Fatwas Part Fifty-Seven

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

Moses' Pharaoh's People

Published in October 3, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Does the drowning of Moses' Pharaoh's people means the whole Egyptians at the time, or the royal family members, retinue members, viziers, troops, and soldiers only?! …Thank you …    

Answer:

 You are wrong to assume that the whole of the Egyptians were drowned along with Moses' Pharaoh. Those who drowned with him were his deep-state members: the government, masters, henchmen, retinue members, superiors, viziers, troops, etc., while Egyptian workers and peasants and the oppressed, weak, poor ones remained behind in the Nile Valley, within the lush gardens and fertile plantations that were still there; see 44:25-28.    

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The Right of Divorced Men to See their Child(ren)

Published in October 3, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … Do the divorced women have the right to prevent their ex-husbands from ever seeing their child(ren) as a way of revenge for their not spending money on them (i.e., alimony)? Or that way, they would be committing a sin, though the ex-husbands are sinners as well for being stingy in such cases? … What do you think? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 The divorced women have no right to do so; in fact, by committing this grave mistake, they are committing injustices against the child(ren) and the fathers as well as the mothers themselves. God does NOT love the unjust ones; it is never proper to take revenge from ex-husbands by hurting and harming the child(ren). 

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Wearing Niqab during Pilgrimage!

Published in October 3, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … Excuse me, but I am a Saudi unmarried woman who has been forced to wear niqab, and I have performed Umrah pilgrimage several times while wearing this niqab that I hate, but I heard that my face should have been uncovered and it must be uncovered when I would perform Hajj pilgrimage one day; I fear that my folks won’t hear of me showing my face during Hajj, but I fear God more; would wearing niqab spoil my Hajj pilgrimage? What about the previous Umrah pilgrimage I performed?! Are they deemed acceptable to God?! I hated the way I performed Umrah while wearing niqab and could not see things around me except with difficulty. I intend one day to get rid of the cursed niqab once I live as an independent woman, but I am afraid that I might die without performing Hajj; am I to submit to my folks' will of iron an wear niqab inside the Kaaba Mosque?! What do you think?  … Thank you …

Answer:

 We have written a lot about the fact that wearing niqab (or anything to cover the faces) as if it were part of religion is absolutely forbidden in Islam; we refer you to our YouTube subtitled-into-English episodes of our show titled "Exposing Salafism", especially episodes about dress codes for women in Islam and to both of our articles in English: (http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=5892  /http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=15859). Hence, it is forbidden to wear niqab when a woman performs any acts of worship, not just pilgrimage. As for your case, God will not be angry with you because you are forced by your folks who control your life now; God judges only those who intentionally sin and commit violations. Being forced to wear niqab that you reject does not make you guilty before the eyes of our Lord. We encourage you to fulfill the promise you have made to yourself to get rid of niqab/veil as soon as you get independent; God bless and protect you.   

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Their Contradicting the Quran!

Published in October 4, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is there a difference between performing Friday noon prayers at home and inside mosques?! I can no longer bear to attend the congregational prayers at mosques, where they deify and sanctify Muhammad in their sermons and deliberately misinterpreting Quranic verses and contradicting them by hadiths! When I perform Friday noon prayers alone at home, shall I perform two or four Raqas? I cannot bear to hear sermons of hate that cause me to feel that I am about to vomit! … Thank you …    

Answer:

 It is OK to perform noon prayers on Friday alone at your home as four Raqas, and within all prayers, you must perform them in piety and in the fear of our Lord God, while retaining piety in between every two prayers all day long (and therefore all your lifetime, as much as you can). Of course, we personally prefer to perform the Friday noon prayers at home instead of entering harmful mosques that insult and contradict Quranic verses of God; we thus avoid the sin of sitting with those who insult the Quran.

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What Is Islam, Again!

