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Terror Networks & Islam
An Imam Answers Moslems' Questions
2005-01-03

Is it acceptable to give one's zakat to a non-Islamic organization that has outlets in Islamic countries and spends it on Muslims who are poor or sick? For example, Leprosy Mission Canada collects money from donors and spends it on orphans or needy people suffering from leprosy in third world countries including Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country.

Getting a non-Muslim organisation, of the type you described, to distribute your Zakaat would not be advisable for a number of reasons: .... While they might give it to lepers, every leper is not necessarily deserving of zakaat. They are non-Muslims as well in Bangladesh, thus it is very likely that this will be spent on them as well .... Thus we would advise you to give the money personally to a deserving Muslim or have it distributed by a reliable Islamic organisation.
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I know its wrong to take photos and that's why I have stopped taking them although I still have my previous photos on the computer. Is it wrong for me to keep them on my computer and look at them? Is it a sin?

Delete them from your computer.
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Im a man who desires to be beaten up during sex (BDSM) is it Islamically correct to do it??

Every form of permissible intimacy between the husband and wife is a mutual one with mutual understanding and agreement. If the husband and wife mutually agree on "BDSM", that is their choice, for which there is no prohibition in Shariah.
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Some people from my colleg launched an attack on me, they floowed me out to Las Vegas and almost had some one kill me twice. Should i launch Jihad?

No, it is not permissible for you to do Jihaad. Make use of the local legal system to protect yourself.
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I am required to read Julius Caesar which has a lot of kuffr phrases and a book called Greek and Mythology, which is fully a kaffir book. Is it allowed under this circumstance for me to read this book for school work?

One may study such material, providing that one has no intention of concurring with the content in any way. However, one should not do so if there is a fear of detriment to one's Imaan. If there is a fear of Kufr, to study such material is not permissible.
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Can you tell me something about jinns. When I work midnight shift, I hear noises and whistles. Do they harm you in anyway?

Jinns are also like human beings, obedient and disobedient. It is possible that the disobedient Jinns cause harm to human beings. In order to protect oneself from the mischief and harms of Jinns one should stay in the state of Wudhu, perform all the Salaat, recite Aayaatul Kursi after every Salaat and the four Quls before sleeping.
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I have read that it is forbidden to take photographs. So my question is: Is it also then forbidden to have a mirror at home as both the camera and mirror capture images? By photographs I mean of family and friends with or without hijab. Kept in albums or displayed in a living room.

Picture frames and photographs of animate objects are not permissible to display. Frames having pictures of inanimate objects e.g. trees, mountains, etc. are permissible. The difference between a camera and mirror is clear. A camera retains the captured image. That is not so in the case of a mirror. The image remains only until the item is in front of it.
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What is the procedure for dealing with a person who has left Islam?

A person who has turned renegade in an Islamic state should be imprisoned for 3 days by the state. The state will be responsible to dispel all his doubts. If he repents, then he will be released from prison. If he still rejects Islam, then he will be beheaded. However, in a non-Islamic state no legal action can be meted out to him, appropriate measures should be taken to dispel his doubts and convincing him to revert to Islam.
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I want to ask that the use of Emotions i.e. smiles in chat or email comes under drawing pictures? .... for example " :) , ;-) "etc.

The use of emotional signs, for example, smile, sad, etc. in a cellphone falls in the category of animate pictures. It is prohibited to make use of such emotional signs in a cellphone.
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Is there any special method of handling and disposal of papers containing Muslim names Mohammed, Abdullah, Ali etc.

According to the Hanafi Madhab, the best way to discard it is to bury it.
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One brother ask to interpret his dream : He was lying down after Fajr next to his wife, finishing his tasbihat, and he was fallen asleep and saw in a dream a very big snake. Does it has any significant?

May Allah Ta'ala protect you from your enemies, Aameen.
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Please explain the difference between pictures on a TV and on a computer. Can I also use physical training videos to do fitness training and martial arts as I do not have the time to go to clubs? .... Please explain the difference between images on a TV and on a computer.

We reiterate that the images that appear in tvs and videos and computers are not Tasweer (pictures) which is prohibited in Shari'ah. It is permissible to follow educational instructions from computers and videos on condition there is nothing un-Islamic in it.
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I have a sister who goes to high school and her teacher has asked her to draw some animations which include living beings, as birds or even humans. my question is that if her teacher doesnt allow any other option in this matter so what should she do???. she has to pass that class too.

We suggest that a written request be sent to the principal of the school requesting an exemption based on one's religious convictions. If that is unsuccessful, then your sister will be excused.
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Is it permissible to attend and watch magic shows like that of David Copperfield?

To perform a strange or peculiar incident without any apparent cause is called magic. .... It is not permissible to attend or view any magical show. ....
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Is ALL music haraam?

Music is expressly prohibited in many Ahaadith. Among the dominant purposes of our beloved Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was to destroy musical instruments.
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What does Islam say about keeping concubines (which your right hand possesses)? Is it permissible still?

In Islam, Christianity and Judaism according to their original scriptures, captives of war may be enslaved. Besides, this, no other person can be taken as a slave. .....Since the human being did not willingly submit to the ultimate Master, Allah, He condemns them to the unwilling slavery of his sincere slaves. And by understanding the powers of a man master, they may understand the Powers of the True Master, Allah. ....
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Sometimes, when I sleep, I open my eyes and cannot move. It seems as if my body is paralysed. Could this be the work of the satan or the jinn.

