Life

74511

Can you explain the creation of the universe and life to me? Can you also tell me how long it took Allah to create everything?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 1 month ago

A good sermon to read regarding this is the 1st sermon of Nahjul Balagha

89881

Woman . Life . Husband . Marriage . Sexual . Friendship

Is it allowed for a married woman to discuss any details of her sex life with her husband with any female or male friends?

Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answered 1 month ago

Bismillah,

Asalamu Alaykom,

Firstly a Muslim female shouldn't have male non-mahram friends. So this is already out of the question. Yes, interaction with the opposite gender at the workplace for example is permitted.

In regard to discussing private sexual matters with her female friends, this should be avoided. Unfortunately some women fall into this and divulge intimate details of their spouses.

If the woman genuinely needs advice related to sexual matters, she can speak or ask in a general sense without making it specific to herself.

May Allah grant you success

89009

Life . Universe . God (Allah)

Why did Allah create life and the universe?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 2 months ago

This is one of those questions that has been asked for thousands of years and maybe it is one we are all meant to ponder on. However, here are a couple thoughts:

* The famous narration that "I [Allah] was a hidden treasure and I wished to be known, so I created the creation."

* Insofar as the attribute of the Creator (al-Khaliq) is one way of describing Allah, one might say that it is an innate tendency of Allah to create, just as a human artist often feels compelled to create. So, simply put, Allah creates because it is the divine nature to make things. Some people view creation as a perpetual matter; that is, every moment, Allah is re-creating creation, not just as something that happened once for the universe.

* Some people also say it is part of divine mercy to create sentient beings. Even though life can be difficult, we wouldn't even be able to say it is difficult if we weren't created with intellect and senses.

It is an excellent question to explore and I wish you the best in your pondering and research!

Life . Universe . God (Allah)

Why did Allah create life and the universe?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 2 months ago

as salam alaikum

Allah is All-Powerful and He does whatever He wishes. Therefore He created the universe because He willed, and so it was.

With prayers for your success.

85614

Life . Du'a (Supplication) . Divine Justice . Tribulation

I prayed that someone get compensated for a harm they suffered but the Dua wasn't answered. Why do such things happen in life, especially to good people, when all they have done is good and yet hardship befalls them time after time?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 3 months ago

Allah (SWT) has promised in Quran to respond to the Du'a (supplication) and there is no Du'a with out response. (Your Lord said: Seek from me, I will respond to you) وقال ربكم ادعوني أستجب لكم(Sura 40, verse 60).

We do not know how and when the respond will come. Allah (SWT) knows the best time and best way to respond to any Du'a. Our expectations are according to what we know, but Allah (SWT) knows everything and He is The Most Merciful, The Absolute Wise, so we should leave it to Him. Our mercy on the oppressed can never be more than Allah's mercy on them. He will definitely compensate them in the best way in the best time.
'Wassalam.

80085

Life . Memory . Dunya

Would you start the existence after life with a new memory or would you remember the past from this world?

It is narrated that one of the first things that happens in the barzakh (the next realm after this life) is that a human being is forced to transcribe their entire life.

Also with respect to the hereafter it is said that all deeds will be clearly visible and known, and that all things are recorded (except for what Allah wills to hide or forgive).

So, basically, there is a complete memory there, including of things we have forgotten during our lives in this world.

77221

Life . Qur'an . Salah (Prayers) . God (Allah)

How can I do life activities like exercising and studying and not feel like I am wasting time because I should be reading the Koran, praying and reading Tasfir for the sake of Allah? How do I manage this feeling?

The meaning of worshiping Allah (SWT) is not limited to reading Quran or Tafseer or praying Salah but it is much wider up to the extend of including all useful life activities including studying, working, eating, exercising, resting etc as far as the activity is done for noble cause e.g. being healthy to do good.

There is a Prophetic Hadeeth advising to keep every act of life, for the sake of Allah. That will make life a continuous worship.

Wassalam.

72342

Life . God (Allah)

I am going through a pretty stressful time in my life right now and I feel I’m a bit lost and need guidance from God. What is the best way to ask Him for help and guidance?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answer updated 7 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Trials in life are part of our journey towards the All-Merciful and as such seeking guidance is as simple as asking for it and having faith that an answer will present itself. In asking this question and seeking an answer you are already on the path of guidance. Consult with rational, helpful and experienced people for the issues at hand and then put your trust in God. All believers are in the best situation for them at any given time.

For more traditions and explanation about dealing with trials see this three part series on The Scale of Wisdom Podcast:

Part 1:

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-75-51-261-263-Ordea...