Published in October 4, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Your detailed writings confuse me a little; I'm no great reader myself … Please tell me briefly about the meaning of Islam … Thank you …      

Answer:

 There are two levels of the application of the meaning of Islam: 1) adopting peaceful behavior when dealing with people, and 2) adhering to monotheistic faith and acts of worship in relation to Allah. This means that all peaceful ones are Muslims regardless of their faiths/beliefs; this applies to peaceful hypocrites in the Yathreb city-state of Muhammad; they never raise arms against believers but they disbelieved in the Quran, and as citizens, they practiced their religious and political freedom by peaceful opposition. The greetings of Islam is (Peace be with you), as per this verse: "When those who believe in Our verses come to you, say, "Peace be with you..." (6:54). This means that peace is the soul of Islam, when dealing with believers and non-believers. Even Abraham said the word of peace to his disbelieving father: "He said, "Peace be with you. I will ask my Lord to forgive you; He has been Kind to me." (19:47). When the ignorant ones verbally abuse you, you must respond with the word of peace: "The servants of the Merciful are those who walk the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace."" (25:63). When believers hear insults to religion or to the Quran, one is to move away in peace and respect the religious freedom of others: "And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it, and say, "We have our deeds, and you have your deeds; peace be upon you; we do not desire the ignorant."" (28:55). We are to pardon those who insult our religion and link this to peace: "As for his statement: "My Lord, these are a people who do not believe." Pardon them, and say, "Peace." They will come to know." (43:88-89). Even soldiers of the enemies' troops must be protected if they utter the word of peace: "O you who believe! When you journey in the way of God, investigate, and do not say to him who offers you peace, "You are not a believer,"..." (4:94). People are to judge overt, ostentatious behavior as peaceful or violent; yet, we are not to judge others' faith inside their hearts. Overt peaceful demeanor (i.e., Islam) is the basis of citizenship and marriage and other rights. Violence and aggressions render their perpetrators as disbelievers until they repent and make amends after stopping their aggression. As for Islam in terms of monotheism inside one's heart, it is ONLY for the Omniscient God to judge on the Last Day; God has made Muhammad say the following to declare the meaning of monotheism: "Say, "My prayer and my worship, and my life and my death, are devoted to God, the Lord of the Worlds. No associate has He. Thus I am commanded, and I am the first of those who submit. Say, "Am I to seek a Lord other than God, when He is the Lord of all things?"..." (6:162-164). We are not to interfere in the relation between people and God by imposing on them anything or judging their faiths, so as to avoid the sin of self-deification typical of those sinners engaged in religious inquisition. This is why religious freedom in Islam is absolute. "And say to those who do not believe, "Act according to your ability; and so will we.""And wait; we too are waiting."" (11:121-122). 

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Our Website Is a Storage Space!

Published in October 5, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Though your great website contains countless useful articles written by you and others, but your search engine does NOT work all the time, and the archive is not organized enough for easy access; is there any remedy to this? Newcomers need the ease of researching through the only Quranism website within cyberspace …Thank you …   

Answer:

 We regret today that our website is like a huge storing space but disorganized; it contains unprecedented articles and books on history of the Muhammadans (and their earthly man-made religions) and about real Islam. Many other Quranist writers of our website have contributed many insightful articles (in Arabic and in English) that we admire. Yet, we are impecunious and cannot develop our website in a way that entail lots of money we do not have. We wish we could organize articles and fatwas thematically; yet, our only hope now is to maintain the existence of the website itself. Some people helped us financially and otherwise for a while, but we have no one now to help us. May God come to our aid; He never burdens a soul beyond its capacity.    

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The Hour in the Quran

Published in October 5, 2017

Question:  … Dear Sir, … The term (the Hour) is used to refer to the coming of the Last Day and sometimes in the sense of a brief space of time (an hour)… How must I differentiate between the two senses/levels of meanings? …Thank you …         

Answer:

 You are to differentiate between both meanings as per the context; both are mentioned in this verse: "On the Day when the Hour takes place, the sinners will swear they had stayed but an hour. Thus they were deluded." (30:55). And the meaning of the commencement of the Last Day is mentioned here: "They ask you about the Hour, "When will it take place?"" (79:42), but the meaning of the brief   duration of time in this world is mentioned here: "So be patient, as the messengers with resolve were patient, and do not be hasty regarding them. On the Day when they witness what they are promised, it will seem as if they had lasted only for an hour of a day. A proclamation: Will any be destroyed except the sinful people?" (46:35); "On the Day when He rounds them up-as if they had tarried only one hour of a day-they will recognize one another. Those who denied the meeting with God will be the losers. They were not guided." (10:45).

