FAQ’s – Canadians Council of Scholars

Frequently Asked Questions

Allah means God.
Muslims use the word. Allah is “the God,”.
When translating Arabic expressions; translate all the words for consistency. The translation of “Allahu Akbar,” for example, would be “God is greater,” or “God is Great” not “Allah is greater.”

Who are Muslims?

Muslims are followers of Islam, one of the three Abrahamic faiths, along with Christianity and Judaism. Islam has members around the world and, like Christianity; most of its members are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who worship the one God. Muslims believe Mohammed to be the final Messenger of God. His message is a universal one and is the culmination of the teaching of all earlier prophets such as Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and David. Also, as with Christianity and other faith traditions throughout history, its teachings have been used by some people to justify violence.

What is Halal?

Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. In reference to food, it is the dietary standard, as prescribed in the Qur’an (the Muslim scripture). The opposite of halal is haram, which means unlawful or prohibited. Halal and haram are universal terms that apply to all facets of life. These terms are commonly used in relation to food products, meat products, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and food contact materials and others.

Mercy for Animals?

Islam places great emphasis in the way in which an animal’s life ends, which has to be in accordance with Islamic regulations. Life is a sacred blessing of God to creation, animals as well as humans.
If the life of an animal has to be ended for human survival, then its life should only be taken in the name of God. Hence, the phrase bismillah (‘in the name of God’) must be uttered just before slaughtering an animal.
Muslims cannot consume the meat of animals that are sacrificed in a name other than God. Any animal slaughtered in the name of a person alive or dead, any deity or idol will be considered as haram and therefore it is not permissible for Muslims to consume that meat.

Food Industry

In the meat and poultry food industry, animals such as cows, veal, lamb, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, game birds, bison, venison, etc; are considered halal, but they must be slaughtered and prepared according to Islamic laws in order for their meat to be suitable for consumption (see below).

Fish and seafood (with the exception of crocodiles, alligators and frogs) are generally acceptable for Muslims but as always check first, as there may be a personal dietary preference or allergy. The preparation of the fish or seafood should not include alcohol (ie batter or wine, or anything considered haram).

Definition

In general every food is considered halal in Islam unless it is specially prohibited by the Qur’an or the Hadith . By official definition, halal foods are those that are:

Free from any component that Muslims are prohibited from consuming according to Islamic law (Shariah).
Processed, made, produced, manufactured and/or stored using utensils, equipment and/or machinery that have been cleansed according to Islamic law.
Muslims eat to maintain a strong and healthy physique in order to be able to contribute their knowledge and effort for the welfare of the society. Muslims are supposed to make an effort to obtain the best quality nutritionally. It is mentioned in a Hadith that the prayer of a person is rejected by Allah if the food consumed is prohibited (haram).

How do I know if a product is Halal ?

GHC (Global Halal Check) only takes responsibility for verifying that the products it certifies are genuinely Halal. We oversee numerous companies involved in a variety of industries such as food and beverage, abattoir operations, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Please look for the (GHC) logo on products if you are unsure. You can also directly contact the manufacturer but be cautious, as there could still be some ingredients that they are not aware of as being doubtful and/or Haram. For this reason, ensuring the product is properly Halal-certified is ideal for peace of mind. And always remember, if in doubt, do without!

Khums

Is the Khums year based on the 12 month Gregorian calendar (365 days) or the 12 month Islamic (hijri) calendar (355 days)?

A person can choose to calculate his/her income based on the Islamic lunar calendar or the Gregorian solar calendar for Khums.

1775. A person can pay Khums as and when he/she earns a profit during a year, and it is also permissible to delay payment of Khums till the end of the year. And there is no objection if one adopts the solar year for the payment of Khums.

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.W.)

Muhammad S.A.W.

Who is Muhammad?

Muhammad was born in Mecca in the year 570AH. Since his father died before his birth and his mother shortly after wards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraish. As he grew up, he became known for this truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after, for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.

Muhammad liked solitude and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time in the cave of Hira, near the summit of Jabal-Al-Noor (The mountain of lights) near Mecca.

How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23 years, is known as the Holy Qur’an.

As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers encountered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622AH, God gave the command to migrate. This event, the Hijra ‘Migration’, in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, the prophet and his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the west and as far east as China.

Sayings of Prophet:

The most excellent Jihad (struggle) is that for the conquest of self.
He who wishes to enter Paradise at the best door must please his father and mother.
Charity is a duty unto every Muslim. He who has not the means thereto, let him do a good act or abstain from an evil one. That is his charity.
To spend more time in learning is better that spending more time in praying; the support of religion is abstinence. It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night than to pray the whole night.

