Fatwas Part One-Hundred-and-Eleven

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

About the Quranic Verse 4:119

Published in January 20, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is meant by this Quranic phrase "...I will prompt them to slit the ears of cattle..." (4:119)? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 This verse quotes the words of Satan; the polytheistic Arabs before the advent of the Quran worshiped the Lord God and also their deities/saints in sanctified mausoleums; the Muhammadans commit the same grave sin now. Those Arabs had offerings to give to such mausoleums; these offerings included slaughtered cattle. In the Quran, the Lord God prohibits consumption of any food items (including meat of slaughtered animals) offered at such mausoleums; see 5:3. The Muhammadans until now give food offerings to their saints/mausoleums. "And they allocate, to something they do not know, a share of what We have provided for them. By God, you will be questioned about what you have been inventing." (16:56). In most cases, past and present, clergymen who are the guardians of such mausoleums consume such food items of the offerings; the polytheists assume that their saints/deities consume such food items; see 6:136-129. The Lord God never commands them to do so; see 5:103. The ears of the cattle of such polytheistic offerings given to saints/deities were slit by polytheists to distinguish them from the offerings given to the Lord God. This is the meaning of words of Satan quoted in the verse 4:119.

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Bank Loans Interests

Published in January 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … I'd like to ask you about bank loans interests; are they permissible in Islam or not? Would I be sinful if I receive a much-needed bank loan at high-interest rates?… Thank you …  

Answer:

 You are not sinful if you receive such loans; compound interests are prohibited because they are unjust, but the sin falls on the bank owner(s) and not on the needy persons. In general, all trade deals and transactions within mutual consent are permissible in Islam. For more details, we refer you to our article in English about usury:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=6251

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Days before and after Muhammad's Death

Published in January 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … I desire that you tell me a brief, neutral historical account of the decisive 3 days before Muhammad's death and the 5 days after his death … Thank you …

Answer:

 This is a trivial question which has minor or no importance; there are contradictory accounts about these days you mention; these accounts were written in the Abbasid Era; they are mere lies/myths. History (true or not) is never part of religion. What you ask about has nothing to do with Islam; it will never benefit you within matters of faith/belief. What you are to believe in is the fact that Muhammad has conveyed the entirety of the Lord God's message, the Quran, the Only Source of Islam. Anything written about Muhammad during the Abbasid Era (i.e., about two hundred years after his death) is mere lies which are never part of Islam. We mean books of hadiths, history, fiqh, biographies, interpretation/exegeses, etc. which are ascribed to their authors and NEVER to the great religion of Islam.     

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Downloading PDFs

Published in January 21, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is it wrong or not within Islam to download for free books in PDF form? I need them for my studies, as these books/references are either unavailable or too expensive for me to buy … Thank you …    

Answer:

  Since they are available online for free for everyone, this is OK, as long as no copyrights are infringed; you have to cite them as references in your research papers if you quote lines from them, while thanking the publishers and authors in the written acknowledgment.    

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The Hanbali Authors

Published in January 22, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Within the discussions I held with my teacher, he cursed the Hanbali authors for inventing hadiths without Isnad; would you please inform me with more details about this topic? … Thank you …      

Answer:

 You can read our online book titled "Hanbalism – the Mother of Wahabism – and the Destruction of Iraq in the Second Abbasid Era". Of course, the Hanbali authors are the main inventors of the Sunnite religion and they are its imams/owners who have fabricated its rules, hadiths, fiqh, etc. as per their whims within devilish revelations. The Hanbali authors were known for their imposing their devilish religion on people and putting rejecters of Hanbalism to death as per their silly hadiths about the penalty for 'apostasy'. 

