Your Questions Answered
Queries
(Answered under the supervision of the Editor)
Sexual Intimacy prior to Bridal Departure (Rukhsati)
Question: Pleaseallow me to say that your website has been very helpful to me as there are a lot of things regarding Islam that I don’t know. I am facing a serious problem and am sure you can shed some light on the matter according to Islamic principles. I have had my nikah. Due to some financial reasons my ‘rukhsati’ (shifting to my husband’s house) cannot take place till the end of next year. My husband wants to have a marital relationship with me now. At first, I refused but then he got very angry at me and said that we are after all married according to the command of Allah and not committing a sin so I obliged him knowing that Allah had told wives to obey their husbands. We did not have sex and I am still a virgin but to an extent we did things that only married people would do. Someone told me that it was illegal to indulge in such an act prior to shifting to the house of the husband. If I do not oblige my husband, he gets offended and I have the threat that he will go to some other woman. So please tell me if it is wrong or not? I intend to be a virgin till I shift with him. If it is wrong, then what should I do about my husband’s anger because he insists?
Answer: Nikahrenders both of you legally husband and wife. This entails two things. First, you both have legal right to live together and establish marital relationship. Second, you both have some responsibilities towards each other.
The marital relationship in the present situation cannot be objected to on legal grounds. In other words, you would not be sinning in the eyes of the Shari‘ah if you have a physical relationship with him. The issue here is related more to the social norms and customs of our society. The society we live in would not accept this situation. If it comes to know this kind of relationship between you both, it is bound to react strongly. Therefore, I would suggest that you to talk to your husband on the matter of social norms. It is in fact the society which accepts your being husband and wife not for its own benefit rather it makes sure that any of the party does not neglect their duties. If such a couple has a sexual relationship and the woman gets pregnant, it would also harm her repute. In some cases, the husband would prefer this situation as it relieves him of his responsibilities.
You should thus try to convince your husband that such a thing is not socially acceptable. He should try to bring you over as soon as possible.
(Tariq Hashmi)
Implication of the Word Zulm
Question: Please explain in depth what is the real implication of the Arabic word ‘Zulm’ in the Holy Qur’an. A barrister friend of mine wants to comprehend ‘Zulm’ particularly in the Qur’anic context in sayings like Allah does not guide the ‘Zalimun’
Answer:The primary meaning of the word ‘Zulm’is injustice and wrongdoing. The Holy Qur’an has applied the word to connote different acts because of a common characteristic of these acts. The words ‘Allah does not guide the Zalimun’ occur in the following verses of the Holy Qur’an: 2:258, 3:86, 5:51, 6:144, 9:19, 9:109, 28:50, 46:10, 61:7, 62:5. In all the instances, the real implication can only be ascertained after analyzing the context in which these verses occur. For example 2:258 reads:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَآجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رِبِّهِأَنْ آتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِـيوَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِـي وَأُمِيتُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللّهَيَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَالَّذِي كَفَرَ وَاللّهُ لاَ يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ(258:2)
Did you not see him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: my Lord is He who gives life and causes death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: lo! Allah causes the sun to rise in the East, so do you cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guides not the wrong doing folk.(2:258)
We see that the word here refers to people who behave like the one with whom Abraham had an argument. This man decided to reject the truth and did not even pay heed to such a strong argument that silenced him. But he preferred not to surrender before the truth.
Similarly, the Hoy Qur’an often uses the word to refer to those who abuse the blessings and abilities bestowed upon them by the Almighty. These people do not recognize the blessings showered upon them as God-given gifts rather they deem it their very right to be blessed with all these things. These people do not express gratitude for what has been given to them rather they are overcome with arrogance and haughtiness like Iblis (Satan). They do not surrender before the Almighty and force others to venerate them. Such people are often determined to stick to the evil path and thus are not guided to the right no matter how manifestly is the truth unveiled to them. Only those are guided who accept guidance and foster the innate guidance provided to them and surrender to the truth.
A study of all the verses would reveal that the word generally refers to people of this conduct.
(Tariq Hashmi)
Origins of the Prophetic Teachings
Question: I have beentold by a critic of Islam that the Prophet Muhammad (sws) did not receive any revelation from the Almighty rather he would make things up. The following tradition is quoted to prove that the Prophet (sws) would copy things from others and present it as divined decrees.
