Before you proceed please read :
In this we aim to post questions asked by Non Muslims during processions like street daw`ah and other instances when the time is short and the answer to be given has to be catchy and striking so as to both answer the question as well as grasp the attention of the non Muslim . We fully acknowledge that many questions , rather all of them have alternate answers which could be very lengthy and sometimes need more than a verse or hadeeth to explain fully.However this is an initiative wherein we will try our best to keep the answers in line with the Qur`an and sunnah `ala fahamis salaf and also keep it short so as to help our brothers on street to be quick in answering. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticms then they are most welcome. These Questions are mainly picked up from personal experiences in dealing with Non Muslims and the nature of the questions can be from political to religious and you'll be amazed with the kind of questions some non Muslims ask. it is as if they are well versed with many other topics and thus they wanted more of a fatwa than a challenge. Also, it is the responsibility of the da`ee to convey the answers or use them to his advantage. we will only give you a chalkline , the rest is upto you .
Table of Contents of Part 3 of the Question and Answer series
Question 21) Why doesn’t Islam believe in Absolute freedom?
Question 22) How Does Islam change something that is culturally fed or inscribed within a person. Can you give an example?
Question 23) So you say believing in the pre-destination of things i.e the divine decree or qadr as you say it, is compulsory for one to be a Muslim? If so, then why do I need to earn or stay away from fire?
Question no. 24) How can something that is good also be bad? You say being forgiving always is not a good thing but forgiving is a good thing too??!.
Question 25 : What if everyone on this earth were to disbelieve? How would it affect your god?
Question 21 : Why doesn’t Islam believe in Absolute freedom?
Answer : Not only Islam, but the very president of this country also does not give absolute freedom. Do you have the freedom to go and kill someone? Or to go and start a business without registering it first ? No, then why blame Islam ? The concept of "Absolute" freedom is ALIEN to mankind. No one spoke of it before and no one even thought of it as it is well known that it opposed the natural balance of creation.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen rahimahullah said it so beautifully and concisely :
Islam does not restrict freedom, but it is rather a means to regulate and channel it in the right way, such that the freedom of one person does not clash with the freedom of another person [1] . This is what occurs when freedom is granted without boundaries, because any person who desires absolute freedom without any boundaries will inevitably fulfil this at the expense of other people’s freedom [2] . As a result of this discord occurs when people’s freedom clashes, chaos spreads and corruption sets in. it is for this reason that Allah named the injunctions of the religion (which are called as) : “hudood (limits)”
[Ref: Min Mushkilaat ash-shabaab, page 21-25; Daar al-Manaar]
[1] E.g : I want the freedom to park my car right at your door gate , but you want the freedom to keep your entrance empty
[2] E.g I want the freedom to roam around naked and to facilitate that I pass a bill banning Hijaab in my nation
One example of wanting absolute freedom gone wrong is a thief wanting to steal your car, or how the man in florida wanted rights to marry to his computer !! or how a bunch of feminists women tend to strip naked at any place and somehow think that this would serve their purpose of honouring women !!
For a bit more detailed answer and news links to the above examples , please see : http://whytheshariah.blogspot.com/2014/10/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute.html
Q22) How Does Islam change something that is culturally fed or inscribed within a person. Can you give an example?
As an example , there are some countries today in the west where separating from your parents , sending in a post card once a year, or visiting them only on holidays is considered good. However according to others , especially Muslims from asia and arab land this is outrageously heinous i.e showing concern and love on specific occasions only and not everyday of your life.. Even if say an American revert muslim was to have that mentality as per his culture and surrounding, the good news is that his new faith - Islam would change that into something much better .
An example : See 150 ways of how to be dutiful to your mother - excellent - by shaykh sulaiman as-suqair
http://www.islamhouse.com/727892/en/en/books/150_Ways_To_Be_Dutiful_To_Your_Mother
Honestly, how many non muslim scholars ever propagate or focus on such important topics that are related to one’s culture ?
Answer
This is a deep question [sometimes asked by a Muslim as well]. Usually when a Non Muslim asks me this, I first explain how unwise and harmful it would serve to be if someone who is asking about a university level question hasn’t even passed the primary and nursery yet. Then I take him towards the other basics which are a pre-requirement for understanding this topic.