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The Kaaba Is Not a Pagan Idol

Published in January 22, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … You mention in your writings that Islam has no room for sanctifying/deifying mortals and things/stones or items/relics; yet, I do believe that circling around the Kaaba is a pagan ritual of worshiping a building draped in a black cloth; people assume to draw benediction by touching/kissing it along with a black-stone at its corner! … Thank you …      

Answer:

 The pagan practices you mention relate to the Muhammadans and NOT to Islam; we refer you to our book, in English, on pilgrimage (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=90), where we refute the myth of sanctifying the Kaaba. Monotheists never deify things or mortals. The Muhammadans deify/sanctify mausoleums and circle (or circumambulate) them as if they were performing pilgrimage. The Lord God has taught the early believers in Yathreb a lesson by testing them when He commanded them to pray in the Qibla/direction of the Farthest Mosque in Mount Al-Tur, in Sinai, Egypt, temporarily so as to make them stop deifying the Kaaba and to obey the Lord God's commands without questioning them. This was like the test of the angels who prostrated to Adam as per the Lord God's command; Iblis the angel failed the test and was turned into a cursed, outcast jinn: Satan the Devil. In True Islam, people never deify/sanctify the Kaaba; it is a building destroyed and rebuilt several times in the course of history; the black-stone is not 'holy'; it is a mere mark to begin one's circumambulation; it is prohibited during circling around the Kaaba to touch its stones or black drapes. Circling the Kaaba is never a pagan ritual; this is pilgrimage ordained by the Lord God. You are to choose to be among the pious allies of the Lord God who obey the Quranic commands of the Lord God or to be among the impious allies of Satan. Of course, the Lord God will judge all humanity and settle their differences/disputes in religion on the Last Day.       

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Paying Charity-Money to a Drunkard

Published in January 22, 2018

Question:  … Dear Sir, … Is it OK that I pay charity-money for a vagabond in order that he'd buy food (as per my intentions), but he is a drunkard who is addicted to alcohol? What if he use my money to buy alcohol instead of food?! … Thank you …        

Answer:

 You are not responsible for anyone's behavior, (dis)obedience, (dis)belief, or misdeeds; you are to offer charity-money to the needy; it is not your fault if this vagabond would buy alcohol instead of food. You are not responsible for guiding anyone. You must seek only to gratify the Lord God by offering charity-money to the poor and the needy: "Their guidance is not your responsibility, but God guides whoever is willing to be guided. Any charity you give is for your own good. Any charity you give shall be for the sake of God. Any charity you give will be repaid to you in full, and you will not be wronged." (2:272).  

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About the Quranic Verse 23:14

Published in January 23, 2018

Question:  … Dear Sir, …  The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Then We developed the seed into a clot. Then We developed the clot into a lump. Then We developed the lump into bones. Then We clothed the bones with flesh. Then We produced it into another creature. Most Blessed is God, the Best of Creators." (23:14). My questions are as follows: What is meant by "another creature" here? Are there other "creators" apart from the Lord God?! … Thank you …      

Answer:

1- As for your first question, this refers to the breathing of souls into fetuses inside wombs; this is in contrast to animals who have no human souls. Once souls are breathed into the fetuses, it is prohibited to abort them as this is deemed as the crime/sin of murder.

2- As for your second question, creators make/create things from any prior models; in contrast, the Originator is the Lord God who brings to existence things out of nothing; by the way, the human beings tend to create falsehoods: "You worship idols besides God, and you create falsehoods..." (29:17). Human beings create things out of material created/originated by the Lord God: this is why He is the Best of Creators but He is the Only Originator: "Praise be to God, Originator of the heavens and the earth..." (35:1).

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About Zakat, Again!

Published in January 23, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … My merchandise has remained in my shop for more than a year; how can their annual zakat be calculated? What about annual zakat required for any other assets? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 There is nothing called 'annual' zakat for assets/merchandise; this is an invention found only in Sunnite fiqh. As for Islam, zakat is paid any time from the net profits after selling merchandise, and its amount is not fixed; this is left to the decision/estimation of the pious believers who desire to gratify their Lord God. For more details, we refer you to our book on Zakat.

