Chapter 5
6389: You have to do it: do it and don't hesitate
Question:
Hello, I'm a 27 year old student from
Bloomington, Indiana in the United States. I have discovered
through many months of careful study and furious debate
with the Christianity I was raised with that Islam is no
doubt the clear, complete, and true word of the Almighty God.
I had a furious struggle with Jesus but as I began to
look upon his actual words in my new testament I found
that they were completely, 100% in line with the Qur'an!
I have not taken shahada and to be honest, I'm still a
bit hesitant to. It is hard to describe the feeling one has
toward the Christian faith after it's been drilled into you from
the time of your birth for a solid quarter of a century. I
am taking arabic classes this summer and am planning
to enroll at Cales in sana'a in Yemen next summer for
further study. My question is do I really need to take the
final step because the Qur'an says that Christians who
are dutiful will receive their reward. I question my ability
to adhere to all the elements of Shari'a. The prayers,
the mannerisms, the relationships with women, diets, etc.
Is it necessary that I take this step and if I did, would I
have to take an Islamic name, or is that simply
receomended? Following that, would the name Ishmael be
appropriate? Thank you
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We appreciate your question and your efforts in
studying and researching very much, especially since you
have achieved such great and true results. Although we
believe most strongly that it is essential to become Muslim
and that Islam is the only religion which Allaah will
accept, because He revealed it as the final religion and way,
we do understand something of the difficulty involved
in leaving that which one is used to. But the wise
person knows that he has to follow the truth even if it
becomes clear to him after many years and even if he grew up in
a different way. Hence Allaah condemned those who refused to follow the truth because they were
following the ways of their forefathers. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And when it is said to them: "Come to what Allaah
has revealed and unto the Messenger (Muhammad for
the verdict of that which you have made unlawful)."
They say: "Enough for us is that which we found our
fathers following," even though their fathers had no
knowledge whatsoever and nor guidance" [al-Maa'idah 5:104]
"And when it is said to them: "Follow that which
Allaah has sent down", they say: "Nay, we shall follow that
which we found our fathers (following)." (Would they do
so) even if Shaytaan (Satan) invites them to the torment
of the Fire?" [Luqmaan 31:21]
"And similarly, We sent not a warner before you
(O Muhammad) to any town (people) but the luxurious
ones among them said: "We found our fathers following
a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow
their footsteps." (The warner) said: "Even if I bring you
better guidance than that which you found your
fathers following?" [al-Zukhruf 43:23-24]
The matter will not be too difficult for you - in sha
Allaah (if Allaah wills) - for indeed if you believe in Islaam
you will be believing in all of the previous Prophets, and
you will be believing in the Divine Books. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Believe in Allaah, and
His Messenger (Muhammad), and the Book (the
Qur'aan) which He has sent down to His Messenger, and
the Scripture which He sent down to those before (him);
and whosoever disbelieves in Allaah, His Angels, His
Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he
has strayed far away" [al-Nisa' 4:136]
If you become Muslim, you will not be cut off from
the sound roots, for every Muslim believes in the
Messiah `Eesa (Jesus) - peace be upon him - as a Prophet
and Messenger, and he believes in the true Gospel - before
it was distorted - as a Book that was revealed by
Allaah. Maybe it will encourage you to know that everyone
who used to believe in `Eesa and then believes in
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) will
have the reward twice. Hence when the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent his letter
to Heraclius, the Christian ruler of Byzantium, inviting
him to Islam, he said:
"In the Name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful. From Muhammad the slave and Messenger of Allaah,
to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantium. Peace be upon
those who follow true guidance. I invite you with the call
of Islam. Become Muslim and you will be safe.
Become Muslim and Allaah will give you your reward twice,
but if you refuse, then the sin of the husbandmen will be
upon you. `Say (O Muhammad): "O people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just
between us and you, that we worship none but Allaah
(Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and
that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allaah.
Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we
are Muslims." [Aal `Imraan 64 - interpretation of
the meaning]."
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2723)
The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There are three who
will be given their reward twice: a man from among the
People of the Book who believed in his Prophet, then when
he comes to know of the Prophet [Muhammad] (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then he believes in
him and follows him; he will have two rewards…"
(The hadeeth was narrated by Muslim, 219).
On the basis of the above, the answer to your question
is: yes, it is very important, indeed essential, for you to
take this step which will change your life, bringing you a
life of joy and tranquillity through being close to Allaah
and believing in His Oneness (Tawheed), having the
pleasure of worshipping and remembering Him, and
earning reward by obeying Him and saving these rewards for
the Day when man will need every single reward:
"On the Day when every person will be confronted
with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done,
he will wish that there were a great distance between
him and his evil. And Allaah warns you against Himself
(His punishment) and Allaah is full of kindness to (His)
slaves" [Aal `Imraan 3:30 - interpretation of the meaning]
With regard to your name, if it has no meanings
that involve Shirk (associating others with Allaah) or
Kufr (disbelief), then it is permissible for you to keep
your name. The name Ismaa'eel (Ishmael) is very suitable;
how could it be otherwise when Ismaa'eel was a Prophet
of Allaah of whom Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And mention in the Book (the Qur'aan)
Ismaa'eel (Ishmael). Verily, he was true to what he promised,
and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used
to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salaat (the
prayers) and the Zakaat, and his Lord was pleased with
him" [Maryam 19:54-55]
We ask Allaah to help us and you to do that which
He loves and which pleases Him, and to guide us to
the Straight Path, for Allaah guides whom He wills and
He knows best those who are guided.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable 
4685: Feelings of a Christian man of religion towards
his daughter's Islam
Question:
I am a Christian minister—Yet I feel that after
reading your teaching on ,"how to treat your wife",was exllent
in our creators eyes . I know that we have different
vieues on The Holy One who has made us.Yet I am a student
of the scriptures, but also student to understanding. I have
a daughter who married a muslim. I don't even know
if I'm right in ,the case of calling my son-law a musilm.
For he is a devoted to the teaching of the Koran. Lately I
had a discussion with my daughter. Remember this I do
not preach that she has made the wrong mistake, or try
to force my oppinion on her.I love her,and my son -inlaw
as well. I need to not preach what I believe,but my
actions should show love. I thank you and all our brothers
,that we shall know the truth together. Again I hope and
pray for peace. Yours in Loving of the Brotherhood …
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We thank you very much for expressing these
kind feelings. The fact that you have not stood in the way
of your daughter and her husband in their following of
Islam is indicative of your fair mindedness and respect for
the beliefs of others. At the same time, we cannot hide
our wish that you could join us and your daughter and
her husband in following this religion, the great religion
of Islam. We know that the matter may appear
difficult, especially for a man who represents and studies
another religion, but who knows, maybe this study will
be followed by a proper study of Islam which will lead to
a new conviction. We wish you well always, and pray
that Allaah will guide us all to the path of truth and
guidance. Thank you once again.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
5656: How should a Muslim man make Da'wah to
non-Muslim women?
