Things in Islam I am curious about...

[Sunnih]

OK. That's a new way of thinking to me -- of dead animals as equalling strangled animals. I've seen chickens killed that way, but it is about the only animal I can think of that might ever be strangled (we call it wringing their neck) and would not have thought that equal to carrion because that's the freshest way to get chicken. But if that is your workinig definition, I will try to remember for the future.

Rather the other way around: strangled animals=dead animals. (of course from the muslim point of view).

 

[Grace Seeker]

So, do Muslims who raise chickens kill them with an axe? I think they electrocute them in poultry factories.

 

[Sunnih]

So, do Muslims who raise chickens kill them with an axe? I think they electrocute them in poultry factories.

They simply sloughter them (using a knife). If electrocuted as common in the factories (as you mention) this meat is haram.

 

[don532]

I do not believe any knowledgable Christian would offer a Jew or Muslim a pork chop, unless they hated us.

I know you wrote "knowledgeable", but lots of Christians, particularly in the US, have no working knowledge of the dietary restrictions of other relgions or cultures. Many that do, aren't aware of the sensitivity of the issue outside their own sphere of existence. Please don't assume hatred on the part of some non-muslim making a mistake in this area.

I also lived in Texas until 2004. When I remember some of the people I met there, I know for a fact most hadn't a clue about such things. It just wasn't a part of their lives.

 

[Kashnowe]

i find that most americans are clueless about other religions. especially those who do not live in metropolitan areas.

btw. to me rennet is nasty stuff. i have read somehwhere (I forget where) that rennet cheese is acceptable in islam only if the calf is slaughtered properly. but i'm pretty sure that is not the case in the stuff that goes into making your supermarket cheeses. kraft cheeses all contain rennet. the best thing for muslims would be kosher cheeses. i know cabot brand and t illamook brand and most land o lakes are rennet free. heres a good list of vegetarian cheeses (of course vegetarians don't eat rennet either being that it is made fro ma calf)

http://cheese.joyousliving.com/CheeseListBrand.aspx

 

[BanGuLLy]

Music gets me out of stress sometimes..
and some music make me more optimistic in life..

 

[Dhulqarnaeen]

Music gets me out of stress sometimes..
and some music make me more optimistic in life..

Think deeper, what kinda optimistic that you really feel if its based from a music which is maksiyat to Allah? :rollseyes
You know, Im getting weak and feels like dont have anything in life, emptyness inside if I dont do something about my dien. Sometimes I feel it when I kinda dont have time to do revision of my hifz, or dont read Islamic book to enlarge my knowledges about Islam, but when I start to read Quran, or reading Islamic book, then I become stronger and more more faithfull, and thats the most optimist time in my life . But when my imaan weak, syaithon will drive me to sing along when the music played.
Subhanallah, all that I have in this life, own house and car, sweet family, I can have whatever I want CANT make my life calmer. Im sure if I dont have intention about my dien, then my life will be doomed, my life will be empty and useless. :laugh: Yaa muqallibal quluub, thabit qolbi 'alaa diniik, amin

 

[Grace Seeker]

Several of those Muslims on this board that I most respect have at times spoken of what they understand the afterlife to be like. That first there is a time of judgment. Now in many ways this sounds similar to Christian descriptions, so I want to be sure that I don't read these comments through my Christian eyes but understand them as Muslims do. Thus I am going to restate what I understand is the "typical" or "expected" experience. If I get it wrong, please correct me. But, don't attack me for having it wrong, that's why I'm asking the question.


What I understand happens is that a Muslim dies and then is led before Allah who needs to be sure that no impurities enter into Paradise with him. That person is then actually sent to hell to be purified of any remaining sin that might be in him. Once so purified, then and only then, may he be admitted to Paradise. As to how long one must withstand this purification, it totally depends on how one has lived. Those who truly lived Islamic lives and total submission will only have to be purified a little (of what I don't know if they lived totally submissive lives). Those who claimed to belong to Allah but did not live very submissive lives might be there a long time. And those who have knowingly rejected Allah by worshipping other gods in the place of Allah or associating partners with Allah won't even have the opportunity to be purified, we are just dam*ed.