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Registering Marriages

Published in October 5, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Is it obligatory in Islam to register marriage contracts formally within the country in which the couple lives? Are witnesses who sign the marriage contract could be only two persons of any of the either sex? I mean two women, a man and a woman? Or witnesses must be only men? Are virgin women to be married via their fathers or male seniors in their families? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 Witnesses who sign the marriage contracts do NOT have to be men; they can be women of course. At least, two witnesses are to sign the contracts. The idea of a father or senior males is not important; virgin women can marry alone away from their families if they like, as the consent of their families is of no importance in relation to the validity of the marriage. Of course, formal registration of the contracts is of vital importance to protect rights of wives and any possible children who may be born. Dowries must be paid by husbands to their wives within mutual consent. Any conditions stipulated by both spouses in the contracts (within mutual consent) signed by witnesses must be a duty abided by and imposed on both spouses.   

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Progeny in Paradise

Published in October 6, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Hoe come that one's progeny would enter into Paradise with their parents a per 52:21? What if this progeny is sinful?! … Thank you …   

Answer:

 God says in the Quran: "Those who believed, and their offspring followed them in faith-We will unite them with their offspring, and We will not deprive them of any of their works. Every person is hostage to what he has earned." (52:21). This means if one will enter Paradise, his/her progeny will enter it ONLY if they deserve it (as per faith and deeds). Of course, if a sinful person deserve Hell, this person will not join their parents in Paradise. No parents could intercede on behalf of their children, and no children could intercede on behalf of their parents.

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Caring for an Orphan

Published in October 6, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … Since I'm a widower and a school headmaster, I've raised my children with firmness and kindness, and they have grown to be successful people in whom I take pride … when my brother died, I married his widow to take care for his only son, orphaned now. But I cannot raise it the way I did with my children, because his mother pampered him way too much; whenever I am being firm with him, his mother would scream at me to have mercy with this orphan. Of course, I love my late brother's son and I desire to raise him in the best way possible; I never beat him, but I cannot be firm with him or punish him the way I did with my own children, because his mother pampers his and bring him everything he asks for, and she  never allow me to interfere in his upbringing! I feel I am not able to raise him in the proper way, and this is my responsibility! I fear for his future after my death! This pampered son of hers verbally abuse his own mother! He never respects me either! God tell us to treat orphans kindly: "Therefore, do not mistreat the orphan." (93:9). But how am I going to correct his misbehavior?! Any advice? … Thank you …      

Answer:

 Orphans are those who have not yet come to legal age (i.e., the age of marriage), when they come of age, they are no longer orphans. You are right to be firm sometimes with your late brother's son. Of course, all orphans (even rich ones) need kindness and gentleness, as they need tender, loving care and protection. Prophet Muhammad was an orphan himself and God has told him: "Therefore, do not mistreat the orphan." (93:9). This command is addressed to all believers, of course. When Muhammad was asked about the orphans, he typically waited till the answer has been revealed in the Quran: "...And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you intermix with them, then they are your brethren." God knows the dishonest from the honest..." (2:220). You are responsible for correcting the behavior of your late brother's son; you should mix firmness with gentleness the way you did with your own children. Discuss matters with your wife (his mother) in private, when the son is not present, and explain your intentions to her and she must help and cooperate with you for the benefit of her own son. You must reward and punish this son when necessary; try to remove the distance between you and him; make him trust you and to stop sticking to his mother like small children. This son must feel how you love him and care for him after his father's death. Thus, reforming his behavior would be possible.  

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Shortened Lifetime Duration

Published in October 7, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … I have enjoyed Episode No. 122 of your great YouTube show titled "Quranic Moments" subtitled into English  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsDdN8pf27I), but may I ask what is the meaning of shortened life in the verse 35:11? … Thank you …        

Answer:

God says in the Quran: "God created you from dust, then from a small drop; then He made you pairs. No female conceives, or delivers, except with His knowledge. No living thing advances in years, or its life is shortened, except it be in a Record. That is surely easy for God." (35:11). This shortening simply refers to the fact that the countdown for one's death begins once one was born, since the time, place, and way of death of each of us are predetermined by God before we are born. Each minute of our life are recorded in our book of deeds which is closed once one dies.

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Do Not Feel Sad Because of Them

Published in October 7, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir,  … I am very sad because I failed miserably to win any person to Quranism that I preach in the city where I live! I do not know what could be the most effective way to convince them that Quranism is true Islam! Arguing and debating with them made me nearly lose my mind! They only ridicule my views and my refutations of Sunnite hadiths and silly fatwas, and they take me merely for a silly man who might be on the verge of madness! Whenever I reread your great books and articles, I fear very much for their sake, as they do not realize that they are polytheistic Muhammadans and never Muslims! They do not seem to realize at all that they deify mortals (Prophet Muhammad, caliphs, imams, etc. ). I suffer insomnia and depression! I’d like to ask you if you read the books of the thinker named.... and what your view is about these books … Thank you …

Answer:

 We never read anything to the 'thinker' you mention. Do not feel sad or depressed; you are not responsible for guiding anyone at all and please do not care for them if they reject Quranism, for you have no control over them; it is enough that you have reminded them with the Quranic Truth they reject. It is enough for you to spread the links of our website articles and videos within cyberspace if you are keen on preaching Quranism. If you insist on talking to others face to face, it is enough to remind them briefly with these facts: (1) verses about the Quran as the only discourse to believe in within Islam (7:185, 45:6, and 77:49-50) and that Islam is perfected only in the Quran as per 5:3. (2) hadiths were written in the Abbasid Era 200 years after Muhammad's death; thus, they were falsehoods never known to companions and the four pre-Umayyad caliphs.

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With the Real Value

Published in October 8, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … In 1987, I lent my brother the total sum of LE 20.000, and he kept procrastinating and never paid this sum back to me until now, but recently, he decided to repay me, but I demanded an interest rate because the value of the Egyptian pound has changed now in comparison to its value in 1987; but he accused me of trying to impose usury on him! What do you think?  … Thank you …    

Answer:

 Of course, it is unfair and unjust to give you the same sum after the value of the LE has been lowered; he must pay you pas per the price of the gold cover for the LE in 1987.

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Investment within Mutual Consent

Published in October 8, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … What is your view of investments using Forex and buying shares via the internet? Is that deemed usury or not? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 It is OK and never prohibited since such dealings are done like trade within mutual consent of all parties involved.

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Saluting the Flag of One's Country 

Published in October 8, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Some Sunnite Salafists assert in a fatwa that saluting the national flag is prohibited as an act against Islam! How could you refute such nonsense of theirs? … Thank you …      

Answer:

 This is not prohibited at all since this salutation of the flag of one's country does NOT involve deifying or sanctifying the flag in the religious sense. The prohibited sanctification/deification to inanimate items (tombs, relics, icons, etc.) is to seek their aid and worship them reverently as part of one's faith tenets, as if one were praying to God. This sin of disbelief/polytheism is committed by Muhammadans at their 'holy' mausoleums. This does NOT apply to the case of saluting the flag of one's homeland.  

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Pigs Again!

Published in October 9, 2017

Question: … Dear Sir, … Was the flesh of pig prohibited in scriptures before the Quran as well? If not, why did the ancient people consume it? … Thank you for your time to answer my question … 

Answer:

 The prohibition of the consumption of the flesh of pigs is part of the religion of Abraham; even Jews still abide by this rule, but their sin is to prohibit more food items for no reason at all (e.g., shrimps). In contrast, Christians, past and present (and in the East and in the Europe), have never applied any rules concerning prohibited food items.