Question:
The university that I go to doesn't have many
Muslims and the ones that are there are not that
knowledgeable. Many non- Muslim classmates come up to me and
ask me questions about Islam and this usually takes place
in private. Is this right for the sake of them converting?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
You have to call whoever you can to Islam and to
enter the religion of Allaah. You have to show them the
strengths and distinctive features of this great religion and
explain to them how suited it is to mankind. You have to tell
them that it offers brilliant solutions to human problems
and tell them, that they have to follow this religion and
no other. All of this should be done on the basis of
sound knowledge, evidence and proofs of which you have a
firm and proper knowledge, and it should be done with
wisdom and beautiful preaching, responding to the kaafirs
with that which is better.
The way you make da'wah and your manners should
be in accordance with the rulings of Islamic sharee'ah, so
it is not permissible _ for example _ for you to be
alone with a kaafir woman, not even for the sake of
Da'wah. You must beware of forming relationships with
women, and you should be aware of the ways in which
the Shaytaan introduces evil, whereby you efforts to
make da'wah and draw closer to Allaah by offering advice
to kaafir women may end up with you being tested
and tempted by them. Da'wah to non-Muslim women
should either be undertaken by Muslim women, or else by
a Muslim man giving them tapes and booklets, or by
giving public speeches and lectures without deliberately
looking at the women. We ask Allaah to help you in your
Da'wah and to make your responses correct. May Allaah
bless our Prophet Muhammad. Islam Q&A Sheikh
Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
6018: He is convinced of Islam but is concerned about
his parents who are staunch Christians
Question:
I am a Christian who is highly interested in Islam, in
fact I think it is the TRUE religion of God . My problem
is that my parents are staunch Catholics and get furious
on seeing the Koran inside our house. I do not wish
to displease anyone and at the same time I want to
continue with what is best . Please advise me accordingly. Is
there a way out of this dilemma? Would appreciate a quick reply.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We thank you very much for sending this question to
us, and we say to you that your deep interest in Islam is
what will make you embrace this religion soon, in sha
Allaah (if Allaah wills). Your current attitude is an important
step towards entering this religion, which Allaah wants
and besides which He accepts no other religion.
Your conviction that this is the true religion of Allaah
means that you must now take the ultimate step and
pronounce the Shahaadatayn (the twin declarations of faith).
When this reply reaches you, go and take a bath (ghusl) and say:
"Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu
anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that
there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah)." Then start to practice
the rituals of this great religion, above all the five daily
prayers at the appointed times, as Allaah enjoined them.
Know that one of the rules of Islam is that you
should love Allaah and His Messenger, and that love for
Allaah should take priority over love for anyone else. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your
wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained,
the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the
dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allaah
and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in
His Cause, then wait until Allaah brings about His
Decision (torment). And Allaah guides not the people who are
Al-Fasiqoon (the rebellious, disobedient to Allaah)"
[al-Tawbah 9:24]
The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There are three
things, whoever attains them will find the sweetness of
faith: when Allaah and His Messenger are more beloved to
him than everything else; when he loves another person
he loves him only for the sake of Allaah; and when he
hates to return to Kufr as he would hate to be thrown into
the fire." (Reported by al-Bukhaari in his
Saheeh, no. 15).
This means that love for Allaah must come before
love for one's parents and any other created being. If there is
a conflict between pleasing Allaah and pleasing
your parents, then pleasing Allaah must take precedence.
In your situation, as you have described it, we advise you
to do the following with regard to your parents:
Address them in the best of terms and treat them in
the best manner
If they insist that you follow kufr, then conceal your
Islam if you fear that you are not able to confront them
openly, and pray where they cannot see you
Do not think at all that there is any burden or sin on you
if they get angry with you for becoming a Muslim. Remember that when a person pleases Allaah even
though it makes people angry, Allaah will be pleased with
him and will make the people pleased with him.
Keep on praying for them to be guided and call them
to Islam with wisdom and beautiful preaching. Maybe
Allaah will guide them through you.
We ask Allaah to help you in this world and the
next. Peace be upon those who follow true guidance.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
5955: A Jewish boy asking about Islam
Question:
Hi.
I live in a Jew house, but for a long time I'm
learning about the islam and the quran.
I think the Islam the the right way, and want to learn
more about it and maybe to become a muslim. What to do?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
You may be a young man for whom Allaah wills
good. We admire you because, although you live in a
Jewish family, you have been reading about Islam and the
Qur'aan for some time, and you think that Islam is the true
religion. All of this is a great achievement and an important
step, for which you deserve to be encouraged. Your search
for the truth at your age shows that your reasoning is
strong and that your thinking is correct. So we congratulate
you for the way in which you are thinking, and advise you
to read more and to look at good Islamic sites on the
Internet. On this site you will find a lot of information and
answers to questions from people whose circumstances are
similar to yours. Now let us look at the story of a Jewish
youth who lived at the time of the Prophet of Islam,
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
From Anas (may Allâh be pleased with him): a
young man from among the Jews used to serve the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him). The boy became sick, and the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to visit him
when he was on his death-bed. He called him to Islam, and
the boy looked at his father, who was standing by his
head. His father said, "Listen to Abu'l-Qaasim."
[Abu'l-Qaasim (Father of al-Qaasim) was the kunya or "nickname"
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) _ it is an Arab custom to address people as "Father
of" and "Mother of" their oldest son _ Translator]. So
the boy became Muslim, then he died. The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
came away from him saying, "Praise be to Allaah Who has
saved him from the Hell-Fire." (Reported by Imaam
Ahmad, 12896; also narrated in Saheeh
al-Bukhaari, 1268). So go ahead and embrace Islam as your predecessor did,
so that you will be saved from Hell and will earn the
victory of Paradise as great as the heavens and the earth.
