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Is Meat Slaughtered by Ahle Kitab Halaal?

On 20 Dec 2011, In Islam, by , No comments

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Allah says in His Quran (5:5):

Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibat. The food of the people of the Scripture is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.

It is clear from the above ayah that their food, including meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, etc. are halaal. They remain halaal so long as they do not violate other dietary rules.

Allah says in His Quran (5:3):

Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytah (the dead animals), blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah, and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns ـand that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal ـunless you are able to slaughter it (before its death) – and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub (stone altars). .

It is very clear what is haraam. Included in maytah are modern day practices, such as electrocution. A Christian killing an animal in the name of Jesus would fall into that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than Allah.

A Word of Caution

There are some Muslims, who use this general rule as a blank check to eat any meat killed in nominally Christian countries, like America or Britain. There is a very real danger of falling into haraam by failing to scrutinise the source of our meat.

In many countries, haraam methods and inhumane practices of slaughter can cause the meat to fall into the category of maytah or become a violation of the animal’s rights.

Allah says in His Quran (21:107):

And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Moreover, in many Western countries, it is more likely a non-Christian or non-Jew slaughters the animal. If you’re not sure a Christian, Jew or Muslim killed the animal, can we consider such meat lawful?

Take Away

In my opinion, if there is a Muslim slaughtered option take that first. If not, buy kosher or get your meat from Amish communities and their like. It is a stretch to apply the permissibility of the meat of Ahle Kitab to the industrial killings in America or Britain.

The True Story of Rashed and Salem

On 05 Oct 2011, In Heart Softener, Vlogging, by , 1 Comment

Do Not Despair

On 07 Sep 2011, In Heart Softener, Vlogging, by , No comments

Quran Goals

On 20 Aug 2011, In Abdullah, Quran, Ramadan, by , 2 Comments

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

It is an absolute truth that one of the many blessings of Ramadan is becoming reacquainted with the Quran. For eleven months of the year our Qurans sit on the shelf gathering dust, ignored and neglected. Then Ramadan reaches us and we race to read the entire Kitab. Indeed the Ramadan is the month of the Quran.

Allah says in His Quran (2:185),

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion.

Every Ramadan we fall in love with reading the Quran. Not books about the Quran, not lectures about the Quran, not even recitations of Quran by someone else, but that special personal relationship as we read and reflect on the Kalam of Allah Azawajal in quiet solitude. What an amazing Book!

My fear and what I am feeling anxiety about is going back to the pre-Ramadan statu quo. I cannot and do not ever want to become estranged from It again. It is my love. It is my soul. If we do not have this Quran in our hearts, in our minds and on our tongues, our Islam is nothing but an empty shell.

I know that once this blessed month departs and the shayatin are let loose and when we start feeding our bodies and starving our souls and when we give precedence to our worldly pursuits, staying attached to the Quran will become more and more difficult. For that reason, we need to have a Quran goal to help us maintain our connection to the Book of Allah. We have to strictly adhere to whatever goal we set ourselves and guard it with jealousy, until it becomes our habit.

Personally, I am making intention to read half a juz every day until Ramadan reaches us again. In addition, I am making intention to learn the meanings of the words. By the time Ramadan reaches us again, I want to know the meaning of every single word. I know this is a big challenge, however, I cannot think of a more worthy use of my time and energy.

Are you setting any Quran goals for yourself? How do they compare to mine? Please do share.

Spirituality in Dawah

On 12 Aug 2011, In Dawah, Ramadan, by , No comments

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Isn’t it the case that when you try to explain a facet of Islam to a non-Muslim you focus on the physical aspect and ignore the spiritual? How can they understand the happy soul of the fasting Muslim, when they do not fast? How can they fathom the deep and direct connection we have with our Lord, Allah Ar-Rahman, when we place our head on the floor in sajud, when they do not believe and they do not pray? What could explain the tears of an “old” revert as they relive their moment watching a new Muslim enter into the ummah of Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa sallam?

I’m sure we’ve all been in the awkward position, where a curious non-Muslim has asked us a simple question about our deen. We responded by stammering and stuttering something about, believing in the One True God, praying five times a day, giving charity, fasting for a month and going for pilgrimage at least once. By explaining Islam in this fashion, we’ve reduced it to a set of rituals that the non-Muslim has no way of truly understanding.

When we pray, we stand, bow, prostrate and sit but without humility and devotion (Al-Khushoo) it would only serve to make us tired. Not eating or drinking because no food is available or because your doctor insisted you have nothing after midnight the day before an appointment is not fasting.

As Ramadan approached one year, early into my Islam, I was explaining to a non-Muslim co-worker about the blessed month. I said something to the effect of: in Ramadan we don’t eat, drink, lie or have sex during the daylight hours. My co-worker politely nodded. A man, who overheard our conversation, felt no need for politeness. He said, “You can’t eat, drink or have sex in Ramadan? I don’t wanna go there!”. He said what my co-worker was too polite to say. I missed an opportunity to explain the value of fasting for the sake of Allah alone.

