Can I Ask Allah To Reverse Time In Paradise?

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Question:

Assalamu ‘alaykum.

Sheikh, in Paradise, will I be able to ask God To reverse the time and change Shariah Law as my reward? Because this is my only request, I have for God. Yes, I know that Shariah is perfect, but I have some personal needs which have nothing to do with perfection or imperfection.

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

If you mean that you want Allah to return you to the dunya once you have reached Paradise, that won’t happen. The Akhira is permanent.

You can, however, ask for whatever it is that you want. Once you are there, the needs, worries, desires, and concerns of this life will seem insignificant. You can have what you want there. “They will have what whatever they will in [Paradise}, and, with Us is much more!“ (Qur’an, 50:35)

However, in the dunya, it is impermissible to ask for impermissible matters and things that are rationally or conventionally impossible. (Tahtawi, Hashiya Maraqi al Falah) Ask for what your need is to be fulfilled in a halal way, or for it to be taken care of, such that you don’t desire that the rules of the Shari’a be otherwise.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

Do People Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell Forever?

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Question:

Assalamu alaikum,
If an extremely depressed person commits suicide, will he stay in hell forever,
or is there a chance of him being forgiven?

What can the relatives of the dead person do to help him?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Only Disbelief Leads To Hell Forever

No, suicide does not mean that a person will go to Hell forever. The only way to go to Hell forever is to commit an act of disbelief. One such act of disbelief would reject the ruling of impermissibility and claim that suicide is permissible in Islam. This is the narrations indicating permanence in the Hellfire for those who commit suicide are understood.

The Meaning of ‘Khulud’

Many narrations state that a person will abide in Hell, repeating the process of his suicide. The word “khalidan“ is used to indicate this. However, this word, on its own, only means a long time and not permanence. So, it does not mean that anyone who commits suicide will be in Hell forever. (Raghib, Mufradat Alfaz al Qur’an)

Suicide Can Be Forgiven

As for a believer, who believes it is impermissible, but due to mental health issues or being overwhelmed by pain and difficulties – such a person, we hope, will be forgiven. Two men from the same tribe as Abu Hurayra moved to Medina to be with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Upon reaching there, they both got ill. One of them could not bear the agony, so he slit his forearms and killed himself.

His friend prayed for a year to see him in a dream, which he did. He was in a good state – in Paradise, it seems – but he had bandages on his arms. The friend asked him what Allah did with him, and he replied that Allah forgave him because he emigrated to Medina. However, he was told, “We won’t fix what you damaged,“ hence the bandages.

The companion mentioned this to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and he said, “O Allah, forgive his arms too.“ (Muslim) This is a moving hadith, and it brings hope for those whose loved ones died in such a way.

The relatives can do any good deed and ask Allah to give it to the deceased. Charity, dhikr, and the recitation of the Qur’an are all easy deeds one can benefit them with.

May Allah grant us all the best of ends.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

Is Loving Others Shirk?

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Question:

Assalamu ‘alaykum.
Can you please explain to me the topic of shirk in love in detail? Please explain to me what Allah means in these two ayahs: Qur’an 2:165 and Qur’an 9:24. If loving anything or anyone more than Allah is shirk, then doesn’t that mean the vast majority of Muslims will go to hell for eternity? If I love an anime character more than Allah, would it be shirk?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Loving others is not a sin, and it is not shirk. The former verse is explained in detail here. Love in this verse refers to the idolaters treating their idols as Allah should be treated with worship, veneration, and slavehood. (Abu al Su’ud, Irshad al ‘Aql al Salim)

The verse in Sura al Tawba refers to the willing choice someone makes based on love for something. It does not mean that having affection for those mentioned in the verse is wrong, as this is natural. (Ibid)

Loving and being loved are blessings which one should thank Allah for. It is not shirk.

Having a fondness for a fictional character is fine, and the strength of one’s feelings doesn’t necessarily mean that it is shirk. However, if you do feel that you do not love Allah as much, then you should make some time in your life to think about Allah’s favors.

