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

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

44 Questions

Is it permissible if some people in the West do not pay the full amount of tax from the income they earn and find ways to pay less?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Muslim should be good citizen where ever he lives. Abiding to the laws of the land is part of the duties of good citizen. Many people try to decrease their tax liabilities through legal ways according to licensed tax advisors who advise citizens legally. It is permissible to seek and act upon such legal advice as it is in accordance to the law of the land. 
Going against the law is very far from the Islamic teachings.

Wassalam. 
Is it permissible for me to work for a Western government's foreign service where I would advocate for my country's interests in the Middle East or elsewhere?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

It is allowed for every Muslim to serve his country in any field which does not do injustice on others. Your country's interest should be in the interest of people and should not support the aggressors who might be friendly with some of your political leaders. You as a Muslim are obliged to serve peaceful people in your country and every where, and never support injustice. Our case as Muslims is the justice for all human beings and even for everything. Justice for people of Palestine for example, might not be an aim for many western politicians, but we must do everything possible in peaceful and legal way to support justice. Muslim officer must be an ethical officer and not just a blind officer.

Wassalam.
What is the ruling regarding consuming non-Zabiha meat in those Western countries where it is difficult to find Halal meat?
Zoheir Ali Esmail

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. It is not permissible to eat meat which has not been slaughtered according to Islamic law, except in a situation of starvation, where there is no alternative (no other food at all) and at that point a person is allowed to eat only the amount that is necessary for survival. In Western countries this type of situation is not usual and there are plenty of alternatives to eat such as fish with scales, prawns, vegetables and other types of carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta) and so on. 
 

May you always be successful 
Is it compulsory for children to learn the mother tongue of their parents, such as Urdu or Persian, if they are born and being brought up in the West?
Amina Inloes

It is not compulsory for children to learn the mother tongue of their parents.

However, given that much of the Islamic heritage is expressed in languages such as Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, from a religious perspective, I think it is tremendously helpful for them to have at least some understanding of one or more of the "heritage languages" of the Islamic world. It will help them cement their Islamic identity and feel connected to cultures and practices that are expressed in these languages, as well as have access to teachings, majalis, lectures, etc, that are not available in other languages. 

Also of course it's good for them to be able to communicate with their relatives.