I have a few follow-up questions, but let's see how close I am to the correct understanding first.

 

[MuhammadRizan]

Salam.

What I understand happens is that a Muslim dies and then is led before Allah who needs to be sure that no impurities enter into Paradise with him.

Allah already know who deserves Paradise and Hell.

That person is then actually sent to hell to be purified of any remaining sin that might be in him. Once so purified, then and only then, may he be admitted to Paradise. As to how long one must withstand this purification, it totally depends on how one has lived.

it depends on how much his sin.

Those who truly lived Islamic lives and total submission will only have to be purified a little (of what I don't know if they lived totally submissive lives).

insya' Allah they will directly entered Paradise, purification is only for person that his sin outnumbered his good deeds, like you said..

Those who claimed to belong to Allah but did not live very submissive lives might be there a long time.

And those who have knowingly rejected Allah by worshipping other gods in the place of Allah or associating partners with Allah won't even have the opportunity to be purified, we are just dam*ed.

your right...Hell inhabitants are people that reject Him and sinning knowingly ex. Satan.. that's why Allah send His Apostle and Revelation so we can avoid ourself from eternal ****ation.

hope that help.

 

[Muslim Woman]

[FONT=&quot]With the name of ALLAH (God Almighty) -The Bestower Of Unlimited Mercy, The Continously Merciful[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh (May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]%%%%%[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]i m now giving a shrot ans ....InshaAllah will write more later
[/FONT]

.... person is then actually sent to hell to be purified of any remaining sin that might be in him. Once so purified, then and only then, may he be admitted to Paradise.

nope . IN the grave , angels will come to ask few questions i.e. who is ur Lord etc. Sinners won't be able to ans & will get some punishment. Believers will easily give answers & will rest in peace :statisfie



ON the Last Day , believers will be able to cross a bridge under where hell will be waiting for sinners. Sinners will be thrown in to the fire. Those who associated partner with God will remain there forever. Those who did not do the blasphemy but committed other sins like robbing , adultery etc will be there for few months/ years ..........God knows best.



InshaAllah ( God Willing ) , true Believers won't be in hell & God will allow them to enter Paradise without testing them any punishment .......only God is great.

Some ( whose good & bad deeds are equal ) will be in Arafa .... a place where no punishment like hell or peace like paradise.

[FONT=&quot]Related verses :[/FONT]


And they (Jews) say, "The Fire (i.e. Hell-fire on the Day of Resurrection) shall not touch us but for a few numbered days."




Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him to them): "Have you taken a covenant from God, so that God will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of God what you know not?"


Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever.




And those who believe (in the Oneness of God -- Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds,



they are dwellers of Paradise, they will dwell therein forever.

 

[Malaikah]

What I understand happens is that a Muslim dies and then is led before Allah who needs to be sure that no impurities enter into Paradise with him. That person is then actually sent to hell to be purified of any remaining sin that might be in him. Once so purified, then and only then, may he be admitted to Paradise. As to how long one must withstand this purification, it totally depends on how one has lived.

Correct so far, except that the time spent in hell depends on how many sins hte person had t his name, not how long he lived.

Also, just because a Muslim dies with sin, doesn't mean that Muslim must enter hell. As long as a Muslim avoid the major sins, they may be forgiven for their minor since without being punished at all.

Those who truly lived Islamic lives and total submission will only have to be purified a little (of what I don't know if they lived totally submissive lives).

It doesn't have to be totally submissive... Purification doesn't have to occur via punishment. A person may be forgiven of all their sins and thus will enter Paradise, purified, but having avoided the hell fire.

And those who have knowingly rejected Allah by worshipping other
gods in the place of Allah or associating partners with Allah won't even have the opportunity to be purified, we are just dam*ed.

