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Ask About Islam: Support for New Muslims

Theresa Corbin
11 July, 2017

Asalaamu alaykum, brothers and sisters!

 

So often, when someone decides to embrace Islam they are met with warm smiles and invites, and then they are left alone to fend for themselves. That is a problem! If you have a friend who is a new Muslim, or if you are yourself a new Muslim, check out this LIVE session about how best to support the new Muslims in your life.

 

The session host will be writer and convert to Islam, Theresa Corbin. So please, jot down your questions and join us Thursday, July 13th, from 4 PM-6 PM GMT  (7 PM – 9 PM Makkah) (12 PM – 2 PM Chicago).

 

If you won’t be available during this time, but you have questions that need answers, don’t worry! You can email your questions in advance to [email protected], and our counselor will include them in the Live Session.

 

Thursday, Jul. 13, 2017 | 20:00 - 22:00 GMT

Session is over.

Asalamu Alaykum, I'm not exactly new to Islam, but I do have a question. This Ramadan I was reading a translation of the Quran and came across a verse that I found very strange. It's Surah Yasin 36:40. I don't quite get what the verse says and I seem to have read a shoddy translation so could you explain it to me? Jazakallah.



Walaikum Asalam Jessica,

Thank you for trusting me with your question about Surah Yasin. What translation do you have? I find the Sahih International is my favorite. Yusuf Ali is alright but has some weird translations. And Pickthall is kind of archaic and difficult to get through.

The translation of 36:40 in Sahih International states:

It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir says:

(It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon). Mujahid said, “Each of them has a limit which it does not transgress or fall short of. When the time of one comes, the other goes away, and when the time for one to prevail comes, the time of the other ceases.”

`Ikrimah said concerning the Ayah,

(It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon) this means that each of them has its time when it prevails. So it is not appropriate for the sun to rise at night. (nor does the night overtake the day) means, after night has passed, it is not right for another night to come until it has been day. The authority of the sun is during the day and the authority of the moon is at night.

Ad-Dahhak said,

“The night does not depart from here until the day comes from here — and he pointed to the east.”

Mujahid said:

(nor does the night overtake the day) “They seek one another rapidly.” The meaning is that there is no gap between night and day; each of them follows the other with no interval, because they have been subjugated and are both constantly pursuing one another. (but each, in an orbit, is swimming) means, night and day, the sun and the moon, all of them are floating, i.e., revolving, in their orbits in the heaven. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and `Ata’ Al-Khurasani. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and others among the Salaf said, “In an orbit like the arc of a spinning wheel.”

So basically what the verse and the exegesis (Tafseer) of the verse are saying is that night and day have their prescribed times and they are not allowed by Allah to overtake one another outside of their set times and they flow one after another.

All this, of course, is from man’s perspective here on earth. We know that we on earth orbit the sun and the moon orbits the earth and they obviously do not compete in their celestial context, but to us here on earth night and day, moon and sun flow one after another and do not come and go erratically.

This verse is not talking about or saying that we do not have eclipses. As we see the Prophet (peace be upon him) acknowledge these events and told the people not to be superstitious about them.

Narrated by Abu Masud:

Allah’s Apostle said, “The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone’s death or life but they are two signs amongst the signs of Allah, so pray whenever you see them.”

I hope this helps. All the Best. Salam.

Hi, I live with my conservative, catholic parents in a small city in Europe. I believe in Allah and I really desire to practise Islam, but have to hide before my family and friends ... everyone (except my boyfriend). I want to learn Arabic to read the holy Qur'an, pray 5 times a day, fast in Ramadan, visit the Mosque and wear Hijab. I didn't convert to Islam yet because it's my biggest wish to convert to Islam before my boyfriend's eyes. He isn't a strict Muslim and he barely talks about Islam. It was one strange moment in my life, where I recognized that Allah is my God and that Muhammad is His messenger - It was not by boyfriend who made me realise this! - I am afraid my parents will stop allowing me to talk to him, if they find out that I believe in Islam now. What can I do? I am so desperate of hiding it and not being able to show Allah my love and gratitude. It would be something else, if I was 18 and could move out or tell everyone that I am old enough. I can't wait for this day anymore. It breaks me to hide and lie about Islam. How can I deal with this? Maybe you also had such a situation in the beginning of finding to Islam.



Dear Sister,
I am so honored that you would trust me with such a serious issue you are facing. I am so proud to call you my sister in Islam (even if you haven’t officially converted yet, you just stated the shahadah in your question). 
 
 
I know it is a stressful situation that you are facing, but if you believe in Allah and wish to follow his messenger, Allah will grant you the strength you need.
 
 
I have written so much on this topic and want to share it all with you. Please check out my website, islamwich.com and you will find so much information on life as a Muslim convert and in relation to your family. 
 
 
 
I hope this answers your question and may Allah guide you.

Greetings. I live in a small town. I want to relocate. Do you know of anyone that can help with housing? And do you know of a strong Islamic community ... that my family and I can relocate to?



Asalamu Alaikum,

Thank you for trusting me with your question. This is the question that most Muslims who live in the West struggle to answer. And the answer is different for everyone. It all depends on what you are looking for in a community.

Your first step in finding a new home will need to be defining what your family’s needs are, if there are employment opportunities available nearby, what kinds of schools, medical care, etc. are available.

Then try to pinpoint where there are large Muslim populations or even where one or two scholars who you admire and can learn from live and teach. This will take a lot of research to find the right community for you and your family and especially one that can help with housing.

I personally would advise you to stay close to family if Allah had blessed you with family.  Having family close by has so many benefits.

All the best in your journey

As-Salam-u-Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, I am a 13 year old convert to Islam and very into hip hop. But when I converted I realized that all they talk about is haram stuff. So I found a group of brothers who say there music is halal, they are deen squad. I have listed to there music and it seems halal but people keep telling me that there music is haram because it is rap and they are not devout. Is this true?



Walaikum Asalam Wa Rhamatullahi Wa Barakatuhu brother,

You are right. A lot of what musicians talk about is haram for sure. But I am so glad you found musicians you like whose lyrics aren’t, well, immature, misogynistic, and just disgusting.

I checked out the Deen Squad and they sound great. Please don’t listen to people especially if they tell you the Deen Squad is not devout. That is not for them to judge, like, at all. Only Allah can say that. And they seem to be very into Islam to me.

As for whether music itself is completely haram, I cannot say one way or another. I have done a lot of research on this topic since I used to be a singer and have loved hip hop from way back. But there are very solid opinions on either side of the debate.

For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) allowed Aisha to listen to music on Eid and told Abu Bakr (RA) to back it up when he protested.

But there is a hadith stating that wind instruments are the voice of shaytan. (Rap or hip hop is usually bass which is heavily dependent on drums and electronic simulated music if anything, and rarely included wind instruments).

For you, since you are seeking out musicians with good lyrics, and prefer hip hop—usually percussion-based—I would say go for it. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and a good heart. InshaAllah. But this is just my opinion.

You are also new to Islam and you should take your transition into an Islamic lifestyle one step at a time. Learn about the pillars of Islam and Iman. Once you have those down solid and have incorporated them into your life at your pace, then you can move on to understanding other less important issues that there is much debate around.

Also, check out these Bonna Muhammad who raps a cappella. His rap “Heroes” is excellent. Here’s his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_WnvOu45e2rtdtMi-aHWmQ