Other Resources:

Beacons of Light by Abu Ali al-Fadl al-Tabarsi
Muhammad by Yasin T. al-Jibouri
Usul Al-Kafi by ash-Shaykh Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Ya’qub Ibn Ishaq al-Kulayni ar-Razi

Books available at IMAN Library:

The Life and Religion of Muhammad: Hayath al-Qulub by Allama Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi
The Message (The Holy Prophet of Allah) by Ayatullah Jafar Subhani
Prophet Muhammad (saww): A Concise Biography by Dr M H Datoo
He, his Messenger and his Message by Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr
Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong
The Sayings of Muhammad by Allama Sir Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy

وَطَعَام الَّذينَ أوتوا الكتَابَ حلٌّ لَّكم

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

اعلم أنكم لا تحللون طعام أهل الكتاب وتعتبرونه محرم وتقولون أن المراد بقوله عزوجل (( وَطَعَام الَّذينَ أوتوا الكتَابَ حلٌّ لَّكم وَطَعَامكم حلّ لَّهم )) هو ليس الذبيحة , وإنما طعام آخر , فماهو هذا الطعام ؟ وماهو دليلكم على أن المقصود بقوله عزوجل : (( وَطَعَام الَّذينَ أوتوا الكتَابَ حلٌّ لَّكم وَطَعَامكم حلّ لَّهم )) ليس هو الذبيحة ؟
أرجو منكم الأجابه بالتفصيل .

الجواب:

الأخ عبد الله المحترم
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
جمهور فقهاء الشيعة يذهب إلى حرمة ذبيحة أهل الكتاب, ودليلهم على ذلك هو الروايات المتواترة الدالة على حرمة ذبيحة أهل الكتاب, وروايات مفسرة لآية المائدة, الآية الخامسة تفسرها بأن المراد بها الحبوب والالبان وما شابه ذلك, فاذا رجعت الى مصادر الشيعة الحديثية وجدت فيها الروايات الكثيرة والمتواترة المصرحة بحرمة ذبيحة أهل الكتاب, وبامكانك مراجعة الروايات في المصادر التالية :
1- الكافي, للشيخ الكليني : 6/238, باب ذبائح أهل الكتاب ( ط / دار الكتب الاسلامية, ط / الرابعة ) .
2- تهذيب الاحكام, للشيخ الطوسي : 9/73, ب الذبائح والاطعمة ( ط / الاولى 1417 هـ ) .
3- وسائل الشيعة, للحر العاملي : 24/52, ب تحريم ذبائح الكفار من أهل الكتاب ( ط / مؤسسة آل البيت, ط / الثانية 1414 هـ ) .
4- الاستبصار, للشيخ الطوسي : 4/83 .
5- قرب الاسناد, للحميري : 275 .
6- مستدرك الوسائل, للنوري : 16/148 .
وهناك مصادر أخرى أيضاً وردت فيها روايات تحرم ذبيحة أهل الكتاب وتفسر الآية التي ذكرتها من سورة المائدة بالحبوب والالبان وما على شاكلتها, وتنفي أن يكون المراد بها الذبيحة . وهنا نذكر بعض الروايات :

الرواية الأولى : روى الكليني في كتابه (الكافي) بسند صحيح, قال : سأل رجل أبا عبد الله عليه السلام وأنا عنده, فقال له : الغنم يرسل فيها اليهودي والنصراني فيعرض فيها عارض فيذبح أتأكل ذبيحته ؟ فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام : ( لا تدخل ثمنها مالك, ولا تأكلها, فانما هو الاسم, ولا يؤمن إلا مسلم ) . فقال له الرجل : فما نصنع في قول الله تعالى : (( اليَومَ أحلَّ لَكم الطَّيّبَات وَطَعَام الَّذينَ أوتوا الكتَابَ حلٌّ لَّكم …)) (النساء:5) ؟ فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام : ( كان أبي يقول إنما هي الحبوب ) .
(الكافي : 6/239, ح 7) .

الرواية الثانية : وفي تهذيب عن هشام بن سالم عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قول تبارك وتعالى : (( وطعامهم حل لكم )) قال عليه السلام : ( العدس والحمص وأشباه ذلك ).(تهذيب الاحكام : 9/88, ط / الرابعة) .

الرواية الثالثة : وصحيحة الحسين الاحمسي عن الصادق عليه السلام قال : قال له رجل : أصلحك الله إن لنا جاراً قصاباً فيجيء يهودي فيذبح له حتى يشتري منه اليهود ؟ فقال عليه السلام : ( لا تأكل من ذبيحته ولا تشتر منه ) .
إلى غير ذلك من الروايات التي بعضها يفسر آية المائدة بأن المراد منها الحبوب والعدس والحمص بحيث لا يراد منه الذبيحة, وبعضها ينهى عن أكل ذبيحة الكتابي ويحكم بعدم حليتها, فلأجل ذلك ذهب جمهور فقهاء الشيعة الى تحريم ذبيحة أهل الكتاب .

