Muslims

Muslims (Arabic: مُسلِم‎) are people who follow or practice Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion. Muslims consider the Quran, their holy book, to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Islamic prophet and messenger Muhammad, may peace be upon him and his family. Muslims also generally follow the teachings and practices of Muhammad (sunnah). Those who obtain these teachings primarily from his Companions (sahaba) are called Sunni, and those who take them from his family (ahl al-bayt) are called the Shi'a.

64241

Muslims . Paradise . Death . Qiyama

Will Muslims who die at a very young age also be held accountable on the Day of Judgement? Or do they go to paradise right away?

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... Answered 5 days ago

A Muslim child who dies in a young age i.e. childhood before puberty
(Buloogh) will not be accountable for any of the obligatory worships and duties because obligatories start only after Buloogh. Allah SWT will grant all the
Muslim children the Paradise and also grant them to intercede
(Shafa’at) for their parents. The Hadeeth says : When Muslim children
die, they will be looked after near the Paradise by Lady Sarah, the
wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and when the Angels tell them to enter
Paradise, they will say: We wait for our parents to enter with us.

Children of non Muslim parents will not be punished in the Day of Judgment but will be given full chance to know the true faith and chose.

Wassalaam.

Muslims . Paradise . Death . Qiyama

Will Muslims who die at a very young age also be held accountable on the Day of Judgement? Or do they go to paradise right away?

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... Answer updated 6 days ago

It doesn't matter whether they are Muslim or not Muslim.

All children, regardless of their families' religions or what religion they identify as, are closer to the pure/uncorrupted/sinless nature known as the fitrah that recognizes and acknowledges the truth, the unseen, and good and evil. (Perhaps this is why children are often quite wise!)

At the same time, all children are still developing the psychological capabilities that are necessary to make solid moral judgments and act on them (for instance, empathy, the ability to put the good of the group above the good of the individual, self-restraint, an understanding of cause and effect, an understanding of the permanency of death, etc).

This is not to say that children cannot make good and bad ethical decisions, or that children do not have authentic religious experiences and beliefs or even conversions. All of that happens; it depends on the child and the age. However, they are not held responsible in the same way that mature people are.

So, children go to barzakh (the intermediary realm after death before the final judgment) and then to paradise. It is said that they skip some things that they are not mature enough for, such as some of the questioning.

The experience of children in the afterlife will likely be different from that of mature adults since part of our job in this life is to learn more about spiritual and other realities. So, they may have some catching up to do, or maybe their experience will just be different, just as different adults will also have different experiences.

On the other hand, we should not underestimate children's souls (in the same way that people often underestimate children and confine them to things that are "childish"). The soul is a noble and honourable creation of Allah and this is the same for children or adults.

62772

Dhikr . Muslims . Qur'an . Radd-e-Mazalim

Is it allowed to offer the rewards (Thawab) of Quran recitation, Dhikr or other forms of good deeds with the intention of "Radd-e-Mazalim" to Muslims and non Muslims who are alive?

It is useful to do so to ease ourselves from the responsibilities which we have for others who were been wronged by us. It is mentioned in Hadeeths that if you can not gain the pardon of people whom you have wronged, then pray for them and seek forgiveness for them and gift them the reward of good deeds.

But this is not Radd-e-Mazalim, as Radd-e-Mazalim is an estimated amount paid on behalf of people who have rights on us and the amount must be given to the poor people.

Wassalam.

62863

Islam . Muslims

Is it true that Islam was spread by the sword? If yes, who forced people to become Muslims?

This is largely not true.

The question of how Islam spread after the time fo the Prophet (S) is complex because there were many factors involved.

It is also complicated by the fact that the early Arab-Muslim empire (the caliphates) did spread by conquest. However, in general, they were focused on conquering land and did not force people to convert to Islam. Sometimes, they even discouraged it because non-Muslims would pay the jizyah tax. Also, in some remote regions, the presence of the caliphate was really in name only.

On the other hand, it can be said that having a ruling elite who was Muslim created social conditions that were favorable for people living in this empire to become Muslim because Islam was seen as the religion of the educated and powerful and the cultural elite. (How times have changed!) Still, when you look at the well-known institutions in Baghdad, Andalusia, etc, there is clear evidence of Muslims and people of other faiths working together or interacting.

