200 FAQs on Muslim Belief

Sarfaraz · 01-27-2008, 11:57 PM

200 FAQs on Muslim Belief
Shiekh Hafiz Ibn Ahmed Al Hakami

Translated by 'Ali As-Sayed Al-Halawani
Contents
Translatorâs Note
Preface
Author's Introduction
Q 1 What is the first (religious) obligation on worshippers?
Q 2 What is that thing for which Allah innovated the Creation?
Q 3 What does the word 'Abd (worshipper) mean?
Q 4 What is worship?
Q 5 When can a deed be an act of worship?
Q 6 What can tell that Allah's slave loves his Lord, the Almighty?
Q 7 How could Allah's slaves know what He loves?
Q 8 How many are the conditions of worship?
Q 9 What does "Sincerity of determination" mean?
Q 10 What does "Sincerity of intention" mean?
Q 11What is the only religion man is ordered to embrace?
Q 12 How many are the grades of Islam?
Q 13 What is Islam?
Q 14 What is the proof that the word "Islam" is used to denote the whole matter of religion?
Q 15 What is the proof that Islam is defined as being the five pillars of this religion when considered in detail?
Q 16 What is the position of the two testimonies in Islam?
Q 17 What is the proof of the testimony that there is no god but Allah?
Q 18 What does the testimony, "There is no god but Allah mean?
Q 19 What are the conditions of Shahadah (Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah) that must be fulfilled by the one who pronounces it?
Q 20 What is the proof of making knowledge of the meaning of the Shahadah a condition for pronouncing it?
Q 21 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah (Tradition) that a Muslim must have absolute faith?
Q 22 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that a Muslim must submit completely to Allah and that this is a precondition of his faith?
Q 23 What is the textual proof that acceptance (of the Message of Islam) is a precondition of faith in Allah from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 24 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that a Muslim must be sincere?
Q 25 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that a Muslim must be honest?
Q 26 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that love for Allah and His Prophet is a precondition for faith in the Almighty?
Q 27 What is the textual proof that one should make friends and declare enmity only for Allah's Sake?
Q 28 What is the textual proof of the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
Q 29 What is the meaning of testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
Q 30 What are the conditions of testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah? Could the first testimony (relating to Allah) be acceptable without this one?
Q 31 What is the textual proof that Prayer and Zakah are compulsory?
Q 32 What is the textual proof that Fasting (Saum) is obligatory?
Q 33 What is the textual proof that Pilgrimage (Hajj) is compulsory?
Q 34 What is the ruling pertaining to one who denies one of the aforementioned rites, or acknowledges them but neglects them out of arrogance and pride?
Q 35 What is the ruling pertaining to one who acknowledges them, but neglects them due to laziness or false interpretation?
Q 36 What is [man (Faith)?
Q 37 What is the textual proof that Faith must be expressed in words and deeds?
Q 38 What is the textual proof that Faith increases and decreases?
Q 39 What is the textual proof that degrees of Faith vary from one person to another?
Q 40 What is the textual proof that the word "Faith" is used to mean every aspect of the religion (of Islam)?
Q 41 What is the textual proof that when Faith is considered in detail, it refers to the six articles?
Q 42 What is the textual proof of these articles of Faith from the Glorious Qur'an, mentioned together?
Q 43 What does having faith in Allah Almighty mean?
Q 44 What does Oneness of the Worship of Allah mean?
Q 45 What is the opposite of "Oneness of the Worship of Allah "?
Q 46 What does Major Shirk mean?
Q 47 What is [As-Shirk Al-Asghar] Minor Shirk (polytheism)?
Q 48 What is the difference between "and" and "then" in these expressions?
Q 49 What does Oneness of the Lordship of Allah mean?
Q 50 What is the opposite of "Oneness of the Lordship of Allah"?
Q 51 What does the Oneness of the Names and Attributes of Allah mean?
Q 52 What is the textual proof of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 53 Cite some examples on the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 54 Cite some examples on the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 55 How many indications do the Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote?
Q 56 Cite some examples on this?
Q 57 How many indications do the Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote by way of Indication?
Q 58 How many types are the Most Beautiful Names pertaining to calling Almighty Allah therewith?