وأيضاً نقول : إن لفظ الطعام الوارد في الآية (( وَطَعَام الَّذينَ أوتوا… )) وإن كان بحسب أصل اللغة يشمل كل ما يأكله الانسان ويتقوى به, لكن هناك بعض اللغويين ذكر ان المراد بالطعام البر وسائر الحبوب, ففي لسان العرب ( تحت مادة طعم ) قال : وأهل الحجاز اذا أطلقوا اللفظ بالطعام عنوا به البر خاصة, وذكر عن الخليل أنه قال : العالي في كلام العرب أن الطعام هو البر خاصة . وأيضاً كلام ابن الاثير في النهاية يشير الى ذلك .
وعلى هذا فترتفع الغراية في الذهاب الى تحريم ذبيحة الكتابي, وحمل الآية على غير الذبائح, لان الطعام في اللغة يكون موضوع للحبوب والبر .
وإذا لم تقبل بذلك وقلت بأن الطعام لغة وهو كل ما يتقوى به الانسان, فيشمل الذبيحة! فنقول: دليلنا على حرمة ذبيحة الكتابي هو الروايات المفسرة للآية الكريمة .
قال الله تعالى : (( وَلاَ تَأكلوا ممَّا لَم يذكَر اسم اللّه عَلَيه وَإنَّه لَفسقٌ وَإنَّ الشَّيَاطينَ لَيوحونَ إلَى أَوليَآئهم ليجَادلوكم وَإن أَطَعتموهم إنَّكم لَمشركونَ )) (الأنعام:121). فهذه الآية الكريمة تحرم ما لم يذكر اسم الله عليه, وتعبر عنه بانه فسق, واذا رجعنا الى سورة المائدة (3), وسورة الأنعام ( 145, 3, 121 ), وسورة النحل والبقرة أيضاً نجد أن القرآن يعبر عما لم يذكر اسم الله عليه بالرجس تارة وبالفسق أخرى وبالاثم ثالثة, فاذا كان هذا وصف ما لم يذكر اسم الله عليه فلا يمكن أن يكون حلالاً ومشمولاً لقوله تعالى : (( اليَومَ أحلَّ لَكم الطَّيّبَات )) (المائدة:5), اذ الرجس والفسق والاثم لا يكون باي حالف من الاحوال طيباً, فعليه لابد من حمل الاية على ما ذكرته الروايات من أن المراد بها الحبوب والعدس والالبان وما شاكلها, ولا ما يشمل الذبائح .
وهناك نكتة في الآية تساعدنا على أن المراد بحلية طعام أهل الكتاب لنا ليست حلية تكليفية, وهي قوله تعالى : (( وطعامكم حل لهم )), فان من الجلي لكل أحد أن الكتابي يأكل كل شيء ولا يحرم طعام أي إنسان, فما معنى أن يخاطبه الله بان طعام المسلمين حل لكم, لان الكتابي لا يعرف الحرمة ولا الحلية ولا يرى تكليف وغير ذلك, فما معنى هذا الخطاب من الله سبحانه وتعالى لأهل الكتاب, الذين لا يرون ذلك ؟
فنقول : هذا قرينة على أن الحلية التي خاطب بها الله أهل الكتاب ليست حلية تكليفية, وإنما الآية ناظرة الى قضية, وهي أن المسلمين بعد أن بدأت تكاليف الشريعة الاسلامية استشكلوا في طعام أهل الكتاب, لانهم على خلاف عقيدتهم, واصحبوا في شك من التعامل معهم وتناول ما بأيديهم, فلذلك نزلت هذه الآية المباركة لتبين أن طعامهم حلال وان تناوله غير مضر, ولذلك أردفه بقوله : (( وطعامكم حل لكم )) .
ودمتم في رعاية الله

What is the Quran?

The Quran is the holy book for Muslims, who believe it contains the word of God revealed to the prophet Muhammad. The Quran or `recitation’ was revealed over a period of 22 years. Muslims regard it as the direct word of God speaking in the first person. The usage of “Koran” like “Moslem” is not favoured by Muslims. The Quran is not the Muslim “Bible,” because the Bible is seen as a secondary text while the Quran is a primary source of revelation. The Quran is a seal and purifier of all the previous scriptures. It speaks of distortions that crept into earlier texts and gives the message that all prophets and messengers brought in a pure and unadulterated form. The Quran recognizes previous revelations like the Torah and the Gospel as well as labels together respectfully the Jews, Christians and Muslims as “the People of the Book”. The Quran has been translated into many languages, including English, and is available on the Web. Other spellings are Qur’an and Koran. Variations come from transliterating Arabic into English.

