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Answers |
Day Four
Question:
What does the word 'Hajj' actually mean?
Response:
The Word Hajj is the verbal noun of the verb Hajja which means to go to,
repair to, betake oneself to. From the same root comes the word mahajjah,
which is the straight path. The verb as well as the verbal noun is seldom
used for any travel except that of the pilgrimage to Mecca. Even the ordinary,
non-ritual travel to Mecca is not called Hajj though it can be so described literally.
In Arabic if you say I made hajj to my friend it means that you frequently visited him.
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Question:
Dear Dr Badawi,
I am a young muslim who would like have your view's on the possible war on Iraq and the war on terorism.
There are many "fanatics" who say that - for example "the shuttle disaster was an act of Allah to punish
the west" and that the current war on terorism is a war against Islam ; and who relate certain incidents
to Allah's form of punishment. Can these people be called "true" muslims? And what do you think about
their attempts at linking disasters with acts of Allah? - your comments are much appreciated, thankyou!
Response:
A war in Iraq would be a catastrophe. The whole world would face an
economic crisis affecting most severely the most vulnerable countries
of the third world. Thousands of innocent Iraqis would become 'collateral
damage', the euphemistic term for killed and injured. No one is certain
about the warriors' aim; is it regime change, which appears to violate
international law, or the ensuring of Iraq's disarmament, which could
be done adequately with sufficient number of inspectors.
The war party changes their arguments daily without being able to
convince anyone except those already in the war group. This is unnecessary
war and those concerned for democracy and the human rights of Iraqis
or Arabs or Muslims should encourage the growth of civil society and
withdraw support from regimes that violate human rights.
There is a fear in the West that allowing the people to govern themselves
might bring forth regimes not subservient to the will of the powerful
protector or it might even allow Islamists to take over who might
be just as disobedient. But the future of the area depends on negotiated
deals to secure for the local people a share in their resources and
freedom to decide their own destiny. The latest development in Turkey
should finally persuade the doubters that the Islamic parties given
responsibility would discharge it with commonsense and realism.
As for the war on terrorism I think it is a misnomer. There are no
armies facing each other to warrant this emotive expression. Those
who may be involved in terrorist activities worldwide cannot exceed
a few thousand. Combating their criminal acts demands not simply a
huge war machine but a united front from all the people of the world
to deny them the means to commit their atrocities. Simultaneously,
we must deny them the ability to gain sympathy or to entice recruits
from among the oppressed and the marginalized.
Those people who expressed delight at the atrocity of 9/11 or the
massacre of Bali or express glee at the terrible death
of the seven space explorers are not worthy to be called human beings
let alone being counted as Muslims no matter how much they protest their
Islam. How do they know that it was a punishment from Allah? On what
authority do they utter these words? They should learn what the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) said apparently to a person, who was pleased to learn that an
enemy of his had fallen ill,
"Do not be so happy at your brother's misfortune. Allah may save him and plunge you into worse misfortune."
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Question:
Asalaamu Aleikum - I am lambasted by my "fellow" Muslims for being a Brit - I am happy to
have been born and to live in a country that gives many opportunities not afforded to humans elsewhere
in the world, to be a part of British culture, its ideals and attitudes. Why is it that I am being
forced into a narrow view by other Muslims, made to feel ashamed to be British, made not to have pride
in my country or its achievements, and to be told that only "true" Islam is anything but British...
(or American, ....or indeed anything Western) , why is that, and why do I have to "belong" to a culture
that isn't mine just to practise a religion?
Response:
You should be proud of being both British and Muslim. To be British
is to be a member of a great country with a tradition of tolerance,
fair play, democracy and justice.
Compared with other countries, Britain is the country that you as
a Muslim can live your life unmolested and unoppressed. A wise man
was once asked to which country do you belong. He replied the country
in which I am safe and free. In this country the security forces do
their utmost to protect you and you have the freedom of speech, assembly
and belief. You are not prevented from practicing your acts of worship
and no one forces you to commit any breach of the Islamic rules of
conduct. Therefore you are fully Muslim as well as British. Loyalty
to your country in no way contradicts your adherence to your faith.
Those who criticise you for your Britishness are children of mediaeval
concepts that divided the world into the abode of peace, that is ruled
by Muslims, and the abode of war, that is land ruled by non-Muslims.
This conception was developed by some jurists to describe the relation
between states and communities in bygone days when the rulers used
to convert people by force; so the Muslims were safe only where the
ruler was Muslim. Other jurists declared that any country that allowed
a Muslim to remain loyal to his faith should be described as the abode
of peace, which qualifies Britain to be called an abode of peace.
In many countries under Muslim rulers, there is little freedom, a
lot of fear, and a great deal of social and economic injustice. For
this reason a young woman was quoted as saying that Britain is the
best place to be a Muslim.
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Question:
If I am buddhist and married to a Muslim (but not by an Imam) does
he have to leave me in order to do Hajj successfully?
Response:
Hajj is an obligation on every Muslim like prayer and fasting and zakat.
No Muslim would neglect a religious obligation because he/she does not lead
a perfectly pious life. Your husband knows as well as you obviously do that
a Muslim man may only marry a Muslim, Christian or Jewish woman. Violating
the law in this matter does not bar him from performing the Hajj any more
than it would bar him from performing prayer or fasting. Perhaps if he prays
hard at the holy places, Allah might guide you to become a Muslim and ease
his conscience.
