The session has started. Please join us with your questions.
Answer
--
Name
Aurengzeb
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
Are muslims allowed to form gangs to proctect themselves from rival gangs in the neighborhood that are threating muslims.
Answer
Rival gangs like what is here in London, many Muslims have become involved with drug selling and have become involved in fighting with other Muslim gangs.
In my opinion - if it is a group of Muslims and they are being persecuted because they are Muslim then Allah has given them the freedom to defend themselves as Muslims, not to 'defend' their drugs patch especially from other Muslims. In the words of Malcom X we are peaceful with those who are peaceful with us.
Name
Fahd Hussain
- Canada
Profession
investment banker
Question
Dear respected scholar, I would like to know your opinion on the rappers that are muslim. Many rappers do talk about drugs, sex and gangs. However I find that rappers that are true sunni muslims ( not nation of islam or 5% nation) are very positive and talk about social issues and and justice. One such rapper that comes to mind is Mos Def. Yusuf Qardawari one of the most respected scholars has stated that music in not haram if it does not encourage indecency. I feel that socially conciouse rappers even if they are not muslim is a positve influence on society and way for society to reflect on injustices in the world today. Salam.
Answer
Thank you for your question. As far as I know the only Muslim rapper that is well known is Mos Def , and it is a shame to say that as of late he was in a video exhibiting very unIslamic behaviour with a female singer. Many of these brothers are shaped by the people that are around.
This is why it is so important to have good friends that will help you towards the good and away from the evil. Also by carrying on in such a manner some young Muslims will be misled and think it is ok Islamically to carry on with women in such a manner. As far as Yousef al Qaradawi is concerned I would not put too much credence to what he says as he is well known for changing his opinion from one day to the next. As for music being haram that depends on the content and the instruments used.
I myself first heard about Islam by listening to the raps of public enemy who were socially conscious and spoke the truth but today many young brothers and sisters do not want the truth they want the fantasy of gangster rap people such as dr. Dre snoop dogg who are controlled by the government - would you like me to give a quick explanation how?
Death row records are publically headed by a charactor by sugh knight who is supposed to have links to organised crime in America, but in reality Death Row records belonged to a crack dealer by the name of Michael Harris who was arrested and the company was taken away from him as part of his assets.
A lawyer by the name of David Kennar took over the rights of the company. David Kennar was also the lawyer for Shug Knight and Snoop Dogg. Michael Harris issued a law suit, David Kennar as having taken death row records and put Shug Knight at the front to head it to give it the illusion of being run by organised crime as Shug Knight was a former gang member.
The house that Shug lived in was owned by Laurance Largo who was the deputy district attorney for Los Angeles. Laurance Largo works for Gill Garcetti who was the district attorney for Los Angeles and a friend of David Kennor.
In reality this music was only being used to create bloodshed and disunity amongst the black community in America.
Name
parveen
- India
Profession
homemaker
Question
Assalamu alaikum,
How can we save our whole society from today's modern Western evils?
Answer
The best solution to all of the world’s evils is to return to the deen of Allah as it is Islam that provides a foundation to protect people from incorrect and haram behaviour.
The West has not maintained a moral foundation and has deviated into ideologies such as Darwinism. They do not have the fear of Allah or the Hell fire to stop them doing evil which is paramount to any society.
For example we have gay preists and bishops in many European communities today. The reason being is that they have not submitted their desires to the desires of Allah to live good and righteous lives in accordance to His revelation. So we as Muslims must return to what made us successful and at the same time be messengers of the messenger of Allah (PBUH) by our example of how we live day to day.
Inshallah through our example the kufar would come to Islam so we should work as Muslims to reform our own community and mankind to protect it, not just from the evil of the west, but from the evil of mankind’s desires.
Name
Bay
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
Asalaamalakum,
The rap culture in the United states is very much hyped up.The images and lifestyle most of it protrays is not really good for any youth living anywhere. Nowadays seems like all the young kids want to be "ganstahs". My question is what's the best way to approach this problem with the youth. What is your viewpoint about the current terms of using the word "dawg" to refer to your friends and other people? Could it be said that the person doesnt mean to use it as it is normally used (dog). Please help me deal with this issue.
Jazakullah khair
Answer
Inshallah one of the best ways is to highlight the actual hypocracy of the rappers themselves. Many of them work for the American government and are very highly educated. For example the rapper Notorious Big was educated in private school. He never sold drugs to make his money, puff, daddy is from a middle class family. He’s been nowhere near drugs or organised crime.
