Explaining Islam in Light of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ‎)

Archives for February 2003

Asking People for Religious Advice and Opinions

Question I often have posted questions but is it right for me to ask strangers (and follow) their advice? I am really confused. I do not know who I am asking these questions so I feel awkward at times. I hope I didn’t offend anyone. Thank you Answer Our acceptance or non-acceptance of a religious […]

Repenting for Prayers Missed

Question If an individual starts offering his Salat regularly in his late teens or early 20s and sincerely regrets missing his prayers before this time, the feelings of guilt never leaves him for this, and he gets distracted during Salat, what advice would you give to the individual? Also, can that individual take 2-3 minutes […]

How does Islam Explain Near-Death Experiences?

Question In the last few decades more research has been done regarding clinical death or near-death experiences. This is referring to the experiences of people who are pronounced clinically dead and are later revived. Some times these people have memories of going down a tunnel, seeing a bright light, seeing dead relatives, religious figures, or […]

Fighting Negative Thoughts…

Question Firstly I would like to apologize for submitting several questions in one form, please forgive me for any inconvenience caused. My problem Recently everyday several questions have started to bother me seriously. I don’t know how they are coming into my brain, but I am striving to get them out. Here are the evil […]

Picture-Making in the Mosaic Law

Question Whilst reading Maulana Maududis Tafheem ul-quran I came across a paragraph where Maulana Maududi describes picture making as being against the Mosaic Law. Is there any proof of this (or otherwise) that you may have found? That is, is there any proof that Moses regarded picture-making to be against God’s directives? Answer Mosaic Law, […]

Is Life Insurance Acceptable in Islam?

Question I would like to kindly ask your guidance on Life Insurance. Is Life Insurance acceptable in Islam? Answer As for my opinion on the concept of insurance, in general, please refer to a few of my earlier responses to related questions, which may be accessed on this site. In contrast to other forms of […]

Interpretation of the verse of Surah Az-Zariat

Question Allah says in the Quran. We created not the mankind and Jinn except that they should worship Me. (Surah Az-Zariat). I couldn’t understand the exact implication of the above verse. A scholar explained to me that if one does any actions including sleep in accordance with the way Prophet (pbuh) taught us, then even […]

What Does it Mean to Fear God?

Question I have a fear of heights. I got scared when I saw “The Exorcist”. I get scared in traffic accidents. I never liked this kind of fear and would like to avoid feeling it. Keeping this in mind: The Quran tells us to fear Allah. What is the nature of such fear? Answer Fear […]

Classifying Sins Into Minor and Major Category

Question There are so many sins those we as human do admit; but hardly able to classify them into either minor or major sins. So, what is the criteria for classifying different sins into minor and major category from Islamic point of view? How do we know that this is a minor or a major […]

Prohibiting all Non-Muslims from Entering the Ka`bah

Question Verse 9:28 from the Qur’an reads: O you who believe (in Allah’s Oneness and in His Messenger (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and in the Message of Muhammad SAW) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) after this year, and […]