Fatwas Part One-Hundred-and-Thirteen

Issued by: Dr. Ahmed Subhy Mansour, translated by: Ahmed Fathy

About Corpses of Israelis

Published in February 4, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is the reason, in your opinion, for the fact that Israel is keen on retrieving corpses of Israelis killed by Hamas or Hezbollah terrorists? Is this related to the Jewish faith or not? Any ideas? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 As far as we know, this practice was not known before 1948; the modern state of Israel cares for its citizens whether they are alive or dead; this is not part of any Jewish tenet, we think. We assume that this is done as a policy of the Jewish State. In contrast, Arab tyrants and Wahabis inside their countries massacre many people shamelessly and never care about citizens at all.  

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Reforming Copts

Published in February 4, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … In your book about the CNN imaginary interview with Prophet Muhammad, you criticize the Bible's Old Testament stories; why is that? Do you think that Copts of Egypt need religious reform as the case with the Muhammadans?  … Thank you …  

Answer:

 We preach and proselytize Quranism among the Muhammadans only; in our book which you have mentioned, we aim to compare and contrast the Quranic stories of prophets and the Biblical ones. Our articles about Copts in Egypt aim at political reform only. As for criticizing old religious tenets, we aim at refuting corrupt ideas inherited by the Muhammadans who assume wrongly that such ideas pertain to Islam. We objectively criticize the stories of the Book of Genesis by using the Quran as the Criterion; this is addressed to the Muhammadans and not to Christians and we desire to influence the hearts of those who seek the Quranic guidance. Anyway, we express our own views on our website, but we never impose them on anyone; we do not aim to tackle reform of Christianity; others (e.g., some Protestants) are the ones who should undertake this task, preferably by eliminating the idea of deifying Jesus, his mother, and all mortals. 

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A Cursed Mother-In-Law!

Published in February 5, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …  Fortune never smiled at me in my entire life; my late father – during his lifetime – chose a wife for me from among his relatives; she is a young woman who lived with her mother and whose father died; she clings too much to her mother. Sadly, her late father left all his wealth, assets, and possessions to the mother; my wife and her brothers own nothing at all and their mother control everything! After the marriage, we lived in the apartment which belongs to my wife in her village; her siblings and her mother live in separate apartments in the same building owned only by the mother. I work in Cairo, Egypt, and I used to return to the village every night. I do believe that my wife loves me. Sadly, shortly after the marriage, my mother-in-law showed clearly that she hates my guts! She thinks I'm a greedy person who wishes secretly that she'd die so that her daughter (i.e., my wife) would inherit her large fortune! My mother-in-law kept insulting me and demanding that I must rent/buy another apartment, as this is all decent husbands would do! My mother-in-law resents the fact that I am poorer than she expected! My salary is modest, I admit. She's interfered in everything in my married life! Her daughter listens to her and is convinced by all what she says; countless problems occurred between me and my wife because of my cursed, stingy mother-in-law! My wife is a good woman but impressionable and succumbs easily to the negative influence of her mother! My daughter was born recently, and yet, problems increased because of my mother-in-law; one day, this monster-in-law threw my clothes out of the apartment in a fit of fury and kicked me out! My wife could not prevent her! For a while, I lived in a new apartment with my wife and baby daughter in Cairo, and my mother-in-law visited us once a month. She caused lots of trouble between me and my wife who adores her mother and obeys her all the time. Later on, incited by my mother-in-law, my wife left my house and demanded divorce! After the divorce, I was informed by another relative that my mother-in-law hates me because she hated (and quarreled a lot with) my late mother! I never knew about this before the marriage! My wife tells me through the phone that she still loves me and longs to be reunited with me! I love her! Yet, she would not dare disobey her mother who commanded her to seek divorce! She's threatened her that she'd never leave her any money in her written will if she would not demand divorce! I long to see my baby daughter! My wicked, wealthy monster-in-law made her lawyers prevent me from seeing my only daughter! My wife refused to re-marry but she cannot return to me (she is eager to return to me because she loves me) so as not to be deprived of her inheritance later on! My salary is weak and I cannot hire good lawyers. In your view, what's to be done? Any advice?!  … Thank you …

Answer:

 You have to adhere to patience and prayers; if you are the wronged party, the Lord God will help and support you and punish your mother-in-law. "Your Lord is on the lookout." (89:14)

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About the Quranic Verse 59:9

Published in February 5, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … You have mentioned in your writings that some Quranic verses repeat, explain, and clarify other Quranic verses; what are the ones containing the same meaning we find in this verse: "And those who, before them, had settled in the homeland, and had accepted faith. They love those who emigrated to them, and find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. They give them priority over themselves, even if they themselves are needy. Whoever is protected from his natural greed-it is they who are the successful." (59:9)? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 We are to give the needy from things/food/money we love and not from the waste or things to be thrown; this is a higher degree of piety; this is part of altruism; the lesser degree is to give away from the surplus. Both degrees differentiate the Forerunners from those on the Right, mentioned in the Quranic Chapter 56 as the two groups of Paradise dwellers. The verses that explain/reflect the meanings of 59:9 are the following: "Righteousness does not consist of turning your faces towards the East and the West. But righteous is he who believes in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Book, and the prophets. Who gives money, though dear, to near relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the homeless, and the beggars, and for the freeing of slaves; those who perform the prayers, and pay the obligatory charity, and fulfill their promise when they promise, and patiently persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and in the time of conflict. These are the sincere; these are the pious." (2:177); "You will not attain virtuous conduct until you give of what you cherish. Whatever you give away, God is aware of it." (3:92); "And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive." (76:8); "...And they ask you about what they should give: say, "The surplus."..." (2:219).

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The Writing Style of Al-Jahiz

Published in February 5, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …  I'm currently reading the 19-volume book titled Book of Animals by Al-Jahiz (776 – 868 A.D. / 160 – 255 A.H.), and I've noticed that you admire his style of writing; this is why I'd like you to explain this passage from his book to me: (..................). … Thank you …      

Answer:

 You can explain this passage for yourself while bearing in mind that every era has its own sets of terminology and so are the books of the Sunnite, Shiite, and Sufi religions, and this is not to mention sets of terminology for each philosopher and thinker; Al-Jahiz was among the Al-Mu'tazala thinkers, as you know. Of course, there are different sets of terminology and styles in books by historians, from Al-Tabari of the 3^rd century A.H. to Ibn Eyas in the 10^th century A.H., and books of 'interpreters' of the Quran whose exegeses and commentaries differ in every era; e.g., eras of the Abbasids, Mamelukes, and Ottomans. This rule applies to lexicons and dictionaries of the Arab tongue. The Arabic style of the Quran is unique and no dictionaries are to be used to understand the Quranic terms. As a researcher, you must get to know the terms/expressions used repeatedly and frequently by the brilliant author Al-Jahiz and you will see how he has explained them between the lines; his style as a wit and a philosopher contains digressions and elaborate explanation of philosophical ideas within eloquent usage of the Arabic tongue. This is in contrast to the ignoramus and the inveterate liar, Al-Bokhary, who fabricated thousands of hadiths/myths and ascribed them to Muhammad two centuries after his death in order to undermine both Muhammad and Islam. the style of Al-Bokhary (who was of Persian origin) reflects his contradictions, his lies, his deep-seated hatred of the Quran, and his lack of eloquence.      

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Revelations of Satan

Published in February 6, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Actually, I do believe in few hadiths, esp. the one narrated by.............about Prophet Muhammad saying to those companions around him that all Muslims will enter into Paradise in the Hereafter even if they committed theft and adultery and drank wine, provided that they utter sincerely that there is no God but Allah .......... What do you think? … Thank you …      

Answer:

  We think that (1) believing in any hadiths is sheer polytheism and utter blasphemy and (2) this devilish hadith contradicts the Quran and urges people to commit grave sins; all hadiths sans exception are part of the revelations of Satan. 

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About the Quranic Verses 15:90-91

Published in February 6, 2018

Question:  … Dear Sir, … Would you explain these verses to me: "Just as We sent down to the separatists. Those who made the Quran seem contradictory." (15:90-91)? … Thank you …        

Answer:

 The verses 15:90-91 refer to those (in all eras) who seek to undermine and cast doubt on the Quranic verses by separating or decontextualizing parts of verses to 'prove' that they contradict one another. The Lord God refutes and warns them beforehand: "But those who strive against Our Verses - these are the inmates of Hell." (22:51); "As for those who strive against Our Verses, seeking to undermine them - for them is a punishment of a painful plague." (34:5); "But those who work against Our Verses, seeking to undermine them-those will be summoned to the torment." (34:38); "An Arabic Quran, without any defect, so they may become righteous." (39:28); "Do they not ponder the Quran? Had it been from any other than God, they would have found in it much discrepancy." (4:82); "Those who reject the Reminder when it has come to them - it is an invincible Book. Falsehood cannot approach it, from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praiseworthy." (41:41-42). Of course, the verses 15:90-91 apply to imams/clergymen of the Muhammadans, past and present, as they have failed the test of life by rejecting the Bounty of the Lord God: the Quran itself: "Have you not seen those who exchanged the Bounty of God with disbelief, and landed their people into the house of perdition? Hell - they will roast in it. What a miserable settlement. And they set up rivals to God, in order to lead away from His Path. Say, "Enjoy yourselves; your destination is the Fire."" (14:28-30); "We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers, but it increases the wrongdoers only in loss." (17:82). The difference between those rejecters and those who gain/seek Quranic knowledge is mentioned here: "It is He who revealed to you the Book. Some of its verses are definitive; they are the foundation of the Book, and others are similar. As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow the similar part, seeking dissent, and seeking to derive an interpretation. But none knows its interpretation except God and those firmly rooted in knowledge say, "We believe in it; all is from our Lord." But none recollects except those with understanding." (3:7).    

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Trade during Pilgrimage

Published in February 6, 2018

Question:  … Dear Sir, … Is it OK that pilgrims in Mecca would engage in trade during the pilgrimage season? What do you think? … Thank you …      

Answer:

 Yes; this is OK; the Kaaba is located in a mountainous area with no plants or vegetation; the Lord God provides the water of the Zamzam well, for centuries till now, for pilgrims in Mecca. People must buy, sell, consume, and slaughter sacrificial animals there; fruits and merchandise come to Mecca from all over the world. "The Hajj is during specific months..." (2:197); of course, these months are Zu Al-Hijja, Muharram , Saffar, and Rabei Awwal. Abraham said the following: ""Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley of no vegetation, by Your Sacred House, our Lord, so that they may perform the prayers. So make the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with fruits, that they may be thankful."" (14:37). This is about the Kaaba in Mecca and cattle sacrificed there: "...Did We not establish for them a Safe Sanctuary, to which are brought all kinds of fruits, as provision from Ourselves? But most of them do not know." (28:57); "And the livestock - He created them for you. In them are warmth and benefits for you, and of them you eat." (16:5); "And there is a lesson for you in livestock: We give you to drink from what is in their bellies, and you have many benefits in them, and from them you eat." (23:21); "God is He who created the domestic animals for you - some for you to ride, and some you eat. And in them you have other benefits as well, and through them you satisfy your needs. And on them, and on the ships, you are transported." (40:79-80); "Have they not seen that We created for them, of Our Handiwork, livestock that they own? And We subdued them for them. Some they ride, and some they eat. And they have in them other benefits, and drinks. Will they not give thanks?" (36:71-73); "And announce the pilgrimage to humanity...That they may witness the benefits for themselves, and celebrate the name of God during the appointed days, for providing them with the animal livestock. So eat from it, and feed the unfortunate poor." (22:27-28).  

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Applying Penalties

Published in February 7, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … You assert in your writings that a Quran-based, secular State includes direct democracy; how will this State (if it comes into being one day) apply penalties, then? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 Penalties mentioned in the Quran are linked to rights of society; they are dropped and not applied in case the sinners (e.g., thieves and fornicators) repent in public and such repentance is approved by the judicial authority in the Quran-based, secular State; see 24:2-5, 5:38-39, and 5:33-34. Of course, no one should judge/punish anyone for their religious practices or views; this is judged ONLY by the Lord God on the Last Day. Repentance which is sincere (and followed by many good deeds within monotheism) is judged by the Lord God Who will accept it and make the repentant one enter into Paradise instead of Hell; insincere repentance is punishable in Hell for eternity as it is never accepted by the Lord God in case the person dies without real, sincere repentance. Of course, repentance entails many acts of worship within piety and also means peaceful behavior towards all people. Sadly, most people focus on this transient world and forget about the Hereafter.   

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About the Quranic verses 75:34-35

Published in February 7, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is meant by this Quranic context: "Do what is better for you. Then again, do what is better for you." (75:34-35)? … Thank you …     

Answer:

 This means that one should choose better deeds within piety instead of being filled with arrogant rejection of the Hereafter: "To your Lord on that Day is the drive. He neither believed nor prayed.But he denied and turned away. Then he went to his family, full of pride. Do what is better for you. Then again, do what is better for you." (75:31-35). This meaning is asserted within another Quranic context: "Obedience and upright speech. Then, when the matter is settled, being true to God would have been better for them." (47:21).

