In regards to the ayat of Surat Saad: 38:31-33, some interpretations have been offered, some supported by narrations. These include the following:

• Prophet Sulayman was distracted by the beauty of his horses. When he realised he had been distracted from the remembrance of Allah (SWT), he slaughtered the horses and severed their legs.

• Prophet Sulayman was distracted by the beauty of the horses, such that he did not perform his salat until the sun set. He then ordered for the sun to be returned, then performed Wudhu and prayed.

Are either of these interpretations for these Ayat feasible?

Answer:

As for the first interpretation, it clearly does not befit a Prophet of Allah (SWT) to viciously slaughter horses because of his own supposed mistake. If it were the Prophet who was distracted, why should the horses suffer?

Furthermore, interpreting

فَطَفِقَ مَسْحًا بِالسُّوقِ وَالْأَعْنَاقِ

to mean slaughtering goes against the apparent meaning of this Qur’anic expression.

As for the second interpretation, the following points need to be noted:

1.  These narrations are Morsal and besides their theological problems, don’t match the wording of the Quran.

2.  The pronouns in the ayah all refer to the feminine, ‘Fast running horses’ الصافنات الجیاد, which are mentioned explicitly in those ayat. No ‘Sun’ is mentioned to refer the pronouns to it.

3.  It is very common in Arabic to refer to ‘horse’ as ‘good’. An Arabic proverb says:

الخیر معقودبنواصی الخیل یوم القیامۀ

“Goodness is tied to the horses’ necks on the day of judgment.”

4.    ردوها: Return them to me: is a command. It is impossible that Prophet Sulayman commands God to return the sun to him.

5.    So, the story simply was that: horsemen were marching before the King Solomon. Being impressed by his army he said that he likes his army and the horses for the sake of God and as Remembrance of God. He was in this thought until they (horses and the army) disappeared from his sight.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

I’ve come to know that people from our own community cannot get rid of their bad habits and sins. I have heard about sins and how to get rid of them by learning what their consequences are both in this world and the next.

Could you please tell me what are the consequences of watching pornography while being single or while being a married man with no problems in marital sexual life?

Answer:

It is haraam whether married or single regardless of  the intention of watching them. The Almighty Allah says: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and protect their chastity.” And the next Ayah says it for women. (Surah Noor)

That Ayah indicates that watching Haraam scenes is against chastity and can lead to adultery. The Prophet (p) also says: “lustful look is the poisonous arrow of Shaytan.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: “Those who look at the back of women, there is no (divine) protection for their women not to be looked at.” Meaning that those who have a lustful look at other women should bear in mind that behind their back someone else will look at their women’s private parts. It also means by lowering the gaze against a haraam look, not only do we protect our chastity, we have also protected the chastity of our own women too.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Are there reliable sources that mention Imam Ali (as) or Imam Hassan (as) as having sons named Omar, Abu Bakr or Othman? And having daughters named Ayesha?

Answer:

Yes, Imam Ali (as) had sons named Abu-Bakr, Omar and Othman.

Firstly, all those names didn’t belong exclusively to the three caliphs. There were other people at that time whose names were Abu-Bakr, Omar and Othman, some of whom were very good people. So, just because two people have the same name doesn’t mean they are of the same character. Or if a criminal’s name is something does that mean we can’t use that name anymore? For example, the ex-King of Iran was ‘Mohammad Reza’. So, if I’ve named my son ‘Muhammad Reza’ does it mean I’ve named him after the king?!  Or the name of the chief of hypocrites in Madina at the time of the Prophet (P) was Abdullah (Ibn Obay). If anyone names his son Abdullah, can we say he has named him after the chief of hypocrites?!

Secondly:

1. As for Abu-Bakr; that is a nick name. the actual name of the son of Imam Ali was either Abdullah or Muhammad. (in fact, the actual name of the first caliph was also Abdullah and Abu-Bakr is his nick name).

2. As for Omar, his mother Sahba gave birth to her son during the reign of Omar. Historians assert that Omar imposed his name on the baby. (Ref. Balazari; Ansabul-Ashraaf vol1. P.297) You may say why did Imam Ali accept that? The answer is for the above mentioned reason, the Imam didn’t want to make a fight over a name that doesn’t belong to the caliphs.

3. As for Othman, historians have mentioned that Imam Ali named his son Othman after Othman Ibn Math’oon عثمان بن مظعون who was an eminent companion of the Prophet (sawa) and the first Muslim who died in Madina.

None of the Imams had a daughter named ‘Ayesha’.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

I have been faced with a wedding proposal. I have spoken with the guy with the permission of my family and vice versa for him. We both get along very well. Both understand each other quite well, however he is not practising which is something I had to consider. He has told me he is willing to learn and wishes to start praying asap. I have accepted that but I have now found out that in his house itself, no one prays. Including the mother who should be a role model for her children. I am struggling to come to terms with going into a house where there is no fear of God. No ibadah. No sense or values of Islam being practised. Please help me find an answer. How do I go about this. Is it not wrong for me to go into a house with no Islamic structure knowingly!?