Who Is An Imam?

The leader of prayer at a mosque is usually called an Imam. He might also be called a Sheikh [scholar/person of Islamic knowledge]. One of an Imam’s responsibilities is to give sermons on Friday, the holiest day of the typical Islamic week. To journalists, an Imam can be an important local community leader and a good source of information about local Muslims.

What Is The Meaning Of Mushbooh?

While many things are clearly Halal or Haram, there are some things which are not clear. Further information is needed to categorize them as Halal or Haram. Such items are often referred to as mashbooh, which means doubtful or questionable.

Mushbooh is an Arabic term meaning doubtful. If one does not know the Halal or Haram status of a particular food or drink, such a food or drink is doubtful. A practicing Muslim avoids consuming doubtful things.

What Is Necessity?

In cases of necessity, prohibited things may become permissible (Halal) for the duration of the emergency or need, as Islam puts a priority on life over death. Refer to Qur’an at Chapter 2:173 (Al Baqarah).

What Is Agar?

Is agar (which is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin) that is derived from seaweed halal (permissible)? In other words is the plant seaweed halal (permissible)?

It is halal (permissible) since agar comes from seaweed, and seaweed is a vegetable.

Imam Al-Hussain (A.S.)

Husain (A.S.) was the son of Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W.) cousin, and first Imam Ali bin Abu Talib (A.S.), and his daughter Fatima (A.S.). He was the 3rd Shia Imam, becoming Imam after his brother Hassan (A.S.).

Husain (A.S). and his brother Hassan (A.S). were the last descendants of Muhammad (S.A.W.) living during his lifetime and remaining after his death. Muhammad (S.A.W.) said that whoever loves them has loved me and whoever hates them has hated me. The Prophet of Islam introduced them as the flowers of the Prophet, the Imams and leaders of the Muslims whether they fight or make peace (with the enemy), and the leaders of the youth of Paradise.

During the reign of his father, Husain (A.S.) playing upon his life used to be busy defending Islam and fighting against the tyrants and brutal. He fought against the enemies by the side of his father like his brother Hassan (A.S.) in the battles of Jamal, Safeen, and Neherwan.

Husain (A.S.) and the battle of Karbala

During Husain’s (A.S.) imamate Muawiya was the Caliph. According to the treaty he made with Hassan (A.S.), Muawiyah was to appoint Husain (A.S.) as the Caliph, but instead he appointed his son Yazid as his successor. Yazid was a tyrant, who openly disobeyed Islamic practices, and violated human rights. To abate the civil unrest and unhappiness with him, he tried to get allegiance from Husain (A.S.). Husain (A.S.) however refused to endorse his corrupt governance and left Medina for Kufa.

From the day he left Medina, Husain (A.S.) made his mission clear. It was not to fight Yazid to get the throne of the empire over which the Caliph ruled. Husain’s (A.S.) mission was to reawaken the spirit of Islam and rekindle the Islamic conscience which was nearing extinction by the conduct of Muawiya and Yazid. Justice and morality were gradually being destroyed by the greed for land and power of those who had become rulers.

Yazid was scared of the support that Husain (A.S.) would be able to rally in Kufa which was his fathers capital, that he sent an army to stop Hussain (A.S.) from entering Kufa and instead made him camp out at the plains of Karbala. In Karbala Husain (A.S.) was threatened by the huge army which tried to coerce his allegiance. When Husain (A.S.) refused, they openly declared war on his small party of friends and followers. Husain (A.S.) knew that Yazid was going to kill him, so he asked everyone else to leave him, but his friends and family refused to abandon their Imam. Husain (A.S.) preferred martyrdom over life under a tyrant; he preferred a glorious death against a life in which he could have attained the highest worldly position had he pledged allegiance to Yazid.

On 10th of Muharram, the day of Ashurah, Yazid’s army massacared Imam Husain’s (A.S.) party from morning till afternoon. The heroes began to fall, all men of valor, welcoming martyrdom, one brave after another. Even his 6 month old son. The heads of the dead were removed and planted on spears, and their deadbodies were trampled with horses. Their tents were burnt, their possesions looted, and the women and children were paraded through the markets of Damascus and then put in the dungeons for more than a year.