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Various Questions

Published in October 9, 2017

Question: …  Dear Sir, … Thank you for guiding me to real Islam; I adhere now to the Quranic Truth and have rejected my previous Sunnite religion of Satan. My questions are as follows: how could one be sure that one applies the Quran in one's life? For instance, if we to pardon those who trespass against us, would this not encourage them to wrong us the more?! Is it enough when one commits a small sin or mistake to ask God's pardon and glorify His Name and that's it?! what is atonement? Are we to glorify God in loud or low voices? How am I to preach and proselytize Quranism in the right way? … Thank you …

Answer:

 Your questions show that you have not pondered deeply enough within our archive of writings that you have read; be more cultured within Qurnaism by watching all our YouTube videos and share links to them and links of our articles and books within cyberspace to fulfill your role in offering to others the path of guidance. Do not debate or argue with others. In case of sinning, one is to repent sincerely and to be bent on never to return to this or that sin ever again; one is to pay zakat/alms/charity in piety and in the fear of our Lord, while imploring Him for forgiveness. One is to keep beseeching the Lord while praying to seek His forgiveness with sincerity; it is not important to do this alone or along with others in congregations. Glorify the Lord in reverent, lower voice, NEVER in a loud voice that show disrespect. If you repay the wrong done to you by wronging the person in the same way as an act of retribution, this is justice; yet, what is preferred in the Quran is to pardon (within kindness and charity) the one who wronged you while expecting rewards from our Lord God.   

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Not An Error of Ours!

Published in June 20, 2013

Question: …  Dear Sir, … I tend to think that your understanding of the Quranic verse 25:30 is wrong and a grave error; I think this verse refers only to contemporaries of the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia and not to all Quran-believing people in all eras … What do you think of my view? … Thank you …    

Answer:

 We have not made an error here as they assume. When God says in the Quran: "And the Messenger will say, "My Lord, my people have abandoned this Quran."" (25:30), it is OK to think that this applies to Muhammad's contemporaries, but this view does NOT contradict our view that this verse applies to Muhammadans past and present; the Quranic verses serve as warnings and reminders for all people in in all eras. It is logical to think that followers of Al-Bokhary book and other books of hadiths as rejecters of the Quran who have abandoned it; they will be foes of Muhammad on the Last Day. We hope to be among the witnesses who testify against these foes on the Last Day. We refer you to our writings on that topic; please reread them while pondering and reflecting deeper on this topic. Quranists have been persecuted because they peacefully call others to use the Quran as the only criterion within all religious issues to apply reform. Those who reject the Quran to adhere to other books are sinners.   

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Marrying a Female Child!

Published in April 14, 2011

Question: … Dear Sir, … Some Sunnite Salafists assume that the verse 65:4 (in reference to those who have NOT menstruated) allow implicitly that a man can marry a female child who has not attained puberty! This silly view is wrong of course, but how could you refute it as per Quranism? … Thank you …  

Answer:

 God says in the Quran: "As for those of your women who have reached menopause, if you have any doubts, their term shall be three months-and also for those who have not menstruated..." (65:4). The context is linked only to the three-month term or period after the divorce or death of a wife's husband so that they can remarry. Thus, those who have not menstruated in 65:4 are either old women who reached menopause or they are ill for some reason and never menstruate though they are young women. There is NOT any reference to female children here at all; Sunnite Salafists misinterpret the Quran deliberately to serve their carnal lusts and appetites to rape female children within illegal marriage contracts. In most Arab countries, no females can marry below the age of 18.    

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Not Impure

Published in June 30, 2013

Question: … Dear Sir, … Are dogs and pigs impure animals in Islam? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 Of course not; such silly Talmudic ideas are never part of Islam. It is Ok to keep, raise, buy, sell, and touch pigs and dogs. There are no impure animals in Islam. The only thing to bear in mind is not to consume flesh of pigs. The figurative impurity is polytheism. As for physical impurity after urinating and defecating, one cleans oneself ordinarily with water; this is an act by all civilized human beings and we do not need to be taught that by religion. We perform ablution before prayers, and males cannot pray after ejaculating semen unless they perform complete ablution (i.e., to take a shower).