It is possible that it is the evil of the Shaytaan. Before sleeping, you should recite the last four Quls of the Qur'aan, blow it on your hands and pass them over the entire body.
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Is it permissible to shave one's pubic hair into a pube-hawk? (Like a mohawk).

No, it is not permissible. One should remove all the pubic hair.
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Posted by:Mike Sylwester

#14  although this is stricter than ANY Jewish halachic discussion (even the Szatmar allow pictures) the spirit of questions and responses, etc is not unfamiliar. Even some subject matter, like burying documents, etc.

Big difference - giving to a charity that benefits non-Jews is a GOOD thing, esp. IF you make sure its known that Jews did it. This is "kiddush hashem" sanctification of G-ds name - IE when Jews do good things in front of gentiles, that makes Judaism (and G-d) look good, while to do bad in front of gentiles (think Ivan Boesky) is a chillul hashem, a profanation of G-ds name, it makes Judaism and G-d look bad. AFAIK Islam has no such concept - weve gained from our experience as an exiled minority.


Posted by: Liberalhawk   2005-01-03 5:23:16 PM  

#13  although this is stricter than ANY Jewish halachic discussion (even the Szatmar allow pictures) the spirit of questions and responses, etc is not unfamiliar. Even some subject matter, like burying documents, etc.

Big difference - giving to a charity that benefits non-Jews is a GOOD thing, esp. IF you make sure its known that Jews did it. This is "kiddush hashem" sanctification of G-ds name - IE when Jews do good things in front of gentiles, that makes Judaism (and G-d) look good, while to do bad in front of gentiles (think Ivan Boesky) is a chillul hashem, a profanation of G-ds name, it makes Judaism and G-d look bad. AFAIK Islam has no such concept - weve gained from our experience as an exiled minority.


Posted by: Liberalhawk   2005-01-03 5:23:16 PM  

#12  a "pube-hawk" how original, must be i8n the UK.

"One brother ask to interpret his dream : He was lying down after Fajr next to his wife, finishing his tasbihat, and he was fallen asleep and saw in a dream a very big snake. Does it has any significant?

May Allah Ta’ala protect you from your enemies, Aameen. "


OK.

I am LMAO and do everytime I see this 7th century crap.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2005-01-03 9:55:13 PM  

#11  Imam, This morning I went to take a dump and found a foot-long log floating in the toilet. Is it safe to flush the toilet?

-- No, it is not permissible to flush the toilet without the evil of the Shaytann being flushed down with it. Be careful.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-01-03 8:15:08 PM  

#10  "Sometimes, when I sleep, I open my eyes and cannot move. It seems as if my body is paralysed. Could this be the work of the satan or the jinn."

It's called "Sleep Paralysis". In Western cultures, it's often associated with "The Hag" or "The Dark Man". Middle-Eastern cultures often refer to "Djinn" to describe it. Some sufferers report they actually see apparitions (above) when it happens.

Essentially, what happens is that the brain wakes from REM before the associated paralysis ends. You may have seen videos of a cat that was brain-damaged for the opposite effect.

My understanding is that it's not terribly serious in and of itself. I have encountered anecdotes of people hurting themselves because they feared it, though. The Imam's advice could actually be dangerous.
Posted by: Dishman   2005-01-03 7:12:28 PM  

#9  When I work midnight shift, I hear noises and whistles.

Yeah I have the same problem. I only hope and pray that this does not cause any harm to the body. The imam's answer was not reassuring. I don't do Wudhu.
Posted by: Rafael   2005-01-03 6:39:23 PM  

#8  > In order to protect oneself from the mischief and harms of Jinns one should stay in the state of Wudhu, perform all the Salaat, recite Aayaatul Kursi after every Salaat and the four Quls before sleeping.<

The Islamic Hokey-pokey?


>It is possible that it is the evil of the Shaytaan. Before sleeping, you should recite the last four Quls of the Qur’aan, blow it on your hands and pass them over the entire body.<

Blow what on your hands? Iman Abby sure does have some strange advice.


Posted by: davemac   2005-01-03 5:48:29 PM  

#7  Thinking for one's self is not exactly, er...encouraged.

And Allan knows best.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-03 5:45:26 PM  

#6  Every time I read one of these "Ask the Imam" things, I get the overwhelming impression that Islam must leave its followers bereft of any innate ability to tell right from wrong-- as if there are no overarching moral principles involved, just an endless litany of picayune dos and don'ts; as if no question, no matter how trivial, can possibly be answered except by an imam.

Personally, I find it profoundly creepy.
Posted by: Dave D.   2005-01-03 5:37:32 PM  

#5  I'd suggest lighter fluid and a zippo for pubic defoliation - Imam's go first
Posted by: Frank G   2005-01-03 5:21:06 PM  

#4  And no smilies.

:-(
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-03 5:09:52 PM  

#3  So, no music is allowed, either, eh?

What a dreary life.
Posted by: anonymous2U   2005-01-03 4:57:50 PM  

#2  Interesting that they would not give any charity (zakaat) to non-Muslims. I doubt Muslim disaster-victims in Indonesia are refusing charity from non-Muslims.
Posted by: Tom   2005-01-03 4:22:43 PM  

#1  That is not so in the case of a mirror. The image remains only until the item is in front of it.

What kind of scary-ass vampire is this imam?
Posted by: BH   2005-01-03 4:07:37 PM  

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