Compare my explanation to the explanation found in the Glorious Quran and you will see how deeply inadequate it really was. May Allah forgive my shortcomings.

O you who believe! Observing As-Saum is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun. Quran 2:183

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month, he must observe Saum that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. Quran 2:185

Non-Muslims cannot fully understand why we approach Ramadan with excitement, zeal and enthusiasm. They cannot experience for themselves our beloved Ramadan, even if they fast. And we may never be able to adequately describe what this month means for us personally on a spiritual level. However, if we try focusing on the spiritual side of our deen, when explaining it to non-Muslims, perhaps those with soft hearts will pay heed and begin worshipping their Lord with humility and full submission.

All praise and thanks belong to Allah alone, Who made me a Muslim.

Worse than the Sin Itself

On 23 Jun 2011, In Islam, by , No comments

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

I cannot verify if Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) actually said these words. However, even if he did not, the truth of the words appears to be obvious.

Abdullah bin Abbas said:

“You who commit a sin, do not feel secure about the results, for what goes along with the sin is more serious than the sin itself.

Your lack of shame before the angels, who witness you when you commit the sin, is more serious than the sin itself.

Your laughter when you sin, as you forget the punishment of Allah is more serious than the sin itself.

Your delight if you get a chance to sin, is more serious than the sin itself.

Even your disappointment, if you miss a chance to sin is more serious than the sin itself.”

At Times of Sorrow and Grief

On 11 Oct 2010, In Islam, by , No comments

There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and the Lord of the throne of honor.

O the Living, O the Eternal, I seek help in Your grace.

Fasting Narrows the Paths of Shaytan

On 13 Aug 2010, In Ramadan, by , 1 Comment

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Allah says in His Quran,

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may acquire Taqwa. [Quran 2:183]

In this beautiful ayah, Allah ta’ala gives the wisdom behind legislating the fast. When you abstain from food, drink, sex, and sins for His sake alone, it purifies the soul, removes evil, corrects ill manners and it narrows the paths that shaytan can use against you. Thus fasting is a shield protecting us from the fire of Hell.

Does Evolution Defeat Allah?

On 09 Aug 2010, In Islam, by , No comments

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Allah says in His Quran,

Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs. [39:62]

and,

That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship ye Him: and He hath power to dispose of all affairs. [6:102]

and,

Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, there is no god but He: Then how ye are deluded away from the Truth! [40:62]

and,

Say: “Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?” Say: “(It is) Allah.” Say: “Do ye then take (for worship) protectors other than Him, such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?” Say: “Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with light?” Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say: “Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the Supreme and Irresistible.” [13:16]

and,

Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things. [35:1]

and,

He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. [59:24]

I believe in Allah and I believe in His ability to create. To the militant evangelic atheist this makes me a fool, an enemy of science, logic and rational thought. He asserts his belief in the non-existence of His Lord with his unshakeable faith in evolution. To him, it defeats Allah because in his estimation it removes the need for an intelligent creator. He laments the Muslim’s reluctance to jump on the evolution bandwagon.

Since he is so convinced and since his challenge is so serious, we must answer the question, Does evolution defeat Allah?

Of course, the answer is, no evolution does not defeat Allah. How can it? Evolution doesn’t conflict with creation. Before something can evolve into something else it must already exist. How did the first living cell find itself in a position to be evolved from? Even if we say that some random chemical reaction miraculously created that first cell, how did those chemical reactions get into a place to randomly create a cell? Then how did the thing that allowed the chemical reaction come about? Keep going back. Everything in our universe has to have an origin and must have been created from something. Keep going back until you find the thing which has no creator and then you would have found the Creator.

Even if evolution is a cold hard fact as the evolutionist would have us believe, it poses no problem for Muslims, who believe Allah is the Creator. It is no more a serious challenge to Allah than gravity. We believe that no leaf falls to the earth without Allah’s command and yet we know that gravity pulls objects towards the earth. That may seem problematic for some until they realise that gravity itself is the creation of Allah. If evolution exists it is nothing more than a creation of Allah.

Evolutionists make the mistake of over estimating the importance or significance of evolution. Now let someone find that magic machine that creates matter from nothing. That would be interesting.

A Beautiful Supplication

On 31 Jul 2010, In Islam, by , 2 Comments

The Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa sallam, said:

“Oh, Allah! Lord of Jibreel, Meeka’eel and Israfeel, the Originator of the heavens and earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! You judge between Your Slaves in the matters in which they used to differ; guide me by Your Leave to the truth in those matters in which there is differing, for verily, You guide whomsoever You will to the Straight Path.”

Muslim.

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