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Ask About Islam (Q & A Session)

Waleed Najmeddine
20 March, 2017

Asalamu Alaikum Brothers & Sisters,

Join us as Brother Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine answers your question about Islam. Brother Waleed will be available live to reply to general questions about Islam, including but not limited to interfaith issues, misconceptions, and misinterpretations of Islamic concepts.

Our Live Session will be Friday, March 24, 2017, at 4:00 -6:00 AM Makkah/1:00-3:00 AM GMT/

Thursday, March 23, 2017 9:00-11:00 PM in New York/ 7:00-9:00 PM Alberta, Canada

Can’t make it to the session? Please do not hesitate to send us your questions at the following email address: [email protected]

Friday, Mar. 24, 2017 | 04:00 - 06:00 GMT

Session is over.

I have a specific question, as in the Qur'an talks about human reproduction, I found the part where it discusses and says where sperm is located in the body. The Qur'an places sperm in the lower tail bone or coxis bone of the male body. This was also the widely held belief by ancient Greeks. So, my question is, please help me understand, if the Qur'an is divine, the God would not make a mistake in giving humans information about the reproductive aspects of their bodies.  Please help me understand.



Salam,

Thank you for your question. I believe the verse you are referring to is from Chapter 86:6-7:

{He is created from a water gushing forth; Proceeding from between the back-bone and the ribs.}

There is much debate around these verses, and there are many interpretations of what the Arabic words “sulb” and “tara’ib” are referring to. Some say that the “sulb” is part of the man’s anatomy and the “tara’ib” are part of the woman’s anatomy. Some translate “sulb” to mean “backbone” and “tara’ib” to mean the breast bones of the woman.

The Qur’an does not specify the term “sperm”, as microscopic things were not understood at the time of the book’s revelation to Muhammad, but rather it accurately identifies semen as what emanates from a man’s body during intercourse in another way:

{Verily, We have created man from a drop of mixed fluid in order to try him, so We made him hear and see.} (Qur’an 76:2)

Sperm is produced in the male’s testes then passes through ejaculatory ducts and along the way mixes with fluids from the seminal vesicles, the prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands to form semen. It is important to remember that the Qur’an, while revealed to Muhammad between 610 CE and 633 CE, before the age of the scientific discovery it inspired, had to make some sort of sense to people at that time while making sense to humanity throughout the time frame between Muhammad’s life and the Day of Judgement.
Some vague language is to be expected in this case. It is also, important to remember that much of what we know to be scientifically established facts today, can soon become misunderstandings in the future when matters are more clearly understood. At one time people believed that the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun revolved around the earth. So while it doesn’t make sense to us today, the proper interpretation of “sulb” and “tara’ib” may make sense to us sometime in the near future.
I hope this has been helpful. Please keep in touch.
Salam.

I have done a lot of sins. But now I feel so terrible and empty. I feel like my soul has had too much junk food or something, like out of shape, you know? How do I start to get it back in shape? Where do I begin to get back on track with my iman?



Salam,
The first step to getting back on track is to recognize that we have a problem and have a desire to turn it around before it gets worse. This is something you have already done, and will, God willing be the most difficult step in your path back to God.
Secondly, you must turn sincerely to God, seeking His Mercy and Forgiveness knowing that there is no one who can grant forgiveness except God. After that you must do your utmost to stop the sinful practices you have been engaged in. Remove yourself from the company of those who encourage you to sin, or remain silent accomplices along with you. Spend your time in the company of righteous people. Visit the mosque to pray more often and you will find many, many brothers and sisters seeking the same things as you, Mercy and Guidance from God.
 
Look for opportunities to do good for others and for yourself. If you want God to love you, serve the people around you. Be an asset to your community, a supporter of good causes, think of others before yourself and seek no thanks or reward from them. Seek your reward from God alone. Do not envy others for their material possessions, but envy those whose faith is strong and deeds are sincerely for the pleasure of God. Righteous people attribute their good qualities to God, and attribute their faults to themselves.
 
Do your best to read the Qur’an on a regular basis. The best time is after the Fajr prayer. Practice voluntary fasting outside of the month of Ramadan. This holy month is approaching soon. Prepare yourself for it by asking God to give you the ability to make it to witness it’s arrival once more so that your iman can really be re-charged “big time”.
Spend time with the scholars in your community. Sit in their study circles (halaqa) between prayers at your local mosque. Take time to reflect on God’s creation of the universe and everything in it. Reflect on the many blessings you have and thank God for them everyday. Spend time with your parents and relatives as much as you can so long as they are righteous people as well. Visit the sick to remember the blessing of your health. Visit the cemetery to pray for your deceased Muslim brothers and sisters and to remember that your turn will come someday. Like everyone, you will have to stand before God to answer for all you have done, and explain what you did with all the things with which you were blessed.
 
I hope this has been beneficial to you. May God guide us all to what pleases Him.
Salam.

Is paradise physical or spiritual?



Salam,

Thank you for your question. There is a lot of confusion about the afterlife and whether it is a physical existence or just a spiritual one. Many believe that because the physical body has so many limitations, that it must be an inferior existence to that of the soul or spirit of a human being.

As Muslims, we believe what has been revealed to us through all the prophets of God, peace be upon them all, but of course the priority goes to what we are taught through the Holy Qur’an and the lessons from the life of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

As human beings, we should not elevate ourselves above the station that God has assigned us. God created us from the soil of the earth, much like He did when He created plants and animals. The difference for human beings is that God breathed into our physical forms a soul from His own Spirit:

{When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall down before him in prostration.} Qur’an 38:72

Upon our death, God has promised to raise us up again in our bodies. The knowledge of this re-formation of our bodies was given to every prophet, who all conveyed it to their people, and most of them mocked their prophets at this news:

{What! When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised up (again)?} Qur’an 37:16

{Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection; Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true). Does man think that We shall not reassemble his bones? Yes, verily Yes. We are Able to restore his very fingertips! But man would fain deny what is before him.} Qur’an 75:1-5 

{Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! God is ever Mighty, Wise.} Qur’an 4:56
These descriptions from the Qur’an should make it plain enough to anyone that the mankind’s existence in the afterlife is a physical and spiritual one, just as it is now. Our surroundings, however, will not be as they are now. In Hell there is great suffering and torment, but in Paradise, there is greater pleasure and luxury.
In Paradise there is no illness or ill will towards others. There is no decline or decay of the body as the food and drink of Paradise is completely wholesome. No waste matter is produced. No annoying mucus or foul smells will emanate from our bodies. And just as punishment for some will be eternity in Hell, there is eternity in Paradise as a reward for belief in God and working righteousness in our worldly lives.
{And whoever obeys God and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous.  And excellent are those as companions!} Quran 4:69
I hope this has been helpful to you. Please keep in touch. Salam.

Assalam alikum, I was just wondering there are verses what sound like they contradict 10:73-74 says noah believers were made khalifas. But another verse says the people of ad were the khalifas after noah. But 10:74 says prophets sent to the believers of noah when they spread over. So how do you have 1 khalifa then several at the same time?



Salam, 

Thank you for your question. The word “khalifa” in Arabic literally means “successor“.

In the verses to which you are referring, the word “khala’if”, is the plural form of khalifa. God is saying in these verses:

{And they denied him (Noah), so We saved him and those with him in the ship and made them successors, and We drowned those who denied Our signs. Then see how was the end of those who were warned. Then We sent after him messengers to their peoples, and they came to them with clear proofs. But they were not to believe in that which they had denied before. Thus We seal over the hearts of the transgressors.}

God sent Noah to his people with His message to worship Him Alone, but all of them rejected Noah, except for a few from his family. God then describes how prophets after Noah suffered from the same problem. Those who will not believe have their hearts sealed up and no one can lead them to belief. With respect to the people of Ad, they were sent prophet Hud, peace be upon him, but most of them, similar to the people of Noah, would not believe:

{And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, as criminals.}

The people of Ad were the successors of the people of Noah in that they were of Noah’s lineage. But human nature being what it is, they grew powerful and arrogant and saw themselves in no need of God. Hud was sent to them as a prophet to return them to the worship of God but they refused, and were brought to ruin by God’s Will.

The “one khalifa” to whom I believe you are referring, would be the successor of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who is known to be Abu Bakr as Siddiq, may God be pleased with him. He was chosen to be the leader of the Muslim community after the death of prophet Muhammad. After the death of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn ul Khattab was elected leader, but to avoid using a cumbersome title like, “Successor of the Successor of the Prophet of God”, his companions named him “Ameer ul Mu’mineen” or “Commander of the Faithful”. Subsequent “khalifas” were given this title by their followers as well. So as you can see, there is really no contradiction in the Qur’an regarding the concept of khalifa, and the traditions of Muhammad’s companions, may God be pleased with all of them.

Hope this helps. Salam.

How come christian's antichrist and our mahdi have the same characteristics? Antichrist will rule for 7 years, mahdi rules for 7 years. Both make peace with isreal. Both invade land of isreal. Both kill and behead non believers. What does this mean? How do they both have the same characteristics?



Salam,

Thank you for your question. I find it a little unusual, to be honest, however, I will do my best to show how different the two are. First of all, if we’re going to compare a Christian belief with an Islamic teaching, they should be on the same topic.

The concept of the anti-Christ in Christianity could be compared to the person of the Dajjal in Islamic teachings, but it is not appropriate to compare the anti-Christ with a concept that does not exist in Christianity, the person of the Mahdi.

So for the purposes of continuity, I’ll explore a comparison of the Dajjal, of whom Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH) warned us, with the Mahdi, of whom we expect great goodness and justice upon his appearance and leadership.

I am not a scholar of Christianity and have only limited knowledge of the opinions of Christian scholars so forgive me for not being able to make an honest or accurate comparison of the anti-Christ and the Mahdi.

The Dajjal, from the Islamic perspective, is not merely an anti-Christ, he is anti-God, and when he makes his appearance at some point in the future, his main goal will be to lead people away from the worship of God, and to have all of mankind accept him as God and worship him.

The word “dajjal” in Arabic literally means “imposter”. He is a man of lies, deception, and trickery. He will present many things to try to fool people to think that he is God with what will appear to be miracles. To convince people of his divinity, he will bring Jinns to appear to them in the forms of deceased loved ones who will encourage them to believe in the Dajjal and follow his commands. To everyday people, this will be a very difficult deception to identify.

Only the strongest of believers, who know about the Dajjal in advance from the warnings of prophet Muhammad, (PBUH), will be able to recognize the Dajjal’s lies and tricks and refuse to follow him or worship him.

The Dajjal will take these true believers and appear to cast them into Hell before the eyes of others. But again, only true believers who know about the Dajjal’s lies and tricks will know that what appears to be Hell, is actually Paradise, and vice versa. Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH), told us that the Dajjal will be the most serious trial that mankind has ever, or will ever face due to his high level of deception. All Muslims should study Prophet Muhammad’s teachings about the Dajjal as much as they can so that they can be prepared to identify him for what he truly is, a liar.

As for the Mahdi, Muslims look forward to his appearance to unite us under his leadership:

The prophet Muhammad, (PBUH) said, “The Mahdi will be of my lineage, and will have a broad forehead and a prominent nose. He will fill the earth with equity and justice as it was filled with oppression and tyranny, and he will rule for seven years.” (Sunan Abu-Dawood)
Clearly, a man who works to establish justice and fight tyranny, and to guide people to worship God, cannot be similar to one who engages in deception and trickery to fool people into worshiping him.  The Dajjal will appear after the Mahdi appears, attempting to undo all that the Mahdi is trying to accomplish. Through God’s Mercy, Jesus, the son of Mary, (PBUH), will be sent back to earth to destroy the Dajjal and his followers. 
I hope this has clarified things for you. Please keep in touch. Salam.
Also check out these links about the anti-Christ and the Mahdi for more info.