Q 59 Almighty Allah's Names are divided into two categories those related to the Entity, and those related to His Acting. Cite some examples on those related to the Entity from the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 60 Cite some examples on those Most Beautiful Names that are related to the Entity from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 61 Cite some of the examples from the Glorious Qur'an that relate some of Allah's Acting Attributes?
Q 62 Cite some of the examples from the Prophetic Sunnah that relate some of His Acting Attributes?
Q 63 Can Names be derived from all the Attributes related to His Acting, Glorified is He?
Q 64 What does His Name "the Ever Exalted" denote, along with other Names giving the same connotation such as "the Evident", "the Sublime Vanquisher", and "the Supremely High"?
Q 65 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that Allah is High in
Place?
Q 66 What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that Allah is High in Place?
Q 67 What did the earlier godly scholars say pertaining to the issue of [Istiwa'] Rising Over (the Throne)?
Q 68 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that Allah is the Sublime Vanquisher?
Q 69 What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that Allah is the Sublime Vanquisher?
Q 70 What is the textual proof that Allah is the Most High in Rank? What must be negated pertaining to Allah the Almighty?
Q 71 What is the meaning of the saying of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) regarding the Most Beautiful Names of Allah that reads "Whoever knows them will be admitted into Paradise?"
Q 72 What does contradict [TawhidAl-Asma' was-Sifat] the Oneness of the Names and Attributes of Allah?
Q 73 Are all types of [Tawhid] the Oneness of Allah correlative?
Q 74 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that a Muslim believes in the existence of Angels?
Q 75 What does believing in the Angels mean?
Q 76 Cite some of their kinds considering their nature and the missions they tackle?
Q 77 What is the Qur'anic textual proof that a Muslim must believe in the Heavenly Scriptures?
Q 78 Have all the Heavenly Scriptures been mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 79 What does affirming faith in Allah's Scriptures mean?
Q 80 What is the position of the Glorious Qur'an among the earlier Divine Books?
Q 81 What should the whole (Ummah) Community abide with pertaining to the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 82 What does holding fast to the Qur'an and observing its right mean?
Q 83 What is the ruling pertaining to him who claims that the Qur'an is "Created"?
Q 84 Is the Speech Attribute related to Allah's Entity or is it linked to His Acting Attributes?
Q 85 Who are the Waqifah, and what is the ruling pertaining to them?
Q 86 What is the ruling pertaining to one who says "My pronunciation of the Qur'an is created"?
Q 87 What is the textual proof that a Muslim should believe in Allah's Messengers?
Q 88 What does "to have Faith in the Messengers of Allah" mean?
Q 89 Did the call of the Messengers correspond with one another regarding the orders and prohibitions they conveyed?
Q 90 What is the textual proof that they call for the same principle of worship (mentioned earlier)?
Q 91 What is the proof of the differences among their Shara'i' (pl. Shari'ah) laws pertaining to what is lawful [Halal] and what is unlawful [Haram]?
Q 92 Have all the Messengers been mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 93 How many Messengers are mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 94 Who are the Messengers of Firm Will [Ulul 'Azm]?
Q 95 Who was the first Messenger?
Q 96 When did the differing take place?
Q 97 Who is the last (seal) of the Prophets?
Q 98 What is the textual proof of this?
Q 99 What was given by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and not to any of the other Prophets?
Q 100 What are the Miracles of the Prophets?
Q 101 What is the textual proof of the miraculous nature of the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 102 What is the textual proof that a Muslim must believe in the Last Day?
Q 103 What does believing in the Last Day mean? What does it imply?
Q 104 Does anyone know when the Last Hour will be?
Q 105 Cite some examples from the Glorious Qur'an pertaining to the portents of the Last Hour?
Q 106 Cite some examples from the Prophetic Sunnah pertaining to the portents of the Last Hour?
Q 107 What is the textual proof of believing in death from the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 108 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that the trial of the grave and its blessing or torment is a truth?
Q 109 What is the textual proof of the trial of the grave from the Prophetic
Sunnah?
Q 110 What is the textual proof that there will be a resurrection from the graves?
Q 111 What is the ruling pertaining to him who belies resurrection?