In any case, after the Arab-Muslim conquests, conversion was not instant, and it took a few hundred years for North Africa and the Middle East to become a majority Muslim region. A similar thing happened later with the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into parts of Eastern Europe.

Of course, empires were common in the pre-modern era, and the Arab-Muslim empire was not different structurally from other empires which also had their own religious tendencies.

Beyond that, it seems that people's reasons for converting to Islam in the past were varied and not dissimilar to the reasons that people have today. For instance, some people favoured the Islamic view of monotheism as simpler than that of other faiths. Some people liked the idea of social equity that, in theory, Islam promises. Some people were affected by the Qur'an. Some people converted due to marriage or for other social reasons, and so on.

The spread of Islam outside of the early Arab-Muslim Empire (such as into India, China, Indonesia, and sub-Saharan Africa) occurred largely through contact with Muslim traders and Sufis as well as exiles, expatriates, etc. This also occurred over time and was not instantaneous.

I am not saying that no one was ever forced to convert, since in over a thousand years of history and along vast geographical regions, virtually anything and everything that can happen does happen, but just that, in general, there is no evidence that the masses were forced to convert to Islam at the point of a sword.

Unfortunately this has become a very politicized subject today, both in the West and in some other regions, and there are a lot of falsehoods circulated to try to inflame sentiments against Muslims in areas of sectarian tension. I hope and pray that as human beings we can resolve these differences and move forward in more peace!

62065

Muslims . Worship

Is it permissible for us to use a plant if it is used by non Muslims as an object of worship?

We are allowed to use any plant in the proper way, no matter what non Muslims do as far as we do not support their wrong.

Wassalam.

60852

Muslims . Imam al-Mahdi . Oppression

Can you give any practical advice on how I can get to know and earn the Qurb and Ma'rifah of Imam-e-Zamana (a)? And how can I help the oppressed Muslims around the world while being a high school student in Pakistan?

The nearness to Imam Zaman (AS) can be achieved by :

1. Living with him all the time, in your heart,so you love him more than you love yourself and your family.

2. Remembering him in practice, that you do not say or act before being sure that he will be happy with your act.

3. Remembering him and saluting him and reciting his Ziyarat, and

continuous prayers for him in our Namaz and after Namaz and in all the situations.

4. Doing good deeds on his behalf like doing good to your parents, relatives and people especially the poor and needy, then gifting the reward to Imam Zaman ( AS),

5. Preparing yourself to be a humble servant of Imam Zaman (AS). This can be practiced now in serving any Momin or any good cause which is in the frame of the teachings of Imam Zaman (AS).

6. Reciting Du'a Al-A'hd every day in which we re confirm out allegiance to Imam Zaman (AS).

7. Reciting Ziyarat Aal Yaseen which has great benefits for us and it makes us more near to him.سلام على آل ياسين

السلام عليك يا داعي الله ورباني اياته

Wassalam.

59899

Muslims . Sects . Ummah . Qur'an . Sunni-Shi'a

I understand that the Qur'an does not make any mention of either Shia or Sunni and warns the Muslims against dividing into sects. If that is correct then how come the Islamic Ummah has got divided into these two broad sects?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 3 months ago

There are narrations in both Sunni and Shi'i collections that say that this ummah will divide into seventy-three sects, with only one being saved, i.e. 'the jama'a'. This has been interpreted to mean 'the majority' by Sunni scholars, whereas Imam 'Ali (as) has said that 'the jama'a' are those who follow the truth, even if they are few. This means that, even among the Shi'a, not all will necessarily be among the jama'a. Imam al-Baqir (as) has said 'the fitna is inevitable'. The Qur'an talks about previous generations that attacked their prophets and became divided over their message. There are many reasons for divisions to occur, but one key reason seems to have been for the Arabs to overcome their tribal pride and accept Imam 'Ali (as) as the successor. The Jews and Christians also hid parts of their prophets' messages or changed them, because they thought that their worldly position was jeopardised by challenging aspects of these messages. People are often happy to accept the message as long as they can maintain their worldly status and comforts.

54661

Muslims . Racism

How are we to engage with fellow Muslims who have included racism and bigotry in their practice of Islam?

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 3 months ago

as salam alaikum

in the mentioned case, it is imperative to do "Amr bil-Ma'ruf wa Nahy 'anil-Munkar" to denounce their attitude and try to rectify their behaviour. However one needs to find the most appropriate way to do it without worsening the situation.