We also want to present you with the following
story which contains an important lesson and a moving
account of a young man who looked for the truth, and was
helped by Allaah to find it:
Haddaab ibn Khaalid told us, Hammaad ibn Salamah
told us, Thaabit told us from `Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Abi
Layla from Suhayb that the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "There was a
king among the people who came before you who had
a magician. When the magician grew old, he said to
the king, `I have grown old, so send me a boy to whom I
can teach magic.' So the king sent him a boy, and he
taught him magic. On his way, the boy passed by a monk, so
he sat with him and listened to him, and he liked what
he said. When he came to the magician, he passed by
the monk and sat with him, then when he came to
the magician, he hit him because he was late. The
boy complained about that to the monk, who said, `If you
are afraid of the magician, tell him, `I was late because of
my family' and if you are afraid of your family, tell them,
`I was late because of the magician.' Whilst this was
going on, he came across a huge beast that was blocking
the people's way. He said, `Today I will know whether
the monk is better or the magician.' He picked up a stone
and said, `O Allâh, if the monk's way is dearer to you than
the magician's way, then kill this beast so that the people
may go on their way.' Then he threw the stone and killed
the beast, and the people went on their way. He came to
the monk and told him what had happened. The monk
said to him, `O my son, today you are better than I, you
have reached such a level and now you will be tested. If
you are put to the test, do not tell anyone about me.' The
young man began to heal the blind and the lepers, and to
cure people from all kinds of sickness. One of the
king's courtiers who had become blind heard about him, so
he brought him many gifts and said, `Whatever I have
piled up here is for you, if you heal me.' The boy said, `I do
not heal anyone, it is Allaah who heals. If you believe in
Allaah and call on Allaah, He will heal you.' So he believed
in Allaah and and Allaah healed him. Then he came to
the king and sat with him as he had always done. The
king said to him, `Who gave you back your sight?' He
said, `My Lord.' The king said, `Do you have any lord
other than me?' He said, `My Lord and your Lord is Allaah.'
So the king took him and kept touring him until he told
him about the boy. So the boy was brought to the king,
who said, `O my son, I have heard about your magic, that
you heal the blind and the leper, and you do such and
such.' The boy said, `I do not heal anyone, it is Allaah
Who heals.' The took him and tortured him until he told
him about the monk. The monk was brought and was
told, `Give up your religion,' and he refused. So a saw
was brought and placed on the top of his head, and he was
cut in two. Then the king's courtier was brought and was
told, `Give up your religion,' and he refused. So a saw
was brought and placed on the top of his head, and he was
cut in two. Then the boy was brought and was told, `Give
up your religion,' and he refused. The king gave him to
a group of his companions and said, `Take him to such
and such a mountain, and take him up the mountain.
When you reach the top of the mountain, if he gives up
his religion (then leave him alone), otherwise throw
him down. So they took him up the mountain, and the
boy said, `O Allaah, protect me from them in whatever
manner You wish.' So the mountain was shaken and they
fell down, and the boy came walking back to the king.
The king asked, `What happened to your companions?'
He said, `Allaah protected me from them.' Then the king
gave him to another group of his companions, and said,
`Take him and put him on a ship, then take him to the middle
of the sea. If he gives up his religion (then leave him
alone), otherwise throw him overboard. So they took him and
he said, `O Allaah, protect me from them in whatever
manner You wish.' The boat was turned upside down and
they drowned, and the boy came walking back to the
king. The king asked, `What happened to your
companions?' He said, `Allaah protected me from them.' The boy
said to the king: `You will not be able to kill me unless you
do what I tell you.' The king said, `What is that then?'
He said, `Gather the people together in one place and
crucify me on a tree-trunk, then take an arrow from my
quiver and put it in your bow. Then say, "In the name of
Allaah, the Lord of the boy" and shoot me. If you do that,
you will kill me.' So the king gathered the people in one
place, crucified the boy on a tree-trunk, took an arrow from
his quiver and placed it in his bow. Then he said, `In the
name of Allaah, the Lord of the boy' and shot him. The
arrow hit his temple (the side of his head), and he put his
hand on the side of his head where he had been hit, and
died. The people said, `We believe in the Lord of the boy,
we believe in the Lord of the boy, we believe in the Lord
of the boy.' Someone came to the king and said, `Do
you see what you were afraid of? By Allâh, what you
were afraid of has happened to you now.' So he ordered
that ditches should be dug at the intersections of the
streets, and they were dug and fires were lit in them. Then
he said, `Whoever does not give up his religion, throw
him into them' or it was said, `Throw yourselves in'. They
did this until they came to a woman who had a baby with
her. She felt scared to throw herself in, but the infant said
to her, `O mother, have patience, for you are on the
right path.'" (Reported by Muslim in his
Saheeh, 5327).
After telling this moving story about a boy coming
to know the truth and believe in it and adhere to it, we
would like to say to you if you think that your family will
give you a hard time if you become Muslim, then you can
keep your Islam secret and do your prayers in secret,
until Allaah finds a way for you, for He will find the best
way for you. We welcome you as a reader and questioner,
and as a future brother in Islam, in sha Allaah.
Islam Q&A Sheikh Muhammed Salih
Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
2195: A new Muslim is not to make up missed
Islamic duties before accepting Islam
Question:
A man accepts Islam and he is 40 years old. Does he
need to make up what he has missed from his prayers?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
One who accepts Islam is not to make what he or she
has missed from prayers, fasting, alms (zakaat) during his
or her days of disbelief (kufr), as indicated by the verse
in which Allaah says (what can be interpreted as):
Say to those who have disbelieved that if they cease,
what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them…
(Al-Anfaal:38)
And what was related that the Prophet (may the
peace and blessings and mercy of Allaah be upon him)
said, "Islam annuls what came before it." (narrated by
Muslim in his Sahih, no. 121). Also, the Prophet (may the
peace and blessings and mercy of Allaah be upon him) did
not command anyone among those who accepted Islam
to make up for anything that he previously missed from
the rites and rituals of Islam during his days of disbelief,
and the scholars of Islam are in consensus about this.
(Fatawa Al-Lajnah Al-Daa'imah, Rulings of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research
and Rulings, 6/400) (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
4991: She wants to become Muslim but she cannot
accept some of the rulings such as hijaab and doing the prayers
on time.
Question:
I was born in a French catholic family. My parents
are strong and sincere believers, and I respect that a lot.
Now I'm very interested in Islam, but there are a
couple of reasons that "prevent" me from converting.
For instance, as a woman, I cannot accept polygamy, the
fact of stoning people who had an affair, of always depend
on a "mahram"...
Furthermore, it's not "easy" to be and live as a Muslim
in a western country : in my job, I wouldn't be able to
wear a veil, not to shake men's hands anymore, pray 5 times
a day... And my parents (especially my mother who is
sick) would be very sad seeing me leaving Christianity.
So my question is to know how I can convert in
such conditions. Is there a kind of "minimum" required ?
I mean, considering that there are still things which I
don't accept, wouldn't it be better for me to wait ?
Thanks for your help.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We put the following question to Shaykh Muhammad
ibn Saalih al-`Uthaymeen:
A non-Muslim woman is saying, "I want to
become Muslim but on the condition that I do not have to do
the five prayers until the end of the day, because I cannot
do them at work. And also I cannot accept the idea
of polygamy."
