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Hello,
I am a Christian researching the truth-claims of Islam and desire to learn more about what Islam teaches (I think I’ve come to the right place!). To begin, can anyone tell me if the book, “The Religion of Truth” by Abdul Rahman Ben Hammad Al-Omar is a recommended book for learning more about Islam? If so, I have a few question that this book brings up.
Thank you!
The prophetsaid "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer." (bukhari no. 604)
So the way we pray is an imitation of the way the prophet used to. The words and actions of the prophet complement the quran in that they provide further explanations and rulings, so for example, prayer is made obligatory in the quran, and the timings of them are mentioned, but the actual way of prayer is shown only by the prophets actions.
Ah, excellent, thank you. Another few simple, non-theological questions:
The book says on p. 95 that “Allah ordained Muslims to shave off their mustaches, trim their nails, pluck out their armpits and pubic hair…” Is this true? Where is it found?
On page 96, it says that money gained by practicing forbidden kinds of entertainment such as singing and dancing is also illicit and prohibited. Is that true? Are there no Muslim entertainers in the music industry?
And then on page 97, it says that a woman can work outside of the home, but she should abstain from working around males. Is this forbidden, or is it just advice?
I have a feeling that maybe all three of these are not 'doctrine' per se, but just advice taken from tradition or something. But I could be wrong. Are these generally accepted and practiced? Also, this was published in Saudi Arabia, so there are some cultural things to take into consideration as well.
Abu Huraira reported that Muhammad
As for singing and dancing, there's currently a lot of controversy about them, and they are permissible, but there are limits. "Music" can be understood in many ways. Allowed music is singing a capella about topics of a non haram nature (like drugs, sex, drinking, etc.). Instruments (other than the daff, a one sided drum) are not allowed, and in the opinion of some, even the daff is only allowed during celebrations such as eid and weddings. Here's a two part video on music in islam that explains the issue quite well:
part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k9gdEAhYTo
part two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NXFXRJXbp0
another link: http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/5000
As for muslim entertainers, they do exist, but i'm sure you're aware that just because someone does something it does not mean they are an ideal representation of what a muslim/christian/buddhist/etc. should be like.
Women working:
It is permissible for a woman to go out of her house for work, but that is subject to certain conditions. If they are met, it is permissible for her to go out. They are:
- That she needs to work in order to acquire the money she needs
- The work should be suited to the nature of woman, such as medicine, nursing, teaching, sewing, and so on.
- The work should be in a place that is only for women, and there should be no mixing with non-mahram men.
- Whilst at work she should observe complete sharâia hijab.
- Her work should not lead to her travelling without a mahram.
- Her going out to work should not involve committing any haraam action, such as being alone with the driver, or wearing perfume where non-mahrams can smell it.
- That should not lead to her neglecting things that are more essential for her, such as looking after her house, husband and children.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-âUthaymeen said: The field in which a woman works should be only for women, such as if she works in teaching girls, whether in administration or technical support, or she works at home as a seamstress sewing clothes for women and so on. As for working in fields that are for men, this is not permissible for her because it requires her to mix with men, which is a great fitnah (source of temptation and trouble) and should be avoided. It should be noted that it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: I have not left behind me any fitnah that is more harmful to men than women; the fitnah of the Children of Israel had to do with women.So the man should keep his family away from places of fitnah and its causes in all circumstances. End quote.
Fataawa al-Marah al-Muslimah (2/981)
source: http://www.islamonline.com/news/news...hp?newid=89664
As for these being culturally related, in some parts of the world, the essence is religion, but they add a cultural twist to it. Like for example, the conditions for a woman to work are all met, but she still is not allowed to work. A lot of the "religion" in the middle east has turned into culture, people no longer doing what they are supposed to do to worship Allah, but to uphold the norms and traditions of society..
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