Also the rapper dr. dre is a happily married man with a wife and children who was asked on mtv, ‘do you treat your wife the same way you talk about women in his records?’ He said he could never speak to his wife like that because she would kick him out!
His wife also herself said that people need to understand that Dr Dre is a charactor not based on reality but is a very good marketing tool"(for selling his records to the underclass getto children who don’t know any better and just copy him.)
Also it has become a fashion for many of the rappers such as jay-z to show off their wealth by buying diamonds and rings with no understanding of where the diamonds come from. Sierra Leone is one of the world's diamond producers. About three years ago a civil war broke out over control of the diamond minds. The rebel forces would capture government loyalists, would rape their women, and cut the hands of the children to force the men to work for them.
The rebel forces were Christians and the government loyalists were Muslims so every time you see jay-z know that the diamonds or bling that he has on his arm got there because some Muslim lost their arms. There is an old english saying 'it cost an arm and a leg.' And for the brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone it surely did.
As for the issue of using the word 'dawg.' If you call someone a dog for long enough they may act like one and dogs are dirty, and breed with every other female dog.They can leave puppies all over the place just like many men today.
Name
yousuf
- Qatar
Profession
engineer
Question
asalam aleykum,
What advice do you have for Muslims who have visited the West and got caught up in drugs, sex and alcohole etc.... ? How does one get out of this cycle and go back to practising Islam ?
Answer
The advice I can give is to ask Allah's forgiveness for the things you may have done wrong. Begin to practice the deen and substitute your kafur friends for practicing brothers and sisters who will be a positive influence on you. One of the best forms of rehabilitation is to sit in the company of Muslims who talk about Allah’s deen because when you mention Allah’s deen your Iman grows and you will feel a hatred in your heart to go back to your old ways.
Also when you gather in the company of believers to discuss Allah’s deen the angels descend with the blessings, mercy and forgiveness of Allah. That is why the Prophet (pbuh) said if you go the perfume shop two things will happen: you will come away with a bottle of perfume or the smell of perfume on you this is symbolic of you taking on the characteristics of whoever you are around.
Most young brothers and sisters find themselves falling into haram actions because of who they are around.
Name
Saifudeen
- India
Profession
Programmer
Question
Dear Scholar, Assalamu Alaikum. In this evil world, how can young people protect themselves from evils(all)? Kindly explain to me in detail.
Answer
The best form of protection is continual practice of Islam, as fear of Allah installs in someone the desire to avoid evil which displeases Allah. See the company of good practicing Muslims. Like the Prophet (pbuh) said the believers are like two hands washing each other. ie we help each other to avoid evil and keep each other cleansed physically and spiritually.
If you are tempted to commit zina it is better for you to marry young to a good practicing brother or sister. I would also say that you should try to aquire as much knowledge of islam as you can, as the more knowledge you gain Insha Allah your Iman will grow and these things will protect you from the evils around you.
But the first foundation is continual (at least 5 times a day) salah as this is the first defence from the evils around us.
Name
ameera
- South Africa
Profession
student
Question
What effect to you think the music that teenagers listen to has on them? Are there any studies regarding this issue?
Answer
Speaking for myself when i was a Christian, i was very heavily influenced by the rap music I listened to - to the degree that i spoke like, and dressed like the rapper ice cube to the point where I did my very best to live up to one of his most famous sayings - "cop killer", "b..... killer". Although I never killed anybody - i hated anybody in authority, especially the police and saw women as sexual playthings to serve my pleasures. I never them as a future wife or mother of my children.
Also much of the music today has hidden or sibliminal messages in them that act like a form of hypnosis so they are very dangerous. As for any studies done I don't know -perhaps you could do an internet search.
Name
F
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
Assalamu Alaykum Brother.
There are many so-called gangs in places such as schools and colleges. 'Bad boy' is the label most young males wish to have!
How to bring them out of these cloud of euphoria, and back to the real world, in a way which won't seem so uncool?
Jazakhallah Khair. May Allah bless you in abundance Aameen.
Answer
On many occasions the gangs are usually based on flimsy allegiances especially when they are Muslims and kufar together. I know of brothers who were in gangs and when they got into trouble their own kufar gang members ran out on them.
True alligence is based upon the deen of Islam and Allah. He says in the Qu'ran 'never will the Jews and Christians be pleased with you until you follow their deen.'
So even though many Muslims are running with kufar gangs, the kufar will never be happy with them. For example, take Bosnia in Europe - the Muslims and the Serbs did every haram together but that was still not enough. The time came when the Serbs killed the Muslim Bosnians.