He answered as follows:
Praise be to Allaah. I think that she should adhere to
the rulings of Islam if she wants to become Muslim and
be saved from the Fire. But as for her choosing what
she wants and saying I cannot accept the idea of polygamy
_ as if she is saying that she cannot accept it as a
ruling from Allaah _ or saying I cannot pray until I finish
my work, this is not acceptable.
Question:
In the book "Muntaqa al-Akhbaar", the author
says, "Chapter on the soundness of a person's Islam when
he lays down invalid conditions", and he mentions
the hadeeth of Waheeb, who said:
"I asked Jaabir about the tribe of Thaqeef, when they
gave their Bay'ah (oath of allegiance) to the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him), with the
condition that they would not have to pay Sadaqah (charity)
or engage in Jihaad. After that he heard the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) say, `They will
give sadaqah and they will engage in jihaad.'"
Can we understand from this that if a non-Muslim
comes and says `I want to become Muslim on the condition
that I can do all the prayers together at the end of the day'
this is OK, or is this an entirely different case?
Shaykh:
This is an entirely different case, because when that
was said to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), he said, "If they become Muslim, they
will pray." This has to do with matters of the Unseen,
which we cannot know. (in other words, the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) accepted that from
them because he knew, from what Allaah taught him of
the Unseen, that these people would become good
Muslims and would give charity and engage in jihaad, whereas
we cannot know the Unseen and how this non-Muslim
will be in the future). If we accepted the conditions laid
down by the kuffaar, Islam would disintegrate. One may
stipulate the condition that we let him engage in zinaa
(unlawful sexual activity), another may demand that we let him
drink wine, and so on and so forth…. The Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) told `Ali, when
he sent him to the people of Khaybar: "Tell them what
their duties are towards Allaah in Islam." The condition of
Islam is that it must be accepted in totality, as it is. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) told
Mu'aadh, "Teach them that Allaah has enjoined five prayers
upon them, and if they accept that, then tell them about
Zakaah." So the obligations of Islam have to be accepted.
Question:
Can we not say that this person's entering Islam serves
a great interest, and that their stipulating that they
should be excused a few acts of worship is less harmful?
Shaykh: Not at all! Whose interests are being served
here? The interests of the person himself? But this is
damaging to Islam, because then lazy Muslims will say, "We
will only pray when we have finished work, like this
person does." So the harm this would do to Islam is serious. If
he really wants to save himself, let him accept Islam
in totality. "And whomsoever Allaah leads astray,
no-one can guide."
So what we say to you is this: become Muslim and
accept Islam in totality. Submit to Allaah in all that He
has prescribed, and Allaah will help you and give you
the strength to follow His laws, if you are sincere in
your intention towards Him. Then if you are faced
with something that you cannot do for a genuine reason, or
are forced to do something, then if you are sincere,
Allaah will not punish you for that. May Allaah help us and
you to accept the truth and adhere to it. May Allaah bless
our Prophet Muhammad. Islam Q&A Sheikh
Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
6542: She wants to become Muslim but she envisages
a problem with regard to Hajj and official papers
Question:
I would like to become a muslim but how do I
embrace islam without being a part of a movement? I do
realize all that is truly needed is to pronounce the shahada;
but what about the Hajj? How do I particpate in that if I
do not have a signed document saying that I am a muslim?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Islam is the relationship between a person and his or
her Lord, submission to His commands, humbling
oneself before Him, loving and fearing Him, placing one's
hopes in Him, and worshipping Him in the manner He
has prescribed. Islam also has certain pillars and duties.
The key to all of this is to bear witness that there is no
god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger
of Allaah. With regard to Hajj, it is not a condition
for entering Islam, rather it is one of the pillars and
duties that come into effect after a person has entered
Islam, and it is a duty only for those who are able to do it,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House
(Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can
afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision
and residence)"
[Aal `Imraan 3:97]
(See Question # 5261 for details on what constitutes
being able to go for Hajj).
Obtaining an official certificate from an Islamic centre
as proof of your Islam so that you can use it to get
permission to go for Hajj and enter the Holy Places is a means
which you must use in order to go for Hajj in the future, but it
is not a condition that is necessary for you to become
Muslim or start to do the acts of worship such as Salaah
(prayer) etc. When a person becomes Muslim he becomes
a member of the Muslim Ummah and is connected to
all the Muslims who believe in One God by the bonds
of Islamic brotherhood which includes friendship and
mutual help and support, as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"The believers are nothing else than brothers (in
Islamic religion)" [al-Hujuraat 49:10]
"The believers, men and women, are Auliya'
(helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they
enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma`roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism
and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people)
from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds,
and all that Islam has forbidden); they perform
As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give the Zakaah, and
obey Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah will have His
Mercy on them. Surely, Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise"
[al-Tawbah 9:71]
So you must hasten to enter Islam. We congratulate
you on the keenness that you have shown and we ask
Allaah to help us and you to be sincere towards Him, to be
strong and to attain success. And Allaah is the Guide to
the Straight Path.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
5019: Response to a request from a kaafir woman for
a story of a great Muslim woman
Question:
Hi. I am a 15 year old . I am doing a religion
assignment on the role of women in Islam and I find the
information in your website very helpful. I was just wondering, if
you don't mind doing it, if you could send me some
more information, maybe one particular woman's stories?
I don't really know much about Islamic women, and I,
like other non - Islamic women/girls, have the perception
that an Islamic woman's life is a bit restricted. I hope that
you can put me right on that matter.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We thank you for your interest and your question.
We will tell you the story of a great Muslim woman; we
hope that you will find what you are looking for, and that
this will be a light to guide you to the path of Truth.
Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported:
Maalik ibn Anas said to his wife Um Sulaym _ who
was the mother of Anas _ "This man _ meaning the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) _
is forbidding alcohol." So he left Madeenah and went
to Shaam (Syria), where he died. (i.e., he fled
from Madeenah when the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) came there, because he did not
like the ban on alcohol, and he died as a kaafir or
non-believer in Syria). Then Abu Talhah came and proposed
marriage to Um Sulaym, and spoke to her about it. She said,
"O Abu Talhah, a man like you would not be turned
down, but you are a non-believer, and I am a Muslim woman.
It is not right for me to marry you." He said, "This is
the chance of a lifetime!" She said, "What chance?" He
said, "The yellow and white (i.e., he was tempting her with
a mahr or dowry of gold and silver)." She said, "I do
not want any yellow or white. I want you to become
Muslim. If you become Muslim, that will be my mahr, and I
will not ask you for anything else." He asked, "Who
could help me with that (i.e., to become Muslim)?" She
said, "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) will help you." So Abu Talhah went to
look for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), who was sitting with his Companions. When
he [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him)] saw him, he said, "Abu Talhah is coming to you with
the light of Islam shining on his forehead." (This was one
of the miracles of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): he knew that Abu Talhah would become
a Muslim even before he spoke). Abu Talhah told
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) about what Um Sulaym had said, and he married her on that basis. Thaabit (i.e., Thaabit
al-Banaani, one of the people who narrated the story from Anas)
said: "We have never heard of any mahr greater than this,
she accepted his Islam as her dowry."
