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

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

88 Questions

Can a Muslim congratulate and participate in the baptism ceremony for a baby whose mother is Christian and the father is a Muslim?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Muslim is not allowed to attend or take part in any non Muslim religious ceremony.

The child mentioned in your question is a Muslim because of his Muslim father. Islam says that any child who is born from Muslim father or Muslim mother, is a Muslim.

الولد يتبع أشرف الأبوين 

There is no question of baptism ceremony for a Muslim child.

Wassalam.
What advice and guidance is there for a mother going for ziyarat to Iraq with a child that is being breastfed?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

It truly is a blessed opportunity for not only the mother, but the infant as well, to be brought to the holy sanctuaries of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Nurturing a child the love of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) by taking them to holy Shrines, and from such a young age, engraves faith and belief in their hearts. 

Therefore, the mother should seize the opportunity of giving her baby the most exposure to the holy Shrines, and benefiting from that spiritual atmosphere. 

That being said, like everywhere else one travels, certain precautions must be taken. 

Try to select a date where the weather in Iraq is moderate. Not too hot, and not too cold. Spring, or Autumn, for example. Keep in mind that electricity is still a problem there. 

Pack basic essentials for the baby's needs, from clothes to nappies. A compact pram would also be useful. Bring child medicine, like panadol, nappy rash, etc, and also medication for diarrhea. 

Try to choose quiet times when you go for the Ziyarah, and avoid big crowds. Keep an eye on you child, and try not to be conspicuous. For your own protection, and for your baby's protection, pay sadaqah regularly, and keep a hirz on your baby. 

It would be very useful to travel with people who would assist you throughout the trip. Try not to rely on others, but at times you will need help with certain things, and maybe just a little rest.    

Continue to remind yourself that you wish to gain proximate benefit from Ziyarah, and that your intention is purely for Allah ta'ala. Also, remember that your reward is based on the amount of difficulty you go through, so everything you endure will be taken into consideration in the eye of the Almighty.

And please keep us in your duas.
What is the meaning of the name "Sabika" and was she the mother of Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawad? Can we keep this name for a newborn girl?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Sabeeka سبيكة النوبية was a great pious lady married to Imam Al-Ridha (AS) and mother of Imam Muhammad Al-Jawaad (AS).

She was from the family of Mariyah Al-Qibtiyyah the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) who gave birth to his son Ebrahim.

We have many Hadeeths praising her.

She is known as Sabeeka al-Noobiyyah (Sabeeka of Nooba which is Egyptian Africa).

She is also known by other names like Khaizaraan and Rayhana.

The meaning of Sabeeka in Arabic is a piece of Gold.

It is good to keep this name for newborn girl. It is already used as name for thousands of Muslim females.

Wassalam.
What is the father's responsibility to his 4 month old son after divorcing the mother?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala, 

At times a husband-wife relationship reaches a stage in problems where reconciliation is difficult, and the only option is divorce. 

In many cases children are also involved, and so the worse thing for all parties involved (husband, wife, and child/children) is, in addition to the difficulty of separation, that tension and further altercations are involved. 

Unfortunately, we can see that in some cases things escalate so bad, that families are dragged to court, and it becomes a battle between two people who once loved each other.

This is fundamentally against what the Quran instructs us when divorce occurs (see: Surah al-Baqarah, verse 229). The couple should part away with benevolence and grace. 

This also means that co-parenting is very important for their sake, and for the child's sake as well. Both parents must try to contribute in the best manner and bear in mind the interests of the child. 

In this case, it is for the father's interest, and the child's interest that he maintains good ties with his ex-wife, and the mother of their child. He should financially assist as much as he can, and the mother's well-being will also add to the emotional stability of their child as well. 

The father should be involved in the child's life, and the mother should not deprive him of that, nor in any way should they allow their misunderstandings or disputes to affect the quality of their co-parenting. 

As for the shar'i side of the rights of custody, the details of these laws should be looked at within this framework of thinking, where the overall interests of all parties are taken into consideration and nobody is wronged. 

It is always advisable to remain patient, wise, and consult with professionals and experienced people in how to deal with circumstances that may arise. 

And Allah knows best.