Think about the things you hold dearest in your life. If you woke up tomorrow with them gone, you’d be devastated. Who gave you them? Reflect on this. Thank Allah. Gratitude is a pathway to love. Take this seriously.

May Allah fill our hearts with His love.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

Allah forgives all sins

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Dear questioner,
I pray this finds you in good health and faith.
Concerning your good question, this has to do with repentance.
Allah forgives all sins.
Allah Most High says, “Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful” (Quran 24:31).
If they have truly repented [ I am sure it is the case], then you should accept that she has moved on from those ugly sins. Unfortunately, many people reveal more than they should. If one has truly repented, they should move on with their lives unless it relates to others’ rights.
It is important to note that she should be advised not to disclose those sins to anyone again.
Concerning what you should do, it depends on you and your feelings of hurt. How attached are you? If you continue, will you forgive her actions and not let that cause future oppression or fights? Your feelings of hurt may grow. However, if you are willing to forgive and move on, then promise yourself not to bring that up to her.
Pray Istikhara
I recommend you perform the prayer of istikhara.
Link for how to pray istikhara:
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Must I change my name from Christina ?

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I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

No, it is not required to change your name, as it is ascribed to Christ—Jesus (peace be upon him)—, whom we as Muslims believe in, revere, love, and respect.

It is also quite normal to keep both one’s birth name and to adopt a Muslim name, as well, and to use both—whether interchangeably or in different contexts.

Please find related answers in the SeekersGuidance Answers – www.seekersguidance.org.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.

Is a Precautionary Renewal of One’s Shahada Valid?

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Question:

Is a precautionary renewal of one’s shahada valid?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

Yes, this precautionary renewal of one’s shahada is valid and accepted, but it is unnecessary. Kufr is a deliberate choice, it is not something that can just happen to someone without them knowing.

It is probably better not to encourage this to people, as many can fall into strong doubts about any and everything leading them out of Islam. Please look at our archived answers on Kufr for an understanding of what takes one out of Islam.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

What Do We Believe About Causes and Their Effects?

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Question:

Can you explain the position of the Asharis and Maturidis on cause and effect?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

It seems like you are talking about two issues here. Firstly, everything has a cause, except Allah. Allah is the cause of everything and nothing “caused” Him. The evidence of this is the proof known as Infinite Regression.

As for all other causes and effects, they are all created. Allah created the cause and the effect in every situation. The knife is the cause, and the cut is the effect, and neither is independent of Allah. They just appear together because Allah has wisely decided to make the world a place of means.

Please take on of our ‘Aqida course for more detail. If you have the requisite Arabic skills the course on Imam Bajuri’s commentary on the Sanusiyya will explain this in detail.

https://seekersguidance.org/courses/what-muslims-believe-and-why/

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.

Is It Possible for Allah To Love Me As Much as He Loves the Prophet and Sahaba?

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Question:
Is it possible for Allah to love me as much as he loves the Prophet and Sahaba?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
 May Allah bless you and increase you in good.
Who Does Allah Love?
Allah has informed us whom He loves in the Quran.
Examples include (1.) Allah loves the pious [muttaqin] – (2.) Allah loves those who endure-[Sabirun] (Qur’an 3:146)
If you want to attain the love of Allah, then love Allah and whom Allah loves. Believe and perform good deeds in order to be among those whom Allah loves. Important note, remember that Allah’s love is not emotional. Attaining the pleasure of Allah is all about His acceptance, His rewards, and His divine pleasure. It is not emotional love.
In this regard, none of us can outstrip the chosen one, nor should we ever desire to do so. Our love for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) should be more than ourselves. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ” None of you believes until I am more beloved to you than your parents, your children, and all of humanity.” [Bukhari]
Our genuine concern should be to earn the love of Allah and His messenger. There is no achievement greater than this achievement.
The Rank of the Chosen One
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is called ” The Chosen One.” He was chosen and elected before the creation of the Heavens and the Earth. There can be no change in his rank nor his lofty high status. He is the greatest of Allah’s creation and hence the most beloved.
“The absolute best of all creation is our Prophet, so leave any dispute. And then the prophets that come after him in rank and after them the noblest of angels.” [Jawhara al-Tawhid; Ibrahim al Laqqani]
Companions of the Prophet
His noble companions also have a station that has exceeded the rest who come after them.
“Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.” [Qur’an 98:8]
This verse speaks about believers, and they are the first and foremost of us.
The Prophet ( peace and blessings be upon him) was asked, “‘Which people are the best?’ He replied, ‘The best generation is mine than those that come after them and those who come after them…'” [Bukhari]
Conclusion
If you believe, do good works, and strive hard, you can be the most beloved person of your entire city and maybe even your country! If you desire such love, then strive like the early ones [salaf salih] to achieve lofty status. They reached this rank through learning, acting, abstinence from the world, and many other factors that made them elect the elect. If you do what they did to achieve success, then you will be with them in Paradise. Nothing else will matter.
“Whoever obeys God and the Messenger—these are with those whom God has blessed—among the prophets, and the sincere, and the martyrs, and the upright. Excellent are those as companions.” [Qur’an 4:69]
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Does Saying Certain Words Out of Anger Entail Disbelief?

