He thinks his mother used witchcraft against him and they are on bad terms with one another

I think that my mother is using witchcraft against me, for one reason or another, and this has had some effect in reality, which is that I am bewitched from time to time. I sought treatment with a psychologist, but to no avail. 
The problem is that I believe my mother will not hesitate to do this again, and there is no need for me to tell you the hardships I went through because of this witchcraft, in addition to the fact that I have no job and no income. I believe that my mother is insane. Hence I do not speak to her. In addition to that she wants me to leave home and she said to me: If you do not want to speak to me, then get out of the house. This is the talk of crazy people, because I do not have any other place to go. Hence I answered her by saying: I am sick and I will never leave home. All she did was go to my aunt’s house and come back the next day. Until now I am not speaking to her, but she speaks to me and says a few simple words such as “close the door” and so on, and I hasten to do what she tells me because in fact I do not hate her or want to go against her, as she says, but it is for reasons that are beyond my control. 
I hope that you can explain this situation and offer the right solution. 
May Allaah bless you..

Praise be to Allaah.

It should be noted, first of all, that Allaah has enjoined you to respect your parents and to treat them kindly in word and in deed, and He has forbidden you to treat them badly or say to them “Uff” (a word of disrespect). 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour”

[al-Isra’ 17:23] 

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (S) and said: Which of the people is most deserving of my good companionship? He said: “Your mother.” He said: Then who? He said: “Then your mother.” He said: Then who? He said: “Then your mother.” He said: Then who? He said: “Then your father.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5626) and Muslim (2548). 

Hence you must stop your mistreatment and saying that she is insane, because that is not appropriate, and you should treat her in a kind and loving manner, and do not disobey her commands so long as there is no sin involved. It is not permissible for you to shun her and stop talking to her. If she does that then try hard to reconcile with her by speaking kindly and doing kind deeds to her. 

It should be noted, secondly, that it is not permissible for you to accuse a specific person of having bewitched you, so how about if the person you accuse is your mother? By doing that, you are accusing her of committing a major sin that may reach the level of kufr. It is not permissible for you to do this even if the one whom you accuse is a stranger to you, so how about if you are attributing that reprehensible action to your mother with no proof or evidence? The punishment for wronging others is severe, so how about one who wrongs his own mother? 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin”

[al-Ahzaab 33:58] 

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  

The words “And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly” mean: by attributing to them things of which they are innocent, that they have not done. 

“they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin” means, this is an obvious lie, to say or narrate of the believing men and women things that they did not do, by way of criticizing them. 

Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/480. 

It was narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah that the Messenger of Allaah (S) said:  “Beware of injustice, for injustice will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by Muslim (2578). 

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

Al-Qaadi said: It was said that this means what it appears to mean, and it will be darkness for a person who will not be able to find a way on the Day of Resurrection when the light of the believers appears before them and on their right. And it may be that darkness here refers to hardship, which is how they interpreted the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and the sea” [al-An’aam 6:63], i.e. hardships.  And it may be that it refers to punishment. 

Sharh Muslim (16/134). 

It should be noted, thirdly, that you may not have been bewitched, and it may all be illusions and imagination. This happens to a lot of people, who believe that they have been bewitched when that is not the case. So strive to obey your Lord by performing obligatory and supererogatory duties, and strive to honour your mother. Always read Qur’aan and try to recite the adhkaar for morning and evening. These things, in sha Allaah, will protect you from evil and help you to recover from your mental and psychological illnesses. 

And Allaah is the source of strength.

Discussion with a Buddhist about jihad in Islam

I am participating in an email argument about recent events in the war in Afghanistan, and the person who I am arguing with has made the following claim:
"All Muslim clerics who are true to Islamic/Mohammad teaching preach that anyone other than Muslims are infidels and subject to the sword."
 I don't believe this claim, but I am not a Muslim, and I know very little about Islam, so I don't have the facts to counter this person's claim. What is the Islamic truth here? How should I argue?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Your question to is indicative of a sincere desire to find out the truth, but before that did you not ask yourself: why am I content with this little that I know about Islam? Why don’t I get the full picture about this religion from its followers, even if that means that I have to travel to them? People often travel to earn money or for pleasure, or for other material purposes, or even for foolish purposes.