However, if need be, we have to answer and this is one of the short answers I prefer to answer with is:
Anas ibn Malik reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah, or should I untie her and trust in Allah?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”
[Ref: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2517]
Imam ibn Qayyim said :
"There are those who ask why they should ask about anything when everything is already determined. Then we ask them why they should eat when they become hungry when it already is determined that he will eat? These are more misguided than the animals, even the animals take means to achieve something."
[Ref: الداء والدواء ط المجمع , p.18]
وقد سئل أحمد عن رجل جلس في بيته أو في المسجد وقال لا أعمل شيئا حتى يأتيني رزقي فقال هذا رجل جهل العلم فقد قال النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – إن الله جعل رزقي تحت ظل رمحي وقال لو توكلتم على الله حق توكله لرزقكم كما يرزق الطير تغدو خماصا وتروح بطانا فذكر أنها تغدو وتروح في طلب الرزق قال وكان الصحابة يتجرون ويعملون في نخيلهم والقدوة بهم . انتهى
Ahmad [bin Hanbal] was asked about a man who sits in his house or in the masjid and says, ‘I will not do any work until my provision comes to me,’ so he said, ‘This man is ignorant of knowledge, for the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Verily Allah has made my provision under the shade of my spear,” and he said, ‘If you were to exercise al-tawakkal upon Allah with the reliance which He is due, then He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening.” So he mentioned that they go out in the morning and return in the evening in the pursuit of provision. And the sahaabah used to strive and work in the date-palm fields and we have an example in them.” End quote
[Ref: Fath al-Bari under 9675]
(حديث موقوف) حَدَّثَنِي حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ الْعَامِرِيُّ ، نا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ ، أنا عَوْنُ بْنُ مُوسَى ، عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ قُرَّةَ ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ لَقِيَ نَاسًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ ، فَقَالَ : " مَنْ أَنْتُمْ ؟ " . قَالُوا : نَحْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ ، قَالَ : " بَلْ أَنْتُمُ الْمُتَّكِلُونَ ، إِنَّمَا الْمُتَوَكِّلُ الَّذِي يُلْقِي حَبَّهُ فِي الأَرْضِ ، وَيَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَى اللَّهِ " .
Mua`wiya Ibn Qurra said: `Umar Ibn al-Khattab met some people from Yemen, and asked them: "Who are you?,
they said: 'We are al-Mutawakkilun' (those who put their trust in Allah), he told them: 'You are al-Muta 'akilun (the rusty), (as) al-Mutawakkil is the one who ploughs his land and then puts his trust on Allah"
[Ref: Al-Irshad Ila Sahih al-I`tiqaad, 78]
Question no. 24) How can something that is good also be bad? You say being forgiving always is not a good thing but forgiving is a good thing too??!.
Answer :
Rain is something that is not only good but also a necessity for human and non-human population right? At the same time, can’t the rain be harmful causing floods and what have you, as is evident ? This is why a balanced approach towards everything is what Islam teaches. Too much of sugar can kill you and too less of sugar can spoil your taste. The best part is that we learn this wisdom from our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as is known from his life and teachings. One such event was wherein it rained and our prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) said :
O Allah! I beseech thee for the good of it, the good in it, the good that it brings, and I seek refuge in you from its evil, the evil that’s in it and the evil that comes with it.
[Ref: Sahih Muslim, hadith: 2082 ]
So yes forgiving people is good however forgiving someone who killed your mother and many more humans is not good for punishment is which our God legislated for the better good and this is why mankind is known to have punished as and when required. Some abused this power whereas some were too lineant about it. Punishment is just like correction, sometimes you have to correct people for the greater good and likewise sometimes you have to punish for the greater good. Islam is about justice and always forgiving is not only injustice but also inhumane .
Question 25 : What if everyone on this earth were to disbelieve? How would it affect your god?
Answer : Allah glorified be he is far from being affected or having a need. These attributes are not applied on Allah.
Allah says in the Qur`an : “If you disbelieve, you and all on the earth together, then verily! Allah is Ghani,(rich of any need or anything) Hamid (exalted and praiseworthy.) (14:8)
