Frequently Asked Questions about Islam
Some Frequently Asked Questions about Islam
1. What is Jihad ?
Jihad is an Arabic word that means striving for a particular objective. In the Holy Qur’an when Allah (God) calls upon people to engage in Jihad this refers to striving for a noble cause.
This Jihad can be carried out in many ways – all of which seek to establish and promote peace in society:
The struggle for self-reformation: This is considered the greatest Jihad as it is the struggle against our selfish temptations such as greed, lust and other worldly desires. It requires us to become more self-disciplined so that we are able to exercise moral control over our thoughts and actions.
The duty of Muslims to convey the true message of Islam to others: The Holy Qur’an stresses that this form of Jihad must be carried out with wisdom, tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs and prohibits the use of any coercion or force.
The spending of one’s wealth to help the needy: Helping those in need, irrespective of their colour, creed or race, is a form of Jihad that not only helps to alleviate the suffering of mankind but also establishes social peace and harmony between the rich and the poor.
The defensive battle: The Holy Qur’an has made clear that this type of Jihad (which is a Jihad of the lower order) can only take place in certain circumstances. These circumstances are described in the following verses of the Holy Qur’an:
Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged – and Allah indeed has power to help them – Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ – And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and ynagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated.(Ch.22:Vs.40-41)
From this it is clear that Muslims can only take up arms in self-defence if they have suffered oppression, faced a threat to their life and been driven out of their homes simply for practising their religion.
In fact according to Islam if Muslims are persecuted for practising their religion then they should first leave the place where they are being oppressed and seek a new abode. If even in their new abode the oppressor continues to threaten their lives and continues to attack them in order to stop them from practising their religion, then Muslims have been given the right to take up arms in self-defence.
It is important to note that the battle can only be defensive and not an offensive one. This is re-affirmed in the Holy Qur’an that states:
And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely Allah loves not the transgressors. (Ch.2:V.191)
Should the need for a defensive battle arise then Islam also provides Muslims clear instructions regarding what can and cannot be done, e.g. civilians who are not fighting against Muslims are not to be attacked, property such as crops or other sources of food and water, hospitals, orphanages, places of worship (of all religions) are not to be destroyed and women, children, the old and the disabled are to be left untouched. Hence, it is very clear that the purpose of any such battle is to restore peace and not to promote aggression.
Jihad in all its forms is, therefore, a means to promote peace both in ourselves and in our society. Any action, therefore, that does not promote peace cannot be referred to as Jihad.
2. What is Islam’s view on terrorism?
Islam opposes terrorism in all forms because the word ‘Islam’ literally means peace. The obligation upon Muslims to uphold peace is so deeply rooted in Islam that the Holy Qur’an describes true Muslims as follows:
And the servants of the Gracious God are those who walk on the earth in a dignified manner, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace!” (Ch.25:V.64)
The fourth Khalifa (caliph) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, has explained Islam’s view on terrorism in the clearest terms. He said:
‘As far as Islam is concerned, it categorically rejects and condemns every form of terrorism. It does not provide any cover or justification for any act of violence, be it committed by an individual, group or government.... I most strongly condemn all acts and forms of terrorism because it is my deeply rooted belief that not only Islam but also no true religion, whatever its name, can sanction violence and bloodshed of innocent men, women and children in the name of God.’ (Murder in the Name of Allah, pp.116 and 119).
3. What is Islam’s view on obedience to the law of the land?
In Islam, obedience to the law of the land is a religious duty. The Holy Qur’an commands Muslims to remain faithful to not only Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), but also to the authority they live under. It states:
O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority over you. (Ch.4:V.60)
This duty has been further explained by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the present head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community who said:
“A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or government of the time. It is the responsibility of a true Muslim that he should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.” (Address at the opening of the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, Surrey in October 2003)
4. Are women inferior to men in Islam?
A companion of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once asked him “Who is best entitled to kind treatment and good companionship from me?” The Prophet answered: “Your mother”. The companion then asked “And after her?” The Prophet answered, “Your mother.” The companion then asked the same question a third time to which the Prophet gave the same answer. When the companion asked the same question once more, the Prophet then said, “Your father and then other close relatives.” (Bukhari).
This saying alone refutes the misconception that women are inferior to men in Islam, and in particular it demonstrates how much importance Islam gives to the respect for one’s mother.
According to Islam all believers are equal and only righteous deeds elevate one person above another. However, Islam also recognises that such equality does not mean that men and women are the same in terms of their capabilities and roles. It notes their different physical and emotional strengths and in view of this sets out their key roles in life. The roles are therefore not a reflection of superiority or inferiority, but a matter of natural capacity and proper functioning. For example, men have been assigned the duty to work and provide for their family whereas women have been assigned the role of motherhood and of looking after the household. Islam places equal importance on both and also stresses that the roles are neither exclusive nor inflexible i.e., Islam does not prohibit women from working or serving society nor does it discharge men from their share of responsibility for their children and household.