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Aishah(rta)narrates that Judama bint Wahb al-Asadiyyah informed her that she heard the Messenger of Allah (sws) say, ‘I intended to prohibit ghila but I remembered that the Greeks and Persians do that without it causing any injury to their children.’ Malik explained: ‘Ghila is that a man has intercourse with his wife while she is suckling [her offspring]’.(Mu’atta, No: 16)
Answer: We very well know that the Holy Prophet (sws) lived in a particular culture in a particular period of history. He did not claim that all he uttered was sanctioned from the Almighty. He must have also expressed his views based on his own observations of the matters, inherited knowledge of that time and self-inclinations. The referred to incident does not tell us that he received a revelation about the ill-effects of a certain act which he did not promulgate merely on the information that some people were doing the same without being harmed. This in fact tells us that the Holy Prophet (sws) thought that the act could have caused some harmful effects upon the infants; therefore, he intended to stop the Muslims from that. On being informed that it was not the case, he refrained from stopping others from doing the same but expressed his own tendency. How does this prove that the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sws) were borrowed from others? A man in his practical life depends a lot upon the available information and the knowledge of the people of the past and the present. Why should the Holy Prophet (sws) be denied this right? If somebody claims that since the Holy Prophet (sws) did not come up with a parallel method of growing crops and did not use his own invented weapons of war and relied upon the discoveries of other people, it proves that he was an imposter. Should he be paid heed to?
The only thing that has a potential to mislead one is the use of the word ‘prohibition’ in the tradition. This confusion also is a result of lack of knowledge. The tradition does not transmit the actual words spoken by the Holy Prophet (sws). Even if we suppose that in this instance it did, it could have been a decree as an administrator or merely an expression of his own tendency towards a matter in the same wording. He would sometimes suggest the traditional medicines known in Arabia and this does not fall within the purview of religion. Certainly he did not make these things mandatory for his followers because they do not form part of the Din (religion) revealed to him. Once he expressed his disapproval of a certain method of fertilization of dates at that time, it resulted in substantial decrease in the production that season. On hearing this he said:
I am a human being like you. When I give you any religious command, accept it. When I express my personal opinion, remember that I am nothing but a human being. (Sahih Muslim, No: 2362)
(Tariq Hashmi)
Question of Jihad with Muslims
Question:If a Muslim state attacks another Muslim state then defending the country obviously is Jihad for the Muslims of invaded country. In such a situation, what should be the stance of the Muslim soldiers of the invading army? What are they supposed to do if they find before them their Muslim brethren?
Answer: Today, the only basis ofJihadendorsed by Islam is one that is against oppression and persecution. This is irrespective of the fact whether this oppression is being perpetrated by Muslims or non-Muslims.
As regards the situation you have referred to, it bears many possibilities. A Muslim is supposed to support the truth and support any move against oppression. It is obvious that a Muslim country is not always on the right. When the invaded Muslim country is not on the right and the soldiers of the invading army know that the country in question has a wrong standing, then their fight should be considered Jihad. If, however, they know that the other country is fighting for a just cause and their leadership is forcing them into committing oppression, they can leave their service in favor of the right cause. They must be ready in this case to face the consequences as well.
(Tariq Hashmi)
Wisdom behind the Sunnah of shaving off unwanted Hair
Question: Why do we have to clean hair from under the arms and the pubic area?
Answer: Removing hair from under the armpits and the pubic area is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sws). The wisdom behind the custom is to attain physical purification. Humans, by their nature, want to be purified physically. That is why the Holy Prophet (sws) called the act to be an observance of human nature and instituted these acts as the Sunnah. He is reported to have said:
Five things are from among [the norms of] human nature: circumcision, shaving the pubes, cutting nails, removing hair from under the armpits and clipping the moustache. (Muslim:No. 257)
(Tariq Hashmi)
Fake Certificates for Traveling alone for Hajj
Question: There isa general tendency nowadays to form groups by some agents for ‘Umrah. The problem with this method of ‘Umrah is that some of the ladies also want to perform ‘Umrah but they do not have a Mahram to accompany them. In the process, what the agents dois to declare some males in the groupasMahram of these ladies so that the official requirement is fulfilled. I wanted to know whether this kind of subterfuge is allowable in Islam. A good aspect of forming these groups could be that these groups consist of subgroups of ladies who then perform the ‘Umrah rituals quite satisfactorily and independently, which serve the real purpose of the company of a Mahram.