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Question:
asslam alikum,
I would be very very grateful if you could reply to this, as it is upsetting me.
I hope that one day enshallh I will be able to perform hajj, but my family tell me that this
will be a waste of time, as at work I can not wear hijab, and that I still enjoy wear
fashionable clothes although I wear Hijab out side of work, and listen to pop music, but I also
perform salat and give zakat etc. will my hajj be accepted on a regular basis?
Response:
Hajj is not only for the pure. The sinner is also called upon to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.
The Hijab has become a fetish in our society. Some people put the Hijab even above the basic religious
obligations. This should not bother you. If your work demands that you do not wear Hijab, no sound
scholar would advise you to choose unemployment, Fashionable clothes providing that they are decent are
not forbidden in Islam. I advise those who make it their business to lecture women on their dress to
remind themselves that Allah sent the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) as a guide to humanity not as a dress designer.
They reduce our faith to mere outer forms neglecting the spiritual and moral message at its core.
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is not as important as prayer, which the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) calls
the mainstay of religion. Go for Hajj and pray to Allah to accept your devotion and to help you in your
career.
With regard to music, there is no authentic Hadith from the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) to prohibit it. The
traditionalist pious among us shun it as they do most forms of pleasure. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) watched
with his wife Aisha a group of Abyssinian performers play music and dancing in his mosque. When he saw a
party walking a bride to her bridegroom's house in silence (thinking their conduct to be pious) the Prophet
(P.B.U.H.) ordered them to sing a happy song to accompany the wedding procession.
Islam is happiness not misery, clement not harsh. We must not deny ourselves the good things that Allah
(S.W.T.) has made permissible for us. The Holy Qur'an says,
"Say (O Muhammad) who has forbidden the beautiful gifts of Allah which He has produced for His servant and
the things clean and pure (which) He has provided for sustenance". Sura 7 verse 32
Go for Hajj. May Allah (S.W.T.) accept it and grant you forgiveness.
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Question:
In surrah AlTariq, Allah says; We made human from resillent water,
which comes from Waste and Ribs, where biology says, it (sperm and
egg) is from Testies and Overies. Explaination is vital for me.
Response:
The Message of the Qur'an by Muhammad Asad renders the verses in question thus,
"Let man then observe of what he has been created. He has been created out of a
seminal fluid issuing from between the loins (of man) and the pelvic arch (of woman."
The intention of the verse is to point out the humble beginning of the human being and
the majesty of the Creator. It is not intended to give a precise scientific description
of the sources of the foetus. The Qur'an is a book of guidance. It touches upon physical
phenomena only as a method of preaching not as provider of detailed description.
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Question:
As we now live in Britain, there are some Islamic terms that are not easy for
our non-Muslim colleagues to pronounce or comprehend. How do you feel about
changing them for the convenience of the British establishment.
Some examples are given below:-
Eid al Fitr can be called Festival of Ramadan
Eid al Adha can be renamed Festival of sacrifice or Festival of Gathering
Our Imams could be renamed Archbishops or Reverend or Chaplains.
If we did this then it will be easier for others to better relate to our religion and our religious titles.
Your advice will be appreciated.
Response:
The use of Arabic terms alongside the English equivalent is useful, even
necessary for the Arabic terms are common to all Muslims whatever linguistic
group they belong to. All Muslim languages adopted the Arabic terms for almost
all religious acts. This is also true of other religions.
As for establishing a hierarchical structure for our Imams, there is such arrangement
in the Imami Shia system which has Hujjat al-Islam, then Ayatu Allah then Ayatu Allah
al-'Usma or then Grand Ayatullah. Among the Sunnis ranking in this fashion is not
acceptable. They prefer to have Councils consisting of reputable and well-versed
scholars as member. Their collective decisions are normally treated with respect but
never regarded as binding on anyone but those who pronounced them. The autonomy of the
believer is strongly upheld. The scholars are not mediators between the individual and
Allah (S.W.T.)
As regards titles, the title Sheikh is used for those who have graduated from Al-Azhar
University in Cairo, my alma mater. The holder of this title is addressed as 'Sahib Al-Fadilah',
the Upholder of Virtue. Others use the address 'Sahib Al-Samahah', the Magnanimous. These forms
of address are difficult to pronounce or learn for English speakers and are too pretentious in
translation. The title Reverend is strictly Christian and its use by us would create confusion
within our own community.
I sense that behind your suggestion is a desire to have an authoritative person or body to curtail
the anarchy created by so many who assume (without any credentials) religious positions and call
themselves imams or judges, leading the press to call them clerics. A group of scholars are alarmed
at the damage created to our faith and community by the activities of certain unqualified persons and
are taking steps to remedy the situation.
The one just for you.
The missing word is UMRAH.
Umrah is an obligation on a par with Hajj
in the view of the Shafi'i, Hanbali and Imami Schools. It is only
a recommended not obligatory ritual in the view of Maliki and Hanifi
scholars. All who go on Hajj nevertheless perform Umrah as they perform
the Hajj. This is done in three different ways.
The first and the most common one is to perform Umrah first, ending
before the ninth day of the month Dhu al-Hijjah (the Day of Arafat) and
then make Ihram for Hajj. This form is called Tamattu'.
The second most common form is to perform the two (Hajj and Umrah) simultaneously).
This is called Qiran.
The third form is to do the Hajj first and then Umrah,
this is called Ifrad. Of course, Umrah can be performed at any time of
the year independently of Hajj.
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