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About Testifying as a Witness

Published in January 23, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …  My good-natured, charitable friend helps the poor and gives them money; some people make use of his generosity; out of fear, my friend never tells his family members about his acts of charity. At one time, he gave a large sum of money to a scoundrel in my presence; this scoundrel demanded more money and he threatened my friend to tell his parents (about his donating large sums of money to the poor) if he dares to refuse him anything! My friend told me that this scoundrel will demand my testifying as a witness (before his family members) that this scoundrel received money from him. My friend asked me to deny anything of the kind and to tell them that I never saw such a thing. This means I have to lie, but this is to avoid the blackmail of a scoundrel and to help a friend. Is this OK?! Or shall I tell the truth no matter what?! What is your own view?  … Thank you …     

Answer:

 Testifying as a witness has but one legislative aim in Islam; namely, to protect the rights of people. If your testifying in that case will cause any harm to your friend, do not testify at all. The Omniscient Lord God does not desire injustice towards the humankind and He will judge all human beings.

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Inheritance in the USA

Published in January 24, 2018

Question: …  Dear Sir, …  Is it OK within Islam that a Muslim man would inherit his late wife as per American laws? I live in the State of Atlanta; my late wife had a son from a previous marriage; as per the laws in Atlanta, I can receive the money of her bank account once I give them her death certificate, as she left no written will before she died. My wife's son is a non-Muslim; when I contacted him several times via email to tell him that as per Islam, he should inherit this money with me, he refused to take any money; he said he is a non-Muslim and that we should abide by the laws of Atlanta! What shall I do now? …  Thank you …        

Answer:

 Of course, American laws are applied where you live; yet, as per Islamic inheritance laws in the Quran, you should receive only 1/4 of the money (after settling debts of the deceased wife) and the rest should be received by her son. Thus, if the son continues to refuse taking the money, you can have all of it since you advised him many times to take his share.      

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About the Elder Brother

Published in January 24, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … Since my elder brother reads a lot on your great website, I should like you to write a word about how the elder brother is like a second father to his younger brothers; he is a role-model respected by everyone. Sadly, a grave misunderstanding had occurred between my elder brother and his younger brothers (including myself!); he does not want to accept their apology! He should know that we take pride in him and that we trust his greatness of mind and that we love and respect him very much; we cannot bear his decision not to speak to us ever again! … Thank you …

Answer:

 Of course, the generous elder brothers who take care of their younger siblings while bearing responsibility for their happiness and welfare are great people who show charity, tolerance, and forgiveness. They are respected and admired by their younger siblings. Good, pious people expect rewards from the Lord God and not from people; they pardon others because they desire that the Lord God would pardon them in the Hereafter: "The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward lies with God. He does not love the unjust ones." (42:40); "But whoever endures patiently and forgives-that is a sign of real resolve." (42:43). From the words of the above message, we assert that the intended elder brother is very much loved, respected, and missed by his younger brothers and they acknowledge his good deeds with them within gratitude; we think he should forgive them and let them have the chance to explain any misunderstanding. May the Lord God bless and reward him. 

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Poisonous Products of Fiqh Authors

Published in January 24, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … Let's suppose that a man had sex with his wife while fasting during Ramadan, what atonement is expected from him in that case? Fiqh books offer contradictory views; some authors assume that such a man should fast for 60 consecutive days! What is your own opinion?! …  Thank you …    

Answer:

 Please do not pay attention or take heed ofthe poisonous products of fiqh authors who rejected the Quran. Spoiling one's fasting day by eating, drinking, or having marital sex entails only to fast for another day (after Ramadan) to replace the missed day.

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Sheikh Kishk!

Published in January 25, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, …  What is your own view of the late Egyptian Sunnite sheikh Kishk whose sermons were very popular (in cassette tapes) and influenced many generations, esp. his sermons which have exposed tyranny?  …  Thank you …

Answer:

 The late sheikh Abdel-Hamid Kishk (1933 - 1996) was a mere vociferous devil or a sonorous phenomenon like the late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser. We mean that both used raised voices and 'grand' speeches to influence the masses and gain popularity. Nasser nationalized Al-Azhar (and all mosques) and media to be at his service. Likewise, sheikh Kishk controlled the masses through his pulpit in his Ain Al-Hayat Mosque by attacking with his sharp tongue and frankness any social, artistic, or economic phenomena and political stances which he disliked. Of course, he was very bold and he was incarcerated at one time; he used his sarcasm to appeal to wider audience by making them laugh. In fact, his jokes spread all over Egypt; this added to his fame. The cassette tapes of his sermons were circulated everywhere inside and outside Egypt. People admired his eloquence and sarcastic tone, and he propagated Wahabi/Sunnite extremist views which have nothing to do with Islam. Sheikh Kishk was an outstanding man within an era of ignoramuses; i.e., furious, serious sheikhs/zealots. Thus, the performance of sheikh Kishk during his sermons was admired by his audience who grew tired of tedious sermons delivered by Azharite sheikhs loyal to the Egyptian State. Sheikh Kishk was a Sunnite preacher who never offered any innovative ideas or any progressive thought; he never tackled the much-needed religious reform; he was a faithful servant of Wahabism.       

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Your Reward Is from the Lord God

Published in January 25, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … What is the reward, from God, for a repentant Muslim man who converted to Quranism because of your great website and managed to convince his foreign wife and one of her three sons to convert to Quranism?  … Thank you …     

Answer:

 Of course, the call to Islam by preaching others about Quranism is an unpaid, voluntary action; those preachers are pious, truthful ones who adhere to piety all the time and perform good deeds and obey the Quran (not to preach it while disobeying it); they never wait for rewards from any mortals. If this case applies to the man you mention in your message, his reward rests only with the Lord God in the Hereafter. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Follow those who ask you of no wage, and are themselves guided." (36:21); "O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? It is most hateful to God that you say what you do not do." (61:2-3); "Do you command people to virtuous conduct, and forget yourselves?..." (2:44); "As for those who believe and lead a righteous life - We will not waste the reward of those who work righteousness" (18:30).

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Murder and Manslaughter

Published in January 26, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir,  … What is the difference, within the Islamic sharia of the Quran, between intentionally killing someone (i.e., premeditated murder) and killing someone by accident (i.e., unintentionally)? … Thank you … 

Answer:

 The Omniscient Lord God will judge intentional good and bad deeds and He knows if a person did something (good or bad) intentionally or accidentally: "Whatever charity you give, or a pledge you fulfill, God knows it. The wrongdoers have no helpers" (2:270); "...There is no blame on you if you err therein, barring what your hearts premeditates. God is Forgiving and Merciful." (33:5). Real believers fear the Lord God within piety; they atone for their sins (e.g., they pay diyya money) so that they may be forgiven by their Omniscient Lord God: "He knows the deceptions of the eyes, and what the hearts conceal." (40:19); "And man will be evidence against himself. Even as he presents his excuses." (75:14-15). Thus, even if the man who committed manslaughter or murder got away with it and the man-made laws will not be applied to him for lack of evidence, he should atone for his sin and pay diyya money to the family of the victim.    

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A Question of Inheritance

Published in January 26, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … A wealthy woman died; she had no husband or children; her parents died many years ago; she is survived by her sister and paternal and maternal aunts and uncles; how should the money left by her be divided among the inheritors? …  Thank you …

Answer:

 The sister should receive one-half of the inheritance money; the rest is to be divided among the paternal and maternal aunts and uncles as per this Quranic rule: "...The male receives the equivalent of the share of two females..." (4:11).

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About TheQuranic verse 35:32

Published in January 27, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Then We passed the Book to those of Our servants whom We chose. Some of them wrong their souls, and some follow a middle course, and some are in the foremost in good deeds by God's leave; that is the greatest blessing." (35:32). I'd like you to explain 35:32 to me in relation to those who deserve the Lord God's mercy … Thank you …    

Answer:

 You should have found the answer to your question in our book, in English, titled "Torment and Torture within a Quranist Vision", found on this link: (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=136). Yet, we quote the following lines from this book to provide you with the answer.

1- Of course, all human beings in all eras vary in their reactions to God's call to repent and to compete in good deeds and monotheistic faith; there are (1) those sinners and disobedient ones, (2) those who repent and reform their faith and perform good deeds, and (3) those Forerunners who are nearer to Almighty God than anyone else as they performed so many good deeds within monotheism for most of their lives.