Answer: Before commenting on your specific question I would like you to appreciate that the Islamic Shari‘ah has not held it compulsory for women to be accompanied by a Mahram during their travel to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah. We believe that some of the jurists have misconstrued a saying of the Holy Prophet (sws) in this regard. In our opinion, the Shari‘ah does not hinder women from performing Hajj without being accompanied by a Mahram relation. No doubt the Holy Prophet (sws) recommended women to avoid traveling alone. This recommendation is not principally related to traveling for Hajj, rather it is a social advice he gave keeping in view the circumstances of those times.
A study of all the traditions leads to the conclusion that the Prophet (sws) recommended women not to travel alone because of the grave dangers it entailed. Such a journey could endanger both a woman’s life and her repute. The circumstances at that time were not appropriate for even men to set out on journeys easily. These factors may not be present today with the development of organized and disciplined means of transportation, however, a lady must take the decision herself whether to travel alone or not keeping in view these aspects. If she is satisfied that her travel is risk free and she decides to travel alone, she would not be violating the directive of the Prophet (sws).
This is our understanding of the issue. However, this does not alter any thing for these people, as, we know that women - without the company of Mahram relations - are generally refused visa for Hajj and/or ‘Umrah by the Saudi government. They regard it to be a directive of the Shari‘ah and they have very right to promulgate decrees they believe to be the part of the Shari‘ah or a necessary administrative requirement. As a principle, it would not be right to breach legal requirements and produce fake certificates. Those who dare do this must know that they have to face the Almighty on the Day of Judgement and account for all their actions.
(Tariq Hashmi)
Involvement in Worldly Activities
Question:There are many Ahadith which say that one should consider the world a prison or equivalent to a dead goat on the street. Similarly, there is one which says that we should consider ourselves travelers in the world. Keeping all these Ahadith in mind, shouldn’t we spend much time in worshipping Allah, in doing social work and preaching instead of eating, sleeping, and working etc.
Answer:All these Ahadith have a background and a context which must be given due consideration.
No doubt, this world is transitory, but this is only one side of the picture. The other side is that the more transitory it is, the more precious it becomes, because each and every moment that we are passing in this world is either helping us to make our abode in Paradise or otherwise, in Hell. That is why the Holy Prophet (sws) has said ‘this world is the crop of the Hereafter. As we sow here, so shall we reap in the Hereafter’.
God has created this world not haphazardly but under a well-thought of plan. The natural corollary of this scheme is that we should indulge ourselves in these worldly activities, provided the activity is not pushing us towards the disobedience of God. Our duty is just to obey the commandments of Allah in whatever field or activity we indulge in. If we are doing that, then we should be satisfied that we are fulfilling our purpose, which, you would know, is to purify our souls so that we can make ourselves worthy of living in our permanent home: Paradise. This purification can only be achieved by living a life of obedience and submission. You would appreciate that living apart from worldly affairs is totally against the scheme of the universe. Thus science and other allied disciplines are nothing but the attendants of humanity. The primary principle that must remain before our eyes is that we have not been sent here for living alone in some jungle; rather, we have been sent here for taking part in the ‘game’ and we will be rewarded on the basis of our participation, style of play and overall performance.
Moreover, it is to be noted that those things would be considered ‘worldly’, in your words, which lead us away from the way of God. Conversely, all those activities which are in conformity with God’s commandments and which do not lead us astray would not be ‘worldly’.
(Siddiq Bukhary)
Forgiveness
Question:Can a Muslim who damaged and harmed other Muslims and non-Muslims ask Allah for forgiveness?
Answer: God is all forgiving. It is His promise that when a person sincerely repents for his sins, He will not only forgive his sins - even if they are as grave as ascribing partners to Him, committing fornication and/or murder - but will also substitute these sins with good deeds in his record:
Except those who repent and believe and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (25:70)
But there are two conditions of Tawbah which should be fulfilled: making amends for sins and a strong commitment to refrain from them. Tawbah is not merely the pronouncement of some words. It is a commitment that must be honoured. Therefore, a person should not only make a commitment not to tread the wrong path but also compensate for his cruelties and aggressions that he has resorted to. Hence, before seeking refuge in Allah, he should ask for forgiveness from his victims and also compensate them for the loss he caused to them.
(Siddiq Bukhary)