Q 112 What is the textual proof that there will be the blowing in the Horn? How many are the blowings?
Q 113 How is the manner of Gathering demonstrated in the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 114 How is the manner of Gathering demonstrated in the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 115 Cite some descriptions of how people would stand in the Day of Judgment from the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 116 Cite some descriptions of how people would stand in the Day of Judgment from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 117 Cite some descriptions of the Display and Reckoning in the Day of Judgment from the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 118 Cite some descriptions of the Display and Reckoning in he Day of Judgment from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 119 Cite some descriptions of the Spreading of the Records of deeds from the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 120 Cite some descriptions of the Spreading of the Records of deeds from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 121 What is the Qur'anic textual proof that the Balance is a truth? How is it described?
Q 122 What is the Textual proof that the Balance is a truth from the Prophetic Sunnah? How is it described?
Q 123 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that the Straight Path exists?
Q 124 What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that the Straight Path exists?
Q 125 What is the Qur' anic textual proof that being judged rightfully (Just Retaliation} is a fact of the Last Day?
Q 126 What is the textual proof that being judged rightfully (Just Retaliation) is a fact of the Last Day from the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 127 What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that the Cistern exists?
Q 128 What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that the Cistern exists?
Q 129 What is the textual proof that a Muslim must believe in the existence of Paradise and Hell-fire?
Q 130 What does Faith in Paradise and Hell-Fire mean?
Q 131 What is the textual proof that they are currently existing?
Q 132 What is the textual proof that they are eternally existing (by the Leave of Allah)?
Q 133 What is the textual proof that the believers will see their Lord on the Hereafter?
Q 134 What is the textual proof of Shafa 'ah Intercession? Who will practice it? For the sake of whom? When?
Q 135 How many kinds of Intercession are there? Which is the greatest one?
Q 136 Would anybody attain salvation on the Day of Resurrection because of his deeds?
Q 137 How can we compromise between the earlier Hadith and the Qur'anic verse that reads {And it will be cried out to them This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do}. (Al-A'raf, 43)?
Q 138 What is the textual proof that a Muslim must believe in the Divine Decree (Predestination)?
Q 139 How many are the ranks of affirming faith in the Divine Decree?
Q 140 What is the textual proof that faith in Allah's Comprehensive Knowledge is one of faith ranks in His Divine Decree?
Q 141 What is the textual proof that faith in the Pre recording of everything is one of faith ranks in His Divine Decree?
Q 142 How many Pre-ordainments are implied in this rank?
Q 143 What is the textual proof of the Eternal Preordainment?
Q 144 What is the textual proof of the Lifetime Pre ordainment on the Day of Covenant?
Q 145 What is the textual proof of the Lifetime Pre ordainment when the Nutfah is first created?
Q 146 What is the textual proof of the Annual Preordainment that takes place during Lailat Al-Qadr (the Night of Might)?
Q 147 What is the textual proof of the Daily Preordainment?
Q 148 What are the requirements of Preordainments?
Q 149 What is the textual proof of the third rank affirming faith in the
Willingness of Allah?
Q 150 How can it be heeded that Allah wills and wishes what He dislikes or does not want?
Q 151 What is the textual proof of the fourth rank Affirming faith that Allah is the Creator of everything?
Q 152 What does the following statement of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) mean "And all the goodness is in Your Hand; and the evil is not (attributed) to You"?
Q 153 Do the slaves have any kind of will or ability over their acts?
Q 154 How can we answer the following question Isn't Allah Able to make all His slaves obedient and guided believers?
Q 155 What is the position of affirming faith in the Divine Decree in religion?
Q 156 How many are the branches of lman (Faith)?
Q 157 How did scholars interpret these branches?
Q 158 Mention what they counted?
Q 159 What is the textual proof of lhsan (Perfection of Faith) from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah?
Q 160 What does lhsan (Perfection of Faith) in worship mean?
Q 161 What contradicts Iman (Faith)?
Q 162 Explain how does dogmatic disbelief exclude one from the fold of Islam?
Q 163 How many are the divisions of Major Disbelief?
Q 164 What does "KufrJahl wa Takdhib" mean?
Q 165 What does "KufrJuhud" mean?
