Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother, needless to say that the work u are doing is truly a very noble service. As far as I am concerned, I have seriously started thinking that what we had been following as bohras was so wrong eversince ive come across this site. Ive totally given up grave worship, and other biddats. I have a list of questions and suggestions.

I believe u always state the questions in the exact wording, but I think sometimes there are foul words used and u shud either omit them or use asterics instead of them.

 

Secondly, in one of ur replies, uve written that an adopted child is not the mehram of his foster mother. Then does it mean a person who has raised a child for such a long time all of a sudden becomes na mehram when the child grows up?

 

Third Q is, are prawns makrooh?

Fourthly, in one of Dr Israr-ul-Haqs (a famous scholar) program, he said that satr is up to hands and feet as well. Which means even with ur sons and fathers u must be covered from head to toe. Ur site states otherwise. Which is true?

Fifth: although ive changed my beliefs still I say my prayers the same way other bohras do. Whats the right way to pray and how can I be sure it’s the right way since theres no written proof abt it.

Sixth: I have also now started paying zakat on my jewellery and keeping missed rozas of ramzan. Now what abt the zakat that I had not been paying since the past few years and rozas that I had not kept again? should I pay that accumulated zakat and keep those rozas again?

Seventh: a lot of ppl ask u the Q that how can we be sure Islam is the true religion. I think u must mention abt the scientific miracles of Quran like Embryology and the Big Bang Theory so that ppl are more convinced. Also is it true, that even nonbelievers, once in a life time, are somehow given the message of islam so no one can really say they dint convert cos they never really knew abt the religion.

Finally, ive been married since 4 years and don’t have any kids. I want to ask, if somethings written in ur fate by Allah, can it be changed by prayers, or it wont, since it is in ur fate?

JazakAllah

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Bohra sister Questions

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth.  If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause.  We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire.  Ameen.

 

Your Statement: I believe u always state the questions in the exact wording, but I think sometimes there are foul words used and u shud either omit them or use asterics instead of them.

Dear and beloved sister in Islam, it is our intention on the forum that we retain and relay the exact same words and phrases that are asked on this forum, so that we are never ever accused of altering the questions asked.  It is indeed unfortunate that a very small minority of brothers and sisters who do not agree with our opinion, sometimes tend to use foul language to display their disgust and anger instead of bringing forth their disagreement with evidence from the Quran or Sunnah. 

 

Beloved Sister, the truth is that some comments contain such foul and obscene language that we reply only to the person concerned and do not even display that correspondence in our archives!

 

Your suggestions are indeed invaluable, and I assure you we will discuss your opinion with the brothers who moderate this humble forum and see how best we can arrive to a solution.

 

Your Question: Secondly, in one of ur replies, uve written that an adopted child is not the mehram of his foster mother. Then does it mean a person who has raised a child for such a long time all of a sudden becomes na mehram when the child grows up?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 6:

6        …..  Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allah than (the Brotherhood of) Believers and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of Allah).

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.39 Narrated by Aisha

that the Prophet (saws) entered upon her while a man was sitting with her. Signs of anger seemed to appear on the Prophet’s (saws) face as if he (saws) disliked that. She said, "Here is my (foster) brother."  He (saws) said, "Be sure as to who is your foster brother, for foster suckling relationship is established only when milk is the only food of the child (ie. in its infancy)."

 

Because blood-relations have closer personal ties and bearings of Mehrams and inheritance in Islamic Law, the adopted child will remain a non-mehram to his foster family…unless of course in its infancy the adopted child is given suck by the foster-mother, for then all the laws that apply to a mehram would apply to the adopted child.

 

Al-Muwatta Hadith 30.4

Yahya related from Malik from Thawr ibn Zayd ad-Dili that Abdullah ibn Abbas said, "The milk which a child under two years old sucks, even if it is only one suck, makes the foster relatives haram (sacrosanct)."

 

If the adopted child was not given suck by his foster-mother in his infancy, he will remain a non-mehram to his foster-family and all the restrictions or allowances that apply to a non-mehram would apply to the child when he attains the age of adulthood.