Answer:

You are right to be concerned about this aspect of this man and his family’s life. If you are a practising Muslim with Islamic values, it will be very difficult for yourself and your future children to live Islamically healthy lives. There is also a high chance of conflict between you and your future husband and in-laws due to clashes in values.

It may be better for you to wait for a proposal from a practising Muslim who shares at least your most basic and fundamental values, and who practices Islam at least on a basic level.

Making a decision with you and your children’s future spiritual well-being in mind will guarantee that Allah SWT will look after you in future.

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

My wife works in a butcher shop where she needs to slice pork, ham, bacon. She also needs to serve these to the customers. These are haram in our religion Islam. That is why she does not want to work there any more. My questions, is it haram to touch or serve pork, ham, bacon?

Answer:

It is not haram to touch bacon, ham etc. However, it is haram to be involved in selling them, so if her job involves selling these products at the counter then she should leave the job.

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Why does Allah (swt) test us even though He knows the result?

Answer:

Allah (SWT) tests us for a number of reasons, some of them are:

• If we were not tested and were just put into paradise, we would not have earnt our place in paradise. Something that is not earnt is not enjoyed or appreciated
• If we were not tested and were just put into hell, we would argue that it was not fair to be placed in hell when we had not had the chance to undergo an examination
• If we were not tested, we would not have the opportunity to improve ourselves and attain perfections of the soul

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Can one listen to music in private if no one else is around?

Answer:

Being alone in private or in public does not make listening to music halal or haram, it’s the style and its lyrics that matter. If the music is of the haram category, it is not permissible to listen to it in any setting, whether private or public. For what constitutes haram music, see other Q&A’s on this site.

Answered by: Dr Ali Alsamail
Certified by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

What is the punishment for rape? How is it proven? Is DNA/CCTV sufficient enough? How about rape within a marriage, where the wife refuses to sleep with a husband but he forces her against her will?

Answer:

1. Rape in the Islamic criminal law means to have a sexual intercourse by force with a woman who is not his wife. Therefore, if a man is forcing his wife to have sex with him, it does not constitute rape in Islam.

2. The penalty for rape is death.

3. To prove a rape like other sexual assaults a judge needs either: 1) the testimony of four just male witnesses together, or 2) the confession of the criminal on four occasions, 3) the certain knowledge of the judge. This can often be obtained by a DNA or CCTV footage as long as the judge is convinced with those evidences.

4. It is forbidden for a wife to avoid her husband if he is demanding a sexual intercourse with her, unless she is in her menstrual cycle, or she is so ill that is physically unable to do so. Even then it is recommended for her to somehow meet her husband’s sexual needs. On the other hand, it is recommended to men to consider their wives situations and prepare them for an intimate relation.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Would Muslim parents be accountable if they give their child a non-Muslim name?

Answer:

It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (P):

من حق الولد علی والده أن یحسّن اسمه و یعلّمه الکتابۀ و یزوّجه اذا بلغ. (مستدرک الوسائل ج15 ص 166)

“Of the rights of children over their fathers is to: give them a good name, to teach them literacy (education), and marry them when they reach the age of marriage.”

In general, our names are our identifications and hence it is very important to choose good and Islamic names for our children especially for those living in a non-Islamic country.

With regards to naming our children there are five different rules:

1. Some names are Haraam (forbidden) to choose; such as putting the names of idols, idol worshippers, pharaoh, devil, etc. also naming our child ‘Zalim’ (oppressor), Kalb (dog), Khinzir (pig), or Khaliq (creator), and any such names that are contrary to monotheism and pure Islamic values.

2. Some names are Makrooh (better not to): such as Abdul-Husain (the slave of Husain) even if they mean servant of Husain. Because it sounds contrary to ‘Abdullah’ (servant of Allah). Also, giving names that their first impression is that the person is not Muslim, such as ‘Simon’, ‘Michael’, etc. Such names don’t suit a Muslim or Muslima. Based on the above-mentioned narration we can say we may be also accountable on the Day of Judgment, unless parents were forced to give such names to their children under Taqiyya circumstances for public or official use only. Also, it is Makrooh to give two names to our children one a good Islamic name like the names of the Imams, and another one a western name, but always call him with his western name. This is a kind of disrespect to the Islamic name. It is also Makrooh to give them a name that is too difficult to pronounce or sounds funny in that area.

3. Some names are Mobah (permissible): such as naming them after certain nice birds, flowers, stars, etc.

4. Some names are Mustahab (recommended): such as the names of the Prophets, Imams, purified ladies, names with good and inspirational meaning, such as ‘Adel’ (just), ‘Saeed’ (prosperous), etc.

5. Some names are Wajib (obligatory): that is if parents for some reasons such as the illness of their child made a vow to name him for example ‘Ali’ then they are obliged to do so and shall not change their mind after their predicament is over.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei

Question:

Would it be classified as cheating the system if one prepares receipts to lower company tax? Also, my business partner wanted to put me and herself on wages to lower the amount of company tax paid? Is that acceptable?

Answer:

This is a question you should really ask your accountant. Basically, if it is tax evasion then its impermissble, but if it is tax planning then it’s fine.

Answered by: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei