[I begin] with the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Exerciser of Mercy. I send prayers and salutations upon the one brought out as a mercy to everything, his family, companions and whoever follows his guidance and his way until the Last Day.

Indeed, women are distinguished with several specific rulings [in Islamic law]. That is because the Shari’ah rulings are built on consideration of differences between individuals, kindness and gentleness. Allah [The Exalted] says:

“He [Allah] did not place upon you, in the religion [Islam], any hardship.”

The 7 Parameters of mushaqa [hardships]:

There is a universal maxim, from the major maxims of Shari’ah, which states “Hardship brings ease.” Thus, if something causes difficulties for people, then Allah [The Exalted] lifts the obligation of its observance and removes its hardship. For that reason, the scholars mentioned the precepts of hardship [meaning the applicability of this maxim] as: sickness, weakness, insufficiency, abundance, traveling, indecisiveness and fear. These precepts [if present] will lead to hardship. Thus, if any one of them presents themselves ,the Shari’ah takes it into consideration [by assigning it a ruling that relieves its burden].

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Asalamu alaykum,

I’ve been blessed to visit a number of communities in the last few weeks. Here are some of the questions that the youth asked. Inshallah, I plan to post other questions in the near future. I would like to eventually amass a database that can be used and referred when answering our youth’s questions.

1. Are religious programs on T.V Halal? Is watching T.V Halal?

Great question! Yes, religious programs are Halal and something that I encourage everyone to try and see. Regarding television, there is a simple principle in our faith that states, “The origin of a thing is permissible, unless there is a text [from Quran, Sunna or scholarly consensus] that prohibits it.” This principle is applied to anything related to our daily lives outside of ritual acts of worship. Thus, one cannot say that T.V is categorically prohibited. However, it is important to make sure that one does not watch anything that goes against the Islamic life. Thus, one should be careful and avoid watching programs that are show violence, nudity, sex and gratify bad behavior towards others. Another problem with television is time. When I was young I remember watching television for some 6 hours a day! Time is a great blessing. And it is one of the things that, when it’s gone, one can never get it back. Thus, my advice is that it is fine to watch television, but watch responsibly. A simple way to gage if what you are watching is correct is to do the following: Once you’ve decided to watch a program imagine that the Prophet [peace be upon him] is sitting next to you. If you are able to watch the show without feeling to uncomfortable then you should be fine.

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Imam al-Fayruzabadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said,

“Gratitude [to Allah] is built on five principles:

1. Complete surrender [to Him]
2. Sincere and deep Love [for Him]
3. Recognition of His bounties
4. Lauding Him because of them
5. Not using His bounties towards His disobedience

When one of these conditions is lost, then one of the principles of gratitude is gone.”

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Asalamu alaykum,

Western Muslim Youth are we succeeding? If yes, why? If no, why?

I would really appreciate your responses. I’ve noticed a big change in this generation, both young men and women. However, I’ll wait and elaborate latter, inshallah.

SDW

The First Rule: Reconciling between the explicit and the implied when interpreting Legal texts

1. Explicit means anything related to the realm of language regardless of whether the text is general or specific, universal or restricted, an order or a prohibition, literal or figurative. In short, explicit is what is understood through the mechanism of language.
2. The implied is what relates to what the texts directs us to or signifies. Thus, it is associated with the reasons behind the texts revelation, the objectives of the speaker, its likenesses and similarities in relations to other texts , the benefits behind obeying it and the harms incurred if one opposes it.

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Understanding the First Pillar of Fasting, the intention al-Allamah al-Sheikh Muhammad al-Hassan Walid al-Dido al-Shanqiti:

[I begin] with the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Merciful. All praise is to Allah [alone] the Lord of everything that exists. Peace and prayers upon the one sent as a mercy to everything, his family members, companions and whoever seeks guidance with his guidance and strives to follow his Sunna until the Last Day:

Allah [The Exalted] made fasting [the month of Ramadan] an obligation upon His servants making clear the wisdom behind it. Allah says, “ O you who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). [all of you must fast] for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that you should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be thankful.” Surah al-Baqara V(s). 183-185.
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Asalamu alaykum,

I’m struggling to deal with this one as it is almost at a chronic level. I’m thinking that an association towards the ease and sustainment of marriage should be established (at least on a local level). A course could be given over a two weekend period that covers the fiqh and social aspects of marriage. If one passes, I would marry him/her. If not, then let them try again. In addition, counselors, on a local level, or even mentors, could be assigned to couples to serve as their crutches through the first few years of their marriage. What are your thoughts and what can be done to help the problem?

Suhaib