Can Unmarried Women Go Out without Family Permission?

You don’t need to wait for your parents’ permission to go out for work or important matters such as meeting someone in a clean environment or shopping or banking or other important personal issues.

Parents have no right to restrict your movements. Their right over you is limited to help protect your honor and dignity.

As long your travel is not involving long distances where there are valid reasons for your safety and security they have no right to object to your free movement.

I think the challenges you are facing from your parents are more to do with cultural issues rather than due to sound religious teachings.

Many people today confuse culture with religion. Religion is a set of spiritual and ethical norms meant for all times and cultures; whereas culture and customs are time bound and hence alterable.

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

Are We Predestined?

 

The Quran mentions twice that Allah seals the hearts of those who do not believe. You can read this meaning in Surah 2, verses 6 – 7:

{As to those who reject faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or not ; they will not believe. God has set a seal on their hearts and on their ears, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they [incur].}

Also, Surah 45, verse 23 reads:

{Then see the one who took as his god his own vain desire? God has, [knowing him as such], left him astray as he did not follow the guidance of his own knowledge, and God sealed his ears and his heart [and understanding], and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after God [has withdrawn guidance]? Will you not then receive admonition?}

Or perhaps you are asking about verse 142, in Surah 2, which means:

{The Fools among the people will say: “What has turned them from the direction to which they were praying [From Jerusalem to Makkah]?” Say: “To God belong both East and West: He guides whom He will to a straight path.”}

This phrase, here translated to mean that God guides whom ‘He’ wills, is repeated many times in the Quran. Some scholars who interpret the Quran [the exegesis of the Quran] grasp the meaning of this phrase as: “God guides ‘he’ who wants to be guided.” This then directly relates to the many verses that describe who will not be guided as the unjust, rebellious, agnostic, etc.

However, if the Arabic is understood with the meaning that God guides whom He wills, we may well ask whether God has created believers and non-believers? This raises the question: is everything predestined or ordained in advance, or do we have a free will? The answer does not conflict with the first interpretation.

If God did create or ordain our actions, then we would not have free will, and it would not be just to hold us accountable on the Day of Judgment. Likewise, it would not be just if it were ordained at our creation that we would end up in Paradise or Hell, no matter what our choices turned to be.

But one of the names or attributes of God is al-`Adl, The Just. He cannot and does not do anything unjust. Therefore we must reject the doctrine of pre-destination.

So do we have a total free will? If we give this question careful thought and investigation, we might reach the conclusion that there are a few aspects of our life about which we have no say. We cannot choose when we are born, to which parents, nor when we are going to die, whether we are born into a rich or poor family, or what sex we are born into. But after that we can choose how to act, what moral code we abide by, what social and political responsibilities we fulfill or ignore .

There is a hadith (tradition of Prophet Muhammad) on this subject that describes this. It was narrated by his companion `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) as follows:

Allah’s messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the truthful and truly-inspired, said:

“Each one of you was collected within the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot [or something that clings] for an equal period [of forty days] and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period [of forty days] and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision, his age [at death], and whether he will be of the wretched or the blessed [in the Hereafter].

Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you [or a man] may do deeds of the people of the Hellfire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Hellfire, but then that writing [which Allah has ordered the angel to write] precedes, and then he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it; and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it.” (Reported by Bukhari.)

Most people, when they read this, think that it means that when the angel writes these four things, God is commanding these things to happen. However, scholars explain that while this is true for one’s age and provision – at least at birth – the angel is recording something that will happen, but that record does not ‘make’ it happen.

It simply reflects a conception of time and knowledge of Allah beyond time and space. We have to always remember that God is never limited by the boundaries of time and space. He gives us free will, but He knows beforehand — even before we were created — what our choices and their consequences will be.