Q 166 What does" Kufr 'lnad wa lstikbar" mean?
Q 167 What does "Kufr Nifaq" mean?
Q 168 What is the practical disbelief that does not exclude one from the fold of Islam?
Q 169 If it is said Prostrating oneself before an idol, mocking at the Qur'an, abusing the Prophet and religion, etc. all these are regarded as aspects of the practical disbelief. The question is! Why do these acts exclude one from the fold of Islam, while the practical disbelief in general does not?
Q 170 Into how many divisions do the following terms divide Injustice, Debauchery, and Hypocrisy?
Q 171 Cite some examples of the Major and Minor Injustice?
Q 172 Cite some examples of the Major and Minor Debauchery?
Q 173 Cite some examples of the Major and Minor Hypocrisy?
Q 174 What is the ruling pertaining to Sorcery and Sorcerers?
Q 175 What is the [Hadd] Prescribed Penalty for the Sorcerer?
Q 176 What is the Nushrah?
Q 177 What are the lawful Ruqa (Pl. Ruqyah)?
Q 178 What are the unlawful Ruqa (Pl. Ruqyah)?
Q 179 What is the ruling pertaining to necklaces of amulets, strings, rings, threads, cowrie shells (supposedly used to save one from the influence of the evil eye!), etc.?
Q 180 What is the ruling pertaining to Wearing Amulets containing something of the Glorious Qur'an?
Q 181 What is the ruling pertaining to Soothsayers?
Q 182 What is the ruling pertaining to whosoever believes a Soothsayer?
Q 183 What is the ruling pertaining to Practicing Astrology?
Q 184 What is the ruling pertaining to prognosticating rain due to rising or setting of stars?
Q 185 What is the ruling pertaining to Divination and the like?
Q 186 What is the ruling pertaining to the Evil Eye?
Q 187 Into how many divisions are sins (deeds of di***edience) divided?
Q 188 How are sins expiated?
Q 189 What does "Major Sins" mean?
Q 190 How can all sins -Major and Minor -be expiated?
Q 191 What does "Sincere Repentance" mean?
Q 192 When does repentance cease pertaining to each human being?
Q 193 When does repentance cease pertaining to the whole universe?
Q 194 What is the ruling pertaining to whosoever dies from among the monotheists while he insists on committing a Major Sin?
Q 195 Are Al-Hudud (the Prescribed Penalties) expiatory?
Q 196 How can we compromise between the saying of the Prophet" It is up to Allah to forgive or punish him", and between what is mentioned earlier that one hose sins outweigh his good deeds, will enter Hell fire?
Q 197 What is the straight path we are ordered to follow?
Q 198 How can one pass it safely?
Q 199 What is the antonym of Sunnah?
Q 200 What are the divisions of Innovation pertaining to its breach of religion?
Q 201 What are the Blasphemous Innovations?
Q 202 What is that other than the Non-blasphemous Innovation?
Q 203 What are the divisions of Innovation pertaining to the field in which it takes place?
Q 204 What are the divisions of Innovations in Acts of worship?
Q 205 How does Innovation affect the Act of Worship it touches?
Q 206 What are the Innovations pertaining to dealings?
Q 207 What do we must observe regarding the companions of the Prophet and his household?
Q 208 Who is the best amongst the companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in general?
Q 209 Who is the best amongst the companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in details?
Q 210 How many years did the Caliphate last after Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)?
Q 211 What is the general proof of their (the four Caliphs') right to the Caliphate?
Q 212 What is the detailed proof that the first three Caliphs have a right to the Caliphate?
Q 213 What is the proof of the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and' Umar?
Q 214 What is the proof that Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Allah's Messenger?
Q 215 What is the proof that' Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu Bakr?
Q 216 What is the proof that' Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu Bakr and 'Umar?
Q 217 What is the proof that' Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) has the right to the Caliphate and being a successor to Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman?
Q 218 What should be observed towards the people of authority?
Q 219 What is the textual proof of all this?
Q 220 Whose is the duty ofenjoining the good and forbidding the evil? What are its ranks?
Q 221 What is the ruling pertaining to Wondrous Acts of Auliya '?
Q 222 Who is Allah's Wali (pl. Auliya')?