Also many young brothers and sisters judge Islam by their parents and so they see Islam as being old and out of date. So we should introduce Islam to them in a bright and vibrant fashion that still holds on everything that Allah revealed and the Prophet (pbuh) did.
For example subsitue kufar rap with Islamic rap. There are many good Islamic rappers such as Mecca 2 Medina, Soldiers of Allah, and the most recent being Sheik Terra and the Soul Salah Crew who are entertaining but encourage an Islamic message.
But we should also take into consideration that many of our young brothers and sisters today are more influenced by the classroom and the TV rather than the masjid. We must start providing low cost Islamic schools that all of our children can attend, thus encompassing them in a more complete Islamic environment: from education, entertainment, work - in essence from the cradle to grave.
Name
nick
- Australia
Profession
student
Question
Can u explain to me why young people get drawn into gangs? And what parents can do to stop that?
Answer
Many young people are drawn into gangs for companionship and friendship but unfortunately these gangs are often a substitute for what is missing in the home, that is, the father does not take any interest in what his children are doing and is more concerned with running his corner shop, or something like that. In other instances people are drawn into gangs for economic reasons - selling and robbing with the group.
Being in gangs is often seen as the best way to make money and of course there is also peer group pressure. Islam, Alhumdulillah, offers the solution to all three as the Prophet (pbuh) encouraged the Muslim man to be involved in the upbringing of his children, and to show them love and respect. One of the best ways to do this is by spending 'quality' time with them rather than quality time elsewhere with other people.
I myself come from a one parent family and got involved in crime and so forth mainly due to the fact that I did not have my father’s influence around me to help educate and discipline me and teach me about the dangers of the outside world. Islam does not stop us from making money but we should be aiming to build mansions in the next life not in this life.
So by having a loving father around who can advise us who are good friends to keep and bad ones to get rid of , and having him as an example in that he earns halal money , but spends time with his family - would go some way to ending the appeal of bad gangs. Parents should take an active interest in their children and not create a distance.
Name
sisa
- Fiji
Profession
student
Question
What makes people use drugs and what are the dangers? Thanks a lot for your answer.
Answer
Most young people are drawn into drug use through friends who tell them its good. When we are young we trust everything our friends tell us. Some young people use drugs to escape the pressures of life such as studies, or pressure from friends.
Parents should not be pressuring their children to be what they want them to be but rather encouraging what the child wants to do. As long as it's halal.
Also parents should take an interest as to who their childrens friends are. If someone becomes addicted to drugs this can lead to robbery, and even prostitution to feed their drug habit and this simply creates more evil in society.
But the thing I am most ashamed of is that we as Muslims are encourageing the drug industry. For example Muslims in Afghanistan since the end of the Taliban grow the drugs, ship it through Iran to Turkey where it is brought into Europe from where it is distributed to Muslims from all over the world who pass it on to others to sell often back to muslims to take. Of course with the help of the Kufar governments. It was the American CIA (as I call it the Cocane Import Agency ) who allowed drugs to be brought into the black community of Los Angels to help keep them down, and fund the many coups in South America.
Name
life driver
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
My intention is to change and get away from the glitters of this world but there is not much help - there is no one for me and there aren't many Muslim like around me. What are the adults doing to help us youth?
Answer
InshAllah my advice to you would be to start something for the youth yourself, because inshAllah if you are sincere then Allah will send people to help and aid you in your cause. Remember Islam started with one person - the Rasuol (Messenger) (pbuh) and look how many Muslims there are in the world today. Act as though everything depends on you but know that everything depends on Allah.
It is sad as you mention, but what are the adults doing to help the youth? I'm afraid not much at all, but perhaps you could seek the advice from the brothers and sisters at islamOnline Volunteer Youth Resource Network, where they can link you up with other brothers and sisters in your locality. I would like to be the first to offer my services to you just email me at questionak@yahoo.com and I would like to see how I can help you.
Name
desperate young Muslim
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
Before I was a Muslim my whole life was geared around music, singing and dancing, as all of these things are not allowed what advice would you give as I feel my life has no direction?
Answer
My advice to you is that your purpose or direction in life has not ended but has changed and a change for the better is always a good thing. Ponder what you were doing before. You say music, singing and dancing. In most cases people only sing to be attractive to the opposite sex and to be famous but often these involve giving up ones God-given goodness. For example, if you're a woman it would mean you would have to change your style of dress, and in fashion terms women's clothing is designed to pander to the sexual desires of men, who will often only respect you on how short your skirt is, not what is inside your head. And fame is only a temporary pleasure. For example where will Britney Spears be in 50 years time – forgotten! Whereas the people of Paradise will be there forever and all people will know you because of your very good deeds.