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The Israelites and Apis the Pharaonic god

Published in February 8, 2018

Question: …  Dear Sir, … In your writings, you have mentioned that the Israelites who worshiped a golden calf in Sinai during the exodus were influenced by the Pharaonic religion which included a bull-god named Apis. Yet, as an Iraqi man, I see that in world civilizations, including Mesopotamia, bulls and cows were deified as gods and goddesses; the Israelites might not have necessarily invoked Apis the Pharaonic god, right?  …  Thank you …        

Answer:

 In fact, worshiping calves, cows, and bulls by the pagans is typical of all river-side environments in the ancient world. Cows are still being worshiped in India (among other animals). The Israelites during their exodus never heard of Mesopotamia; they were influenced by the Pharaonic mythology; the pantheon of gods and goddesses of the Ancient Egyptians includes Apis the bull-god. Sadly, this religious reverence (typical of polytheists) for calves, cows, and bulls still continues in some Egyptian villages; i.e., some rich, ignorant farmers would decorate a calf and dedicate it to an entombed saint (e.g., Al-Sayed Al-Badawi in Tanta, a city in the Egyptian Delta of the River Nile), and before the Sufi festival, the calf would be revered and respected until slaughtered at the tomb/mausoleum of the saint during the festival honoring that or this saint. This means that the ways of Satan to misguide and mislead people within polytheism are the same, past and present. There is nothing new under the sun.    

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The French Fiancé of my Daughter

Published in February 8, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … I am an Arab man who lives in France; my daughter is 30 years old and a divorced woman and she has a five-year-old daughter. She dated a divorced French man who has a daughter and a son in his custody. They are engaged now; they love each other dearly and they are to be married soon. Yet, I'm extremely worried; my daughter's fiancé is an atheist, secular person and he (like most French people) drinks wine within most meals, but he is not alcoholic. I fear that my only granddaughter might be reared and grow up as an atheist and not as a Muslim! My daughter's fiancé told her that he respects Islam but he never believes in God! Besides, he told her she is free to raise her daughter as a Muslim, but his children will be raised by him as atheists! The civil marriage contract will be drawn without any type of clergymen, of course...........I want my daughter to be happy and settled in her marriage; I know (and she knows) that her marriage to a non-Muslim is legal within Qurnaism; yet, I'm worried about my granddaughter! Any advice?! … Thank you …

Answer:

 Of course Muslim woman can marry any non-Muslim men (atheists or those who embrace any other religions) who are peaceful; we mean by "peaceful" that he adopts peaceful behavior and is never prejudiced against Islam or employ violence against those who follow other religions. Peaceful demeanor is Islam in terms of behavior; your daughter can marry him and live happily ever after, within mutual love and respect and freedom of religion. May the Lord God grant her every happiness in this world and in the next. Of course, any children (within mariages mixtes and other types of marriage) choose their own religion for themselves when they grow up; please do not worry about your granddaughter.   

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Do not Combine Prayers in a Single Day

Published in February 8, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …  My sister is a doctor and she cannot pray at the hospital where she works all day long for 10 hours until 8:00PM; is it OK if she combines the three missed prayer to be performed at night when she returns home? What is your own opinion? …  Thank you …    

Answer:

 No, she cannot. She should preform prayers in time even while being seated on a chair or a sofa, even after performing Tayammum. If she missed any prayers, she should perform them in their time in the next day; e.g., missing the noon prayers means to perform the prayers next day at noon time along with the noon prayers of this day. All missed prayers within one's lifetime must be performed before one dies; they are like debts that must be settled by the pious ones. Prayers do not take time; they are observed regularly only by the pious, God-fearing believers. 

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Marrying to Obtain the Green Card!

Published in February 9, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is it OK in Islam that I'd marry an American woman so that I get the Green Card? Is such marriage would be deemed valid? My intention is to get the Green Card and legal stay inside the USA. What's your own view? …  Thank you …

Answer:

 This marriage is NOT prohibited since it involves mutual consent, witnesses signing the marriage contract, and paying a dowry for your wife. Intentions do not count as far as laws are concerned; your focus is to make the marriage real, legal, and official. You should make your wife happy and she will make you happy, within mutual love and respect. You are not deceiving anyone here. It is part of your rights to get the Green Card if you marry an American woman; this is OK.