So he married her, and she was a woman with nice
eyes, rather small. She was with him until she bore him a
son, who Abu Talhah loved very much. The child became
very ill, and Abu Talhah was very upset and distressed by
the child's sickness. Abu Talhah used to get up to pray
the morning prayer, he would go to the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and pray with him,
and would stay with him for almost half the day. Then
[Abu Talhah] would come to take a nap and eat, and when
he had prayed Zuhr [mid-day prayer] he would get
ready and leave, and would not come back until the time of
the `Isha' [night-time] prayer. One evening, Abu Talhah
went out to see the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) (according to another report: to go to
the mosque), and the child died (during his absence).
Um Sulaym said, "No one is to tell Abu Talhah about
his child's death until I have told him." She covered the
child up as if he were sleeping, and left him in a corner of
the house. Abu Talhah came back from visiting the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), and brought some people from the mosque with him.
He asked, "How is my son?" She said, "O Abu Talhah,
from the time he fell sick, he has never been as calm as he
is now, and I hope that he is resting." (She spoke vaguely
so as not to upset him; this was not a lie. She was
referring to the calmness of death and the child finding relief
from the pain of his sickness, but her husband took it to
mean that the child's condition had improved). She brought
the meal and they all ate dinner, then the people left. Then
he went to bed and lay down, and she got up and put
on perfume and adorned herself, making herself
more beautiful than she ever had before. (This was a sign
of her patience and great faith in the will and decree
of Allaah. She was seeking reward from Allaah and concealing her feelings, hoping that she would
become pregnant that night to make up for the loss of her
child). Then she came and lay down in the bed with him,
and when he smelt the perfume, he did as men usually
do with their wives (this is the narrator's polite
and circumspect manner of referring to what
happened between them). At the end of the night, she said, "O
Abu Talhah, do you think that if some people lent
something to some others, then they asked for it back, do they
have the right not to give it back?" He said, "No." She
said, "Allaah, may He be glorified, lent your son to you,
and now He has taken him back, so seek reward with
Him and have patience." He became angry and said, "You
left me until I did what I did (i.e., had intercourse), then
you tell me that my son has died!" Then he said,
"Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi
raaji'oon (Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return _ the
words uttered by Muslims when faced with news of death
or calamity) and he praised Allaah. In the morning, he
did ghusl (full ablution) then he went to the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
and prayed with him, and told him what had happened.
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said, "May Allaah bless you for last
night." She conceived a child (thus the Prophet's prayer for
them was answered).
Um Sulaym used to travel with the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
leaving Madeenah when he left, and returning when he
returned. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said, "When she gives birth, bring the
child to me." He was on a journey, and Um Sulaym was
with him. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) came back from travelling,
he would never enter Madeenah at night (so as not to
disturb the people, and so that wives would have time to get
ready to greet their husbands). They reached the outskirts
of Madeenah, and her labour pains started. Abu Talhah
stayed with her, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) went on. Abu Talhah said,
"O Allaah, you know that I like to set out with your
Messenger when he sets out, and come back with him when he
comes back. I have been detained as You see." Um Sulaym
said, "O Abu Talhah, I do not feel the pains as much (this
was one of her "miracles"; her labour pains ceased
because she had asked Allaah to enable her to catch up with
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him)). So they set off, and after they had
reached Madeenah, her labour pains started again, and she
gave birth to a boy. She told her son Anas, "O Anas, I will
not give him anything to eat until you take him in the
morning to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him)," and she sent some dates with
him. (Because she wanted the first thing to enter the
child's mouth to be food from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him); this was a sign of her great
faith, because the woman's natural instinct is to hasten to
feed the baby as soon as he is born). The child cried all
night long, and I [Anas, the narrator of this story] stayed up
all night taking care of him. In the morning, I took him
to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him), who was wearing his burdah (a kind
of cloak) and marking the camels and sheep that had
been given to him (the animals had been given in charity
and he was marking them so that they would not get lost
or mixed with other flocks or herds). When he saw him,
he said to Anas, "Has the daughter of Milhaan [i.e.,
Um Sulaym] given birth?" He said, "Yes." He said, "I will
be with you in a minute." He put down the tool in his
hand (with which he had been marking the animals) and
took the child, then he said, "Do you have something for
him?" They said, "Yes, dates." The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) took some of the dates and
chewed them, mixing them with his saliva (and the saliva of
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
was blessed by Allaah). Then he opened the child's
mouth and gave him some of the dates, wiping them inside
his mouth (this is called Tahneek and is one of the
customs among Muslims when a baby is born). The infant
began to smack his lips, sucking some of the sweetness of
the dates and the saliva of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). Thus the first thing that
entered that child's stomach was mixed with the saliva of
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him). He said, "See how much the Ansaar
(the Muslims who were living in Madeenah when the
Prophet migrated there) love dates!" I [Anas] said, "O
Messenger of Allaah, name him." He wiped his face and named
him `Abd-Allaah. There was no young man among the
Ansaar who was better than him, and when he grew up he had
a lot of sons, and was martyred in Persia (he died as a
martyr when the Muslims conquered Persia; all of this
happened as a result of the Prophet's blessed du'aa').
(The story was reported by Imaam al-Bukhaari,
Muslim, Ahmad and al-Tayaalisi; this version was reported by
al-Tayaalisi and others. Al-`Allaamah al-Albaani
collected all its isnaads in his book Ahkaam
al-Janaa'iz, p. 20).
This is one story of one Muslim woman among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him). There are many other stories which
show the effect Islam had on the hearts of Muslim women
and how the religion of Allaah bore fruits of righteous
deeds and good lives. In this there is enough to convince
the seeker of truth of the right religion which he must
follow. Read it again and think about it; maybe you will take
the greatest step of your life. Peace be upon those who
follow true guidance.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
4775: A Christian woman who wants to become
Muslim, but her husband is a kaafir and an alcoholic, and she has
a relationship with a Muslim man
Question:
I have been studing Islam for a few months now, I have
a Quran and am busy reading it and I must admit I
am comparing it with the bible. I am almost ready to
embrace Islam however I have two major problems. First I
am married to a Christian, he drinks a lot and is out of
work at this stage, when he drinks I become someone I do
not like very much. I do not drink at all and have not
for several years. My father was an alcoholic and unfortunately I also married one.
I loved him very much when we got married however
he has slowly destroyed this love with his manners
and attitude. I do like him, when he is sober he is the
kindest and most giving person I know and he would do
almost anything for his friends and I think for his family.