Part 2:

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-76-51-264-268-Ordea...

Part 3:

https://anchor.fm/zoheir-ali-esmail/episodes/Episode-77-51-269-276-Ordea...

The upcoming episode on anxiety may also be useful (release date 11th May 2020)

May you always be successful.

71237

Wealth . Life . God (Allah)

How can one strive in the way of Allah with one's wealth and life in this day and age?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The major struggle in the way of Allah is the struggle of self-purification and freeing the self from the commands of the lower self. It is a long journey where the mind finds purity and connection with God. A person can strive with their life force to reach the lofty aims of purification and knowledge, and they can spend their wealth in order to achieve these aims through sponsoring humanitarian projects and helping those in need.

May you always be successful

71480

Life

What are the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (AS) and Mujtahideen about developing consistency in one's life and work?

Consistency in life can be achieved when the aims of life are in
accordance with the acts and activities, when the daily practices are
in the same line of the noble aims of life, as been given by the
creator of life, Almighty Allah SWT, then consistency will be
achieved. There is no consistency if the noble aims go in a direction
and the acts go in a different direction. The person will feel torn
and will never feel consistency, because of the contradiction between
the noble aims of life and the practices. The key factor of getting
consistency in life is to be with Allah SWT and being with Allah SWT
is the only source of peace of mind and when we be with Allah SWT, we
keep our acts according to his teachings which are the teachings of
peace, justice, sympathy, mercy then consistency can be achieved in
our life.

Wassalam.

67359

Life . Punishment . Dunya

What is the Islamic response for those who wish they were not born into this existence, who wish they were not part of the world in this life or the next and want neither the punishment nor the reward?

Every human being who has basic intellectual faculty believes that his
existence in this life is the most valuable. That is why you find
that everyone including small children try to avoid any danger on
life and they do whatever they can to save this life. Those who have
mental or psychological problems feel sometimes that they wish they
were not born. This feeling goes against the basic instinctive
knowledge of all human beings and cannot be taken as normal feeling
but it needs to be dealt with as a mental and psychological problem.
Hence it needs to be treated through specialist health experts and
other ways of treatment. No doubt the best treatment for mental and
psychological conditions is remembering Allah (SWT). Remembering Allah
(SWT) is the source of peace of mind and tranquility.

Even those whose claim that they wish that they were not born are not
sure about their feelings and that is why you find them if they face
any danger then they try to avoid it and save their lives. So their
feeling itself is not firm.

Islam teaches us to appreciate the bounties which we have been granted
and one of the greatest bounties is that Allah (SWT), the Most
Merciful, the Most Compassionate has granted us life after we were not
existing as Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an : Has there not been
one moment in time when he was not existing (Surah al-Insan : verse
1).

Such people need to be looked after with more sympathy and should be
morally and medically supported. They should be advised to remember
the source of peace of mind and keep on remembering Allah (SWT). That
will make them feel the taste of life and enjoy it and thank the
Creator Allah (SWT)

Wassalam.

Life . Punishment . Dunya

It sounds like this person is going through a tough time.

Life has easy and difficult times, sometimes very difficult times. It is good to have faith that there is light at the end of the tunnel and to contemplate on the verses of the Qur'an about Allah's mercy. Nothing stays the same forever and things often change in ways we could never imagine. Until then, however, it is sometimes necessary to walk in the darkness until reaching the light. The good thing about darkness, however, is sometimes it makes the light clearer.

Existence is not a choice, since a person who dies continues to exist. However, it is good to have faith that Allah has a plan and does not create anything in vain; just because we do not understand why we, individually, were created does not mean that we do not have our own specific reason for being.

Some might argue that Qur'an 7:172 which speaks of human beings testifying to the existence and lordship of Allah (in the realm of pre-existence, or in some other way) implies that we gave a sort of agreement to existing, even if we do not remember it now. Some might also argue that Qur'an 33:72 implies a sort of willingness to exist and accept the risks/consequences of free will, even if we currently do not want it - God knows best.

If this person is also dealing with depression or a psychological condition (either as a condition by itself or as a response to challenging circumstances), they could also look into psychological/psychiatric interventions and see if they are useful and appropriate at the moment to help get more zest for life.

If it is more of a spiritual or existential crisis (and all of the above can go hand in hand), more study and reflection of the Qur'an and theology and the big questions of life may help. In the end, while Muslims, like others, offer answers to questions such as "why do we exist?", it is one of those big questions that people have pondered for millenia, and although religions can provide answers, I think it is also something people often need to find answers for inside themselves.