1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

6 Questions

How should Muslims handle the responsibility of paying taxes when they are aware that their money supports conflicts in Muslim nations like Palestine and Iraq?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Muslims living in every country should abide to the laws and regulations of the country as far it does not contradict with the Islamic rules. For example,alcohol is forbidden on every Muslim wherever he lives,but paying taxes does not contradict with the Islamic rules. Regarding some governments who support aggression against Muslim innocent people,the Muslims who are citizens should do their best avoid in supporting any aggression,as much as they can. Muslim citizens in such countries are not responsible to change the policies of the government. If it is out of their ability but they should always try to make themselves well represented and demand peace and justice through the rules and regulations of the country. We are responsible to counter injustice as much as we can but not responsible to do things which are out of our ability's.

wasalam.
Why do the Shia condemn the Shura system of early Khulafa while they have adopted similar systems in Iran and Iraq?
Amina Inloes

Shura, as done during early Islamic history, is not the same thing as modern voting, a modern parliament, or modern democracy. Modern democracy developed recently in history, and some Muslims back-project it and claim it has roots in Islam by saying it is like shura. However, modern democracy is different from shura, and this is not an accurate analogy; rather, it is a form of apologetics.

In any case, the Shii belief is that the succession to the Prophet (S) was appointed by Allah and people did not have the right to choose it - neither by shura nor by a one-person-one-vote system - just as people do not have the right to choose how many times a day they say formal prayers, or what month to fast in.

However, Allah has not appointed specific individuals to be our political leaders presently, so we use other systems of governance and selection of leaders.

Furthermore, when you read the history of what actually happened during the selection of the first three caliphs, you see that some things happened that were questionable or politically motivated for an agenda, and it was not that everyone got together and simply discussed with sincerity and equality who should be the next leader. The scenario was different for each caliph. When you read what happened, you see it is nothing like voting today where every person has a single vote and the majority wins. You can look into that in history books.
If a lady is going through her menstruation then what are the laws for her to follow when she visits the holy places for Ziyarat in Iraq and Iran?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

The rules for females who are passing their menstruation period are same: 

1. No Namaz (Preyers) whether obligatory or recommended and no Qaza (Qadha) of such Prayers later on.

2. No fasting but it must be made up as Qaza later on if she misses fasting any day in the Month of Ramadhan.

3. No sexual intercourse is permissible during menstruation period. Divorce is invalid during menstruation period.

4. It is not allowed for her and any person who is in the state of Janabah (man or woman) to recite any of the four verses of Quran of obligatory Sajda (In Sura Al-Alaq, Sura An-Najm, Sura Fussilat and Sura Al-Sajdah) 

5. It is not allowed for her and any person who is in the state of Janabah (man or woman) be inside any Masjid. The inside of shrines of Ahlul Bayt (AS) are Masjids. The courtyard (Sahn) is not a Masjid so she can be in the Sahn but not inside the shrine.

Wassalam.
If I read the Qur'an every day as repentance for my involvement in the Iraq war fifteen years ago, but do not pray, does that make me a bad Muslim and not worthy of Allah's love?
Amina Inloes

Everyone is worthy of Allah's love since we are all Allah's creation.

In 2003, there was a lot of insanity (as usually happens during wartime), and many people were swept up by events, propaganda, false promises, and self-delusion. In such a situation, it is difficult to make practical amends, but at least you recognize where you went wrong and regret it. It is through hard experience that wisdom is learned. 

There is no real virtue in labelling ourselves or others as "good Muslims" or "bad Muslims"; Allah knows what is in our hearts. 

However, it is good to pray (even if you just start by doing it sometimes), because it is very highly emphasized in the Qur'an and hadith. Allah will love you whether or not you pray; but your prayer is one of the ways that you can show love back!