It is the matter of one’s eternal destiny. Is it not possible that this truth that you are seeking is to be found in that which you do not know about Islam?

It is even more serious than that, for it is the matter of eternal Paradise or eternal Hell.

But in addition to that sincere desire to discover the truth, you also need an even more sincere desire to follow it and the will power to adhere to it, even if it runs contrary to what you were accustomed to before.

Moreover, by asking this question you seem to be like a sick person who looks at the surgeon’s knife and its sharpness, and forgets the disease that is killing him, or curses the cautery for its burning and forgets the leprosy that is consuming him. This is not the way of the wise.

First of all you should understand the motives for jihad in Islam, before asking about who deserves to be killed.

These motives were summed up by Rib’i ibn ‘Aamir and other companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and were stated to Rustam, the commander of the Persian army, in the battle of al-Qaadisiyyah, when he asked them one after another, for three consecutive days before the battle took place: “What is this that you have brought?” The answer came: “Allaah has sent us to bring forth whomsoever He wills from the worship of people to the worship of Allaah alone, from the hardship of this world to its ease, from the injustice of other religions to the justice of Islam. He sent His Messenger with His religion to His creation. Whoever accepts it from us, we will accept it from him and will go back; we will leave him and his land alone. Whoever refuses, we will fight him until we end up in Paradise or in victory.”

This religion has always – and continues to and always will – be faced with resistance based on deviant beliefs and false ideologies, with political, military, social, economic and racial obstacles. All these obstacles combined may produce an attitude that rejects Islam altogether and prevents people from following it.

If verbal discussions and debates, arguing in a way that is better, address deviant beliefs and ideas, then the jihad movement addresses other, material obstacles, foremost among which is the political power that is based on those combined factors. It aims its strikes at the military and political powers that enslave the people to something other than Allaah – i.e., rules them by means of something other than the laws of Allaah – and that prevent them from listening to the truth and following it with absolute freedom. Thus there is a need for both da’wah and jihad in order to face the real obstacles of life.

See Ma’aalim fi’l-Tareeq, p. 59 ff

Thus it becomes clear that the basic principle of fighting as prescribed in sharee’ah is jihad, and its purpose is that all religion should be devoted to Allaah, and that the word of Allaah should be supreme. Whoever tries to prevent that is to be fought, according to the consensus of the Muslims. With regard to those who are not involved in resistance and fighting – such as women, children, monks, old men, the blind, the chronically ill, and so on – they are not to be killed, according to the majority of scholars, unless they fight in word or deed… because we are to fight those who fight us, if we want the religion of Allaah to prevail, as Allaah says (Interpretation of the meaning):

“And fight in the way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors”

[al-Baqarah 2:190]

 It was proven that our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by a woman who had been killed in one of his battles, and the people were standing around her, and he said: “This one was not a fighter.” And he sent a man to Khaalid ibn al-Waleed – who was a general at the head of his army – and commanded him: “Tell him not to kill any children or hired workers.” Perhaps what is meant is those who were not bearing arms. Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2669; al-Albaani said: It is hasan saheeh; Saheeh Abi Dawood, 2324.

Allaah has permitted killing to whatever extent it is needed to bring people to the right path, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and Al‑Fitnah (tumult and oppression) is worse than killing”

[al-Baqarah 2:217]

i.e., although killing involves evil and mischief, the evil and mischief caused by the fitnah of the disbelievers (the tumult and oppression that they cause) is worse than that. With regard to the person who does not try to prevent the Muslims from establishing the religion of Allaah, his disbelief harms no one but himself.

Al-Siyaasah al-Shar’iyyah by Ibn Taymiyah, 165-167.

