How to Deal with a Non-Muslim Mother

How to Deal with a Non-Muslim Mother

Question
As-Salamu `alaykum! My father and I are Muslims; but my mother is a Roman Catholic and strongly believes in it. I am certain (very certain, because her faith is very strong) that she will never convert. The problem is that my mother truly believes that being a Catholic is right. Also, she does respect Islam and is a great mother and wife. So how do I go about this now? I have a strong-willed mother who truly believes in her religion, should I just leave it alone ? ( Question By Diana - United Kingdom )

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, thank you very much for your good question and we hope Allah Almighty renders such a work for His Sake, Amen.

Generally speaking, Islam orders a Muslim to be kind to his/her parents, even if they are non-Muslims. The well-known hadith of Asma’ (may Allah be pleased with her) is a clear example.Asma’, the daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them all) had a non-Muslim mother who lived in Makkah, whereas Asma’ had migrated with her father and the rest of the Muslims to Madinah. After the Treaty of Hudaybiya, peace was established and they could visit each other.

So, her mother came to Madinah in order to visit her. She wanted some gifts and donations from Asma’. Asma' was not sure what to do because she knew that her mother hated Islam and was a polytheist. So she came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed him of the situation, and asked him if she could also maintain the ties of kinship and act kindly towards her mother. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told her to do so saying:

“Yes, do an act of kindness to her.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawud)

Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munajjid, the prominent Saudi Islamic lecturer and author, says:

1. You should address her in the best of terms and treat her in the best manner.

2. Do not think at all that there is any burden or sin on you if your mother gets angry with you for being a Muslim. Remember that when a person pleases Allah even though it makes people angry with him, Allah will be pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him.

3. Keep on praying for your mother so that Allah guides her to the truth, and invite her to Islam with wisdom and fair exhortation. Maybe Allah will guide her through you.

Excerpted, with slight modifications from: www.islam-qa.com The best thing to do for non-Muslim parents While Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam, his mother continued to be an unbeliever for quite a long time. He continuously tried to convince her to adopt Islam, but to no avail. Nevertheless, he continued respecting and obeying her.

Once when he was trying to speak with her about Islam, she became insolent and uttered some insulting remarks about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Because of this, Abu Hurayrah was very much pained. He went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and complained saying, "O Messenger of Allah! I have always been trying to make my mother accept Islam but she always refuses to accept it. But today when I asked her to believe in Almighty Allah, she became very much annoyed and started insulting and rebuking you which I could not stand and tears came to my eyes. O Messenger of Allah! Pray to Allah that He may open the heart of my mother to Islam." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) immediately raised his hands and prayed,
"O Almighty Allah, guide the mother of Abu Hurayrah." Abu Hurayrah was overjoyed and went home. When he reached home, he found the door was bolted from the inside but he heard the sound of flowing water, which assured him that his mother was taking a bath. Hearing his footsteps, she hastily finished the bath. Then she opened the door. She said, "O my son, Abu Hurayrah, Allah has heard you. Be witness that I recite the Shahadah.
" He started crying out of sheer joy and went back to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the tiding that Almighty Allah had accepted his prayer and that his mother had embraced Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also pleased to hear that. He praised Allah and gave Abu Hurayrah some pieces of advice. Then, on his request, he prayed,"O Allah, put the love of Abu Hurayrah and his mother in the hearts of all true Muslims and put the love of all true Muslims in the hearts of both of them."

In conclusion, try to let your mother see Islam through your good example. Maybe the more you impress upon her own beliefs in a direct manner, the more she will become strong-willed and refuse to listen to you. This can pressurize her. Maybe Allah will illuminate her heart as she sees you presenting Islam in the best way.

Allah Almighty says: (But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repents unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.) (Luqman 31: 15)

Marriage Registration to a Married Woman for Papers

Marriage Registration to a Married Woman for Papers

Question
As-salamu `alaykum. I have a Muslim English friend who is married to a Muslim English man. They got married in the Islamic way but this marriage has not been registered in the registrar's office. Her husband has an Arab friend who wants to live in England. He has no other alternative to get permission to remain in England but to marry an English woman. The husband suggested that his wife marry his friend in the registrar's office. This has been done and witnessed. Is this marriage Islamically valid? Does it affect her first husband? Please answer this question, as this case occurs frequently in this country. ( Question By : Ayah - England)


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.

