Things in Islam I am curious about...

[Grace Seeker]

I know this question borders on the absurb, but bear with me, because I'm sure that this question has already been addressed in Islam and I'm just curious.

Since Islam uses a lunar calendar the months move in relation to the solar year. Thus Ramadan can be at any season of the year. And during Ramadan a practicing Muslim does not let anything pass his lips between sunrise and sunset. Yet, Ramadan could be observed during the soltices and if one lived near the poles one could have either contiuous sunlight or continuous darkness. Now, when Muhammad (pbuh) passsed this information on, the Ummah lived no where near the poles and could basically deal with a 12 hour day of fasting. That is no longer true for everyone. Fasting for 24 hours a day for an entire month would be suicidal for many. So how does a good Muslim deal with that issue?

 

[Rabi'ya]

Indeed you are right. For example here in UK, shud Ramadhan fall in the sum,mer months, fasting can last anything up to 22 hours. We would of course follow this to the best of our ability. I havent read your whole thread, but I assume you know about the exception of people who are ill and such lik from fasting.

If anyone lived in the poles, I believe they follow the nearest city for which there is an Islamic calender - for example if someone lived at the north pole they could follow Iceland(i believe)

Im sure someone will correct me if i am wrong or can elaborate a bit more.

btw, excellent thread, and its good even for me to read many of the answers

May Allah bless you and give us the courage and knowledge to provide correct answers...ameen

 

[Muslim Woman]

If anyone lived in the poles, I believe they follow the nearest city for which there is an Islamic calender - for example if someone lived at the north pole they could follow Iceland(i believe)

I read about fasting & prayers in poles like this > Muslims are supposed to offer Salah when prayer times come .

As there is 6 months day , 6 months night ....something like that ..... so it's not a must for Muslims to offer 5 times prayer there or they may follow the time table of the closest city . About fasting , this rule also may apply.


pl. anyone correct me if i don't remember the answer correctly.

 

[- Qatada -]

:salamext:


Sister Muslim Woman ^ i'm not sure if that would be the correct answer.. i think its compulsary on every person to pray the 5x salaah/prayers in the day.

 

[Malaikah]

Indeed you are right. For example here in UK, shud Ramadhan fall in the sum,mer months, fasting can last anything up to 22 hours. We would of course follow this to the best of our ability. I havent read your whole thread, but I assume you know about the exception of people who are ill and such lik from fasting.

WHAT?! Are you saying you get only 2 hours of night time in summer?!:uuh:

Or have I misunderstood??

Grace Seeker, funny question lol. ;D

 

[Woodrow]

WHAT?! Are you saying you get only 2 hours of night time in summer?!:uuh:

Or have I misunderstood??

Grace Seeker, funny question lol. ;D

It would depend on where the sister lives. as you get close to the Arctic Circle that is what happens in those countires. If go north of the Arctic Circle you are in the "Land Of the Midnight Sun" The sun does not set for 6 months and when it sets it does not rise for another 6 months. That happens in some or our Northern cities in Alaska. Point Barrow for one that I am familier with. the year consists of one day and one night each lasting 6 months.

This to me has been strong arguement for establishing the Islamic Calender based on Mecca. I think some scholars are debating to see if that would be Sunnah. If it can be shown to not be haraam I think that is the best choice for us to make as Islam grows.

 

[ranma1/2]

What is the benefit in music? To me it is just a waste of time, and with music, most of the time there comes too many bad side effects with it.

Music can calm and help people relax. Music can create emotions of happyness and sadness. It can aid in creativity. It is a form of expression just like writing nonfiction books or creating a painting or a piece of art.
I know of very few bad side effects of music. " ear damage if played to loud, perhaps disturbing others but thats what headphones are for, and maybe in youth the attitude of the music can influence them but that has more to do with the message of the music and the upbringing of the person"

 

[ranma1/2]

One of the general rule of fiqh shariah is that everything that leads to haraam is haraam (if u read much about islaam u should know that)
Music leads to inter mingling of man and woman
e.g music leads to dancing .when u dance with a girl u should touch her and thsi also leads to zinaa/adultery which may lead to baby born without marriage and lead to....... the chain is long .I Hope my explanation is not difficult

and speaking leads to words and words can lead to singing and....

 

[ranma1/2]

Selam aleykum
First of all, I wasn't defending alcohol. I myself am against it. However I think the arguments you brought up are inaccurate. And an inaccurate argument is more like to encourage people who are pro alcohol rather then discourage them.