Yep.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Interesting. I have had three different Muslims respond, and I appreciate them all, but they appear to have given three different answers. I am assuming that if I was Muslim I could see the harmony between them, but I am not, can someone help me with that?

 

[- Qatada -]

Grace Seeker, this is to do with the concept of reward and punishment.


There is an authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim, where it's reported that the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Allaah has one hundred degrees of mercy, of which He sent down one among the jinn, mankind, the animals and the vermin, by virtue of which they show compassion and mercy to one another, and the wild animal shows compassion to its young. But Allaah has kept behind ninety-nine degrees of mercy by virtue of which He will have mercy on His slaves on the Day of Resurrection.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2752.



​

Now Allaah has also said that He will forgive anything except that partners should be associated with Him;

Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed.

[Qur'an 4: 48]



​

Anyone who worshipped Allaah Alone, and accepted His Messengers' - then they will get their due reward off Allaah. Allaah will have mercy on them, and the only sin which isn't forgiven is that one dies in the state of associating others as associates with Allaah.


Now if the person never associated partners with Allaah, there are other narrations which show that Allaah will be soo Merciful upon the believers on that day, that even the disbeliever will have hope for Allaah's reward. Yet this won't be the case since this person rejected Allaah's call and said that Allaah had lied by sending down the message.

So the same way this person rejected Allaah in this life, Allaah will reject them too. The greatest punishment for the people of the fire who disbelived is the fact that they will never get to see Allaah, their Creator and Provider. Yet what did the Messenger call them to apart from Allaah's forgiveness and reward? Yet they denied Allaah's message arrogantly, thinking of him/her self as self sufficient.



There will be sinning muslims among the believers, some may be punished. And as sis Malaikah rightly said, others won't be, and Allaah is the Ever Just. It may be that this person repented within their lifetime. So Allaah bestowed His Mercy upon them.



Now to understand that more, we'll use a worldly example;


Imagine an adult says to a child that you're forbidden from doing a certain act. The adult knew that this child would likely incline towards it, so what happened? The child actually fell into the evil, and just when the child realised his/her wrongdoing, they regretted their evil and quickly went to the adult, and asked forgiveness for what they had done.

The adult knew the child would make the mistake, but due to the childs sincerety in not wanting to do that evil no more - the adult let them off. Was this injustice? No, it was a sign of kindness and Mercy. No-one would call this injustice, rather it is an act of Mercy which everyone would like to recieve.



Now if this same child were to lie about the adult, and were the clear evidences to be brought forth to the child to not do that evil again, rather to be grateful for all the good which he/she is recieving - yet the child still continued in their evil, is this child really sincere? Is this child really hoping for the forgiveness which would be promised to those who do good and obey?

If not - then why should they be rewarded? Why should they recieve the mercy? If they are continuously denying the reality, and rejecting the fact that he/she will be taken into account?



Similarly,

For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter, let them strive); for the term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming and He hears and knows (all things).

And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.

Those who believe and work righteous deeds,- from them shall We blot out all evil (that may be) in them, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds.

[Qur'an 29: 5-7]




​

And Allaah Almighty knows best.




Peace.

 

[MustafaMc]

Not to disagree with the other answers to your post, but I wanted to give my perspective.

Several of those Muslims on this board that I most respect have at times spoken of what they understand the afterlife to be like. That first there is a time of judgment.

Yes, this is a fundamental belief of Islam.

Now in many ways this sounds similar to Christian descriptions, so I want to be sure that I don't read these comments through my Christian eyes but understand them as Muslims do. Thus I am going to restate what I understand is the "typical" or "expected" experience. If I get it wrong, please correct me. But, don't attack me for having it wrong, that's why I'm asking the question.

OK

What I understand happens is that a Muslim dies and then is led before Allah who needs to be sure that no impurities enter into Paradise with him.

