Letters to the Editor

Q: My question is whether masturbation is allowed in Islam or not. If not, then what type sin is it? And how can the youth get rid of this dangerous practice?

R J Khan,
On Email

YMD

Since you have called it a dangerous practice, so it remains. You can suffer irreparable physical and psychological damages.

The cure is obvious: work hard a couple of years, and get married.

Q: I am writing to you to get your attention about the worst condition the Ummah has ever faced. As far as we have seen, democracy and dictatorship have completely failed and couldn’t solve our problems. In fact, these two systems are basic tools and techniques of politicians to loot and sell the wealth and dignity of Ummah. Everyone came with a slogan like Pakistan is first, Indonesia is first, and so on; but their one, and only, aim was to obey their Western lords and loot the resources of the nation. 

As for progress, two things should be matching: your ideology and your way to progress. In the West, their ideology and the way both are matching so they are progressing but in our case our ideology is Islam, but our way is Democracy; both are conflicting, and so we cannot progress.

We have to go back to the ideology of Islam – the Khilafah. The Khilafah is not a new system; it has been the ruling system for more than 1400 years. Just a century or so back, when the Western world was still developing, we were leading in every field, but from the day we abandoned Khilafah, we haven’t see even a short period of happiness.

Now it is our duty, especially the young, to make the people aware of what our problem is and what the solution is.

Arshad Mehmood,
On Email

YMD

So long as the common people are not persuaded to alter their ways in favor of an Islamically righteous life, we cannot hope to take Khilafah on board.

If some people brought it on by force, the common people will push it overboard.

Q: Would it be the right understanding to say: Fard is that, which, if completely abandoned, there is no Eeman?

YMD

That is not a correct definition. In fact, this was the belief of the Kharijites.

Nothing will effect a man’s exit from Eeman or Islam except repudiation of what brought him into Islam in the first place. In simpler words, it was Kalimah Shahadah which brought him into the fold of Islam. It is repudiation of the Kalimah which will eject him out of Islam. So long as he subscribes to this creed, he is a believer.

But, of course, there are a few other things committing which a man might exit into Kufr.

Q: Fard is that without which the deed to which it belongs is null and void, e.g. Wudu is Fard. A Salah without Wudu is null and void. Qiyam in Prayers is Fard, without it Salah is null and void. It must be repeated.

YMD

You are right.

Q: And, Wajib is that, abandoning which completely a person is punishable.

F. M.,
On Email

YMD

Well, Wajib is slightly below Fard in importance. If it is dropped out intentionally, it will render the ritual null and void. But if it was forgotten, then it demands some sort of expiation. For example, reciting Surah al-Fatiha is Wajib in Salah. Not doing it intentionally makes the Salah null and void. Not reciting because of forgetfulness demands Sajdah al-Sahw.

Q: I would like to invest in mutual fund (SIP). Is it permitted in Islam?

Syed Aklim,
On Email

YMD

The financial world is a volatile place. What sounds as Islamically quite acceptable right now, turns out to be unacceptable later. If by “mutual funds,” what you mean is pooling of funds by small investors, to be managed by fund managers, who invest the fund’s capital into stocks, shares, bonds, money market instruments, etc. and earn profits, then we do not see anything objectionable so long as stocks or shares of prohibited businesses (wine, pork etc.) are not dealt with. Mutual funds allow small investors to invest in big businesses.

But, there is so much fraud now in the financial market, that we would advise Muslims to be very careful about whom they hand over their money. Life-time of savings can be lost if wrong elements are trusted.

There are too many sharks in the dirty pond.

Q: I am studying CA. After studying CA, where should I do job? What type of firms? Please let me know.

Mohammed Tabriz,
On Email

YMD

You have raised odd questions. They can only be answered by professional guidance.

All that we can say is that do not work for a bank which deals with interest, or get employed in wine industries. Otherwise, we believe, the market is wide.

To be sure, whatever job you choose, do not sit back and relax. Continue with higher studies: Diplomas, Certificates, Special Skill courses, etc.

Suggestion 1: Global food crisis is a hot topic of discussion these days.  The constant increase in food prices is alarming everybody. According to a report from World Bank food prices are expected to keep rising. Presently a billion people are malnourished. Despite all aids provided by United Nations and International Monetary Funds (IMF), capitalism and democracy have badly failed to solve these problems. It seems that eventually, the global food shortage will catch up with everybody. The only way to beat this crisis is by implementing Islamic Shariah laws through Islamic Caliphate state.

