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Answer
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Name
Tajul
- Bangladesh
Profession
Student
Question
Assalamu Alaykum,
Facing the media war against Muslim,as a general Muslim: what should be my duties and resposibilities?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
We should study the allegations made by media, do our homework so that our responses are deliberate and objective rather than emotional. We should also not hesitate to write to or contact the editors and various media outlets to express our views without being polemical even if they ignore some of our responses. We should try our best to have our own media or approach other media that are receptive to provide us with an opportunity to respond.
Finally, there are also other media outlets that are growing in importance and popularity such as the internet that you can make effective use of among others.
Name
Timothy
- Australia
Profession
student
Question
Why is it that in an Islamic state, non-Muslims will be relegated to second-class citizens? I don't mean to be offensive, but to me, this sounds very scary.
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
Please see the previous answer. In addition, the Qur’an obligates Muslims to treat all non-Muslims who peacefully coexist with them in kindness and justice. Please refer to verses 8 and 9 from chapter 60 (Al-Mumtahanah) in the Qur’an for more details. It is not justice to treat any citizen or anyone as a second-class citizen. As a legal authority Dr. Sharif Basyooni explained that any distinction between Muslims and non-Muslim citizens in matters such as Dhizyah is that of administrative nature, not of rights and status.
Name
Jon
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hello Sir,
Thank you for this opportunity. I just wanted to ask about the idea of Dhizyah (the tax for non-Muslims so that they don't join the army in a Muslim state). Now, I don't understand several things:
1. What if a non-Muslim WANTS to join the army?
2. The Qur'an says that non-Muslims have to pay this tax in humiliation, why the humiliation?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for this question,
Dhizyah comes from Dhaza’ meaning something in return for something. As an Islamic term, it refers to what non-Muslims citizens of a state pay in lieu of Zakah, which is required duty on the Muslim citizens. The reasons include besides exemption from the obligation to serve in the Muslim army, also in return for being treated equally in matters of social services and social security that includes all citizens.
If, however, a non-Muslim citizen willingly joins the army, he would not be required to pay the full Dhizyah.
The reason why a non-Muslim citizen in an Islamic state is not required to pay Zakah is that Zakah is a religious concept and a pillar of faith for Muslims that should not be forced on the one who does not believe in Islam. If this concept is more sensitive to their religious feelings and independence, how could that be seen as being a second-class citizen?
As for the second question, the verse that has been sometimes translated as “paying Dhizyah with humiliation” actually means accepting the authority of the state, which is the same obligation also of Muslim citizens. The confusion arises from the fact that the Qur’anic term saghiroon has more than one meaning, one of which is submission which is not always a negative concept in matters of enforcing the law. In that sense all of us, even in secular societies, pay our taxes and as such we are saghiroon or accepting the authority of the legitimate government to collect taxes.
Having said this, many contemporary scholars are of the view that in the present reality where all citizens pay their financial obligations to the state, there is no need to insist that particular distinction. Finally let us remember that the norm of the relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim citizens or dhimis (People of the Book), is, as stated in early Islam, “for them (i.e. non-Muslim citizens) they have the same rights and obligations as us Muslims.
Name
Huseyin
- Turkey
Profession
research assistant
Question
In the first stage of Islam after Prophet Muhammed(peace be upon him), khalifah is selected nearly democratically. Now, there exist ORGANIZATION OF ILAMIC CONFERENCE. Taken into account that all Islamic countries takes decisions very differently, do you think the Islamic countries need a khilafah ? And could a khalifah be selected democratically by all Muslims? Can it be thought as the General Secreter of UN and Islamic countries can take decisions alltogether?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
What really matters is the unity of the Muslim Ummah, not a specific form or interpretation of khilafah. In today’s reality an equally valid model of khilafah is to have a coordinating council of rulers of various Muslim countries (democratically elected by their people). Consequently, it would, then, coordinate general broader policies of concern to the Ummah such as security, economic cooperation and possibly unified currency and banking system.
As for other areas, they could be handled in a decentralized manner within the broad scope and parameters of Shari’ah.
Name
Isabelle
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hello. Many of my Muslim friends are usually flustered when I ask them a question about homosexuality in Islam. My question is: Were Lot's people the first homosexuals in history? Was Lot before or after the ancient Greek civilization? I ask this because I know that they openly acknolwedged homosexuality in their poetry and literature.
Answer
According to the Qur’an, the People of Lot (peace be upon him) were the first to engage in homosexuality: “We also (sent) Lot: he said to his people: "Do you commit lewdness (homosexuality) such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?” (Al-A`raf 7:80)
According to the Qur’an and the Bible as well, Prophet Lot was a contemporary of Prophet Abraham. Abraham lived before the Greek civilization and its literature that alludes to homosexuality. This is another testimony of the Divine source of the Qur’an.
Name
Debauch
-
Profession
Question
If Islam really preaches freedom of faith, tell me why there can't be a church in Saudi Arabia?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
Freedom of faith and worship is one of the pillars of Qur’anic teachings. The only restriction on building other houses of worship according to the Qur’an is Makkah being the holiest of Islamic holy sites. Makkah's population is all Muslims and is overcrowded year-round with Muslim pilgrims and visitors who go for devotions and prayers. Any other restriction beyond that represents government policies or debatable, fallible interpretations that do not have a direct definitive foundation in the primary sources of Islam.
Actions of any Muslim individual organization or state should be equated with what Islam 'really preaches'. No such policies or actions are to be equated with the text of the Qur’an and authentic teachings of the Prophet.