Here there is an important point to be made: fighting, aggression and oppression are old problems that affect mankind so long as people are influenced by greed and by whims and desires, and so long as both good and evil exist among men. Ibn Khaldoon said:

“Wars and all kinds of fighting have existed from the moment Allaah created mankind. Their origin is the desire that some people have to wreak vengeance on others… This is something natural in man and no nation or era is free of this...”

Moreover, what do the Muslims have to do with the terrible wars that have taken place between various Christian groups in the past, and what befell the Protestants at the hands of the Catholics?

What do the Muslims have to do with the two World Wars, or with Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

We have the right to say, along with Count Henri de Christie: “It is more correct to say that the peaceful nature and gentleness of the Muslims is the reason why their state fell.”

Allaah the Almighty has spoke the truth:

“Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said: ‘Our Lord is Allaah.’ For had it not been that Allaah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the Name of Allaah is mentioned much would surely, have been pulled down. Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah is All‑Strong, All‑Mighty”

[al-Hajj 22:40]

Think about that, then listen to the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Allaah wonders at those who will enter Paradise in chains.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 3030). And he said: “[The verse] ‘You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind’ [Aal ‘Imraan 3:110] means, You are the best for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4557) – i.e., when they fight others, they may take some of them prisoner, or others may submit to their rule, then they come to know Islam and enter into the faith, even though they disliked it at first.

Perhaps if you do that, you will kiss the hand of the doctor, even if the scars of his scalpel are left on your skin.

And Allaah is the Source of strength.

He wants to become Muslim and marry a Muslim woman

I am a Hindu boy who is in love with a Muslim girl.We have always been good friends and gone to the same college.Our feelings for each other changed into love but we do not want to elope. I would like to marry her as she is a wonderful person, kind,loving,intelligent and pious.I love her so much that i am willing to embrace Islam, a religion which has always fascinated me.How can i go about it?I will accept all the tenets of Islam and stay faithful to Allah and my wife to be.Please guide me, I know Islam welcomes people into its fold.I wil wait for your reply eagerly and then i will go talk to her father about it .

Praise be to Allaah.
Praise be to Allaah Who has created in you the desire to enter Islam. We appreciate your asking about how to enter the religion of Allaah, which none will be saved on the Day of Resurrection but those who follow it. Allaah says in His Book, the Holy Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

Entering Islam is very simple and is not complicated at all. All that you have to do is to utter the Shahaadatayn (twin declaration of faith), which is the key to Islam and the summary and foundation of the faith. So say: Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah), then do ghusl (full ablution, washing your entire body) with the intention of purifying yourself for prayer, and practice all the rituals of Islam, the greatest of which is prayer, which connects a person with his Lord.

We would like to point out a number of things to you:

1 – You say, “I love her so much that I am willing to embrace Islam.” Although the motive for your entering Islam may be your desire to marry a Muslim woman at this stage, when you become Muslim, learn more about this religion and practise it sincerely in your life, then your conviction will become stronger, your intention will become pure, and you will become more sincere towards Allaah and become fully convinced of Islam’s validity, for nothing can cleanse and purify the soul but that.

2 – You say “We have always been good friends and gone to the same college”

Please note that one of the basic aims of Islamic sharee’ah is to preserve people’s honour. Islam has enjoined many regulations in order to achieve this basic aim, one of which is the prohibition on free mixing between men and women even in the noblest of places and when seeking the highest of objectives. One of the teachings of Islam is that men should be separated from women in the mosque. Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (440) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best rows for men are those at the front and the worst are those at the back, and the best rows for women are those at the back and the worst are those at the front.”

Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim (4/159): What is meant by the worst rows for men and women are those that bring less reward, are lower in status and furthest removed from achieving the aims of sharee’ah. The best rows are the opposite of that. The best rows for women who attend prayers with men are the last rows, because they are further away from mixing with men, seeing them and becoming attracted to them when seeing their movements, hearing their words and so on. The front rows are criticized for the opposite reasons. And Allaah knows best. End quote.

Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Contact between two who love one another in a manner that is not Islamically acceptable is a serious problem. In this case it is not permissible for the man to contact the woman or the woman to contact the man, and say that he wants to marry her. Rather he should inform her wali (guardian) that he wants to marry her, or she should tell her wali that she wants to marry him, as ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) did when he offered his daughter Hafsah in marriage to Abu Bakr and ‘Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with them both).

But if the woman gets in touch directly with the man, this is a source of fitnah (temptation).

As’ilat al-Baab il-Maftoohah, question no. 868.

3 – You say: “but we do not want to elope.”

We appreciate this approach which tells us of your good attitude and sound mind.

4 – You say: “I would like to marry her as she is a wonderful person, kind, loving, intelligent and pious.”

This indicates that you are keen to marry one who is fit to be a good example to your children and will strive to be easy going with you. The good characteristics that you have mentioned are some of those which Islam has described as motives for marriage. It is narrated in al-Saheehayn and elsewhere from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Women may be married for four things: their wealth, their lineage, their beauty and their religious commitment. Choose the one who is religiously-committed, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may your prosper).”

This hadeeth indicates that the most important motive for marriage, which one should pay attention to, is religious commitment and good character.

5 – You say, “I know Islam welcomes people into its fold.”

This shows that you have a fair-minded view of this religion which came as a mercy to the worlds.

By the grace and mercy of Allaah, He has caused Islam to erase whatever sins came before it. If a kaafir becomes Muslim, Allaah forgives him for everything that he did when he was a kaafir, and he becomes cleansed of sin. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning)”

[al-Anfaal 8:38]

Muslim (121) narrated that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: … when Allaah put Islam in my heart I came to the Prophet (S) and said: Hold out your right hand so that I might swear allegiance to you. So he held out his right hand, but I withdrew my hand. He said: “What is the matter, O ‘Amr?”  I said: I want to stipulate a condition. He said, “What do you want to stipulate?” I said: That I will be forgiven. He said: “Do you not know, O ‘Amr, that Islam destroys whatever came before it…?”

“Islam destroys whatever came before it” means it erases it and removes all trace of it. This was stated by al-Nawawi in Sharh Muslim.

Finally, we have high hopes of a happy future for you, because you are starting out well, as we see from your question, especially if we ponder the meaning of the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam”

[al-An’aam 6:125]

We ask Allaah to open your heart to this religion and to help you to enter it. Undoubtedly that will be good news for the Muslim woman whom you are going to marry, because she knows that she cannot marry you until you become Muslim, as is the law of the Lord of the Worlds. We welcome you to come and ask questions at this website and to read it, and to cooperate with us in doing good.

May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.

becoming a Muslim

I would like to become a musilim.
Is this possible? And if so, how can this happen. I do not know much.I know some things.

Praise be to Allaah.

Any human being can embrace Islam. You do not need anyone’s permission. You simply say and believe that there is No God except Allah and that Mohammad is his Messenger. Once you say this sentence, you automatically become Muslim. From there, you start carrying on with the duties of Islam. You must do what Allah and His messenger tell you to, and stay away from what they tell you to. Islam does not tell you to do anything unless it is good for you. It also does not tell you to stay away from anything unless it is bad for you. You will notice the change in the way you look at things, the minute you become a Muslim. You will feel more relieved and secure only to think that you are fulfilling the orders of Allah. Doing this, you will clearly see the benefits of it for yourself and for mankind. You can embrace Islam in any Islamic center. This is only a formality. Once you say and believe in the Oneness of Allah and in the message of his Prophet Mohammad, then you are a Muslim.

To become a Muslim, simply say the following words:

Ash hadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ash hadu anna Mohammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.

This means I testify and witness that there is no god worthy of being worshipped other than Allah and that Mohammad is his Messenger. You must say it and believe in it.

asking what is our religion

define religion?
define whats is the imprtance of society in islam.how other religion

Praise be to Allaah.

Our religion is Islam. It is the religion revealed to our Prophet Mohammd, praising and peace of Allah (God) be upon him. He told us to worship non-but Allah and to believe and follow the teaching of the Quran, the Holy Book. He ordered us to do good and stay away from evil. Islam is based on five pillars, which are: To believe there is no god but Allah and that Mohammad is his slave and messenger, to pray five times in a night and day in fixed times, to fast the month of Ramadan, to give alms to the poor and to perform pilgrimage at least once in a life time.