 

Your Question: Third Q is, are prawns makrooh?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 14:

If is He (Allah) Who has subjected the sea to your service so that you may get fresh flesh from it to eat and bring out of it articles of ornaments,  which you wear.

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 83     Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

A man asked the Messenger of Allah (saws): ‘O Messenger of Allah (saws), we travel on the sea and take a small quantity of water with us. If we use this for ablution, we would suffer from thirst. Can we perform ablution with sea water?’ The Messenger of Allah (saws) replied: ‘Its water is pure and (even) what dies in it is lawful food.’

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.648         Narrated by Jabir

We set out in the army of Al-Khabt and Abu Ubaida was the commander of the troops. We were struck with severe hunger and the sea threw out a dead fish the like of which we had never seen, and it was called Al-'Anbar.  We ate of it for half a month. Abu Ubaida took (and fixed) one of its bones and a rider passed underneath it (without touching it). (Jabir added:) Abu 'Ubaida said (to us), "Eat (of that fish)."   When we arrived at Medina, we informed the Prophet (saws) about that, and he said, "Eat, for it is food Allah has brought out for you, and feed us if you have some of it."  So some of them gave him (of that fish) and he (saws) ate it.

 

Whenever one wishes to determine whether an animal is permissible or impermissible for the believers to consume, the principle law is look in the list of what has been declared haraam by Allah and His Messenger (saws); and if one does not find the name or type of the animal in the haraam list, its flesh would be presumed halaal for the believers.

 

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), every animal that predominantly lives in the sea would be absolutely halaal for the believers to consume. The prawn is a creature of the sea, thus its flesh would be deemed absolutely halaal and lawful for the believers as food.

 

Your Question: Fourthly, in one of Dr Israr-ul-Haqs (a famous scholar) program, he said that satr is up to hands and feet as well. Which means even with ur sons and fathers u must be covered from head to toe. Ur site states otherwise. Which is true?

Beloved sister, at the outset we wish to declare and admit that our humble knowledge and weak efforts in the Cause stand utterly humiliated to the vast knowledge and selfless efforts of our beloved brother and respected teacher Dr. Israr ul-Haq in the service of the Deen.  May Allah Subhanah bless him with a long and healthy life to serve the Cause for a long period of time, for scholars of such stature and standing are indeed a Mercy of Allah Subhanah for the believing Ummah.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 31:

31      And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.  And O ye Believers!  Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss.

 

Dear and Beloved Sister, Allah Subhanah Himself has Commanded the believing women to scrupulously honor her ‘hijaab’ with all, except those who have been exempted…and the fathers and the sons are specifically listed amongst the exemptions.  This ruling is an absolutely clear guidance from the Holy Quran, and all the scholars of all the schools of thought in Islam are absolutely unanimous that a believing woman need not cover herself from head to toe and honor the conditions of ‘hijaab’ whilst in the presence of her mehrams.

 

It is possible that the ruling given by our beloved brother and respected teacher Dr. Israr ul-Haq was related to another question or condition, or it may be that you might have misunderstood his statements; for this is a ruling where there is absolutely no disagreement in the whole of the believing Ummah.

 

Your Question: Fifth: although ive changed my beliefs still I say my prayers the same way other bohras do. Whats the right way to pray and how can I be sure it’s the right way since theres no written proof abt it.

Malik narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray.’

Related by Bukhari.

 

Dear and beloved sister, the act of prayer is something the Messenger of Allah (saws) performed at least five times a day in public congregation and it was literally witnessed by thousands of believers thousands of times.  All the obligatory and voluntary acts of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (saws) are sufficiently established and documented by the eminent collectors of his (saws) traditions.  