We have 2 children but they are both very fed up with
his drinking. If I had to leave him, he will most
definitely land up in the gutter. He will not be able to cope on
his own. He has a very low self-esteem at this stage. I
am very helpless at this stage and do not know what to do.
My second major problem is I am friends with a
much younger Muslim man. We have known each other for
a couple of years now and I have also come to love
him. The major problem here is he is married and has
two children, he is much younger than what I am and he
is friends with my husband and I am friends with his wife.
I have never indicated to him how I feel or what I feel,
but I do dream a lot of what may be. I know this is
probably wrong. I am not the type of person who will leave
my husband for another man but we have not had a
proper marriage relationship for almost six years now and I
am not dead yet.
I would like to embrace Islam but I am afraid that
my friend's attitude may change towards me when I
become a Muslimah, we now visit and talk about almost
anything ranging from business to religion and I would not like
to loose his friendship by committing myself. My friend
is a is very staunch in his religion and he is a
practising Muslim.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The conviction that you have reached must be very
firm and strong, because it is based on research and study,
and comes after you have compared the Bible and the
Qur'an. We do not think that that you need to be convinced
any further, but the problems that you talk about have to
do with the next step, which is really embracing the
religion of Islam and starting to practise it by living an
Islamic life. We do not see any real obstacles that would
prevent you from taking this step. Let us look at each of
these problems in turn.
The first problem is: how will your alcoholic
husband react to your becoming Muslim? The Islamic ruling
is that as soon as you embrace Islam, you start your
`iddah, which is the waiting period (following dissolution of
a marriage).
Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"According to our opinion, if a woman becomes Muslim when
her husband is a kaafir, then he becomes Muslim, then
he has more right (to go back) to her as long as she is still
in her `iddah period, but if her `iddah has expired, he has
no right to go back to her."
Al-Shaafa'i said: "If one of them (the couple)
becomes Muslim before the marriage is consummated, then
their separation takes effect instantly when one of
them becomes Muslim. If this happens after the marriage
has been consummated, then it becomes the matter of
waiting until three (menstrual periods) have passed." This is
if the woman has regular periods; otherwise the
waiting period is three months. If the other partner
becomes Muslim before this time has passed, then their
marriage contract remains valid. (Tabyeen al-Haqaa'iq Sharh
Kanz al-Daqaa'iq, part 2, Baab Nikaah
al-Kaafir).
This is because a Muslim woman is not allowed to
be married to a kaafir at all, because Islam should
prevail and not be prevailed over.
So become Muslim, and present Islam to him
(your husband). If he becomes Muslim too, then praise be
to Allaah. Maybe this will make him give up alcohol. If
he does not become Muslim and the `iddah time
expires, then leave him, especially as his circumstances are
not acceptable and and his alcoholism is causing so
much trouble for you and your children, and living with him
is unbearable. Do not feel any regrets about him;
maybe Allaah will compensate you with someone better than
him. If he cannot take care of himself, then he only has
himself to blame, because he is bringing it upon himself. If
you leave him, this make him feel bad and thus bring
him back to his senses; maybe then he will become
Muslim and get his wife and children back.
The second problem is very serious and
dangerous, because it has to do with an Islamically
unacceptable relationship between a man and a non-mahram
woman who talk together intimately about all kinds of
topics, without any controls or restraints. This improper
conduct has led to other kinds of improper conduct, namely
love and attachment and fear of separation from that
person, as well as the weighing up of this relationship against
the religion of Islam _ even though continuing this
intimate relationship is so harmful and entering Islam is
obligatory and will bring happiness in this world and salvation
from the Fire in the Hereafter. Moreover, we are
astonished and wonder how he can be so committed to his religion
_ as you say _ yet he has formed such a relationship
with you that you describe him as your friend. You must
hasten to enter Islam and advise this person in an
appropriate fashion (such as sending him an e-mail, for
example). Rest assured that when you become Muslim, Allaah
will make for you a way to get out (from difficulty), and
He will provide for you from (sources) you could
never imagine. So strive to please your Lord, and He will
be pleased with you and will make other people pleased
with you. May Allaah help us all to do that which He
loves and which pleases Him.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
5024: His brother has become Muslim but he is
hesitant and wants advice
Question:
I want to become a Muslim, but am very hesitant.
My brother converted a few months ago, which caused a
lot of problems between him and my parents(both of
them being Christian). I have a close relationship with
my girlfriend, which doesn't help me out much either. I
don't know what to do. I know it'll be a choice of Allah or
my parents/girlfriend. I know what the right decision
should be, I just don't know how, or when to make it. I just
need some advice.
Thanks…
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Congratulations to your brother, congratulations to
your brother, congratulations to your brother! Please give
him our best wishes and greetings of peace (salaam) and
tell him that even though we are thousands of miles
away, we are praying he will stand firm in his faith and gain
a proper understanding of his religion. Tell him that he
has brothers in faith who share his joy at having entered
Islam, even though he does not know their names or where
they live. This is the relationship of believers with one
another, like a structure parts of which support other parts.
With regard to yourself, you say that you know what
the right decision is, and that is great. You have come a
long way, and all that remains is for you to make the
decision which you know you have to make.
What is life without religion? What is the point of
living and working and striving if it is not for the purpose
of pleasing Allaah? Can there be any joy in life or
salvation after death or any hope of attaining the bliss of
Paradise without entering Islam? If we do not worship Allaah,
what are we going to worship? Our whims and desires?
Would a wise person accept to be the slave of his sexual
desire that will soon come to an end or of some wealth that
he will soon leave behind in this transient world? Man has
a spirit that will never be at peace unless he worships
Allaah. He has a conscience that cannot thrive except in the
light of Allaah. He has a soul that can never be at ease unless
it is in contact with Allaah, remembering Him, speaking
to Him, praying and fasting for His sake, putting its trust
in Him and repenting to Him. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance
and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and
Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can
walk amongst, like him who is in the darkness (of
disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never
come out?…" [al-An'aam 6:122]
"And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens
his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send
astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he
is climbing up to the sky…"
[al-An'aam 6:125]
There is no need for hesitation in this matter, because it
is the matter of freedom from the Fire of Hell and
salvation from the wrath of al-Jabbaar (the Compeller, i.e.,
Allaah), and attaining the victory of happiness in this world
and the next. Allaah Who created you and created the
heavens and earth is greater, and obeying Him is more
important, than the closest of relatives and the dearest of
friends. Become Muslim and you will be safe. Allaah will
help you with regard to your parents and will give you
the strength to stand firm against their pressure.