Karbala is the cruelest tragedy humanity has ever seen. It was only through Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) surviving son, Sajjad (A.S.), and his sister Zainab (A.S.) that the general public was informed of the atrocities committed by Yazid. The recount of the tyrannical events in Karbala proved like a powerful volcano that shook the very foundation of Muslims, it stirred their consciousness. For sincere Muslims, Karbala turned into a triumph. The tragic event became the very beacon of light to always remind Muslims to practice Islam honestly and sincerely, to do what is right irrespective of consequences, and fear no one except Allah (S.W.T.).

Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, “Husain is from me, and I am from Husain”. Husain (A.S.) being his grandchild was from him; and the sacrifice that Husain (A.S.) gave to save and revitalize the message of his grandfather explains why Muhammad (S.A.W.) foretold ‘I am from him’.

Sayings from the Imam:

Beware of things for which you apologize. The true believer should not make mistakes and should not apologize. The hypocrite makes mistakes and apologizes everyday. [*]
Some people worshipped Allah for the purpose of gaining His gifts. This is the worship of the merchants. Some worshipped Him for the purpose of avoiding His punishment. This is the worship of the slaves. Some worshipped Him as showing gratitude to Him. This is the worship of the genuine ones. It is the best worship. [*]
Before leaving Madinah, he wrote: “I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek reform the ummah (community) of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil, and follow the way of my grandfather and my father, ‘Ali bin Abi Talib’.” [al-Khatib al-Khuwarazmi, Maqtalu ‘l-Husayn, vol. 1, p. 88].

Other Resources:

Kitab-ul-Irshad: The Book of Guidance by Shaykh Al-Mufid
The 5th Infallible – Husain (description)
Maqtal al-Husain: Martrydom Epic of Imam al-Husain (‘a) by ‘Abd al Razzaq al-Muqarram

Books available at IMAN Library:

Husain: The Savior of Islam by S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali
Kitab Al-Irshad: The Book of Guidance by Shaykh Al-Mufid
IMAM Husayn: The Savior of Islam by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi
Son of Karbala by Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

Sunni & Shi'a Muslims

What is the difference between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims? Historically, these are the two main branches of Islam, and their distinction has to do with the successor of the prophet Muhammad. Sunnis believe his successors were elected religious leaders; Shi’a believe that the prophet appointed Ali ibn Abi Taleb. The answer is much more complicated than this, though, because there are other differences and new ones have arisen over the years.

Islam & Muslims

What is the difference between Islam and being Muslims? Islam is the religion, and a Muslim is a follower of the religion. It is like the difference between Christianity and Christian. The adjective form is Islamic.

What Is Haram?

All foods are considered halal except the following (which are haram): Alcoholic drinks and intoxicants Non-Halal Animal Fat Enzymes* (Microbial Enzymes are permissible) Gelatine* – from non-Halal source (fish gelatine is Halal) L-cysteine (if from human hair) Lard Lipase* (only animal lipase need be avoided) Non-Halal Animal Shortening Pork, Bacon / Ham and anything from pigs Unspecified Meat Broth Rennet* (All forms should be avoided except for plant / microbial / synthetic – rennet obtained from a halal slaughtered animal is permissible). Stock* (a blend of mix species broth or meat stock) Tallow* (non-Halal species) Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and certain other animals Foods contaminated with any of the above products (*Maybe consumed if derived from Halal animals.)

Clothing Becomes Najis?

If an object like an article of clothing becomes najis (impure) and thereafter a person doubts whether or not they have properly made it tahir (ritually clean) can he or she assume it is tahir (pure)?

What if a person did their wudhu (ablution) but then doubted about its correctness, or the correctness of some part of it, would it be considered valid?

An object, like an article of clothing, that is known to have become impure is termed mutanajjis (made impure), and its general rule is that if its tathir (purification) is in doubt (i.e. not sure), it will still be considered najis (impure).

With respect to the issue of wudhu (ablution), if a person doubts washing or wiping a body part while still in the process of performing wudhu (i.e. moisture from the previous part(s) remains and muwalat (succession) exists), he or she should wash or wipe that part again and the parts that follow so as to maintain tarteeb (order). However, if the part preceding the doubted act has dried up due to lapsed time (i.e. succession is not maintained), he or she should perform their wudhu from the beginning. However, note that wiping (massh) must always be on a dry surface (skin).

If the person doubts about washing or wiping after his or her wudhu is over and he or she is considered to have already completed the entire act (e.g. they are now doing something else or have left the place of wudhu), then he or she should not pay attention to their doubt.

Day Of Arbaeen

Is it disliked (makrooh) to work or study on the day of Arbaeen?

It is not disliked (makrooh) to work or study on the day of Arbaeen.