Let’s examine the translation of a few more verses in the Qur’an related to the question of guidance. For example, in Surah 2, verse 26:

{God disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject faith say: ‘What means God by this similitude?’ By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; But He causes not to stray, except those who forsake [the path].}

Then in Surah 4, verses 66 – 68:

{If We had ordered them [the hypocrites] to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes, very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were [actually] told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their [faith]; and We should then have given them from Our Presence a great reward; and We should have shown them the Straight Way.}

Then in Surah 7, verse 30:

{Some He has guided; others have [by their choice] deserved the loss of their way, in that they took the evil ones, in preference to God, for their friends and protectors, and think that they receive guidance.}

Also in Surah 10, verse 44 – 45:

{Verily God will not deal unjustly with man in aught; it is man that wrongs his own soul. One day He will gather them together; [it will be] as if they had tarried but an hour of a day; they will recognize each other; assuredly those will be lost who denied the meeting with God and refused to receive true guidance.}

Then in Surah 13, verse 27:

{… Say: “Truly God leaves to stray whom He will; but He guides to Himself those who turn to Him in penitence.”}

These are but a few of the many verses in the Quran that speak of guidance.

In addition, in many verses the Quran says:

{Allah guides not the people who are unjust…}

{Allah guides not those who reject faith…}

{Allah guides not the people who declare themselves enemies of His might…}

So, allow me to put it in a nutshell: God does not make us believers or non-believers. Belief is based on free choice and accountability.

Finally, I’d like to quote another hadith. This one is a hadith qudsi, which means the prophet (peace be upon him) reported in his own words what God had revealed to him:

Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, Allah’s messenger (may peace be upon him) said:

“Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: ‘I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his [remembrance], and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by a cubit, and if he draws near Me by a cubit I draw near him by the space [covered by] two arms. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.’” (Reported by Muslim.)

So, search for God and you will find Him. Keep an open mind, keep reading and asking questions, and keep praying while you are struggling with your religious beliefs and identity.

May Allah bless all of us.

About AElfwine Mischler

AElfwine Mischler is an American convert to Islam. She has undergraduate degrees in physics and English, and a master's degree in linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language.

- aboutislam.bet

Are Doubts about Islam and God Forgiven?

 

Out of His grace, Allah, the All-Merciful, has opened the gate of repentance wide for all those who repent sincerely and earnestly to Him no matter how grave their sins are.

In the Qur’an we read:

“Say, [O Prophet]: O My servants! Those [of you] who have committed [sins in great] excess against their own souls, never despond of the mercy of God! For, indeed, God forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He [alone] who is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving.” (Az-Zumar 39:53)

The Qur’an also tells of the acceptance of sincere repentance from apostates:

“How shall God guide a people who have disbelieved after [they have professed] their faith and borne witness that the Messenger is true, and [after] the clear proofs [of God] have come to them? For God does not guide the wrongdoing people [who are godless in heart].

As for [the likes of] these,  their recompense is that upon them is the curse of God, and [of] the angels and [of] humanity all together……. except for those [of them] who repent after this [breach of faith], and set things aright. For, indeed, God is all-forgiving, mercy-giving.” (Aal `Imran 3:86-89)

As for the verse 137 which you referred to in Surat An-Nisa’ which reads: “As to those who have believed, then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, then [stubbornly] increased in unbelief- never will God forgive them. Nor will He guide them to [the right] way.” (An-Nisaa’4:137), it obviously speaks about those who adopt disbelief as the last choice in their life and die while disbelieving.

So, you really need to think seriously about it. You still have the chance. If you have any doubt or question about the religion, speak to scholars to answer your questions and dispel your doubts.

Turn honestly and humbly to Allah Almighty and ask Him to guide you to the truth and to enhance your faith. Recite the Qur’an frequently and regularly and establish the daily prayers. Look for religious friends (these are found mostly in mosques) to be with you and support you.

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Muhammad Salama

Dr. Muhammad Salama, PhD, Islamic Studies in English, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Islamic Sciences al-Madinah International University (Mediu)

Virtues of Fasting in Shaban

 

Virtues of Fasting

Fasting is a spiritual act of worship, which elevates one to the rank of angels, as one abstains from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn until sunset.

In general, a Muslim should fast some days every now and then; in these days, one abstains from worldly matters, strengthens his or her resolution, and purifies his or her soul.