Who knows, maybe you and your brother will be the
cause of saving your entire family. Allaah told the
Prophet Moosa (Moses) about his brother Haaroon (Aaron),
peace be upon them both (interpretation of the meaning):
"We will strengthen your arm through your brother…"
[al-Qasas 28:35]
So together they went to call Pharaoh and his people
to worship Allaah.
With regard to your girlfriend, do not think that
this forbidden relationship will help you adhere to the
truth. You have to call her to Islam and to repent to Allaah.
If she repents, then marry her in accordance with the
Islamic way that is acceptable to Allaah. If she does not, then
do not feel any regrets about her.
The Prophet of Islam said: "Whoever gives up
something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him
with something better."
We ask Allaah to hasten the blessings of Islam for you,
to bless you with happiness in this world and success in
the Hereafter, and to protect you from all evil. We
look forward to hearing happy news. Peace be with you.
Islam Q&A Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
(www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
4816: She wants to become Muslim but thinks she will
have problems with her friends, family and job
Question:
I am a woman studying Islam and have a few
questions that need answering:
1. I have a few Muslim male friends, we are very
close and they treat me as an equal, if I had to convert to
Islam would their attitutes towards me have to change, e.g.
when I visit their houses, their wifes are very much in
the background while I am allowed to sit with the men
and partake in the conversation the wifes are usually busy
in the kitchens or else busy with the kids or generally
sit and watch TV while we talk; I would not like to
loose these special moments with my friends;
2. What will I be able to do about Friday prayers? I
work in a place where my situation is very difficult.
My collegeus are very prejudice against Muslims and I
am afraid that should I convert they will freak. I have
read somewhere that you can appoint someone to do the
prayers for you, is that true?
3. My family are all very staunch Christians and I
was brought up as a christian, I am also married to a
christian but he has no objections to my studying and
practicing Islam, if I had to convert how can I get my family to
leave me alone?
4. Obviously this is a big step for me and I do still
have doubts as to whether I am doing the right thing, how
can one be 100% sure that you are doing the right thing.
In my heart I feel OK about this although my mind has a
lot of worries as you can notice from my questions. I
am sure of the Oneness of God and have always been. I
have read the Choice by Ahmed Deedat and I am sure
about the Prophet (PBUH) and I do and have always
believed in life after death but why do I still feel so confused?
Am I ready to take the big step?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Is what you want to do the right step? Are you ready
to take this great step? From what you say, these are the
two important questions to which you have been trying to
find the answer. We thank you for consulting us, and we
believe that what you are going to do is the right step for
sure, because this is the religion of Allaah, and He does
not accept any other religion from His slaves, as He
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it
will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will
be one of the losers."
[Aal `Imraan 3:85]
Maybe you have compared (religions, etc.) and
read widely and have reached the conviction that this is
the true religion which you must follow, but this is not
enough and it will not save a person just to believe in the
Oneness of Allaah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the resurrection
after death. He must also utter the Shahadataayn and
practise Islam. It seems to us that your hesitation is not due
to lack of conviction of the truth but because of certain
fears that have to do with social factors such as friends,
family, husband and job.
One aspect of the answer may be found under Question
# 4775, so please refer to that. As far as your
Muslim acquaintances are concerned, you will be sitting with
their wives, not with the men, as is dictated by Islamic
teaching. If you find this difficult at first, you will find it easy
later on. If these women are too busy, then look for other
sincere Muslim women who you can make friends with
and encourage one another to adhere to the truth.
If you are sincere towards Allaah, He will help you
to overcome your difficulties with your husband and
family. With regard to Friday Prayers, this is not obligatory
for women because the Prophet of Islam (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It is a duty for every
Muslim to pray Jumu'ah in congregation apart from four:
slaves, women, young boys and the sick." (Reported by
Abu Dawood, 901). Women have to pray four rak'ahs of
Zuhr prayer on Friday wherever they are. What you have
heard about a person delegating someone else to pray on
his behalf is not correct at all. Prayer is fard
`ayn, i.e., an individual duty for each Muslim, and it is not
acceptable for one person to appoint someone else as a proxy or
for one person to pray on behalf of another. In any case,
you have no need for this in the case of Jumu'ah prayers,
as you now know.
Briefly, all you need in your case is to put your trust
in Allaah and strive to please Him. Go ahead and
embrace His religion even if it makes other people angry. So
long as you accept Him as your Lord and God, and follow
His religion, He will never let you down or forsake you.
We believe that you are ready to take this great step, in
sha Allaah, so remember our advice in brief is "Go for
it" and put your trust in Allaah. We ask Allaah to give
you strength.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam
qa.com)
4246: becoming a Muslim
Question:
I would like to become a musilim.
Is this possible? And if so, how can this happen. I do
not know much.I know some things.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Any human being can embrace Islam. You do not
need anyone's permission. You simply say and believe that
there is No God except Allah and that Mohammad is
his Messenger. Once you say this sentence, you
automatically become Muslim. From there, you start carrying on
with the duties of Islam. You must do what Allah and
His messenger tell you to, and stay away from what they
tell you to. Islam does not tell you to do anything unless it
is good for you. It also does not tell you to stay away
from anything unless it is bad for you. You will notice
the change in the way you look at things, the minute
you become a Muslim. You will feel more relieved and
secure only to think that you are fulfilling the orders of
Allah. Doing this, you will clearly see the benefits of it
for yourself and for mankind. You can embrace Islam in
any Islamic center. This is only a formality. Once you say
and believe in the Oneness of Allah and in the message of
his Prophet Mohammad, then you are a Muslim.
To become a Muslim, simply say the following words:
Ash hadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ash hadu
anna Mohammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.
This means I testify and witness that there is no god
worthy of being worshipped other than Allah and that
Mohammad is his Messenger. You must say it and believe in it.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
4028: Response to a stubborn disbeliever
Question:
Did you know your religion was founded and
developed by Catholics? I know Muhammad was your Christ,
but let me tell you friend the God you know is not the God
of Gods but the Devil of Devils.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
We do not wish to respond to slander in kind, but we
will answer you, you disbeliever, with quotes from the
Word of God (the Qur'aan), if you even believe in the
existence of God.
O disbeliever, we debate with you in the words
addressed by Allaah (the Arabic name of the One True God) to
the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and
the disbelievers. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do
not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah
aught but the truth. The Messiah `Eesa (Jesus) son of
Maryam (Mary) was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah
and His Word (`Be!' _ and he was), which He bestowed
on Maryam, and a spirit created by Him; so believe in
Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: `Three (trinity)!' Cease!
(it is) better for you. For Allaah is (the only) One
(God). Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a
son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is
in the earth. And Allaah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer
of Affairs."
[al-Nisa' 4:171]
"Say: O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians)! Do you criticize us for no other reason than that we
believe in Allaah, and in (the revelation) which has been
sent down before (us), and that most of you are
faasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient [to Allaah])?"