In Islam a woman is entitled to individual ownership of property. If she is married and chooses to work then the money she earns is hers and the husband has no right over it, whereas a husband must provide financially for the whole family. Any property that a wife acquires by her own effort, or might inherit or receive as a legacy or gift, belongs to her independently of her husband. Islam also granted women the right of inheritance and accordingly they receive their due share as prescribed by Shariah (Islamic Law). This economic independence of women was established by Islam well before any similar rights were given to women in the modern world. In the United Kingdom, for example, it is well known that a married woman could not hold any property of her own as late as 1882 when the first Married Women’s Property Act was passed by Parliament.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) exalted the intellectual and spiritual status of women. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) knew the essential part that women had to play in the development of society, so he laid great stress on the upbringing of girls by saying: “A man who has two daughters and brings them up and educates them to the best of his capacity and gets them married shall be entitled to paradise.” [Upon hearing this] a person asked: “O Prophet of Allah, what if he has one daughter?” He replied: “And (even) one.”(Al Mo’jam
Al-Ausat).
5. What is the punishment for apostasy in Islam?
There is no punishment for apostasy in Islam. Furthermore, there is not a single example of any punishment for apostasy having been prescribed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Islam stresses freedom of religion for all, leaving people to follow the religion of their choice. On this the Holy Qur’an states:
There should be no compulsion in religion. (Ch.2:V.257)
For you your religion, and for me my religion. (Ch.109:V.7)
Freedom of religion is therefore a key principle in Islam and it makes clear that religion is a personal matter between man and God. People are free to believe in any religion and to change their beliefs without any punishment from man (Holy Qur’an Ch.4:V.138). However, Islam reminds us that we will be held accountable for our beliefs and actions before God.
6. What is the punishment for blasphemy in Islam?
There is no punishment in Islam for blasphemy. No such punishment is prescribed in the Holy Qur’an, or in any of the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Islam promotes respect for all religions for the sake of peace in society and it does not set out any punishment for blasphemy despite the offence it may cause people of faith.
7. Are non-Muslims allowed inside a mosque?
Anyone is allowed inside a mosque as long as they are clean and dressed modestly. People should also take off their shoes before entering the mosque to keep the mosque clean as the worshippers have to prostrate on the floor. People of any faith are also allowed to pray in a mosque as long as they are not worshipping idols. A good example of this is when Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) allowed a group of Christians to hold their prayer service inside his mosque in Madinah (Zurqani).
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK has built several mosques around Britain including the first mosque in London (1924) and the largest mosque in Western Europe (in Morden) opened in 2003 (pictured below). If you would like to visit a mosque then please contact us for more information.
8. What do Muslims believe about past prophets and scriptures?
Two of the six articles of faith for a Muslim are, to believe in the Prophets of God and to believe in the Divine Scriptures. Therefore Muslims believe that all prophets were sent by God and that the scriptures in their original form were Divine revelations that, amongst other things, taught the absolute unity of God.
According to the Holy Qur’an, God has sent His Messengers to every nation, it states:
There is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent. (Ch.35:V.25)
And for every people there is a Messenger. (Ch.10:V.48)
Some prophets have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an itself, such as Adam, Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them all). Other prophets (not mentioned in the Holy Qur’an by name) include Zoroaster, Krishna and Confucius (peace be on them all) to name but a few.
As mentioned above Muslims not only believe in all the earlier prophets but also in the revelations and Scriptures given to those Prophets by God. In the Holy Qur’an itself, reference is made to four revealed books other than the Holy Qur’an. These are:
SUHUF
(Scriptures of Abraham, peace be upon him, Ch.87:V.20)
Of the Suhuf of Abraham nothing is known today.
These scriptures were probably never recorded in writing.
TAURAAT
(Torah of Moses, peace be upon him, Ch.3:V.4)
The Tauraat comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and contains the complete Law for the Israelites. These five books are, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, these five books are known as the Pentateuch. The Torah was passed down the generations by the word of mouth and was finally recorded in writing some hundreds of years after Moses (peace be upon him).
ZABUR
(Psalms of David, peace be upon him, Ch.4:V.164)
Very little is known today of Zabur, or the revelations of Prophet David (peace be upon him).
In the Hebrew Bible there are many psalms (sacred songs or hymns) attributed to David
(peace be upon him) which may constitute part of the Zabur.
INJEEL
(Gospel of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, Ch.5:V.47)
The Injeel or Gospel was revealed to the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) but was not recorded during his lifetime. After his death, attempts were made to record his teachings in writing. Of the many such narratives, four were selected by the early Church as official accounts of the teachings of Jesus (peace be upon him). These four versions of the Gospel are known today as the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. However there are other gospels (that are not included in the Bible) that also contain important information about the life and teachings of Jesus (peace be upon him).
With the exception of the Holy Qur’an none of the revealed books retained their original form.
More FAQs about Islam can be found by visiting IslamicFAQ.org