[Fiqh] Islamic Etiquettes of Asking Questions

THE ISLAMIC ETIQUETTES OF ASKING QUESTIONS

by Shaikh Faisal

NOTES typed LIVE by AT-21 and AT-5

Edit and formatting by AT-5 and AT-21

Bismillah...

QUESTIONS are very important so we have guidelines from the Qur'an and Sunnah
-these tell us how to ask and what to ask

1. WE'RE NOT TO ASK A QUESTION THAT WILL CAUSE US HARM WHEN WE RECEIVE THE
ANSWER

O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But
if you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you. Allah has
forgiven that, and Allah is Oft¬Forgiving, Most Forbearing. (Al-Ma'idah 5:101)

-a brother might propose to a girl and

-she says NO and you want to ask her WHY
-but we're not to ask WHY
-and in Islam, she does not have to give you a reason WHY
-don't delve into the matter because the answer might cause you pain
-the answer might give disturbing revelations
-about the brother's character
-such as finding out the brother is a wife-beater or tight-fisted (stingy)
-or the brother has a temper problem
-the truth is better when it's not said

Abu Hurairah learned 2 types of knowledge

1 what I can tell you and the other
2 if I told you, I might be killed

I have memorized two kinds of knowledge from Allah's Apostle. I have propagated one of them to
you and if I propagated the second, then my pharynx (throat) would be cut (i.e. killed). [Sahih Al
Bukhari:: Book 1 :: Volume 3 :: Hadith 121]

2. WE SHOULD ASK THE QUESTION W/ SINCERITY TO SEEK KNOWLEDGE

-long before alcohol was made haraam, the Sahabahs were worried about it

They ask you (O Muhammad ) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great
sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit(Al-Baqarah 2:219)

3. ASK THE QUESTION TO THE ONE WHO IS QUALIFIED AND ABLE TO ANSWER IT
-we don't go to farmers about dentistry or rocket-science
-he should be an expert in the field

So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel
(Gospel)], if you know not. (An-Nahl 16:43)
-we can't ask the "blind to lead the blind"
-the kuffaar get experts whenever they are trying court cases
-they get experts in the field of child-porn or forensics
-the Companions used to ask the Rasool questions re: their deen
-they even asked about menstruation
-[this is how men know to stay away from their wives
-during the wife's menses]

And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you (go
in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto
Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and
washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.). (Al-Baqarah 2:222)

In Madinah, the Jews were treating a menstruating woman

-like a leper
-but the Christians go to bed w/ their wives when they are menstruating
-these are 2 extremes so Allah 'tala revealed a middle ground
-we are the balanced nation so we are balanced
-in all areas of our Islamic life
-during menstruating, a woman can touch/read
-the Qur'an and her husband can kiss her
-any hadeeth that says she can not are weak or fabricated

SHAIKH and a Sister in PM

-he was talking to a sister who's mum was a Hanafi,
-who would not let her read the Qur'an when on her menses
-what about wiping over the hijab? But she said, NO SHAIKH ...
-Hanbalis read al Qur'an and we wipe over our socks and hijab
-but Hanafis do not
-we make wudhu from camel meat
-we shorten and join our prayers
-but we say, how can we not join our prayers? we'd miss our prayers!
-but this sister's mum doesn't let her read al Qur'an or touch al Qur'an
-so she said she will change her madhab after she gets married
-we do not treat a Muslimah who is menstruating like a leper
-she can even call the athaan [a Hanbali girl, if no men are there]
-they even go in the masjid when they are on their menses
-she can listen to the khutbah
-there is no hadeeth that says otherwise
-if you stop menstruating girls from reading Qur'an,
-you are weak in fiqh and they quote 56:79

Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels). (Al-Waqi'ah 56:79)

-the pure is referring to the angels, not the menstruating women

-in 2:220, the Sahabahs asked about the orphans
-we're to look after orphans that are close to us
-the kuffaar asks questions to challenge

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst
house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill treated. I and the guardian of the
orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his two fingers. [Bukhari]

Stay away from the seven destroyers." They said: O Messenger of Allah and what are they? He
said: "Associating with Allah in worship, sorcery, the taking of a life which Allah has sanctified
except rightfully, consuming interest, consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing on the day of
intense battle and slandering innocent, unknowing, believing women." Muslim & Bukhari

4. IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO ASK A RELIGIOUS PERSON A QUESTION TO CHALLENGE HIM

-The kaafirs of Makkah approach the Rasul (saw) and said make the moon split
-they tried to challenge him

