Women Praying in an Open Space

Women Praying in an Open Space

Question
Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum.I'm a Muslim woman regularly attends the musalla [Arabic for: Prayer hall] for salah on my campus.Recently, the barrier separating our musalla from the rest of the mosque was opened to provide an open space for the sisters to pray.Some brothers have objected to the sisters performing Sunnah prayers in that open space, saying it is not right for a sister to pray Sunnah without a barrier. Is this true?Do I have no right to pray sunnah in a barrier-free zone ? Jazakum Allahu khayran. ( Question By : Hind )

Answer
Wa `alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, thank you for your question, which reflects your care to have a clear view of the teachings of Islam. Allah commands Muslims to refer to people of knowledge to get themselves well-acquainted with the teachings of Islam as well as all aspects of life.

As far as Islamic Shari`ah is concerned, a Muslim woman is allowed to pray in an open space for the sisters to pray without a barrier. It should be clear that Almighty Allah did not prescribe segregation of males from females in the Qur'an; He only forbade indiscriminate mingling and mixing and khalwah. The woman is required to wear decent clothes that cover her `awrah (Arabic for: parts of the body that must be covered) and at the same time men are required to lower their gaze.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, stated,

It is perfectly fine for you to pray in the same hall as men do as long as it is an open space —provided, of course, there is no indiscriminate mingling.

It is important for us to know that during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), men and women used to pray in the same hall without any barriers. This is amply clear from the sources. Thus, women were able to see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they were able to learn the lessons he imparted from the minbar (Arabic for: pulpit) directly from his mouth. How often we read in the sources women saying that they learned such and such surah (Arabic for: chapter of the Qur'an) directly from the mouth of the Prophet, as he was used to reading them during sermons.

Hence, it is only reasonable to state that the barrier separating men and women at mosques today is a later-on innovation; therefore, there is nothing sacred about it.

It is important in this connection to point out that women have every right to see the speaker and imam while delivering the khutbah (Arabic for: sermon).

That the women during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were assertive in this is also clear from the sources. For the very idea of setting up a minbar for the Prophet to deliver the khutbah was suggested by a woman. She pointed out to him that she had a carpenter who could carve some wooden steps; if he were to stand on them while delivering sermons, everyone would be able to see him.

Therefore, the right of women to see and hear the speaker directly is a legitimate one. You can continue to pray in the open space without a barrier separating men and women.

Having said this, however, I must also point out that you should have a barrier in front of you to mark your prayer space so that people can pass in front of you, should a need arise. For this purpose, all that is needed is to use a prayer rug or place a book or handbag in front of you. The purpose of it is simply to allow for people to pass in front of the worshipper without distracting him or her.

Excerpted with slight modifications from islam.ca

Going to Beaches in Summer

Going to Beaches in Summer

Question
Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. Is it permissible for a Muslim to enjoy summer at the beach ? And what are the conditions for enjoying the beach in summer ? Jazakum Allah khayran. ( Question By : Shadi - United States )

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thanks a lot for your question, which reflects your care to have a clear view of the teachings of Islam. Allah commands Muslims to refer to people of knowledge to become well acquainted with the teachings of Islam as well as all aspects of life.

Going to beaches for recreation is permissible for any Muslim. Practicing Muslims are not to be denied this right. Practicing Muslims, like anyone else, are free to enjoy the fresh air of the sea.

Almighty Allah permits Muslims to enjoy the lawful things He gave to them. Among these lawful things is sightseeing and enjoying the beauty of the universe. Almighty Allah says: (Say: Who hath forbidden the adornment of Allah which He hath brought forth for His bondmen, and the good things of His providing?) (Al-A`raf 5:32). But this should be within the prescribed limits, not to fall into that which is haram.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

In Islam, we are warned against sins of nudity, promiscuity, and permissiveness that corrupt the soul as well as the mind. They all lead to temptations, which lead to sins, and sins eventually lead to Hellfire and eternal perdition.

It is therefore imperative that, while enjoying summer at the beach, we specifically avoid areas associated with the above and find locations or times where we will be staying clear of the above completely.

While enjoying summer at the beach as a group, we are not allowed to practice indiscriminate mingling of sexes, nor are we allowed to expose our `awrah to others. Remember `awrah includes all parts of the body that we must keep covered from others (except our lawful spouses).

Finally, while enjoying summer activities we must never forget our Prayers or other essential Islamic duties of worship.

You can assign different areas of the beach for males and females for activities such as swimming, or divide the time by making schedules for them.

Use your creative mind to think of halal (lawful) alternatives, for Allah assures us that for everything He has declared as haram (unlawful) for us, there is always a halal alternative in Islam. Therefore, our challenge is to find the halal alternative.

For as long as the above mentioned factors are taken into consideration, there are no restrictions on enjoying summer at the beach.

Wearing Colored Contact Lenses

Wearing Colored Contact Lenses

Question
As-Salamu `alaykum wa Ramatullah wa Barakatuh! Dear scholars, what does Islam say on wearing colored contact lenses, especially for women? Is it haram ? ( Question By : Salwa )

Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for showing keenness on knowing the teachings of Islam, and we appreciate the great confidence you have in us. We hope our efforts meet your expectations.