 

Although the majority of the rite and ritual of the prayers of our Bohra brethren are in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), unfortunately they have added many terms, phrases, and supplications as part of their prayer ritual….and it is these additions which should be avoided if one truly wishes to offer prayer as offered by the Messenger of Allah (saws); for Allah is our witness sister, no one in creation who ever walked on this earth worshipped the Lord Most High better or in more perfect manner than the self of the Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws).  To add, subtract, or make any changes whatsoever in the rite of prayer as offered by the Messenger of Allah (saws) is to imply (and I seek refuge in Allah from saying this!) that one knows more or is a better worshipper of the Lord than the Prophet (saws)!!! 

 

Your Question: Sixth: I have also now started paying zakat on my jewellery and keeping missed rozas of ramzan. Now what abt the zakat that I had not been paying since the past few years and rozas that I had not kept again? should I pay that accumulated zakat and keep those rozas again?

Regarding the atonement of the missed fasts and the debt of zakah which you owe to your Lord, first and foremost you must turn to your Lord Most Gracious and seek His forgiveness for missing these obligatory duties; it is expected that you will find your Lord Forgiving and Merciful. 

 

The opinion of the majority of the scholars in Islam is that if one has missed one’s fasts or not paid their zakah dues for a long time, and subsequently Allah Subhanah guided them and they turned back to their Lord and sought repentance for missing their obligatory duties in Islam, their repentance itself would suffice and Allah Subhanah, from His Vast and Endless Mercy and Grace, will forgive them their negligence and not hold them to account for their lapse on the Day of Judgment.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 66 Surah Tahreem verse 8:

8        O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbatan-nasoohah): in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him.  Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands while they say "Our Lord! perfect our Light for us and grant us Forgiveness; for Thou has power over all things."

 

But if one so fears Allah, and has the ability and strength and resources to fulfill their past debt to their Lord, and is so repentant over their negligence at missing out on such important and obligatory duties in one’s past in ignorance, and sincerely wishes to make amends; then one should make up those missed days of fasting and pay the zakah dues even over a period of time as an atonement for their missed duties.  This would be considered the best form of ‘tawbah’ or what Allah Subhanah Declares in the Quran as ‘tawbatan-nasoohah’ (absolutely sincere repentance).

 

Seeking repentance alone would suffice to obliterate the sin of missing one’s obligatory fasts and zakah dues which one missed a long time ago; but if one wishes to make absolutely sure and desires to make ‘tawbatan-nasoohah’, then it would be best to fast those missed days and fulfill the zakah dues even over a period of time which is convenient and easy for them; and that would be the absolute best and purest form of manifesting one’s repentance to their Lord Most Gracious. 

 

Your Statement: Seventh: a lot of ppl ask u the Q that how can we be sure Islam is the true religion. I think u must mention abt the scientific miracles of Quran like Embryology and the Big Bang Theory so that ppl are more convinced.

Dear and beloved Sister, each and every verse of the Glorious Quran is termed and named an ‘Aayah’ (miracle or sign) by the Lord Most Majestic, Most Supreme; and Allah is our witness sister, for those who believe, indeed every single verse of the Lord Most High’s Revelation is a miracle.

 

Beloved sister, when asked, we do strive to mention the innumerable scientific miracles of the Glorious Quran; but the Truth is sister, that if one truly sees with open eyes and is sincerely seeking the Truth, one is absolutely surrounded and overwhelmed by the Signs and Miracles of The Lord Most Majestic!

 

But those who are beguiled and blinded by hatred and prejudice and are content with the luxuries and pleasures of this transient worldly life, no amount of Signs or Miracles would bring any benefit to such obstinate people.  Allah is our witness sister, the Lord Showed Bigger and Absolute Manifest Signs and Miracles at the hands of Prophet Nuh (a.s.), Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.), Prophet Musa (a.s.), Prophet Isa (a.s.), etc., which the people of their times saw with their very own eyes in their very own presence…but still a majority of them disbelieved! 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 39:

39      Those who reject Our Signs are deaf and dumb in the midst of darkness profound: whom Allah willeth He leaveth to wander, whom He willeth He placeth on the way that is straight.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 27 Surah Naml verses 13-14:

13      But when our Signs came to them that should have opened their eyes they said: "This is manifest sorcery!"

14      And they rejected those Signs in iniquity and arrogance though their souls were convinced thereof: so see what was the end of those who acted corruptly!