The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had
asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, "Show us Allah outright," so the thunderbolt
struck them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf [for worship] after clear evidences had
come to them, and We pardoned that. And We gave Moses a clear authority. 4:153

During the lifetime of the Prophet the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said,
"Bear witness (to thus)."Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 830

The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder (the people of Makkah requested
Prophet Muhammad SAW to show them a miracle, so he showed them the splitting of the moon).
(Al-Qamar 54:1)

And if they see a sign, they turn away, and say: "This is continuous magic." (Al-Qamar 54:2)

They belied (the Verses of Allah, this Qur'an), and followed their own lusts. And every matter will
be settled [according to the kind of deeds (for the doer of good deeds, his deeds will take him to
Paradise, and similarly evil deeds will take their doers to Hell)]. (Al-Qamar 54:3)

-They thought they were challenging Muhammad (saw)

-They denied the verses of Quran and went by their desires
-This proves the kuffaar uses questioning to put you on the spot to challenge you

5. WE ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ASK QUESTIONS TO FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES W/ THE

OPPOSITE GENDER

O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses, except when leave is given to you for a meal,
(and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are invited, enter, and when
you have taken your meal, disperse, without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behaviour) annoys the
Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go), but Allah is not shy of (telling you) the truth. (Al-
Ahzab 33:53)

-When you have taken your meal you should leave don’t stay around
-You have over stayed your welcome
-The guest never wanted to leave the Rasul (saw) company
-because he was special
-The prophet (saw) was so shy he didn’t want to tell you
-to get up and leave
-Allah is not shy
-It is haraam for you to marry the Rasul (saw) wives after his death

And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer
for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allah's
Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allah that
shall be an enormity. (Al-Ahzab 33:53)

6. WE'RE PERMITTED TO ASK A RHETORICAL QUESTION IF IT’S FOR OUR BETTERMENT

-a rhetorical is one you do not need or want an answer to:
-You have a cell phone with time yet you want to ask someone
-at what time it is just to start a conversation
-The angels asked rhetorical questions
-one of the questions they ask is why is your state
-so pitiful, appalling, and pathetic?

Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they
stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say
(to them): "In what (condition) were you?" They reply: "We were weak and oppressed on earth."

They (angels) say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?"
Such men will find their abode in Hell - What an evil destination! (An-Nisa 4:97)

-Why did you live among the kuffaar until you were forced to leave?
-halal meat is banned in Holland
-many sisters care about dunya so they turn down good marriage proposals
-many sisters turn proposals down
-because they don’t want to leave the UK or USA...
-Their hearts are attached to the dunya
-Prophet Lut's wife was attached to the dunya
-you are addicted to the dunya

ANOTHER RHETORICAL QUESTION:

It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: "Did no warner
come to you?" (Al-Mulk 67:8)

-not every time you ask a question you want an answer...this is a rhetorical question

They will say: "Yes indeed; a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: 'Allah never sent
down anything (of revelation), you are only in great error.'" (Al-Mulk 67:9)

-Shaikh was in high school his best friend was a Muslim,

-he was a Christian...they all got the dawah
-pride keeps people from accepting the truth

7. WE'RE NOT PERMITTED TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT HIGHLIGHT

THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF ISLAMIC HISTORY

-esp when we're in front of kuffaar or weak Muslims

a) the fitnah of Ali and Mu’awiyah
b) the Battle of the Camel

Hasan al-Basri was approached

-about the fitnah of Ali and Mu’awiyah
-his answer was 2:134
-this was the most beautiful answer
-whenever a person is a munafiqh they highlight the negative parts of Islam

That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and
you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do. (Al-Baqarah 2:134)

8. WE'RE NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT ONLY ALLAH KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO
-you can tell if a person is a munafiqh just by the way he asks questions
-if you go into a dodgy room, like the room of the Shiites, goofy Sufis...
-etc Shaikh can tell straight away you've been in a dodgy room
-you say you went there out of curiosity
-curiosity killed the cat...you have a life away from PalTalk
-some of you listen, then you go do your own thing
When SH was living in the UK with his Pakistani wife
-he was going to talk about Ali and Mu’awiyah
-but she told him it will make them apostate
-a man came to the study circle of Imam Malik
-asking HOW Allah is on the throne
-he was thrown out of the circle b/c HOW is not known to us
-but we're to believe it
-to believe Allah is over the throne it is wajib
-it's bid'ah to ask about it
-Imam Malik kicked the man out because he asked a question only Allah knows
-anytime a man asks a question only Allah knows,
-he is looking for a reason to leave
-Hypocrisy is contagious
-the hypocrites think they are clever,
-think they can hide their hypocrisy
-as soon as you open your mouth we can tell you are a munafiqh....
-ex calling the mujahideen Khawarijj
-forgetting the Shariah and thinking of ourselves is Talafi thinking