As regards your question, we’d like to cite for you the fatwa issued by Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee:

“I think that when men use contact lenses, they use them primarily to cure their sore eyesight. Such form of use both for curing long-sightedness and short-sightedness is purely for a medical purpose. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in using contact lenses in this case because they here resemble normal eye glasses. What applies to men, according to the previous ruling, applies also to women.

However, if women use those contact lenses for the purpose of exposing beauty, drawing men’s attention and causing temptation, there is no doubt that such thing is strictly prohibited.

Here, we would like to refer to an important point, relating to the common habit noticed in some girls wearing colorful contact lenses and choosing the green in particular for the purpose of attraction, and physical appearance. So the ruling on this is based on the purpose and intention. If the aim behind wearing such contact lenses is to cause sedition and obtain gains out of deception, then there is no doubt that wearing such lenses in this case is forbidden."

Shedding more light on this issue, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, Imam and religious director at both the Islamic center of Toronto (Jami mosque) and the Islamic foundation of Toronto, and instructor at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, says:

“The Shari`ah has come to observe three categories of people’s interests (Masalih), namely Daroriyyat (necessities), Hajiyyat (complementary), and Tahsiniyyat (embellishments). In all of its rulings the Shari`ah aims at the realization of one or the other of these Masalih.

As far as the issue of women wearing colored contacts is concerned, I would like to raise this question: under which category of the foregoing interests can we put this act? I cannot say it is Daroriyyat, nor Hajiyyat, or Tahsiniyyat because I wonder why do women think they should do that?

Further, some of these modern cosmetics aim at changing Allah’s creation in some forms like changing the color of the eye. Allah has given each woman a beauty that she can adorn herself and beautify for her husband without going to the extreme and doing something which might be considered repugnant according to the Shari`ah.

I do not say wearing colored contacts is haram since there is no certain operation to be undergone with a view to changing the color of the eyes forever. But I would say it is a kind of excessive beautification which is not recommended in Islam. Islam, as a religion that is based on moderation, does not approve of going to the extreme in anything.

However, if such kind of lenses are used for medical purpose and for the sake of treating sickness in the eyes, then it is a necessity which is given exception in Islam.”

Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajid, a prominent Saudi lecturer and author, adds:

“There are two types of contact lenses:
1- Ophthalmic contact lenses: Those that are used to correct sight defects. There is nothing wrong with using this kind of contact lenses on the advice of a specialist oculist.

2- Colored cosmetic contact lenses: These come under the rulings on adornment. If a woman wears them for her husband, there is nothing wrong with it. If she wears them for other to see her, then it should not cause any fitnah or temptation. There is also the condition that they should not cause any harm, and there should be no element of cheating or deceiving, such as a woman wearing them when she meets the man who is proposing marriage to her.“

Giving a Muslim Child a Non-Arabic Name

Giving a Muslim Child a Non-Arabic Name

Question
Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Can you give your child a name that is in a language other than Arabic, as long as it has a good meaning? Jazakum Allah khayran. ( Question By : Charles - Canada )

Answer

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

Islam does not oblige Muslim people to choose specific names, Arabic or non-Arabic, for their children, whether boys or girls. It is rather up to people to choose the names for their children. However, selecting names should be pursuant to some Islamic rules that will be stated below. Islam emphasizes that Muslims should have good names and give good names to their children. It is reported in a Hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "You will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so have good names." (Reported by Abu Dawud)

Answering your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

“Children are a trust in the hands of parents. Parents, therefore, have a duty to receive this divine gift with a true sense of gratitude and do everything at their disposal to provide the best nurturing. There is nothing better they can do in this regard than by providing them a home filled with love and kindness, and thus contributing to their overall physical, intellectual, ethical and spiritual growth and development. Such a duty begins before the birth of the child and extends all through their lives. Having said this, I must say, that the first important duty when a child is born is to recite the adhan in the right ear in a gentle voice, and give him or her a good name.

As for the choice of names, we are given the following guidelines:
1. We must certainly avoid names that indicate any trace of shirk or association of partners with Allah. Therefore it is forbidden to call someone `Abd al-Ka`bah, or `Abd al-Nabi (servant of the Ka`bah or servant of the Prophet), since all of us are servants of Allah alone.

2. We must also avoid names that imply meanings that are offensive or unpleasant in connotations. The Prophet changed names such as Harb (War) with Salam (Peace), ‘Asiyah (Rebellious) with Jamilah (Beautiful), Sa`b (Difficult) with Sahl (Easy to deal with), etc.

3. We are encouraged to give names that have good or noble meanings or associations, for names may inadvertently inspire a person to do great things or stay away from vices. Choosing names of prophets or great persons who have been role models of virtue and piety is an excellent idea. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named his son Ibrahim, and he said, “I have called him by my father’s name!”

Having said this, I must add: There is nothing in the Islamic sources to indicate that we are allowed only to give our children Arabic names. Since Islam is a universal religion, there is no such requirement. Any name is okay so long as we keep in mind the above points. But, at the same time, while choosing names, we must strive our best not to compromise our Islamic identity.”

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: www.islam.ca