Q. “Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the city limits of Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah. The entry of non-Muslims in the Haram limits of Makkah was banned in 9th Hijrah by a Quranic order contained in the Surah al-Bar’ah, verse 27.
Did this order apply to the Haram of Makkah only or also to the Haram of Madinah? The Qur’an does not say so.
Imam Malik and Umar bin Abdul-Aziz etc. Interpreted the verse to apply to all the masjids.
Q. “I am a recent subscriber to your worthy magazine and have enjoyed every issue of your magazine since December last year. I pray that Allah will give you and your organization all strength and willingness to carry on your good work. I would be obliged if you would answer these questions for me either directly or through the medium of your magazine.
1) Who are the people who form the Jamaah of a mosque? Is there an area limit? Are there any other criteria to form the Jamaah?
Q. Observing Muslims all over the world which, unfortunately includes those living in Muslim countries, face the problems brought before them by unwanted interest money generated in their name through channels they do not control. This happens inspite of their being careful against whatever is likely to get them involved in interest bearing activity.
In case, interest does come into their accounts, no matter how unwanted, is there a valid way under the Shariah through which the identified interest amount can be disposed off?
1. Can it be taken out of the account and used to pay personal or company income tax.?
Q. 1. If a mosque get substantial income over and above what is required for the expense of the mosque, should it pay Zakah on its income? The income consists mainly of rental income from properties that have been gifted to the mosque. If it is payable what is the rate?
2. Should an association which is engaged in charitable work (mainly assisting needy students to pursure their education) pay Zakah on these incomes which are used for charity. What about Zakah on their wealth which consist of investments in shares in companies and other such investments?
(Ibid)
Q. “Secondly, I see Muslims who save money to buy houses, cars, vacation packages, send their children to the best colleges, and afford the most elaborate Valimahs yet when Allah sends his angel of death to retrieve their souls there is no money in their savings account to pay for their funeral expenses. In fact most of the Muslims I have spoken to seem to believe it is the duty of the Ummah to bury its brother or sister or child in Islam. Is this true? Are we not asked to save for our funeral expenses? ”
(Ibid)
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)
With the latest in-your-face act of the Facebook, the issue is once again attracting headlines. Should Muslims react? How should they react? Where do they stand on the philosophical issue underlying all this?
In the media the issue has been framed as a clash between two camps. One camp stands for freedom of expression. The other wants to curtail it. Needless to say the first camp is enlightened and virtuous. The other is a relic of the dark ages. The clash in other words is between a civilized and civilizing West and Islam that just refuses to be civilized.
We observed an interview of an Afghan leader surrounded by sabre rattling and slogan chanting Arab Mujahideen, the Afghan leader was expressing with heavy heart the facts that Kabul is still under the iron control of the Uzbak Militia and the supremacy of Islam is not established. Thus he will fight to the last, to remove every communist from Kabul. During the whole interview he was cheered by the Arab Mujahideen with emotional and unrealistic slogans.
Q. “Is it necessary for a women to wait for call of Azan before she can offer her prayers (salah) or can she perform her prayers as soon as the time for that particular prayer becomes due?”. (Ibid)
A. The ladies need not wait for the call of Azan. They can offer their prayers soon after they are sure that the time for a particular salah has arrived, no matter whether the Call of Azan has been pronounced in the Masjid or not. The Holy Qur’an says,
“Surely, the Salah for the Muslims is an obligation related with time.”
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