Fasting in Rajab

However, no authentic hadiths are stated indicating that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended fasting in Rajab, nor did he forbid fasting in it, according to Imam An-Nawawi, who added that fasting in general is recommended.

But the permissibility of fasting in Rajab is based on the narration of Abu Dawud who reported that Allah’s Messenger recommended fasting during the Four Sacred Months, among which is the month of Rajab.

Fasting in Shaban

As for the month of Shaban, there are authentic hadiths about the virtue of fasting during it, among which the hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Aishah who said, “Allah’s Messenger used to observe fasting (continuously) that we would say he would not break fasting, and he used not to fast (continuously) until we would say he would not fast. And I did not see Allah’s Messenger completing the fast of a month, except Ramadan, and I did not see him fasting more in any other month than in Shaban.”

The hadith indicates that the Messenger used to fast many days in Shaban that Aishah said in another narration, “He [the Prophet] used to fast (almost) all of Shaban; he used to fast Shaban except for few (days).”

Except for these two months, Allah’s Messenger used to observe fasting continuously to the extent that people would say that he would not break fasting.

He also used to keep breaking the fast for many consecutive days to the extent that people would say that he would not fast.

So, the matter depends on feeling comfortable and devoted to worship without feeling bored or weary. That is why the Prophet said, “Do (good) deeds that are within your capacity, as Allah never gets tired of giving rewards until you get tired of doing good deeds.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet also said, “The most beloved deed to Allah is the one its doer performs regularly even if it were little.” (Muslim)

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Al-Musayyar

Professor of Islamic creed and philosophy at Al-Azhar University

Sha`ban 1445: When Will Pre-Ramadan Month Start?

 

Sha`ban, the eighth hijri month of the Islamic calendar, is expected to start on Sunday, February 11, according to astronomical calculations.

Anticipating the month before Ramadan, Muslims all over the world will be looking, on Saturday, February 10, for the new moon of Sha`ban.

“The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on February 9, 2024 (Friday) at 22:59 UT. On February 9, the moon can not be seen any where in the world,” Moonsighting.com reported.

“On February 10, the moon can be seen with difficulty in Africa and easily in Americas.”

In Malaysia, 1 Sha'ban is on 11 February 2024.

Significant Month

Sha`ban holds great significance as it is a prelude to Ramadan. It is the month of “separation”, so-called because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water.

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Hijri lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Sha`ban migrates throughout the seasons.

The month is very special for Muslims as it’s a prelude to Ramadan, the 9th Hijri month; 

“O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).”

A new Hijri month starts when the First Crescent appears before sunset by a time gap of a few minutes at a minimum.

As the faithful await the start of this special month, preparations are underway to observe the customs and rituals associated with Sha`ban and be ready for the arrival of Ramadan.

- aboutislam.net

The Miraculous Night Journey – A Brief Story

 

On 27 Rajab, Muslims remember Isra’ and Miraj, the miraculous Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad. The exact date of the event is uncertain, but the majority of scholars place it at 12 to 16 months before the Hijrah. 

One night, Prophet Muhammad was sleeping near the Ka’bah in Makkah, when the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) came to him, woke him up and, taking him by the arm, led him to Al-Buraq, a beast resembling a horse with two huge wings springing from its back.

From Makkah, Al-Buraq took off toward Jerusalem. There, the Prophet was met by all the other Prophets. He dismounted, tethered Al-Buraq to a ring in the gate of Jerusalem, and led them in Prayers.

Two vessels were then brought to him, one containing milk, the other wine. Muhammad drank the milk. Jibreel said:

“O Muhammad, you enjoy what is pure. Surely you will guide your people to the right path.”

This journey demonstrates God’s might and ability to make possible the impossible. The concepts of time and space as we understand them do not apply, and what applies cannot be perceived by our limited faculties.

Led by the Angel Jibreel, the Prophet began his ascent through the seven heavens, where he reached Sadrat Al-Muntaha, the remotest lote tree, symbolizing the end of worldly knowledge. He was then taken before the Divine Presence.