Had We willed, We could have shown them to you, and you should have known them by their
marks, but surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech! And Allah knows all your
deeds. (Muhammad 47:30)

-the cost to dismantle Shariah is a minor kufr

-you will know the hypocrites by the tone of their speech
-Allah said when you speak you tell on yourselves
-A grass is an informant
-the hypocrites think they are wise but they are otherwise
-they are pitiful, appalling, and pathetic
-when Muslim girls leave Islam, it's because they found a kaafir boyfriend

"The knowledge thereof is with Allah (Alone), but most of mankind know not." 7:187

They ask you about the Hour (Day of Resurrection): "When will be its appointed time?" Say: "The
knowledge thereof is with my Lord (Alone). None can reveal its time but He. 7:187

-no one knows when JUDGMENT DAY is - only Allah knows

-see Matthew 24:26
-their Bible says only God knows ,,,, se 24:36

Prediction of the Day of Judgment:

http://judgementday2011.com/may-21-judgement-day/

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew
24:36 King James version]

-The Christians say judgment day is May 21, 2011

-the prediction that Judgment Day would come May 21, 2011 was false
-we're still here!
-the bible says one thing and they say another, what a hypocrisy

9. WE ARE PERMITTED TO ASK A QUESTION TO CHECK-MATE OUR OPPONENT

-since Allah is the only Creator, only He can be praised

And if you ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth," they will certainly say: "Allah."
Say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah!" But most of them know not. 31:25

-tawheed al-rububiyyah was used here to establish tawheed ibaadah

The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of
Resurrection). (Al-Fatihah 1:4)

-no one can veto Allah or intercede for Allah

This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship) besides Him have
created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers and those who do not believe in the Oneness
of Allah) are in plain error. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? .
[This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursi.] (Al-Baqarah 2:255)

This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship) besides Him have
created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers and those who do not believe in the Oneness
of Allah) are in plain error. 31:11

-Look at the wonderful creation of Allah, the Atlantic Ocean, the birds..
-Hindus can't turn to SITA to get help from the heat
-When you are dumped in the hellfire, your idols are dumped with you

And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only: but
when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others. 29:65

-When Shaikh quoted this ayah, someone said why didn’t Allah save these kuffaar
-if Allah knew they were going to pull a stunt
-Kiram and Katibeen recording is spiritual
-some people ask question because of anxiety
-others say I used to be Christian now I am Muslim
-but I cant give up pork. what is my status?

A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,
From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 70:1-3

-people ask question because of anxiety

-I am addicted to casinos what is my status?
-people ask Shaikh their status when they did something shameful
-I did something very shameful, what is my status?
-someone might say I'M A GAY MUSLIM, what is my status?
-you're a kaafir !
-there is no such thing as a gay Muslim
-A non practicing Muslim doesn’t exist

But if they repent, perform As-Salat, (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, then they are your brethren
in religion. (In this way) We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc.) in detail for a people who know. 9:11

10. WE'RE NOT PERMITTED TO ASK INQUISITIVE QUESTIONS

-this is haraam
-sometimes a person will ask, brother I heard
-you got a new job how much do you make?
-we're not to ask questions about some wife's virginity or someone's wages
-we pay too much attention to virginity and not personality!
-Muslims like to ask the question "did you find your wife a virgin"?
-this is haraam

On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said : The messenger of Allah said Part of someone's being
a good Muslim is his leaving alone that which does not concern him. Hadith Nawawi No. 12

-you are allowed to ask questions to instruct people in their deen

-sometimes you have 1 nickname but 200 people listening
-surah 102 proves there is punishment of the grave

"Part of someone's being a good Muslim is his leaving alone that which does not concern him" -
[attributed to Rasoolullah () as narrated by Imam an-Nawawi in his 40 Hadith]