To the people who listen to music. Don’t you know that it is just a way for the singers to make a lot of money? And they do not respect the people who buy their records. My advice to you in closing is to come together with other like-minded brothers and sisters who practice the deen and encourage each other in doing good deeds. Perhaps within a group structure you could speak to young kufar your own age and educate them.
The singers, rappers and rock stars are living fantasy lives that will disappear when they are dead and the hell fire will welcome them with open arms because of all the evil they spread on the earth.
Name
jelaha
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
I find myself getting caught up in this world. I love the deen and I love Allah and I feel the only way to keep strong is to get married to someone who can help me. I'm nearly 14 and people around me think I'm too young. They don't know me. I don't want to be a victim like the other youth around me. What should I do?
Answer
Alhamdullilah it is good that you wish to keep yourself pure. Obviously you understand yourself that you have certain urges and it is better to fulfill them in marriage before shaytan takes advantage of them.
It is good if you can find a good brother or sister to help you select a good spouse, as it is Islamically permissible for you to marry and have a family.
In the west girls are having children out of wedlock at twelve and thirteen with no support from the boyfriend. Within marriage you will have all of the support of your spouse and more importantly the support of Allah. May Allah help you in this matter.
Name
losing my deen
- United States
Profession
student
Question
First i started off listening to music in my room. Then I started buying CDs. Then my friends persuaded me to go to nightclubs. Then I stopped wearing hijab. I started mixing with boys and now I'm scared of ending up 'in trouble' if you know what I mean, like one of my close friends who has started to sing and dance on stage. And she has lost her deen. I still have Allah in my heart but I know I'm losing my faith bit by bit. Can you help me?
Answer
Alhamdullilah sister you realise you have a problem and wish to solve it and this is the first step in finding your solution. The first step I would recommend to you is that if you are not able to stop yourself from listening to music, you need to bin them, as by keeping it around you have a constant reminder of the haram you may be tempted to go back to. The least you should do is substitute it for an Islamic alternative.
The next step may seem very extreme but I think it is a necessary action to save yourself. I believe the time has come to make a distance between yourself and your friends who will only seek to bring you back into the haram you wish to escape from. Often our friends can be our worst enemies as they lead us into so much haram.
Perhaps insha Allah you could start to attend Islamic lectures and study circles where you can make a new group of friends who will help you in halal, and not haram. Most of all sister, I tell you to turn to Allah sincerely and ask for His help as Allah helps those who are sincere. Give charity, help your family and remember that the music and the singing you wish to follow is often controlled by the enemies of Allah to mislead mankind - especially the Muslim nation.
Pick up a copy of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and begin to understand everything that he fought and struggled for and some of his companions died for - so that you could be a Muslim. By not practicing Islam you show disrespect for everything they fought, lived and died for. Please keep in touch with the brothers and sisters at islamOnline Volunteer youth Resource Network or contact me at questionak@yahoo.com
Name
sa'd
-
Profession
Question
As salaamu 'alaykum,
This discussions seems to have highlighted the needs for a Muslim presence in the media (TV, radio, films, etc.). These fields, however, are devoid of any real Muslim role model, partly because of traditional parental attitudes towards career paths. What would your advice be to any Muslim youth who want to get involved and make a difference in these fields? Is it realistic to assume that we could have filmmakers and so on who are Muslims as well?
Jazakullah khair for your time brother, and may Allah (swt) bless and reward you.
Answer
Alhamdullila it is a very good question you put to me. As the founder of two Muslim media companies - one of the biggest problems I had was from the Muslim community itself. They liked the products we made but did not want to pay the right price for them. They would rather copy them and sell them illegally and thereby force us out of business because we did not have the money coming back into the company to support future products. At the same time they continue to moan about the bad influences of television and films. But if we had the money we could have given the Muslim community more alternatives.
The second problem is that many Muslims who go into the media do not practice Islam, so their intention is to gain wealth, and fame not to help the Muslim community. To gain their wealth and fame they will lie even against their own Muslim brothers and sisters to please the kufar and get up the ladder quicker.
The third problem is that the media is controlled by Jews, Christians and homosexuals and they will never allow a program to be made that is sympathetic towards Islam.
What we need to do is develop an independent Islamic media separate from the kufar altogether. We should have Muslim newspapers radio stations, tv stations, film studios. I pray one day to see an Islamic version of a film like Gladiator, but about someone like Khalid bin Walid. All of this will only happen with the help of Allah.