Islam rules everything in our lives. A society must go by the teaching of Islam in order to reach perfection. Islam governs the relationship between a Muslim and the environment, the people around him and even the animals. Islam has a say in everything in our lives and the more you apply it to your life, the better you feel.

Feelings of a Christian man of religion towards his daughter’s Islam

I am a Christian minister--Yet I feel that after reading your teaching on ,"how to treat your wife",was exllent in our creators eyes . I know that we have different vieues on The Holy One who has made us.Yet I am a student of the scriptures, but also student to understanding. I have a daughter who married a muslim. I don't even know if I'm right in ,the case of calling my son-law a musilm. For he is a devoted to the teaching of the Koran. Lately I had a discussion with my daughter. Remember this I do not preach that she has made the wrong mistake, or try to force my oppinion on her.I love her,and my son -inlaw as well. I need to not preach what I believe,but my actions should show love. I thank you and all our brothers ,that we shall know the truth together. Again I hope and pray for peace. Yours in Loving of the Brotherhood …

Praise be to Allaah.

We thank you very much for expressing these kind feelings. The fact that you have not stood in the way of your daughter and her husband in their following of Islam is indicative of your fair mindedness and respect for the beliefs of others. At the same time, we cannot hide our wish that you could join us and your daughter and her husband in following this religion, the great religion of Islam. We know that the matter may appear difficult, especially for a man who represents and studies another religion, but who knows, maybe this study will be followed by a proper study of Islam which will lead to a new conviction. We wish you well always, and pray that Allaah will guide us all to the path of truth and guidance. Thank you once again.

He is convinced of Islam but is concerned about his parents who are staunch Christians

I am a Christian who is highly interested in Islam, in fact I think it is the TRUE religion of God . My problem is that my parents are staunch Catholics and get furious on seeing the Koran inside our house. I do not wish to displease anyone and at the same time I want to continue with what is best . Please advise me accordingly. Is there a way out of this dilemma? Would appreciate a quick reply.

Praise be to Allaah.

We thank you very much for sending this question to us, and we say to you that your deep interest in Islam is what will make you embrace this religion soon, in sha Allaah (if Allaah wills). Your current attitude is an important step towards entering this religion, which Allaah wants and besides which He accepts no other religion. Your conviction that this is the true religion of Allaah means that you must now take the ultimate step and pronounce the Shahaadatayn (the twin declarations of faith). When this reply reaches you, go and take a bath (ghusl) and say:

“Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah).” Then start to practice the rituals of this great religion, above all the five daily prayers at the appointed times, as Allaah enjoined them.

Know that one of the rules of Islam is that you should love Allaah and His Messenger, and that love for Allaah should take priority over love for anyone else. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allaah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allaah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allaah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqoon (the rebellious, disobedient to Allaah)” [al-Tawbah 9:24]

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are three things, whoever attains them will find the sweetness of faith: when Allaah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than everything else; when he loves another person he loves him only for the sake of Allaah; and when he hates to return to Kufr as he would hate to be thrown into the fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh, no. 15).

This means that love for Allaah must come before love for one’s parents and any other created being. If there is a conflict between pleasing Allaah and pleasing your parents, then pleasing Allaah must take precedence. In your situation, as you have described it, we advise you to do the following with regard to your parents:

Address them in the best of terms and treat them in the best manner

If they insist that you follow kufr, then conceal your Islam if you fear that you are not able to confront them openly, and pray where they cannot see you

Do not think at all that there is any burden or sin on you if they get angry with you for becoming a Muslim. Remember that when a person pleases Allaah even though it makes people angry, Allaah will be pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him.

Keep on praying for them to be guided and call them to Islam with wisdom and beautiful preaching. Maybe Allaah will guide them through you.

We ask Allaah to help you in this world and the next. Peace be upon those who follow true guidance.