As for the different departments that are according to you related with alcohol-abuse:
*Lets start with government. Does a country that allows alcohol spend more of their budget on the government? Do they need to employ extra people because of that? I fail to see how.
*police. Police is a necessary budget. And a policeman's work never stops. If he's not keeping people from drinking he might be occupied with lesser felons during his day. But just because a government forbids alcohol wont enable them to cut back on police-fundings.
*weapons used. 90% of murders in the west are passionate murders and are not necessarily linked to alcohol-abuse. However most of those cases were not with firearms. Firearms are mostly used by criminals. If you make alcohol illegal you can expect a rise in criminality and illegal bootleggers. So the government will actually have to invest more to fight crime rather then save money trough their banishment.
*forensic. Again, banning alcohol will not enable a government to put less forensic-experts on the pay-role or to cut back on there fundings. These things are necessary costs, you can't just cut 'm back. Even if criminality would drop the government would still keep the same police-civilian-ratio instead the police will just be occupied with other affairs instead.
*prison There are not that many people who go to prison for a long period of time because they drunk alcohol. Mostly people do bad things because they are bad in nature. Yes, take out alcohol out of the equation and there will be less incidents, but there'll still be bad people, they won't change overnight, and I doubt the number will even change over generations only by the implementation of this rule. In fact when alcohol becomes illegal, you can expect a lot of alcohol smugglers and distillers that you will have to arrest, so you will have to make sure that the state prisons can accommodate them, hence you will have more costs rather then less.

Finaly, another point is that the budget itself will be smaller because the government will no longer have the alcohol taxes to add to their fundings.

So basically rather then saving money by this rule, a government might actually loose money with it.
Let me stress again, I am against alcohol. I'm in no case trying to justify it or defend it. I just think your arguments don't make any sense.

several good points. I myself drink occasionally but i am a good person and I have never ever done anything bad under the influence. As a matter of fact I am a consious of my state when i am drunk. I know what I am doing and I consider myself 100% responcible for my actions. "Although i rarely get drunk"

 

[ranma1/2]

Greetings,

..
I also find music playing in supermarkets and other public places to be very annoying, but not for any spiritual reason - simply because it's normally terrible music that gets played!


...

Peace

I have to agree. Living in japan i constantly hear Jingles from anthropromorphic food wanting to be eaten... "suree a day suree a day.. gyunu yoguruto cheezu..." 3 a day 3 a day milk, yogurt cheese." Imagine talking milk products dancing happily while holding hands and begging to be eaten..

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace ,

several good points. I myself drink occasionally but i am a good person and I have never ever done anything bad under the influence. As a matter of fact I am a consious of my state when i am drunk. I know what I am doing and I consider myself 100% responcible for my actions. "Although i rarely get drunk"

u r lucky that u have not done anything bad when u were drunk but how can u be so sure that u won't ever ?

Anyway , we Muslims have no choice but to keep away from it.


Alcohol

According to Quran and Sunnah



The Noble Qur'an - al-Baqarah 2:219

They ask you (O Muhammad ) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit."

And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: "That which is beyond your needs." Thus Allâh makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought.


Shaitan's Use of Intoxicants


The Noble Qur'an - Al-Ma'idah 5:91

( Devil ) Shaitân (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from As-Salât (the prayer).




So, will you not then abstain?

Tariq ibn Suwayd or Suwayd ibn Tariq asked the Prophet (p) about wine, but he forbade it. He again asked him, but he forbade him.



He said to him: Prophet of Allah, it is a medicine. The Prophet said: No it is a disease.



http://muttaqun.com/alcohol.html

 

[Dhulqarnaeen]

several good points. I myself drink occasionally but i am a good person and I have never ever done anything bad under the influence. As a matter of fact I am a consious of my state when i am drunk. I know what I am doing and I consider myself 100% responcible for my actions. "Although i rarely get drunk"

Its more aproriate for us to be judged by someone, we dont have right to judge our self and say good things about our self. Cause THATS what we think and maybe someone else not thikn the same about us. See

 

[Kashnowe]

a few questions i thougt of...

do muslims beleive that mary wa s a virgin when jesus was conceived?

do muslims believe in the theory of evolution?

whats the deal with cutting off someone's hand if they steal? i read somehwere that it says to do that only if they do not repent first.....can someone clarify?

 

[Mawaddah]

Yes we do, Allah said “And Maryam (Mary), the daughter of ‘Imraan who guarded her chastity. And We breathed into (the sleeve of her shirt or her garment) through Our Rooh [i.e. Jibreel (Gabriel)]”. [al-Tahreem 66:12]

 

[Umar001]

Depends what sort of evolution.

Another reference for the story of Mary and her son, peace be upon them, would be Surah Maryam, verse 16 until about 36.

As for the thief, there are various rulings, for example the amount stolen and the goods stolen

 

[Kashnowe]

and one more.....beofore mohammed. what religion were the people of his community? jewish? christian? i know he went into a cave to pray often so he must have been raised with some kind of faith......

did they have temples or mosques or churches.....

 

[MustafaMc]

and one more.....beofore mohammed. what religion were the people of his community? jewish? christian? i know he went into a cave to pray often so he must have been raised with some kind of faith......

did they have temples or mosques or churches.....