Name
Mona
- Pakistan
Profession
---
Question
Can we read the Bible or other books so that we will know what is written in it? Sometimes I come across Christians who ask me how do I know that the Bible is wrong if I didn’t read it? I’m newly convert. Many people where I leave say it’s forbidden to read any Book except Qur’an. But I know the scholars do read the Bible so that they will have knowledge and answers for unbelievers.
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
The Qur’an itself refers in some instances to previous revelations given to previous prophets especially Israelite prophets. The Qur’an further indicates that the original revelation given to these prophets are all from God and are the same in essence. However, the Qur’an indicates in several occasions that not everything that was revealed to these prophets prior to the Qur’an was completely preserved without any mistake or human additions or interpretations.
As such, the role of the Qur’an, according to chapter 5 (Al-Ma'idah), verse 51 is to confirm what remained intact of previous revelations and to purify the original or to sort out and correct misinterpretation or human addition which can't confirm with pristine revelations.
I know of no text in the Qur’an that bars Muslims from reading other scripture so long as the Qur’an is their ultimate criterion of determining what to accept or not.
Needless to say that the Qur’an is only revealed scripture in prophetic history which has been preserved simultaneously by writing and more importantly memorization from time of its revelation until today, and in the original language of its revelation.
What is forbidden is to place any scripture which combines in part the word of God with the interpretation or expressions of opinions or religious experiences of the writers of the Bible above the Qur’an which is 100% verbatim word of God which is even distinct and separate from the word of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was not receiving verbatim revelation.
Many famous Islamic scholars, past and present, read the Bible in order to communicate the message of Islam more effectively to their brothers and sisters from Jewish and Christian background, including such famous figures as Ibn Taymiyah.
Name
linda
- United States
Profession
Question
Why do some Muslims say that only a scholar can understand the Qur'an? Isn't this exactly like the church that tells us that only certain "learned" people can understand the Bible? What is the point of sending a book that can only be understood by certain people?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
The basic message of the Qur’an can and must be accessible and reasonably understood by anyone. However, in certain intricate legal matters specialization and more indepth knowledge may be required to avoid erroneous interpretation of the Qur’an. These are two different spheres with the core message, which is the most significant for any Muslim, is clear for any reasonably learned person.
Name
Wael Nabih
- United Kingdom
Profession
Architect
Question
There are many questions these days that Muslims and Muslim scholars should be addressing.
I wish to ask about what is been written by Muslim scholars regarding the theory of evolution (Darwinism) and the Qur'an's version of creation. Are they compatible? Or do they contradict each other.
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
Nothing in the Qur’an categorically negates any possibility of evolution. It is reasonably clear from the Qur’an, however, that God created the human race from the beginning with unique qualities such as complex reasoning and expressions, and above all, developed spirituality. I doubt if scientists can definitively disprove these parallel of creation; possible evolution on the lower level up to the highest of apes and also the creation of the human independently with a unique character.
Name
ALMAS
- Pakistan
Profession
UNIVERSITY TEACHER
Question
Please tell me the best tafseer (interpretation) of Qur'an by the best writer in Urdu.
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
I would highly recommend 'Maulana Maududi’s tafheem-ul-Qu’ran' which is also available in English.
Name
Faysal
- United Kingdom
Profession
Market Reseach
Question
The Qur'an is said to be the most perfect of all books. Then why is it open
to so many different interpretations? Fundamentalists, extremists, moderates interpret it in a different way.
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
The Qur’an itself states in Chapter 3 (Aal-`Imran), verse 7 that some parts of the Qur’an are definitive and clear in meanings. These verses are the foundation of the Book, but there are also verses that may be allegorical or can be subject to more than one reasonable interpretation.
However, there are legitimate differences in interpretation of some details or rulings while other interpretation may violate basic rules of interpretation and disregard the overall spirit and values repeated in the Qur’an such as avoiding extremism, undue rigidity, legalism, or tendencies towards violence. For example, the Qur’an sums up the message of Prophet Muhammad as “mercy to the worlds” (chapter 21 (Al-Ambyaa') verse 107)
Name
Mrs M
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
I have read many times that Hell will be made up mostly of women. Why is this when most of the crime in the world are commited by men and also women suffer much more then men in many countries including Muslim countries?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
This hadith has been misunderstood as no hadith or interpretation thereof can contradict the fundamental and definitive principles in the Qur’an. The Qur’an makes it clear that punishments or rewards have nothing to do with genders: "And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, one of another; those who have left their homes, and were driven out therefrom, and suffered harm in My Cause, and fought and were slain, verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath - a reward from the Presence of Allah - and from His Presence is the best of rewards." (Chapter 3 (Aal-`Imran) verse 195)
Secondly, the wording of that hadith is not “women are the majority of the Hell dwellers”. In fact was addressing a specific group of women in the context of exhortation for those of them who are not grateful to their husbands and continue to mistreat them. Even then it is a language of exhortation that should not be understood literally since the Qur’an itself indicates that "Allah will forgive all since except shirk (associating others with God in His Exclusive Divine attributes."
Finally, the word “Hell-fire” is used sometimes in an allegorical manner such as the Prophet’s use of the term “very hot day” is from Hell-fire.
Name
Sarah
-
Profession
Question
How is a convert to Islam ever supposed to find peace, knowing that non-Muslim family members who have already died, are apparently condemned to Hell and torture in the grave?
Answer
Salam,
Thank you for your question,
The destiny of those who died without being exposed to the true and authentic teachings of Islam is subject to forgiveness of Allah. See for example chapter 17 (Al-Israa') verse 15. The Qur’an also indicates that Allah forgives whomever He wishes. We should only hope and pray for their forgiveness.
Name
Host
-
Profession
Question
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