1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

44 Questions

If someone works as a cashier or assistant in a store selling alcohol in the West, is it allowed to work there?
Abbas Di Palma

as salam alaikum

Selling alcohol is forbidden in Islam. There are cases, especially in non-Muslim countries, where a Muslim is compelled to work in a place selling haram items. In such case the person should commit him/herself to find a new job and he should ask Allah to change his situation towards a better way of life. 

With prayers for your success.
Living in the West, are we allowed to go to any mixed gathering, such as the gym or university? If so, are men allowed to look at any part of a woman's body or hair without lustful intentions?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

​​​Islamic rules are for all human beings every where and every time. Living in the West or East of the Earth does not change the rules.

It is not allowed for Muslim men to look at uncovered parts of body or hair of non Mahram females.

Wassalam.
I am a new convert to Shia Islam living in the West and learning practical Irfan. How do I find a Shia guide who can help on this journey that I believe is important and brings you much closer to Allah?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The way to Allah is open to every sincere believer who really wants it and strives to be in it.

Those who strive for our sake, We will definitely guide them to Our ways.
(Sura 29, Verse 69).

It is good to have a sincere and able teacher to guide and help, but it is not the only way to be in the way of Allah. Even a person who lives alone in an isolated island can seek nearness to Allah through reciting Quran, Prophetic and Ahlul Bayt sayings, Nahjul  Balagha, and Saheefa Sajjadia .

Finding a suitable teacher depends on where you live.

You can seek help from authentic scholars in the Hawza in Najaf or Qum to suggest a teacher in your area.

Wassalam.
How does a good Muslim survive in non Islamic nations surrounded by secular humanists or established homosexual communities? Is it proper to disengage with such political and social narratives that are not in the best interests of Islam?
Amina Inloes

This is really a personal question. Some people thrive on engaging with these social issues, whereas others do not. Insofar as it does not harm anyone, it is good to be self-aware and acknowledge what is beneficial and harmful for ourselves and our faith, and then attempt to live in a such a way that is beneficial for our peace of mind and faith. This would include decisions on where to live, where to work, and who to socialize with. Certainly, there are enough Muslims engaging with these issues today, and so it isn't necessary for every single Muslim to do it.

Secular humanism can a complicated matter, since it is heavily involved in the educational system in some countries, and most people adopt the dominant beliefs of their country and integrate them into their religious views. Of course, secular humanism has good and bad points like everything else. When one considers these ideas analytically rather than just absorbing them, it can deepen one's faith, but, again, that is personal! Do keep in mind that the Prophet lived in a society that did not support the views he was teaching and yet Islam took root there.

As Muslims, we are encouraged to be aware of the world around us. However, in this day and age, many people suffer from information overload. It simply isn't possible or healthy to follow every issue all the time. It is good to be selective in what one wants to focus on - not to have a biased or slanted view of the world (as happens often) but simply in order to use one's time and mental energy well. Social media is usually the cause of this overload, and it is easy to regulate one's use of social media.