Q 223 Who is the group meant by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in the following Hadith "A group of people from my Ummah will continue to obey Allah's Command, and those who desert or oppose them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will be dominating the people until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Resurrection is 263 Established) "?

Sarfaraz · 01-28-2008, 01:42 AM

Q 221 What is the ruling pertaining to Wondrous Acts of Auliya '?
A--- The wondrous acts attributed to Auliyaâ are real and true. A wondrous act is an unusual thing that is done unwillingly at the hands of Auliyaâ. It is not. accompanied with challenge, and Allah the Almighty may do it on their hands without their own knowledge. Such as the story of the People of the Cave, the People of the Rock, and the story of Juraij. Among the wondrous acts that took place at the hands of the companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) were what happened to Abu Bakr during the Apostasy Wars, the reach of `Umar's call to Sariyah while he was standing on the pulpit (in Madinah) and Sariyah was in Sham (Syria), `Umar's letter to the Nile of Egypt causing it to flow, the horses of Al-`Alaa' Ibn Al-Hadrami on which he (and his men) crossed the sea during the conquest of Bahrain, and performing the prayer by Abu Muslim Al-Khawalani in the fire set for him by Al-Aswad Al-`Ansi.
Along with so many others that happened during the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and after his death for His honorable companions and their followers till the Day of Resurrection. In fact, all these were miracles for Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) for they did not attain this dignity but by following and sticking firmly to him. So, if any miracle or unusual thing appeared on the hand of one who is not adherent to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him), it is thus a trial, sorcery and not a miracle or a wondrous act, and he is indeed one of the Auliya' of Satan. May Allah grant us refuge against him.
Q 222 Who is Allah's Waii33 (pl. Auliya')?
i.e. Protector, guardian, supporter, helper, friend, etc.
A--- The Wali is the one who believes in Allah, fears Him, follows His Straight Path, and follows His Messenger (Peace be upon him).
Allah the Almighty says {No doubt! Verily, the Auliya' of Allah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve}. (Yunus, 62)
Then, He says {Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah -Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds)}. (Yunus, 63)
Allah the Almighty says {Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliya' (supporters and helpers) are Taghut [false deities and false leaders], they bring them out from light into darkness}. (Al-Baqarah, 257)
Allah the Almighty says {Verily, your Wali (Protector or Helper) is none other than Allah, HisMessenger, and the believers, - those who perform As -Salat, and give Zakah, and they are Raki'un34 . And whosoever takes Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as Protectors, then the Party of Allah will be the victorious}. (Al-Ma'idah, 55, 56)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says "Verily, the household of so and so are not my Auliya' (helpers and protectors), my Auliya' are none but the pious people.â (Sahih Bukhari)
Al-Hasan (May Allah grant him Mercy) said Some people claimed that they love Allah, so He tried them with this verse {Say (O Muhammad to mankind) "If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}. (Al 'Imran, 31)
Imam Ash-Shafi'i (May Allah grant him Mercy) said If you see a man walks on the surface of water, or flies in the air, don't believe him or be
i.e. those who bow down or submit themselves with obedience to Allah in Prayer. (Translator)
misled by him till you know (for certain) that he follows (earnestly) Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Q 223 Who is the group meant by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in the following Hadith "A group of people from my Ummah will continue to obey Allah's Command, and those who desert or oppose them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will be dominating the people until Allah's Command is executed (i.e. Resurrection is established.â35?
A--- This group is the one who will survive from among the seventy-three religious sects as given exception by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in his saying "All of which will enter Hell-fire except one which is the lama' ah (main body of Muslims who rightly follow Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet). " (Sahih Muslim)
In another narration, "All in Hell, except one, and that one is on which I and my companions are today, i.e. following the Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah.â (Sahih Muslim)
We ask Allah the Almighty to make us from among them. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower! {Glorified is your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! And peace be on the Messengers! And all the praises and thanks are to Allah, Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)}. (As-Saffat, 180-182)
The author (May Allah forgive him and his parents) said I finished the first draft on the 1st of Sha` ban, 1365 A.H., and I finished the last draft on the 14th of Sha`ban, 1365 A.H.
Bukhari and Muslim.