YMD

Sorry, we do not see a direct connection between food prices and Khilafah. Assume that Khilafah is established. Obviously, it will only cover Islamic states. Assuming all the states accept it. (What an assumption!) Muslims number about 20% of the world population. So, how do you imagine that food prices can be stabilized by the 20% with benefits reaching all nations of the world?

The rise in food prices is due to a variety of factors. To name some:

1.         Crop failures
2.         Weather changes
3.         Water shortage
4.         Bio-fuel crops
5.         Over-consumption
6.         Rising fuel costs
7.         Wastages etc.

How will establishment of Khilafah affect any of the above factors?

Suggestion 2: In Islamic Caliphate system the only means of generating revenue is through increasing exports, which is achieved by launching new industries. This provides employment opportunities for everyone.

YMD

It is incorrect to say that revenues for Caliphate will come from exports alone.

In any case, for the sake of argument, supposing that Khilafah is established in India, by a miracle. Now, since last 60 years India’s exports are lesser than imports. All measures to increase exports have resulted in increase of imports. Today’s economic crisis and plunge in Rupee value is primarily that of trade imbalance: more imports, less exports. So, after the first miracle of establishment of Khilafah, you will need a second miracle to offset the trade imbalance.

Suggestion 3: Furthermore, it is duty of Islamic ruler to provide food, clothing and shelter to those citizens who can’t afford it. History has witnessed this Islamic system for a period of 1300 years. Finally, the Caliphate system was demolished in 1924. The need of the hour is to re-establish the Islamic caliphate state.

Mahwish Hassaan,
On Email

YMD

Of course, it is the duty of the Islamic state to provide food, clothing and shelter to those who can’t afford it. Now, it is also the duty of the Muslims to feed the un-fed of their neighborhood. Today, Muslims first feed themselves with rich, tasty food, and then sit down together (because their stomachs are too heavy for their feet to support) to talk about `Aqeedah, about Da`wah, about Cricket, about elections, about high prices, and so on. But nobody talks about feeding the poor – not even the `Aqeedah and Da`wah activists.

So, if the well-fed Muslims do not consider feeding the poor a religious requirement, are we going to import a Khalifah from the heavens, along with a million followers – again from the heavens – who accept that feeding the poor as a religious responsibility?

Q: The argument of secular and liberal elite of Pakistan when Islamic systems of economics, rulings, social, judicial, foreign policy and education policy of Islam  is presented as alternate solution to get rid of the crisis of Pakistan is that “which Islam you want to implement”! Actually they fail to realize that Islam is a complete way of life. It organizes human relation in three dimensions. It is human relation with his own self, human relation with other people and human relation with his creator.

Yes, there exist differences in opinion in different schools of thought in peripheral issues but not in definite rulings of Islam like obligation of prayer, fasting, Jihad etc. Islam gives the mechanism to solve the differences in opinion; like in democracy the majority opinion is binding when there is difference of opinion on certain issue. Islam gives the mechanism to solve the difference of opinion on certain issues while in Islamic state the Ijtihad adopted by caliph is binding. That is the reason why the opinion of first caliph Abu baker was adopted against those who were not giving Zakah to the State, although there was a difference of opinion on this issue. The argument “which Islam you want to implement” is quite weak and it is obvious that solution to the problems of Pakistan is caliphate state not democracy and capitalism.

Aamir Zeb,
On Email

YMD

When people ask “which Islam do you wish to implement?” then, they are raising a legitimate question. We have so many divisions amongst us: Sunni, Shi`ah, Salafi, Hanafi, Jama-ati, Tablighee, Deobandi, Barelawi, and so on – you can go on. Each of them interprets Islam differently. They do agree on major issues. But, their differences are so deep, that they can never appear together on a platform for more than an hour or so. When asked to vote, they will all vote for Islam. But when they have to vote for details, then, every group walks a different path. This is the experience noted everywhere.

The Salafis for example, refused to co-operate with the Ikhwan in Egypt. They refused ministerial posts offered by Ikhwan; and preferred military rule over that led by the Ikhwan. Some of them said that the Ikhwan are worse than the Jews. We have seen this kind of drama enacted in Pakistan several times over, although not at such level and scale – or such perversion.

Can those who are very uncomfortable sitting together on one platform for more than an hour, evoke any confidence in the general public that they will sit together and jointly vote on crucial issues as one voice in a Parliament House, if brought to power?

So, we believe that the argument of the elite asking, “which Islam do you want to implement,” is legitimate.
Now, what should we do then? Well, that is a question that you have not asked, so we will not take up the answer.