2- This division into three groups applies to the People of the Book, as they are not the same in terms of faith and deeds: "...Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners." (3:110); "...Among them is a moderate community, but evil is what many of them are doing." (5:66); "They are not alike. Among the People of the Book is a community that is upright; they recite God's revelations throughout the night, and they prostrate themselves. They believe in God and the Last Day, and advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and are quick to do good deeds. These are among the righteous. Whatever good they do, they will not be denied it. God knows the righteous." (3:113-115).

3- This division into three groups applies to the Quran-believing people, as they are not the same in terms of faith and deeds: "Then We passed the Book to those of Our servants whom We chose. Some of them wrong their souls, and some follow a middle course, and some are in the foremost in good deeds by God's leave; that is the greatest blessing." (35:32).

4- This division into three groups applies to all dying persons in all eras and locations: good people who are allies of God (who are of two types: those on the Right and the Forerunners who excelled more than those on the Right) and the losers who are allies of Satan. God says in the Quran: "So when it has reached the throat. As you are looking on. We are nearer to it than you are, but you do not see. If you are not held to account. Then bring it back, if you are truthful. But if he is one of those brought near. Then happiness, and flowers, and Garden of Delights. And if he is one of those on the Right. Then, "Peace upon you," from those on the Right. But if he is one of the deniers, the mistaken. Then a welcome of Inferno. And burning in Hell. This is the certain Truth. So glorify the Name of your Lord the Great." (56:83-94).

5- This division into three groups applies to all human beings on the Day of Resurrection: "Those on the Right - what of those on the Right? And those on the Left - what of those on the Left? And the Forerunners, the Forerunners. Those are the nearest." (56:8-11).

6- Hence, we assert here that the Lord God is never biased for any human group(s) in particular: all human beings are tested and judged within equality and justice, regardless of labels or banners: Sabians, the People of the Book (i.e., Jews/Israelites and Christians), Quranists, etc. Thus, any human beings who believe in God within monotheism and perform good deeds will be among the allies of God in the Hereafter who never fear grieved or afraid on the Last Day and will attain God' mercy; this fact is asserted in the Quran many times: "Those who believe, and those who are Jewish, and the Christians, and the Sabians - any who believe in God and the Last Day, and act righteously - will have their reward with their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve." (2:62); "Those who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians-whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and does what is right-they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve." (5:69).

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Supplications Using Muhammad's Name!

Published in January 27, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … In their mosques, the Muhammadans typically begin and end their sermons by praising and invoking Prophet Muhammad in their supplications; they claim that the Lord God will never accept their supplications/prayers unless they praise Prophet Muhammad that way. What is your own view of this? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 This is sheer polytheism typical of terrestrial/earthly religions which deify mortals, and the polytheists supplicate to them. The Muhammadans assume wrongly that Muhammad is an immortal deity who exists somewhere (after his death) besides Allah and that God will answer their prayers/supplications only if they seek the intercession of Muhammad as a mediator or a lesser god alongside with Allah. Thus, the polytheistic Muhammadans disregard and reject these verses: "Say, "I fear, should I defy my Lord, the torment of a tremendous Day."" (6:15); "...I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a terrible Day." (10:15); "Say, "I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a horrendous Day."" (39:13). The Muhammadans tend to forget the fact that Muhammad never deified himself and that he worshiped and supplicated only to the Lord God; he will be judged on the Last Day like the rest of all human beings.

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The Houses of the Lord God

Published in January 27, 2018

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is the meaning of this Quranic phrase: "In houses which God has permitted to be raised, and His name is celebrated therein..." (24:36)? … Thank you …        

Answer:

 These houses of the Lord God are the ones that mention, glorify, and praise His Holy Name only without the names of any deified mortals. Prayers of monotheists inside these houses of worship are dedicated only to the Lord God. This is how all houses of worship of monotheists should be raised: "Whoever desires honor - all honor belongs to God. To Him ascends speech that is pure, and He elevates righteous conduct..." (35:10).