The Obligation of Prayer

Allah (God) enjoined the Muslims to perform Salah (ritual Prayers) 50 times a day. After his audience with Allah, Muhammad met Moses, who asked him how many Prayers were laid upon his followers.

When the Prophet replied 50, Moses told him, “the congregational Prayer is heavy and your people are weak”. He advised him to go back and ask Allah to reduce them.

Muhammad made several trips back and forth, and each time, the Merciful reduced the number till finally He reduced it to 5 Prayers a day and if they are performed properly the worshiper will be given credit for 50.

The Prophet continued his descent till he arrived back in Makkah. When he told the people what had happened to him, Muslims who were weak in faith doubted the Prophet’s report. Yet when his friend and long supporter Abu Bakr was asked to take a stand on the issue, he replied:

“If Muhammad said it happened, then it must have happened. I believed him when he first talked about his divine revelation, why should I doubt him now?”

Thus on this occasion Abu Bakr earned the title of As-Siddiq (the Veracious).

A Trial of Faith

…and We appointed the vision which We showed thee as an trial for mankind… (Quran 17:60)

This miracle was the first serious trial for the companions’ faith when they were confronted with an issue that cannot be measured empirically. For the Prophet, after seeing Allah’s signs, his faith was established on certainty.

The trip from Makkah to Jerusalem was not chosen haphazardly. This area is known as the cradle of all religions and Muhammad’s message encompasses all the preceding ones.

This miraculous journey establishes several facts. First, the status of the Prophet Muhammad, as he was chosen to lead all the prophets in prayer, and to go where no one else, not even Jibreel, was allowed.

The journey also establishes the sanctity of Jerusalem, because it is the point where the earth and sky meet and from there the Prophet ascended to heaven. Therefore, the whole of Jerusalem and not only the mosque is considered in the eyes of Muslims a sacred place to behold and cherish after Makkah and Madinah.

As in the time of the Prophet, Muslims now are facing all sorts of trials and their faith is being constantly tested.

On this blessed occasion let us recall that our faith is the only real thing; it is our life-saver in this sea of turmoil surrounding us. I am convinced that we are invincible as long as our belief in Allah and in the Message of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is intact.

- aboutislam.net

Importance of Jerusalem

 

With regard to the importance of Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), you should know – may Allah bless you –that its virtues are many:

• Allah has described it in the Qur’an as being blessed. He said, “Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), the neighborhood whereof We have blessed…” (Al-Isra’ 17:1)

Al-Quds is part of the neighborhood surrounding the mosque and hence it is blessed.

• Allah has described it as being holy, as He says, {[Moses said:] O  my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺… } (Al-Ma’idah 5:21)

• In Al-Quds there is al-Masjid al-Aqsa, and one prayer there is equivalent to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere.

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: we were discussing, in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him), which of them was more virtuous, the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) or Bayt al-Maqdis. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: One prayer in my mosque is better than four prayers there, but it is still a good place of prayer. Soon there will come a time when if a man has a spot of land as big as his horse’s rope from which he can see Bayt al-Maqdis, that will be better for him than the whole world. (Al-Hakim and Adh-Dhahabi)

One prayer in al-Masjid al-Nabawi is equivalent to one thousand prayers elsewhere, so one prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsa is equivalent to two hundred and fifty prayers elsewhere.

With regard to the famous hadith which says that prayer in al-Masjid al-Aqsa is equivalent to five hundred prayers elsewhere, this is da’eef (weak).

• The one-eyed Dajjal (“Antichrist”) will not enter it, because of the hadith, “He will prevail over all the earth, apart from al-Haram [in Makkah] and Bayt al-Maqdis.” (Ahmad)

• The Dajjal will be killed close to al-Quds. He will be killed by the Messiah `Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him), as was stated in the hadith: “The son of Maryam will kill the Dajjal at the gates of Ludd.” (Muslim) Ludd (Lod) is a place near Bayt al-Maqdis.

