Western Society

The Western world refers to various nations depending on the context, most often including at least part of Europe (especially European Union with EFTA), Australasia (especially Australia and New Zealand) and the Americas (especially North America).

88630

Tax . Income . Western Society

Is it permissible if some people in the West do not pay the full amount of tax from the income they earn and find ways to pay less?

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 years ago

Muslim should be good citizen where ever he lives. Abiding to the laws of the land is part of the duties of good citizen. Many people try to decrease their tax liabilities through legal ways according to licensed tax advisors who advise citizens legally. It is permissible to seek and act upon such legal advice as it is in accordance to the law of the land.
Going against the law is very far from the Islamic teachings.

Wassalam.

79531

Government . Employment . Western Society . Middle East

Is it permissible for me to work for a Western government's foreign service where I would advocate for my country's interests in the Middle East or elsewhere?

It is allowed for every Muslim to serve his country in any field which does not do injustice on others. Your country's interest should be in the interest of people and should not support the aggressors who might be friendly with some of your political leaders. You as a Muslim are obliged to serve peaceful people in your country and every where, and never support injustice. Our case as Muslims is the justice for all human beings and even for everything. Justice for people of Palestine for example, might not be an aim for many western politicians, but we must do everything possible in peaceful and legal way to support justice. Muslim officer must be an ethical officer and not just a blind officer.

Wassalam.

79316

Zabiha . Meat . Halal . Western Society

What is the ruling regarding consuming non-Zabiha meat in those Western countries where it is difficult to find Halal meat?

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... Answered 5 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is not permissible to eat meat which has not been slaughtered according to Islamic law, except in a situation of starvation, where there is no alternative (no other food at all) and at that point a person is allowed to eat only the amount that is necessary for survival. In Western countries this type of situation is not usual and there are plenty of alternatives to eat such as fish with scales, prawns, vegetables and other types of carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta) and so on.

May you always be successful

71219

Children . Western Society

Is it compulsory for children to learn the mother tongue of their parents, such as Urdu or Persian, if they are born and being brought up in the West?

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 6 years ago

It is not compulsory for children to learn the mother tongue of their parents.

However, given that much of the Islamic heritage is expressed in languages such as Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, from a religious perspective, I think it is tremendously helpful for them to have at least some understanding of one or more of the "heritage languages" of the Islamic world. It will help them cement their Islamic identity and feel connected to cultures and practices that are expressed in these languages, as well as have access to teachings, majalis, lectures, etc, that are not available in other languages.

Also of course it's good for them to be able to communicate with their relatives.

63800

Employment . Western Society . Handshake

Can you please provide advice on how to deal with handshakes with the opposite gender in a business meeting or for a job interview for those living in the West?

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... Answer updated 6 years ago

I tend to smile, put my hand to my chest, and say 'Sorry, I don't shake.' By placing your hand on your chest, you are offering an alternative way of greeting, which makes greeting less awkward. Another method is to get a sympathetic colleague - if you have one - to inform people ahead of meeting you that you don't shake hands with the opposite gender.

62570

Zakat . Western Society . Tax

Why do people in the West who already pay multiple taxes, that get used by the government to pay for the poor and needy, also have to pay Islamic taxes such as Zakat?

Zakat and Khums are obligatory on every Muslim who has more than his expenses. Taxes are part of our expenses and Khums will obligatory on the remaining amounts after paying all the lawful expenses including Taxes.

Wassalam.

61101

Sexual . Western Society . Mut'a (Temporary marriage) . Sin

In Western countries, girls are ready for temporary paid sexual contracts but are not aware of Muta. If Muslim girls are not available for Muta, can a man go for a paid sexual massage to avoid falling into sinful sexual acts?

There is no question of " Paid sexual massage" in Islam. It is itself a sinful act.

Sexual act must be under a valid marriage contract whether permanent or temporary which includes Mahr (Dowery) for the female.

Wassalam.

58798

Movies . Western Society . Meme . Da'wah

Is it allowed to make Islamic memes for Da'wah? Can I use popular male characters from western movies in them to make them effective for a younger audience?

Making Islamic memes is allowed as far as it does not contain harmful material and does not promote sinners or sinners' habits.

Wassalam.

53353

Alcohol . Western Society . Employment

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, 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 6 years ago

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.

55338

Woman . Body . Western Society . Man

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?

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.

57409

Irfan . Western Society . Conversion to Islam

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?

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.

53600

Politics . Muslims . Homosexuality . Western Society

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?

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.

Western Society

88630

79531

79316

71219

63800

62570

61101

58798

53353

55338

57409

53600

Cookie Preferences