Sister, thanks a lot for your question and the interest you show in having a clearer view of the true teachings of Islam. May Allah help you get the right understanding and stand firm on the straight path. Ameen.

Regarding your question, it should be clear that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries should abide by the laws of their countries. They should be good ambassadors of their religion and set examples for others in loyalty, honesty, truthfulness, etc. What those people have done is unacceptable and sinful. This marriage is void. Partners concerned should correct the situation and stop violating Shari`ah and laws of their countries.

Responding to the question in hand, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (FCFR-is a Dublin-based private foundation, founded in London at 29-30 March 1997 on the initiative of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) is a largely self-selected body, composed by Islamic scholars, presided by world-renowned scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. ) issued the following fatwa:

The marriage contract entered into in the registrar's office is void. Consequently none of the rights of marriage can be based on it. All the results of it are null and those who entered into this marriage are delinquent and they have committed a sin. Whoever participated in facilitating or accomplishing this contract, while knowing that this lady is married, has taken part in this sin and violated the laws Allah has set. Allah stated among the prohibited marriages [Also (forbidden are) women already married ] (An-Nisaa' 4:24). Allah prohibits marrying a married woman.

Some people, due to their misunderstanding that a marriage contract entered into in the registrar's office is not valid, are negligent regarding this contract. They think that the marriage is only valid if entered into in a mosque or an Islamic center. This is wrong. Apart from the place, the marriage contract is valid provided the pillars and conditions are fulfilled. Had this woman not been married, that marriage contract entered into in the registrar's office would have been valid.

Since this contract is void, it should be cancelled as soon as possible. Again it should be cancelled as, since it is legitimate according to the civil laws, it may result in prohibited issues according to Islam. According to the civil laws this marriage is binding.

Needing permission to stay in a country cannot be used as an excuse to commit what is prohibited and violate the Shari`ah and the rights of others. Muslims are obliged to shun such issues based on deception and lies.

Raping Enemies’ Women in Retaliation

Raping Enemies’ Women in Retaliation

Question
As-Salamu `Alaykum. With all the bloody incidents and heinous crimes committed against Muslims in broad daylight, including raping and maltreating Muslim women, is it permissible for Muslims to do the same with women of their enemies in retaliation?

Answer
Wa`alaykum As-Salaamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

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, thank you very much for reposing confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah's Sake, meet your expectations.

Indeed, we would like to differentiate between two main points:

1-Fending off aggression launched against Muslims: This should be done without transgressing the limits laid down by the Qur’an. Allah Almighty says: “Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits for God loveth not transgressors.” (Al-Baqarah: 190)

2-Giving regard to the Islamic war ethics: It has not been recorded along the course of Islamic history that Muslims raped women of their enemies or even killed their children. Hence, the point referred to here in your question (i.e. raping enemies’ women) is not allowed in Islam and it is not the manners of Muslims. Though many rape incidents have been recorded, where Muslim women were brutalized by enemies, there is no single record of such incident taken place among Muslims, even as a war retaliatory measures.

Confirming these facts, we would like to cite for you the Prophet's instructions to his chief commanders while dispatching them to resist aggressions: “Fight in the Cause of Allah. Fight those who deny Allah; Do not be embittered. Do not be treacherous. Do not mutilate. Do not kill children or those (people) in convents.

" Here is Abu-Bakr's instructions to Usama while embarking on the Levant Campaign:

“Do not betray or be treacherous or vindictive. Do not mutilate. Do not kill children, the aged or women. Do not cut or burn palm trees or fruitful trees. Don’t slay sheep, cows or camels except for food. And you will come across people who confined themselves to worship in hermitages. Leave them alone to what they devoted themselves for.”

Focusing more on the question in point, Sheikh `Ikrimah Sabri, The Mufti of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) & Khatib of Al-Aqsa Mosque, states:

“In fact, the principle of reciprocity has well-established rules in Shari`ah, whereby Muslims are warned from embarking on such inhumane attitudes. For instance, in case the enemy mutilates the dead bodies of Muslims, the Muslim army is not permitted to act in the same manner.

Based on this, it is not permissible for Muslims to rape female captives under the notion of reciprocity. There is nothing like that in Islam. However, if the enemy kills Muslim captives, we are permitted to kill their captives in retaliation.

In all cases, Muslims should not initiate the aggression, for Islam is the religion of mercy. War is not the first option in the life of Muslims; rather, it comes after Da`wah and kind advise.”