 

Then the Lord Most Merciful, in His Absolute Endless and Sublime Mercy sent the Glorious Quran as a guidance for all mankind until the end of time….the miracles performed at the hands of His many Prophets by Allah were witnessed only by those in whose presence they were performed….but Allah is our witness, the Miracle of the Glorious Quran is timeless and within the reach and sight of every one who wishes to seek the Straight Path to their Lord Most High.

 

Your Question: Also is it true, that even nonbelievers, once in a life time, are somehow given the message of islam so no one can really say they dint convert cos they never really knew abt the religion.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa Meem verse 46:

46      Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil it is  against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 7-10:

7        And verily the Hour will come: there can be no doubt about it or about (the fact) that Allah will raise up all who are in the graves.

8        Yet there is among men such a one as disputes about Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without a Book of Enlightenment.

9        (Disdainfully) bending his side in order to (lead men) astray from the Path of Allah; for him there is disgrace in this life and on the Day of Judgment we shall make him taste the Penalty of burning (Fire).

10      (It will be said): "This is because of the deeds which thy hands sent forth for verily Allah is never unjust to His servants!

 

One amongst the many Noble and Exclusive Attributes of our Lord Creator is that He is the ‘Al-Aadil’ or the All-Just; and it does not behove and befit His Majesty and His Mercy to ever be unjust to any in His creation.

 

One amongst the promises and laws of our Just and Supreme Lord and Creator is that He never never ever would punish a people who did not receive His Message!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 13-15:

13      Every man's augury We have fastened on his own neck: on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which he will see spread open.

14      (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."

15      Who receiveth guidance receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent Our messenger!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah Shuaraa verses 208-209:

208    Never did We destroy a people but had its warners

209    by way of reminder; and We never are unjust.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Faatir verse 24:

24      Verily We have sent thee (O Prophet) in Truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner: and there never was a people without a warner having lived among them.

 

And just to make absolutely sure that this Just-Law is implemented and that no one who has not received the Message of their Lord is punished, every time a people are about to be cast into the dungeons of the Hell Fire, they will be asked by the guardian Angels of the Hell Fire whether or not a Warner from their Lord came to them and recited to them the Warning and the Message of their Lord!  And every wrongdoer at the gates of Hell Fire on that Tumultuous Day will indeed admit and confess himself that Allah’s warner did indeed come unto them, but it was they themselves who in their arrogance rejected Allah’s Message and His Warning!  

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 67 Surah Mulk verses 6-11:

6        For those who reject their Lord is the Penalty of Hell: and evil is (such) destination.

7        When they are cast therein they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath, even as it blazes forth.

8        Almost bursting with fury: every time a group is cast therein its keepers (the Angels) will ask "Did no warner come to you?"

9        They will say: "Yes indeed: a warner did come to us but we rejected him and said `Allah never sent down any (Message): ye are in nothing but an egregious delusion!' "

10      They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence we should not (now) be among the companions of the Blazing Fire!"

11      They will then confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verses 71-72:

71      The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds; until when they arrive there its gates will be opened and its Keepers (the Angels) will say "Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the decree of punishment has been proved true against the unbelievers!"

72      (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!"

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 36-37:

36      But those who reject (Allah) for them will be the Fire of Hell: no term shall be determined for them so they should die nor shall its Penalty be lightened for them: thus do We reward every ungrateful ones!

37      Therein will they cry aloud (for assistance): "O Our Lord!  Bring us out: we shall work righteousness not the (deeds) we used to do!"  Did We not give you long enough life so that he that would should receive admonition?  And (moreover) the warner came to you!  So taste ye (the fruit of your deeds): for the wrongdoers there is no helper."