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The Dawn Prayers

Published in February 9, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … I miss the dawn prayers more often than not; I cannot wake up easily at dawn and so are many Muslims like me; in the rare cases when I performed the dawn prayers in time (and not after the sunrise), I overslept later on and arrived late at my workplace, feeling dizzy and in a bad mood! Will the Lord God accept my morning prayers (after the sunrise) performed instead of the dawn prayers? … Thank you …     

Answer:

 Yes, but it is important to focus your attention on attaining piety and concentration during prayers and observing and maintaining piety all day long.

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The Number of Israelites inside Egypt

Published in February 9, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … Would we accept the exaggerated number (mentioned in the Old Testament and also by Jewish historians) of the Israelites inside Egypt during the lifetime of Moses at the time of the exodus?! The Quran mentions that their number was not that big, right? What do you think? … Thank you … 

Answer:

 We never consider Biblical claims as facts at all. The Quran is the Decisive Word and the Criterion and it contains the Absolute Truth. The Israelites were a small faction/group and a minority in Egypt; the Quran quotes words of Moses' Pharaoh about them: "These are a small gang." (26:54).   

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About the Quranic Verses 40:18 and 53:57

Published in February 10, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is meant by the term (imminent) mentioned in the two Quranic verses 40:18 and 53:57?…  Thank you …

Answer:

 The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And warn them of the Imminent Day, when the hearts are at the throats, choking them. The evildoers will have no intimate friend, and no intercessor to be obeyed." (40:18); "The inevitable is imminent. None besides God can unveil it." (53:57-58). This adjective refers to the Day of Judgment which is drawing near but most people are heedless and they ridicule the Day of the Resurrection: "Do you marvel at this discourse? And laugh, and do not weep? Lost in your frivolity?" (53:59-61); "The Humankind's Judgment has drawn near, but they turn away heedlessly." (21:1).

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About the Quranic Verse 3:193

Published in February 10, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … The Lord God says the following in the Quran: ""Our Lord, we have heard acaller calling to the faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins..." (3:1903). My question is as follows: What about those people who never heard a caller calling to the monotheistic faith? As for myself, I believe in monotheism (as per the Quran only) without hearing a caller calling me to anything.........  … Thank you …     

Answer:

 The caller might be preachers of the Quranic Truth; the caller is also the Quranic text itself addressing the minds of people. It is quite impossible that you never heard a caller calling you to faith; you have heard our own call, as a Quranist thinker, on our Quranism website and within our YouTube videos. By the way, the caller may be the innate or inner instinct of monotheism (encoded in one's soul) that made you refuse Sunnite polytheistic myths and embrace Quranism as the Only True Islam; you should repeat the prayers and words in 3:191-194 reverently as you engage into the remembrance of the Lord God as an act of worship.

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My Daughter's Old Fiancé!

Published in February 10, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … My daughter's fiancé is 20 years her senior! I refuse to give my consent to such a marriage! Yet, my daughter loves him very much and she insists on marrying him?! Is such a marriage between this old man and my daughter deemed legal and valid in Islam? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 Yes, it is. Your daughter has the right to choose her husband; it is prohibited in Islam to prevent her marriage; the age of the wife and that of her husband is never part of conditions of legal marriage in Islam; mutual consent is the number-one condition in marriage; the other conditions are the husband paying a dowry to his wife and that the marriage contract must be signed by (at least two) witnesses.

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Polygamy and Inheritance

Published in February 11, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … I disapprove of polygamy! ...... How would the money left by a deceased man who married 3 or 4 women simultaneously be distributed among these wives?! … Thank you …        

Answer:

 Marriage is based on mutual consent; the first wife should agree that her husband would take a second wife and the second wife should agree that the husband retains the first wife. The first wife (when notified prior to her husband's second marriage) can choose divorce, self-repudiation, or to remain with him; it is up to her. Contrary to the deeply rooted idea, there is no limit to the number of wives for one man: he can marry more than 4 women if he likes. What is prohibited is to prevent a woman from marrying the man she chooses. Wives of the deceased man have 1/4 of the money (and this quarter distributed equally among them) if their husband was childless or 1/8 of the money (distributed also equally among them) if their husband had children.