• The Messenger (peace be upon him) was taken to Bayt al-Maqdis on his Night Journey (al-Isra’) from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa. Allah says: “Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem)…” (Al-Isra’ 17:1)

• It (al-Quds) was the first qiblah of the Muslims, as was reported by al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him): the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prayed in the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis for sixteen or seventeen months. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

• It is the place where revelation came down, and it is the homeland of the Prophets. This is well known.

• It is one of the mosques to which people may travel.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No journey should be made except to three mosques, al-Masjid al-Haram, Masjid al-Rasul (peace be upon him) and Masjid al-Aqsa.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

• The Messenger (peace be upon him) led the Prophets in one prayer in al-Aqsa, as reported in the lengthy hadith: “… Then the time for prayer came, and I led them in prayer.” (Muslim)

It is not permissible to travel to any spot on earth for the purpose of worshipping there, except these three mosques.

The fact that Ya`qub (peace be upon him) built al-Masjid al-Aqsa does not mean that the Jews have more right to the mosque than the Muslims, because Ya`qub was a monotheist and the Jews are polytheists.

The fact that their father Ya`qub built the mosque does not mean that it belongs to them. He built it for the monotheists to worship in it, even if they were not his children, and he did not allow the polytheists to enter it, even if they are his children, because the call of the Prophets has nothing to do with race; it is based on taqwa (piety, awareness of Allah).

Your saying that the Prophet (peace be upon him) led the previous Prophets in prayer to signify the unity of the message and all divine revelations is correct from the point of view of the origin of the religion and belief of the Prophets.

All of the Prophets received their Message from one source, which was the revelation, and they all had the same belief, which was the belief in tawhid (absolute unity of Allah) and the worship of Allah Alone, even though there were differences in the details of their laws.

This was confirmed by our Prophet (peace Allah be upon him) when he said: “I am the closest of mankind to `Isa ibn Maryam in this world and in the Hereafter. The Prophets are brothers although they have different mothers, and their religion is one.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

 The phrase “brothers although they have different mothers” means brothers who have the same father but different mothers, i.e., they are the children of co-wives.

Here we would caution readers against believing that the Jews, Christians and Muslims are following the same principles nowadays, because the Jews have changed the religion of their Prophet.

Indeed, part of the religion of their Prophet is that they should follow our Prophet and not reject him, but they disbelieve in the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and associate others in worship with Allah.

The Jews do not have any stake in al-Quds, because even though they may have lived in the land previously, that land now belongs to the Muslims from two points of view:

• The Jews disbelieved and are no longer following the religion of the believers among the Children of Israel who followed and supported Moses and `Isa (peace be upon them).
• We Muslims have more right to it than them, because land does not belong to the people who lived there first, but to those who establish the laws of Allah therein.

Allah created the land, and He created people to worship Allah in the land and to establish therein the religion, laws and rulings of Allah. Allah says: {… Verily, the earth is Allah’s. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His slaves; and the (blessed) end is for the Muttaqoon (the pious).} (Al-A`raf 7:128)

It is not the matter of race or ethnicity; it is the matter of tawhid and Islam.

Here it is useful to quote the words of one of the researchers:

“History tells us that the first people to settle in Palestine were the Cananites, six thousand years BCE. They were an Arab tribe who came to Palestine from the Arabian Peninsula, and after their arrival, Palestine was named after them [i.e., Canan].”

(Al-Suhyuniyyah, Nash’atuha, Tanzeematuha, Anshitatuha, by Ahmad al-`Awadi, p. 7).

“As for the Jews, the first time they entered Palestine was approximately six hundred years after Ibrahim had entered the land, i.e., they entered it approximately 1400 years BCE. So the Cananites entered Palestine and lived there approximately 4500 years before the Jews.” (Ibid., p. 8)

Hence it is clear that the Jews have no right to the land, whether according to religious law or in terms of who lived there first and possessed the land. They are aggressors who are seizing the land by force. We ask Allah to rid Bayt al-Maqdis of them sooner rather than later, for He is Able to do that and He is Most Generous in answering. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Almighty Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjid

ًA well-known Saudi lecturer and author