 

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, it is Allah Subhanah, our Lord and the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth who has taken the responsibility of making the arrangements to deliver and make available His Message to all His slaves; and rest absolutely assured, that The Lord never ever ever fails in fulfilling His Responsibilities!!!

 

Thus first and foremost, it is not possible that a person lives a life and he is not visited by a warner from their Lord!  Rest absolutely assured that somehow, somewhere Allah Subhanah will make arrangements for the person to be visited by His warner who will warn him of the meeting with their Creator!

 

But for arguments sake, lets assume that a nomadic man born in remote jungle, during his entire life, never ever came across Islam, or a muslim, or a warner from their Lord….rest assured that his case and judgment rests with his Lord and Creator, and it is our ardent belief that our Lord will never never ever be unjust to any amongst His creation!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah Shuaraa verses 208-209:

208    Never did We destroy a people but had its warners

209    by way of reminder; and We never are unjust.

 

Your Question: Finally, ive been married since 4 years and don’t have any kids. I want to ask, if somethings written in ur fate by Allah, can it be changed by prayers, or it wont, since it is in ur fate?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verses 49-50:

49      To Allah belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the earth.  He creates what He Wills.  He bestows (children) male or female according to His Will.

50      Or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren whom He Wills: for He is Full of Knowledge and Power.

 

Fate, Destiny, or ‘Qadr’ as we know it is nothing more than the Absolute and Perfect Knowledge of Allah which He has documented, and what is documented as Qadr or fate is known to Him and Him Alone.  Thus the Qadr or Destiny of Fate can never ever change, for the Knowledge of the Lord is Absolute and Perfect.

 

Since man (or anything in creation) has absolutely no knowledge of what is written in his fate, it only behoves and befits him that he supplicates and beseeches the Lord Most High for whatever He wishes, for none can provide him with anything except the One Lord Alone. 

 

It may be that in one fate it be written that as a test the Lord will leave them childless for 4 or 10 or 90 years and see what those being tested do; and at the end of their period decreed, their Lord will bless them with the off-spring they so desire!  It is what one does during that period of test which determines whether one passes or fails the test. 

 

If during that trial period, one looses hope in the Mercy of their Lord, and starts invoking other deities and gods in their desire to beget children, they miserably fail their test; but if during that trial period, one keeps his trust, faith and belief firm in their Lord, knows with conviction that there is none save Allah who can bestow them with what they desire, stays patient during their trial and beseeches none save the One and Only Lord, they pass the test put upon them by their Lord. 

 

Thus my beloved sister, since you do not know what is written in your destiny and fate, it only behoves and befits you as a believer to remain constant in your supplication to your Lord, and keep your hope, trust and faith in Him and Him Alone for none save He Alone can provide for all that you wish and desire.

 

Allah Says in His Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verse 2:

2        What Allah out of His Mercy doth bestow on mankind there is none can withhold: what He doth withhold there is none can grant apart from Him: and He is the Exalted in Power Full of Wisdom.

 

Your Question: I want to ask, if somethings written in ur fate by Allah, can it be changed by prayers, or it wont, since it is in ur fate?

Whatever is documented in one’s Qadr or Destiny is based on the Perfect and Absolute Knowledge of Allah, and thus that Destiny or Decree of Allah cannot be changed.

 

It is not as if it would or can ever happen that the Lord has Decreed based on His Perfect Knowledge that one would be childless, and that person prayed and supplicated relentlessly, and a change of plans was made to accommodate the request of that person; for to expect such a change would mean (I seek refuge in Allah from saying this) to doubt the Perfection of Allah’s Knowledge!

 

But it may be that Allah Subhanah has Decreed based on His Perfect and Absolute Knowledge that he will leave one childless for a period of time, and that person will turn to their Lord and beseech Him for children, and at an appointed time when He Wills to end the trial, He will provide them with the children they so desire.  Thus the trial period of being left childless, the patience showed and the supplications made by the believer during their period of trial, etc. is all a part and parcel of what is documented in one’s destiny, fate, or ‘qadr’.  

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

 

Burhan