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Q. 1. Is it all right for me to follow the Jamia Mosque for Eid-ul-Adha celebration although I do not agree with this decision to celebrate it with Hajj day in Saudi Arabia (i.e.next to Hajj day).

2. What is the true significance of the details given in the attached brochure on the light of the Fiqh followed in different schools?

3. Does it agree with the decision taken by Fiqh council of Saudi Arabia which has members from all over the Muslim world.
(A Canadian Muslim)  Read more... (1553 words, estimated 6:13 mins reading time)

Q. “What is the procedure for a Christian to convert to Islam in order to marry a Sunni Muslim girl? Which reputable institution in Karachi arranges for such a conversion and Nikah, so that it is a widely accepted in our society?”
(Anonymous)

A. It is not correct practice to embrace Islam for the sake of marrying a Muslim girl only. Islam is a composition of certain beliefs and acts. It is a way of life. It is a matter of faith and conviction. In order to become a Muslim, it is necessary to accept all its basic teachings with one’s heart and soul. If one’s real purpose is only to marry a Muslim girl, and he wants to register himself as a Muslim only because he cannot marry that girl without it, while he does not have faith in the basic beliefs of Islam, he cannot be a Muslim in reality.  Read more... (728 words, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)

Q. What is the deifinition of Riba according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ( Sallaho Alaihai Wasallam ). Does it cover the simple and compound interest existing in the present day financial transactions?

A. The word, Riba as understood from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, is any extra payment received over and above the prin- cipal amount, regardless of the fact that extra amount is significant or insignificant. Islam, therefore, considers the Riba Haraam, in all of its forms.

The Fuqaha have given two interpretations of the word, Riba, : Riba-al-Nasia and Riba al Fadl.  Read more... (650 words, estimated 2:36 mins reading time)

Q. As a convert to Islam I greatly appreciate the Islamic literature such as your publication which helps me to advance in knowledge. I have three (3) questions which I would like you address for me. If you have addressed these questions in any of your past issues of Albalagh please let me know how I can obtain a copy Inshallah. If not would you please answer these questions for me or let me know if you intend to address these questions in any of your upcoming issues Insha-Allah.
(Khadijah al-Khudri, Orlando, U.S.A)  Read more... (1597 words, estimated 6:23 mins reading time)

It is mostly said that if love builds up before marriage, than the marital life gets to be successful. However, all the surveys of the world conducted in this regard have yielded results entirely contrary to this belief. I received a survey done in Cairo conducted throughout the world. Its report said that 88% of marriages based on pre-marriage love are unsuccessful, while only 12 % of such couples end up living together as husband and wife. In comparison to this, marriages that are conducted according to the traditions of the Islamic principle, their success rate is 78%.  Read more... (221 words, estimated 53 secs reading time)

Valentine’s Day dates back to the Roman idol worshippers. Legends contend that it has its origin in honouring the Roman idols. Like most Christian festivals, the Valentine’s Day too has its roots in the Roman polytheism.  In ancient Rome, there used to be a festival for the young men and women. The Roman girls would write love letters and put them in a vase. Then the Roman bachelors would draw out the letters at random and select the girl whose letter had been drawn. Thereafter, these couples used to have courtships, meeting each other before marriage to develop understanding. However, when Christians came to Rome, they sought to Christianise everything prevalent at the time. So instead of putting an end to this pagan festival, they replaced it with Valentine’s day.  Read more... (309 words, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

Muharram is the month with which the Muslims begin their lunar Hijrah Calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which the Holy Quran says, “The number of the months according to Allah is twelve (mentioned) in the Book of Allah on the day He created heavens and the earth. Among these (twelve months) there are four sanctified.”

These four months, according to the authentic traditions, are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. All the commentators of the Holy Quran are unanimous on this point, because the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, in his sermon on the occasion of his last Hajj, declared: “One year consists of twelve months, of which four are sanctified months, three of them are in sequence; Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab.”  Read more... (1702 words, estimated 6:48 mins reading time)

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said to Hadrat Abu Zar: ‘l bequeath you to be pious, because piety greatly adorns and improves all your deeds.’ Hadrat Abu Zar (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) thereupon said, “Some more, Sir”, He said, “Recite the Holy Quran and remember ALLAH as a regular measure because this recitation and remembrance will be followed by you on earth.” Hazrat Abu Zarr requested for some more. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Cultivate the habit of remaining silent and speaking less because this habit wards off Satan and is helpful in matters of faith.” Hadrat Abu Zar (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) again requested for some counsels. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Give up the habit of laughing too much because it deadens the spirit and dims the light of one’s face. Hadrat Abu Zar (Radi Allaahu Ta’ala Anhu) requested for some more counsels. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Speak truth even though it may be unpalatable and bitter.” On request for still more counsels, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said. “Do not care for people’s reproach in the matter of ALLAH Whatever you know about your own self and person, should be enough to hold you back from finding out, and loop-holes of others. [Sha’ab-ul-Aman, Baihaqui, Ma’arif-ul-Hadis]  Read more... (310 words, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)

Now on the way from Mina to Makkah your staying for a while at the place of Muhassab is Sunnat. Nowadays, the conveyance of Motor Lorries is not usually in one’s own control. It is therefore very difficult to stay anywhere on the way. As such, there is no harm if due to this helplessness one does not stay at Muhassab (Zaubda).  Read more... (242 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)

Out of Wajibat of Hajj now there remained only a few practices. You are to stay at Mina for to or three days and to perform Rami on all the three Jamarat. To spend the nights of these days as well in Mina is Sunnat-e-Mu’akkada while according to some others it is Wajib. It is forbidden to spend the nights anywhere out-side Mina whether in Makkah or anywhere else (Irshad-us-Sari).  Read more... (498 words, estimated 1:60 mins reading time)