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

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

122 Questions

Are Muslims allowed to practice yoga?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

Yes, Muslims are allowed to practice yoga exercise, as long as it does not harm the body or lead to un-Islamic practices or belief. As you know, yoga in its origin is a Hindu spiritual practice, and the word means "to unite" with God. 

Simple yoga stretches are very useful, and the meditation aspect is good as well, but there is also the yoga culture that could be attached to it that a believer must stay away from, like un-Islamic chants, or that yoga alone gives one serenity and inner-peace. 

The great blessing we have as Muslims is what our five daily prayer has for us, which many of us have still not yet discovered. We should also journey into our own Islamic heritage and culture and benefit from its wonders.

With prayers for your success. 
I was talking to someone at school to have a room available for the Muslims at the school to pray. The time they would let us pray would probably be an hour after the time for Salah. Is this okay? Are there any other requirements we need to put in place?
Rebecca Masterton

I am not a mujtahid or faqih, but personally I would say that if this is what you can achieve under the circumstances, and this is what the school will allow, then that is an achievement. Many people pray one hour after awwal al-waqt (the first moment prayer comes in) without even thinking about it too much. If the school can gradually, and in a friendly way, be persuaded to allow you to pray at awwal al-waqt, then that will be even better. Maybe you can in a friendly way say "Thank you" for their accommodation, and that if they can manage to allow you to pray on time, then that would be even better, and if they can't manage that for you for now, hopefully in the future maybe they can.

If you make the room a beautiful place to pray in, and also keep it clean and tidy, that will go some way to making them more favourable towards what you need inshaAllah.
How do we respond to non-Muslims who ask us how could Allah say that He has made this earth and universe in 6 days when the concept of days is linked to the earth itself?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Our concept of day and night with us human beings, is not necessarily the same concept of day with Allah who Created every thing including the time before creating the earth and sky. Time was created before earth and sky and that time had got its day which is different from our day.

'Wassalam.
I have heard it said that the words Shia and Sunni have not been mentioned in the Koran. Is that true? If so, why are Muslims divided on this issue?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Shia Islam means following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) narrated by the most pious and most knowledgeable who are Ahlul Bayt (AS) who are the Progeny of the Prophet. Allah (SWT) mentioned in Quran the term Shia for the followers of the Prophets. (And from his (Noah's) Shia was Ebrahim) Sura Al-Saaffaat, verse 83. Quran mentioned (in Sura Al-Qasass, verse 15) a follower of the Prophet Moosa disputing with a person from Moosa's enemies and calls the follower of Moosa as from His Shia.

Wassalam.