No, this is a Christian belief of God not being in the presence of sin. The concept of a pruification by fire (in Hell) or atonement by blood (Jesus on cross) is not an Islamic belief. Allah will show mercy to the believers and forgive many sins straight away.

That person is then actually sent to hell to be purified of any remaining sin that might be in him. Once so purified, then and only then, may he be admitted to Paradise. As to how long one must withstand this purification, it totally depends on how one has lived.

No, this implies that ALL Muslims will spend at least some time in Hell to "purify" them of any sins. This is incorrect. We believe that only the most sinful Muslim guilty, for example, of murder or adultery may be sent to Hell - or Allah may forgive even that.

Those who truly lived Islamic lives and total submission will only have to be purified a little (of what I don't know if they lived totally submissive lives).

No, we believe these will not spend any time in Hellfire.

Those who claimed to belong to Allah but did not live very submissive lives might be there a long time.

Another way of saying that they lived sinful lives, as in did not worship Allah as instructed and/or who commited grievous cimes. Yes, they may need to be in the Hellfire for considerable time.

And those who have knowingly rejected Allah by worshipping other gods in the place of Allah or associating partners with Allah won't even have the opportunity to be purified, we are just dam*ed.

The judging is for Allah to do, but according to my understanding of the Quran, I would not want to die in that state.

I have the CD set "Journey to the Hereafter" that gives an overview of the Islamic point of view: http://www.soundvision.com/shop/pview.asp?item=710-017

From my understanding and from what I remember from these Cds, a person's judgement is in stages.

1) questioning in the grave determining ease or torment until the Day of Judgement
2) receiving one's life history book in his right hand (good) or from behind his back in his left hand (bad)
3) balance of good and bad deeds with the heaviest good deed = testimony that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah. The balance is divinely Just and no one can question or appeal to a higher court.
4) passing across the razor thin bridge over Hell. The most pious will pass quickly in the twinkling of an eye, some will run, some will walk and some will crawl. The quicker one can cross the bridge, the less likely he will fall into Hellfire.

During these last 3 stages, everyone will be so concerned for his own state that he will forget about everyone else he/she knew on earth. Most Muslims will pass directly to Paradise, but those with an equal balance of good and bad will go to the "Heights" between Paradise and Hell while the most sinful will go to the Hellfire. If one died believing there is One God with no partners, no father, no mother, no son and no daughter, then eventually he will be brought out of the Heights or Hellfire. Another thing to remember is that Allah's Mercy is still the critical element and no Muslim is so arrogant as to say he has lived such a life and prayed so perfectly that he is guaranteed a place in Paradise. We have a sublime balance of fear of Allah's Wrath and hope in His Mercy.

..and Allah knows best. Those more knowledgeable than me will kindly correct my errors.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Two people have mentioned the razor thin bridge. The first time I heard of this someoine even mentioned that no one could walk across it, so God sent a ram that the believer could climb on to and the ram carried the believer across but the unbeliever would try to walk on one's own and fall to hell. Anyone else ever hear of that before?

Yet at the same time I can't find the idea of the bridge mentioned any plance in the Qur'an at all. Is it there and I am missing it or does this belief come from some other source? I also noticed that some people didn't mention the idea of the bridge at all. Is this something that is NOT a universal belief in Islam?

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/ peace ;

... God sent a ram that the believer could climb on to and the ram carried the believer across but the unbeliever would try to walk on one's own and fall to hell. Anyone else ever hear of that before?

no

Yet at the same time I can't find the idea of the bridge mentioned any plance in the Qur'an at all. Is it there and I am missing it or does this belief come from some other source?

there is a verse in Quran that says all have to cross the hell / go over hell to enter paradise. I dont remember if the word bridge is mentioned in Quran or it's in the explanation.

I also noticed that some people didn't mention the idea of the bridge at all. Is this something that is NOT a universal belief in Islam?

I have heard about it since childhood that the bridge will like a hair & it will be very difficult to cross.

 

[MustafaMc]

Two people have mentioned the razor thin bridge. The first time I heard of this someoine even mentioned that no one could walk across it, so God sent a ram that the believer could climb on to and the ram carried the believer across but the unbeliever would try to walk on one's own and fall to hell. Anyone else ever hear of that before?

Never heard or read about a ram to carry one across the bridge.

Yet at the same time I can't find the idea of the bridge mentioned any plance in the Qur'an at all. Is it there and I am missing it or does this belief come from some other source? I also noticed that some people didn't mention the idea of the bridge at all. Is this something that is NOT a universal belief in Islam?

Quran 19:68-72 By your Rabb (Lord), We will call them to account in the company of all their shaitans and set them on their knees around the Fire of Hell; then from every sect We will certainly drag out its stoutest rebels against the Compassionate (Allah). Certainly We know best who deserves most to be burned therein. There is not a single one of you, who shall not pass over it, this absolute decree of your Rabb is unavoidable; then We will deliver those who were pious during their life on earth and leave the wrongdoers therein humbled on their knees.

Commentary in Yusuf Ali translation regarding this verse notes that the bridge is not mentioned by name in the Quran. However, it is mentioned in authentic hadith collected by Bukhari.

Bukhari hadith 1:770 ...Then Allah will come to them again and say, 'I am your Lord.' They will say, 'You are our Lord.' Allah will call them, and As-Sirat (a bridge) will be laid across Hell and I (Muhammad) shall be the first amongst the Apostles to cross it with my followers. Nobody except the Apostles will then be able to speak and they will be saying then, 'O Allah! Save us. O Allah Save us.'...

Bukhari hadith 9:532b ...Then the bridge will be laid across Hell." We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the bridge?" He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire). The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge)."...

Also Sahih Muslim hadith 1139 Umm Mubashshir heard Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) as saying in presence of Hafsah: God willing, the people of the Tree would never enter the Fire of Hell - one amongst those who owed allegiance under that. She said: Allah's Messenger, why not? He scolded her. Hafsah said: "And there is none amongst you but shall have to pass over that (narrow Bridge)" (19:71). Thereupon Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has said: "We would rescue those persons who are God-conscious and we would leave the tyrants to their fate there" (19:72).

 

[Malaikah]

Two people have mentioned the razor thin bridge. The first time I heard of this someoine even mentioned that no one could walk across it, so God sent a ram that the believer could climb on to and the ram carried the believer across but the unbeliever would try to walk on one's own and fall to hell. Anyone else ever hear of that before?

A ram? I would have thought a ram would find it harder to cross than a human. :giggling:

There is no doubt that the bridge is something completely accepted by all Muslims (well, at least main stream Muslims anyway).

 

[Grace Seeker]

A ram? I would have thought a ram would find it harder to cross than a human. :giggling:

Are you laughing at me?

Seriously, that is what I first heard. It has been many years now, so I can't reference it any more, but it was in a book about Islam, written by Muslims. (I stay away from anything but primary source material as much as possible in any type of research, but especially with regard to religion.) But it did strike me as interesting. I think the idea of a ram is not so funny. Sheep and goats are both known to be much more capable of navigating steep and narrow mountain cliffs than people are. They seem to traverse them with great ease.

 

[Malaikah]

You must have gotten mixed up with something else... I am rather sure there is no ram. I just finished reading about the bridge in a bok by one of the bext known scholars... and there is no mention on a ram.

Rather what happens is that each believer will be given light in proportion to their deeds. The more light a person has, the faster they pass over it. Some people will pass at the speed of a flash of lightning, other like the and, others like fast animals, others like walking etc until some people won't be able to pass it at all and they fall in to the hell fire underneath it.

That is what is authentically established. There is also a hadith mentioning that the bridge will widen in proportion to a persons good deeds, but I am unsure of the authenticity of that statement.