-Allah and his messenger knows best

Umar (RA) ibn al-Khattab (RA) said that they were with Allah’s Messenger (SAW) when a man
came wearing extremely white clothing and deep black hair but signs of a journey could not be
detected on him nor could they recognise him as one of them. He came to the Prophet (SAW) and
sat down beside him, his knees touching the Prophet’s (SAW). He asked “O Muhammad, what is
faith”? He said, “It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers (peace be upon
them all), in the Last Day and in Predestination of good and evil.” He asked, “And what is Islam?”
He said, ‘It is. to testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and His
Messenger (SAW) to establish the Salah, to pay the Zakah, to perform pilgrimage of the House and
to fast in Ramadan.’ He asked, “And what is Ihsan”? He said, It is that you worship Allah as
though you see Him, for it you cannot see Him, He sees you.” The visitor remarked, “In everything
that you have spoken, you spoke truth.” Umar (RA) said that they were surprised at his
questioning him and then confirming that he spoke the truth. Next, he asked, “And when is the
Hour?” He said, “The one who is questioned does not know more about it than the one who
asks.” He asked, “Then what are its Signs?” He said, “That a maid-servant will beget her mistress
and that you see barefooted, naked-bodied, helpless shepherds construct tall buildings.” Umar
(RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) then met him after three days and said, “Umar (RA) , do you
know who the questioner was? He was Jibril come to teach you the basics of your religion.”
[Bukhari 47, Muslim 4, Tirmidhi 2619, Abu Dawud 4695, Nisai 5005, Ibn Majah 63, Ahmed 184]

11. WE ARE PERMITTED TO ASK QUESTIONS TO TEACH THE PEOPLE THEIR RELIGION
-the hadith of the angel prophet [put in notes] what is eeman, etc

-Angel Jibril taught by asking questions

-If Jesus didn’t tolerate people calling him good,
-how can he tolerate people calling him God?
-you are not allowed to spy for the kuffaar

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life? (Matthew 19:16) King James Version

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou
wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17) King James Version

12. IT'S HARAAM FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE C-I-A

THE M-I-5 AND THE F-B-I
-you are not permitted to ask questions to spy or be an agent provocateur
-or to use your questions for entrapment
-you are not allowed to use your questions for entrapment
-this means you might have a recording device on you that we can not see
-we're not permitted to bomb darul harb - make hijrah instead
-if you don’t like living among the kuffaar, make hijrah
-those who are arrested say I WAS INSPIRED BY [so and so]
-what makes you think they will lessen your sentence?
-The white men blame the Muslims for 9/11 so they kill all the Muslims
-"collective punishment"
-killing 1 million Muslims because of 3,000 on 9 - 11
-So they want to kill millions of Muslims, that’s why they invaded Iraq
-you cant practice entrapment because it makes you a kaafir as well

13. WE'RE NOT PERMITTED TO PRACTICE EXCESSIVE QUESTIONING

Or do you intend to ask your Messenger as Moses was asked before? And whoever exchanges
faith for disbelief has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way. 2:108

-When Musa told them to sacrifice a cow, they asked what type of cow?

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allah commands you to slaughter a cow."
They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allah from being among the
ignorant." 2:67

-They wanted to know what color and what nature...

-they made it difficult on themselves
-The prophet(saw) Allah would have accepted any cow
-But they made it difficult so Allah made it difficult on them

“What I have forbidden for you, avoid. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you
can. For verily, it was only the excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets
that destroyed [the nations] who were before you” (Agreed Upon) Hadith No. 9 from 40 Hadith

-It is bad Islamic adaab to practice excessive question

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: Allah's Messenger (SAW) addressed us and said: O people, Allah has
made Hajj obligatory for you; so perform Hajj. Thereupon a person said: Messenger of Allah, (is it
to be performed) every year? He (the Holy Prophet) kept quiet, and he repeated (these words)
thrice, whereupon Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: If I were to say "Yes," it would become
obligatory (for you to perform it every year) and you would not be able to do it. Then he said:
Leave me with what I have left to you, for those who were before you were destroyed because of
excessive questioning, and their opposition to their apostles. So when I command you to do
anything, do it as much as it lies in your power and when I forbid you to do anything, then
abandon it. [Sahih Muslim, Book 7, Hadith #3095]

13. WE'RE PERMITTED TO ASK A QUESTION TO WAKE UP SOMEONE FROM SLUMBER

-Allah did that in the Quran
-The person is not alert and is wasting his time
-fa ayna tadhaboon ? where are you going
-he is a loser, you don’t want him to waist his time
-the path you have chosen is it a flat road or steep road?

So where are you going? 81:36

Then where are you going? (At-Takwir 81:26)