With prayers for your success.

58843

Muslims . Ethnic

How should ethnic differences be managed amongst Muslims?

It is from the signs of the greatness of Allah The Glorious that He
has created human beings from different ethnic groups (Surah al
Hujuraat : Verse 13 ) O People ! We created you from a male and female
and formed you into peoples and tribes that you may recognise each
other. He who has more piousness has indeed more honour with Allah
SWT.

The ethnic differences should not be a reason of any difference
between people if they understand that the ethnic diversity is in
favour of human lives. Muslims should respect the ethnic differences
and customs and habits of all ethnic groups exactly as they respect
their own customs and habits. The Muslim should not think that his
ethnic group is better than any other ethnic group and he should never
look down upon any person just because of his ethnic group.

The Muslim should tolerate ethnic customs which is not practiced in
his own culture or tribe or family giving others full right to
practice their own culture and habits as far as it does not contradict
with any Islamic teaching. In fact there is no scope of any difference
between people because of ethnic reasons. As ethnic differences are
created by Allah SWT for great wisdom all human beings from different
ethnic backgrounds are equal in from of Allah SWT and the best of the
is the more pious

Wassalaam.

58342

Christians . Muslims . Prophet Isma'il . Prophet Ishaq

Is it true that Christians are descendants of Isaac and Muslims of Ishmael?

Christians and Muslims come from many ethnic and racial backgrounds. The only person they are all descended from is Adam.

At some point in history, the idea became popular that Arabs are descendants of Ishmael, and Jews are descendants of Isaac. Obviously not all Arabs are really descendants of Ishmael and it seems questionable for all Jews too, so it shouldn't be interpreted as a literal fact. Anyway, most Muslims are not Arabs so this does not factor into questions of descent.

There are texts identifying the Prophet Muhammad as a descendant of Ishmael so this may be another way of associating Islam with Ishmael. Also Muslims tend to say that Ishmael was the son of Abraham whom God asked him to sacrifice (I sense another complicated question coming...) whereas Christians and Jews say it was Isaac. So, again, one can say there is a sort of figurative association or inclination towards each.

Of course, both Isaac and Ishmael are respected in the Islamic tradition and in the Qur'an.

58098

Muslims

When there is a choice of buying products made by Muslims and non-Muslims, is it obligatory to buy the products made by Muslims?

It is a moral responsibility to support and give benefit to your brother in Islam rather than to an outsider. This does not mean that it is not allowed to buy from non Muslims when there is similar product made by Muslim, but it is a matter of moral reasonability towards our Ummah.

Wassalam.

57969

Muslims . Martyrdom . Sunni-Shi'a . Imam Husayn

What are the most clear benefits that all Muslims, regardless of school of thought, enjoy till today on account of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS)?

The martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) gave the Muslim Ummah the biggest shock which saved the Ummah from collapse when the rulers (Yazeed and his gangsters) were totally away from the teachings of Islam. Muslim masses could not accept the crime of the killing of the grand son of the Prophet along with his family members including children and imprisonment of the family of the Prophet (SAWA). This greatest shock brought back the sense to the Ummah and was the reason behind hundreds of revolts against tyrant rulers during centuries of the history of Muslims. Imam Husain's martyrdom declared the tyrant rulers as deviants and made the Muslim masses careful when dealing with them.

The martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) became the guide to his noble value which calls Muslims to be real Muslims and join good and avoid evil. Thousands of scholars, writers, poets were inspired by Imam Husain's martyrdom.

Millions of Muslims all over the world and all over the generations, observe the martyrdom of Imam Husain every year and get spiritually charged to be better Muslims.

Imam Husain's martyrdom has inspired many non Muslims and made them realize the great teachings of justice for which Imam Husain (AS) has sacrificed.

The list of the benefits from Imam Husain' martyrdom will be very long and books can be written on it, but to cut it very short, we need to remember the Prophetic Hadeeth which stated: Husian is from me, and I am from Husain. How the grand father is from his grand son? In fact, he religion of Islam which was sent through the Prophe Muhammad (SAWA), was revived and made everlasting because of Imam Husain (AS).

Reviving Islam is the great benefit not only for all Muslims but for all mankind.

Wassalam.