Question Is it obligatory upon Muslims to follow the 4 mujtahid imams (imam Hanifa, Shafi’e, Malik and Ahmad)? If one follows the Hanafi way praying, can he then follow any other madhab in other areas of worship (eg. Hajj, fast)? Can Muslims choose not to follow these imams? Answer My answers to your questions follow: […]
Zaka’h for Non-Muslims & Syeds
Question Can Muslims give Zaka’h, Sadaqah to non-Muslims, Syed (descendants of the Prophet)? If not, why? There are some Hadiths forbidding giving Zaka’h to Syed people. The Hadith quoted by Shia brethren is that Abu-bakr (ra) and Omar (ra) did not give Zaka’h (or the property which actually belonged to Prophet) to Fathima (ra) even when […]
Disunity Among the Muslims
Question I would like to ask what has happened to the Muslim world nowadays. Has modernization changed the perspectives of Muslim individuals causing them to breakup into sects? What has happened to Muslim unity and understanding? I just hope that Muslims nowadays could unite under one true religion that is the pure form of Islam, […]
Is Tasawuf (Sufism) One of the Uloom-ad-Deen
Question Asalaamu-alaikum, Many “sufi’s” say that tasawuf is actually one of the uloom-ud-deen (sciences of the Deen), or rather, forgotten sciences of the Deen. They say that all the great scholars of Islam had studied Tasawuf, just as they had studied Fiqh, or Tajweed etc. They also say that without tasawuf, Islam would be dry […]
The Nature and Structure of the Islamic State – As Propounded by the Hizb al-Tehrir
Question If I may, I would like to draw your attention to an article written by a movement who regard the establishment of a universal Islamic state as obligatory (fard) upon every Muslim. To them, universal Islamic state is the meaning of Khilafah. The actual article is available online at http://www.khilafah.com entitled “The Islamic State” […]
Differences in the Shiite and the Sunni Sect
Question Are the differences between Shiite Islam and Sunni Islam as huge as many people seem to imply? Answer In my opinion, there really are major differences in the two sects. However, on the other hand, I believe that if one were to consider the similarities, rather than the differences, one would have found a […]
Please Provide the Bases of Your Opinion Non-Muslim Inheritors
Question Recently, I had asked you to give your advice about the eligibility of inheritors if they became non-Muslims or just plain turned off from Islam. You gave me your opinion that they should all still be given their share even if they did not retain Islam as their religion. Your opinion was opposite of […]
What is a Deobandi?
Question Who is a Wahabi or a Deobandi? Answer For an introduction to the term “Wahabi”, please refer to one of my earlier responses to a related question, titled “About Wahabis…“. “Deobandi” is generally used as for a person, who has graduated from the institute “Daar al-Uloom” at Deoband1 or adheres to the Deobandi school […]
Danger to Islam Caused by the Propagation of Adherents of Other Religions
Question I am working in Singapore as an IT Professional. This was my first experience to come out of Pakistan. Now I have come to know that Ahmadis are really strong in publicizing their beliefs and it is a great danger to Islam. What is the solution to their propaganda? Answer I do not agree […]
Difference Between Sunnis and Ahmadis…
Question What is the difference between Sunnis and the Ahmadis? And would you say that the Ahmadis are non-Muslims? Answer The major difference between the Sunnis and the Ahmadis relates to the belief regarding the continuation/discontinuation of the institute of prophethood. Muslims, whether Sunnis or Shiites, believe that Mohammed (pbuh) was the last prophet and […]