According to "The Sealed Nectar" Biography of the Noble Prophet, "Polytheism and worship of idols became the most prominent feature of the religion of pre-Islam Arabs despite alleged profession of Abraham's religion." and "The Prophet Muhammad was, in his youth, a combination of the best social attributes. He was an exemplary man of weighty mind and faultless insight. He was favored with intelligence, originality of thought and accurate choice of the means leading to accurate goals. His long silence helped favorably in his habit of meditation and deep investigation into the truth.... He kept himself aloof from drinking wine, eating meat slaughtered on stone altars, or attending idolatrous festivals. He held the idols in extreme aversion and disgust. He could never tolerate someone swearing by Al-Lat and Al-Uzza (idols)."

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace

do muslims beleive that mary wa s a virgin when jesus was conceived?

--yes , it's part of our faith.

Maryam (Mary) - The Exemplary Muslim Woman !

......And Maryam, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity-We breathed Our Spirit into her. She confirmed the Words of her Lord and His Book, and was one of the obedient" (Surat at-Tahrim: 11-12).




Therefore, every believer is responsible for learning about Maryam's good character from the Qur'an, which gives the most accurate information, and trying to emulate her.


http://www.hilalplaza.com/free-islamic-ebooks/Maryam_Exemplary_Muslim_Woman.html

do muslims believe in the theory of evolution?

--if u mean Darwin's theory , then no

Darwinism Refuted (For Experts)

The transitional forms that evolutionists expected to find in the fossil record- and which might be regarded as proof that species evolved from one another-have not been found.


http://www.harunyahya.com/c_refutation_darwinism.php

whats the deal with cutting off someone's hand if they steal? i read somehwere that it says to do that only if they do not repent first.....can someone clarify?

[/QUOTE]


--it depends on some factors. Some are professionals thiefs....their hands must be cut off ; so that others can learn a lesson from their punishment .

If a hungry person had no choice ; so he stole food ,then no , in that case , his hands won't be cut off . I read about it long ago....a boy stole food ,then the Last Prophet (p) scolded his master for not giving him enough food.......writing from memory ....if u r interested to know more , then Insha Allah , i will browse.


In short , criminals must be punished ; otherwise it will encourage them to committ sin & thus society will face unrest / unethical activities. If u punish the sinners , then in future , he will hesitate to repeat the sin & others won't do the sin freely.

 

[Umar001]

and one more.....beofore mohammed. what religion were the people of his community? jewish? christian? i know he went into a cave to pray often so he must have been raised with some kind of faith......

did they have temples or mosques or churches.....

The people of Muhammad's time peace be upon him, consisted of pagans, who had inhereted some rites of the way of Ibrahim, Abraham, peace be upon him, they believed in the One ultimate creator, but associated partners to him and claimed they used them to get closer, Allah quotes them in the Qu'ran;

Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him ): "Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?" They will say: "Allāh." Say: "Will you not then be afraid of Allāh's Punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allāh)?" (Yunus 10:31)​

So the knew Allah was the creator and sustainer, but they worshipped others along with him to bring them closer to Him;

And those who take Auliyā' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allāh." Verily, Allāh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allāh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. (Az-Zumar 39:3)​

And they worship besides Allāh things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allāh." (Yunus 10:18)​

So the arabs of Muhammads immidiate area who he was with had some understanding, which some trace back to the message of Abraham, but this understanding of theirs had been peverted to almost beyond recognition.

In Medinah, which the Prophet moved to aftere more than a decade or so aftr the start of his Mission, there were Jewish tribes there.

 

[MustafaMc]

--it depends on some factors. Some are professionals thiefs....their hands must be cut off ; so that others can learn a lesson from their punishment .

If a hungry person had no choice ; so he stole food ,then no , in that case , his hands won't be cut off . I read about it long ago....a boy stole food ,then the Last Prophet (p) scolded his master for not giving him enough food.......writing from memory ....if u r interested to know more , then Insha Allah , i will browse.


In short , criminals must be punished ; otherwise it will encourage them to committ sin & thus society will face unrest / unethical activities. If u punish the sinners , then in future , he will hesitate to repeat the sin & others won't do the sin freely.

Yes, this is a very good point and one of the differences with Christianity. Islam is a complete way of life with Divine Guidance for areas such as societal laws. Islam provides guidance for the establishment of laws according to God's Will not according to the whims of man. Although it is repugnant to Christians that Islam has laws for the physical punishment of crimes such as amputation of fingers/hand for stealing, death for murder and adultery, etc., what is the justice of time in jail where criminals become even more hardened and learn other criminal skills to survive there. What is the punishment for adultery in USA? It is hardly even frowned upon even though it is one of the 10 Commandments. What about murder? How is life in prison serving justice for such a huge crime? Even though some murderers in some states are executed, the application of this punishment is unequal across races and social classes. Where is the justice in that?