[al-Maa'idah 5:59]
"How can you disbelieve in Allaah? Seeing that you
were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you
death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day
of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return."
[al-Baqarah 2:28]
"… whosoever disbelieves in Allaah, His Angels,
His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed
he has strayed far away…
Verily, those who disbelieve in Allaah and His
messengers and wish to make a distinction between Allaah and
His Messengers (by believing in Allaah and disbelieving
in His Messengers) saying, `We believe in some but not
in others,' and wish to adopt a way in between,
They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared
for the disbelievers a humiliating torment."
[al-Nisa' 4:136, 150-151]
O disbeliever, do you think that you can do any harm
to Allaah by your disbelief? Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"… But if you disbelieve, then unto Allaah belongs
all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth,
and Allaah is Ever Rich (Free of all wants), Worthy of
all praise." [al-Nisa' 4:131]
You will only increase in hatefulness and loss in the
sight of Allaah, you disbeliever, for you are one of the worst
of living creatures, as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"Verily, the worst of moving (living) creatures
before Allaah are those who disbelieve, - so they shall
not believe."
[al-Anfaal 8:55]
O disbeliever, are you not going to die? Or do you
doubt that as well? Do you know what your position will
be when you die, if you die in a state of disbelief? Listen:
"And if you could see when the angels take away
the souls of those who disbelief (at death), they smite
their faces and their backs, (saying): `Taste the punishment
of the blazing Fire.'"
[al-Anfaal 8:50]
O disbeliever, woe to you from what will happen to
you on the Day of Resurrection! Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"… so woe to the disbelievers from the meeting of a
great Day (i.e., the Day of Resurrection, when they will
be thrown in the blazing Fire)."
[Maryam 19:37]
We have an appointment with you after death, on the
Day of Reckoning:
"On that day those who disbelieved and disobeyed
the Messenger [Muhammad SAWS (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him)] will wish that they were buried
in the earth, but they will never be able to hide a single
fact from Allaah."
[al-Nisa' 4:42]
O disbeliever, do you know what Allaah has prepared
for you if you die in a state of disbelief? Read:
"And whosoever does not believe in Allaah and
His Messenger [Muhammad SAWS (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him)], then verily, We have prepared
for the disbelievers a blazing Fire."
[al-Fath 48:13]
"Verily, those who disbelieve, and die while they
are disbelievers, it is they on whom is the Curse of
Allaah and of the angels and mankind, combined."
[al-Baqarah 2:161]
"Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they
were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not
be accepted from any one of them even if they offered it as
a ransom. For them is a painful torment and they will
have no helpers."
[Aal `Imraan 3:91]
"Surely, those who reject Faith, neither their
properties, nor their offspring will avail them aught against
Allaah. They are the dwellers of the Fire, therein they will abide."
[Aal `Imraan 3:116]
Do you know what you will have to drink in Hell if
you die as a disbeliever? Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"… But those who disbelieved will have a drink of
boiling fluids and painful torment because they used
to disbelieve."
[Yoonus 10:5]
Do you know what you will have to wear on that
Day? Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"… Then as for those who disbelieve, garments of
fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be
poured down over their heads."
[al-Hajj 22:19]
Do you know what kind of punishment you will endure?
"Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Signs, We
shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are
roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that
they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allaah is Ever
Most Powerful, All-Wise."[al-Nisa' 4:56]
"If only those who disbelieved knew (the time) when
they will not be able to ward off the Fire from their faces,
nor from their backs; and they will not be
helped."[al-Anbiya' 21:39]
O reviler, maybe on the Day of Judgement you will
wish that you had been a Muslim in this world. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Perhaps (often) will those who disbelieve wish that
they were Muslims."
[al-Hijr 15:2]
O disbeliever, you are among those who have
disbelieved and done wrong. Allaah says concerning you and
your like (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily those who disbelieve and do wrong, Allaah
will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way"
[al-Nisa' 4:168]
"Those who disbelieve and deny our signs are those
who will be the dwellers of the Hell-fire."
[al-Maa'idah 5:10]
There you will have no life, but neither will you be
able to find any respite in death. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"But those who disbelieve, for them will be the Fire
of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on
them so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened
for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!"
[Faatir 35:36]
O disbeliever, have the glad tidings of a punishment
from which you will not be able to ransom yourself:
"Verily, those who disbelieve, if they had all that is in
the earth, and as much again therewith to ransom
themselves thereby from the torment on the Day of Resurrection,
it would never be accepted of them, and theirs would be
a painful torment."
[al-Maa'idah 5:36]
O disbeliever, if you want to mock Islam and its
followers, this is nothing new:
"Beautified is the life of this world for those
who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But
those who obey Allaah's Orders and keep away from what
He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allaah gives (of His bounty on the
Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit."
[al-Baqarah 2:212]
O disbeliever, if you think that the light of Islam will
be extinguished, then you are living in a world of
illusions. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"They (the disbelievers) want to extinguish Allaah's
Light with their mouths, but Allaah will not allow except
that His Light should be perfected even though the
disbelievers hate (it)."
[al-Tawbah 9:32]
O disbeliever, do you know that you are cursed if you
do not submit to Allaah, so save yourself from this curse:
"Verily, Allaah has cursed the disbelievers, and
has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell)."
[al-Ahzaab 33:64]
There is still time for you to repent from sin
and transgression, so long as you are still alive. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease
(from disbelief) their past will be forgiven. But if they
return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished)
before them have already preceded (as a warning)."
[al-Anfaal 8:38]
Whoever is guided, then it is for his own benefit,
and whoever disbelieves, then Allaah has no need of
His creation. The curse of Allaah be upon the disbelievers.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
4545: She wants to convert to Islam but there are
only men in the Islamic centre
Question:
I am seriously thinking of converting to Islam but
the mosque in my town has only male muslims at it
.Should I go and give my declaration or find another way?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly, we want to congratulate you for seriously
thinking about embracing Islam and entering into the true
religion. May you be one of those for whom Allaah wishes
good and whom He decrees will be one of those who
enjoy happiness. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens
his breast to Islam…" [al-An'aam 6:125]
Secondly, it is not obligatory to declare your Islam at
an Islamic centre, although this may be useful for
some official purposes or if you need written proof of your
Islam in the future. On this basis, it will be enough for you
to pronounce the Shahaadatayn (the declaration of faith)
and start to practise the rituals of Islamic worship, such
as prayer and following what is commanded by Allaah
and His Messenger. We ask Allaah to pour His blessings
on you and to guide you to the straight path.
Islam Q&A Sheikh Muhammed Salih
Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Our Price: $19.95 Pages: 300 Downloadable
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