes with every day that we fast.
The youth will find it somewhat easier than adults insha'Allah to establish spiritual routines in Ramadan and maintain them throughout the year.
Allah knows best.
Name
Muslim
-
Profession
Question
All what you said about change and making use of Ramadan is very nice, and many people actually change in Ramadan for the better, but once Ramadan is over, we witness a reverse change and they return to their old, bad habits. In your opinion, what are the causes of this problem, and how could it be overcome?
Answer
Thank you for joining this live dialog. Your question is perhaps one which must have been asked every year since Muslims officially began to fast during the month of Ramadan over 1400 some years ago.
One of the major misconceptions about Ramadan is that the spiritual exercises we engage in during that month are to be limited to that month alone. This is simply wrong. If we consider even the fact that literally overnight, when the first of Ramadan is announced, we transform ourselves from a routine of eating three and sometimes many more times a day, to actually fasting from food, drink, etc. Obviously, we are commanded to fast during the month of Ramadan and so we do it. However the reason we fast during Ramadan does not change the underlying spiritual benefits associated with fasting, such as heightened God consciousness, self-restraint, and generally improved spiritual, mental, and physical health. If we understand those benefits, we would want to do everything we can to sustain those benefits throughout the year - and we can do so by upholding the Prophetic tradition of fasting Mondays and Thursdays of every week throughout the year. Of fasting during the month of Sha'baan and Shaw-wal, and the fast of Ashura and the fasts during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and so on.
Similarly, the routine of praying the tarawih prayer in congregation should help us to also appreciate the tremendous benefits and rewards both spiritual and earthly, of praying on time and of congregational prayers. If we appreciate these benefits and rewards, then we would want to reap these benefits throughout the year.
Ultimately, we are responsible to establish a strong spiritual routine and connection with Allah during Ramadan and then maintaining that routine throughout the year. We should make lots of du'a during Ramadan, asking Allah to accept our fasting and praying and acts of charity during Ramadan and also to help us to maintain those habits throughout the year. The scholars of Islam remind us that one way to know that our fasting in Ramadan was accepted is the degree to which we are able to maintain throughout the year, the changes we made in Ramadan.
Allah knows best.
Name
A.
-
Profession
Question
How can I come closer to my family during Ramadan? Also I would like to marry. Is it allowed to have contacts during Ramadan? What is the best way to meet a future spouse?
Answer
Thank you for joining this live dialog. Let us separate the two points. With regards to getting closer to your family during Ramadan, we encourage you to make a plan first to ensure that there are particular times when your family can actually spend time together. All of us have busy schedules so we cannot have an abstract desire to become closer with our family without taking tangible steps to make it happen. If the schedules allow it, eating suhur or iftar as a family would be ideal. Going to and from tarawih prayer would also be helpful. Engaging in community service projects as a family would be helpful. It is not recommended to spend time together during Ramadan watching movies or television or anything which would distract us from the remembrance of Allah, including idle talk.
As for wanting to get married, since we are already into this Ramadan, focus your attention on strengthening your relationship with Allah through perfecting your Ramadan routine. Make it a point to pray during the last third of the night, making du'a to Allah to bless you with a spouse who will help you to reach paradise. If you are at a point that you can consider candidates for marriage, there is no problem in having meetings between the families of the two candidates to discuss marriage. No matter what time of the year, the same guidelines apply for interactions with members of the opposite gender who are not a part of our family, i.e. non-mahram. Therefore, you are encouraged to have purposeful, public and limited interactions with the candidates for the purposes of exploring the possibility of marrying them.
As for the best way to meet your spouse, start with your family and seek their assistance and in turn the assistance of other relatives and trusted family friends. Make lots of du'a to Allah and it is possible that if He has willed it, you will realize your goal of being married very soon insha'Allah.
Allah knows best.
Name
Tazin
- Japan
Profession
student
Question
Assalamualikum. Would you pls. advice me that how I can utilize my last 10 days in Ramdan.
Answer
Thank you for joining this live dialog. This session is concluding, but please refer to this response from the Ask the Scholars section of Islam Online, to a similar question:
All over the world all most all muslim try to read whole Quran in ramadan.But we have no impact in our life after studying the whole Quran.Because we are non-arabian muslim. We read Quran but we can't understand.So what is your opinion about this?
Answer
Thank you for joining this live dialog. This session is concluding, but our short response is that the Prophetic tradition tells us that in fact the reward for non-native Arabic speakers to read the Qur'an is greater because of the difficulty we experience and even then we persist. Also, there are now masha'Allah many translations of the Qur'an available so although we might not understand what is being recited in tarawih prayers, we should make it a point on our own time to read the Qur'an along with the translation in our native language. We should do this throughout the year so that we can have maximum benefit and understanding from the Qur'an. Of course, as much as possible, we should join study circles so that we can benefit from a learned scholar.
Allah knows best.
Name
utami
- Indonesia
Profession
secretary
Question
what should you do if you were me...
i was a sinner, now married and having 2 babies, live hapilly with husband and kids, should I tell the truth to my husband about my past..now I only keep this thing in mind and only me and Allah knows what was happen to me in the past..
Answer
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