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Question:

If in a fit of anger I utter out words that entail disbelief, what is the expiation?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Angrily expressing words of blasphemy is sinful, but not disbelief if one does not mean in one’s heart what one is saying. One should immediately repent and say the testimony of faith.

There is no specific expiation, but charity and additional worship would be a good idea. Allah Most High says, “Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.” [Qur’an, 11: 114]

One should also look very carefully into the scenario that gave rise to this unhealthy reaction and to the sources of the words that come out on to your tongue. Who are you listening to on a regular basis? Who were you with when this happened? What lead up to this event? While it is true that we all sin and we all repent, we do still have to be responsible for our actions and try our best to change what we do in the future based on the lessons we have learned from the past. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Let no believer be stung from the same hole twice.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

Can We Supplicate to Allah by His Mercy?

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Question:
Can we supplicate to Allah by his mercy?
Answer: 
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
Asking Allah, Most High by His Mercy
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) would supplicate to Allah, Most High by his mercy;
“O Ever-Living One, O Eternal One, by Your mercy I call on You to set right all my affairs. Do not place me in charge of my soul even for the blinking of an eye (i.e. a moment).”
[Hakim, al-Mustadrak]
“O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, which encompasses all things, that You forgive me.” [Ibn Maja. al-Sunan]
Asking Allah for something by his mercy is from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). Likewise, one may intend an action and include the mercy of Allah, Most High in the intention. For example: “Oh Allah, by Your Mercy, I intend to wake up for the night prayer.”
Asking Allah, Most High, by his mercy is a form of praising him and also a way to increase in certainty.
Allah’s Mercy for the Sinner
Allah, Most High says in the Quran:
“My mercy encompasses everything.” [Qur’an, 7:156]
And
“Our Lord!  You have encompassed everything by [Your] Mercy and [Your] Knowledge…”
[Qur’an, 40:7]
Imam al-Qushayri says: “When Allah, Most High says that His mercy encompasses everything, this is a subtle glad tiding for those who find themselves in a state of sin. At the moment, they might not be obeying Allah, Most High but they should know that they are still enveloped in his mercy!
[Qushayri, Lataif al-Isharat]
Allah’s punishing a Muslim is from his attribute of justice. Allah’s allowing the sinner to repent until the day of judgment is from his attribute of mercy.
If Allah, Most High, did not have mercy on those who commit sin, then he would punish immediately in this world. Not only does Allah, The Most Merciful, give those in sin the opportunity to repent, but he rewards them for it, elevates their rank, and draws them nearer to him.
It is also from his Mercy that he eventually removes those Muslims who committed major sins from the hellfire and enters them into paradise.
Imam al-Nawawi says: It is the position of the people of the prophetic tradition (sunna), that those who commit major sins will not remain in the Hellfire forever. If they enter it, they will be taken out and eventually admitted into Paradise. [Nawawi, Sharh Sahih al-Muslim]
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani