PART ONE
Also read these other parts,
3,4,5 ,
6 ,
7,
8
Part 2 is a special adult oriented part. Click
here.
To write to Adam and Chancellor, write to;
a-c@submission.org
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Dear Adam & Chancellor
is an exciting question and answer column that's open
to all youth (and the young at heart). If you're curious about a subject
or have a question you've been afraid to ask someone else, give Adam &
Chancellor a shot. Your questions can even be kept confidential if you like.
Whether you're dealing with peer pressure and everyday challenges or have
questions about your religion or the meaning of life, Adam & Chancellor
will give you some great feedback.
Check out some of the past questions and you'll get an idea. You can also
find the Adam & Chancellor column in the monthly youth newsletter,
the Elite. If you like
to subscribe to the Elite, please send us a notice at :
Elite@submission.org
Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(1)
I have a question that is been bugging me for
about 4 years. i wanna know if muslims are allowed body piercings or
not? I'm an 18 year old female and live in the UK and every where you
see in the western culture you have people with their eyebrows, lips,
tongues, navels etc pierced. I know these things are greatly frowned
apon in our community but i wanna know is it really wrong? i know that
some piercings such as the private areas are forbiddon because that's
just obviously wrong and stupid, but what about the lips or navel? When
i was 14 i got my navel pierced but it was only for myself, i had no
intention of going round in cropped tops or showing guys my stomach i
just liked it for myself, but then i took it out because my mum
and aunt gave me into a lot of trouble for it. I'm confused because why
can muslims be allowed to have their noses and ears pierced but not
their brows or whatever ( not that i want to have them done, just want
to know why).
Please reply to this message because i am still very confused on this
topic
Thank You,
From Confused.
______________________________________________
Peace be upon you dear confused,
God has provided us with a scripture that is complete, perfect and
fully detailed. And we know through God's scripture that NOTHING shall
abrogate His words.
[6:115] The word of your Lord is
complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall
abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
We also know that Quran is our only valid and divine source of law.
[45:6] These are GOD's revelations that we
recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than GOD and
His revelations do they believe?
Everything needed for our salvation is contained in the Quran.
[6:51] And preach with this (Quran)
to those who reverence the summoning before their Lord - they have
none beside Him as a Lord and Master, nor an intercessor - that they may attain salvation.
Traditionalists have made up their own books called Hadith and Sunna
which were NOT said by the prophet. In these fabricated books; there
are many many prohibitions that were not prohibited by God. God tells
us that He doesn't run out of words, therefore God doesn't forget to
let us know what is prohibited and what isn't.
The Quran: Everything We Need
[18:109] Say,
"If the ocean were ink
for the words of my Lord, the ocean would run out, before the words of
my Lord run out, even if we double the ink supply."
If we are to prohibit anything beside what God has given us, we would
be setting up other sources besides God's scripture and therefore fall
into the category of idol worship.
[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as
a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully
detailed?* Those who received the scripture recognize that it
has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any
doubt.
*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects
disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18).
Traditionalists prohibit many things including growing out your nails,
wearing wigs, tattoos, piercing, etc. Many people would start asking
why are they really prohibited.
However I do not find anything in God's infallible scripture that
prohibits such things.
However, God does tell us to maintain our modesty:
[24:60] The elderly women who do not expect to
get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain
modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower.
God also tells us to subdue our eyes, having flamboyant tattoos and
piercing may provide lots of eyes to be focused on the individual:
Dress Code for Believers*
[24:30] Tell the believing men that
they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women),
and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully
Cognizant of everything they do.
God also doesn't like show-offs or people that are just obnoxiously
loud:
[8:47] Do not be like those who left
their homes grudgingly, only to show off, and in fact
discouraged others from following the path of GOD. GOD is fully aware
of everything they do.
Most of all, God tells us to not to expose yourself too much. In my
opinion this doesn't only refer to the dress code, but also to walk
humbly (don't stick yourself out purposely from a crowd) and not to be
obnoxious (which is another sense of having yourself sticking out of a
crowd)
[31:18] "You shall not treat the people with
arrogance, nor shall you roam the earth proudly. GOD
does not like the arrogant showoffs.
[31:19] "Walk humbly and lower your
voice - the ugliest voice is the donkey's voice."
Again, none of these verses actually tell us that piercing or tattoos
are prohibited. However, these verses teach us some basic social
guidelines. We need not to have ourselves sticking out of a crowd (in
a sense to showoff or to expose yourself more) We need to be modest,
and try our very best not to show off ourselves.
Overall, piercing/tattoos are not prohibited in the Quran. However, we
need to decide for ourselves what would be socially
acceptable/appropriate and what wouldn't in the light of the context
of the whole Quran.
God Bless you,
J.S. for Adam and Chancellor
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(2)
I have a huge crush on a very popular guy at
my school. I can't seem to get him off my mind. How should I deal with this
matter?
Signed, Cupid
Dear Cupid,
Sounds like the love bug has gotten a hold of you. Emotions are a natural
part of our lives. However, it is important to reflect on your emotions with
maturity and patience before you make any quick decisions that you may regret.
We learn by reading the Quran that a relationship between a man and a women
should take place in the form of marriage. Marriage involves serious commitment
and love between two people who share a mutual respect and love for God.
The Quran teaches us a good example of how powerful and potentially dangerous
emotions can be if you are not careful, In the chapter called Joseph, we
learn that Joseph was a very handsome man. He was so handsome that the Governor's
wife tried to seduce him. However, Joseph knew better than to give in to
emotions. He asked God for help and support.
If you can't keep this guy off your mind, perhaps you're not thinking about
God enough. You should be patient and ignore what standard practice may be
in your school. Set a better standard for others to follow. A standard that
shows your righteousness, purity of heart, and love of God. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(3)
I am very curious to know why God did not create
everyone to believe in and submit to Him ?!
Signed, Curious.
Dear Curious,
God created all of us and blessed us with hearing, eyesight and intelligence.
It is very easy for God to make the decision for us and not give us a chance
to decide on our own how to believe or what to believe in. However, God did
not want to create pre-programmed robots. God wants each of us to use our
senses to establish our own priorities. Do we want to ignore the beautiful
flower or sunset or do we want to praise God for such a wonderful sight?
Do we want to take the time to thank God for the food we are about to eat
or do we prefer to devour our meal without reflecting on this blessing or
giving thanks to the One who provides for us. I think the main reason for
this freedom of choice is so that on the day of judgment when we each face
God, we will view our actions and will be held accountable for the decisions
we made with our own free will.
Well, Mr. or Mrs. Curious, I tend to agree with the above points on
this response
and would like to add a few more points. In addition to freedom of
choice, I think diversity is an important point to mention. We are all
different in our preferences and way of thinking. This diversity can be a
blessing for someone who comes to appreciate God because of the actions,
beliefs and conduct of another person. Our interaction with others can bring
us closer to God or can repel us further from God. The decision is ours.
If you think about your interactions with people when discussing the topic
of religion or God, you may recall the impact it had on you. Diversity is
a great blessing from God. Any blessing from God deserves our serious attention. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(4)
I am a young adult and a practicing submitter.
Having read the Quran, I know the importance of respecting your parents.
However, my father criticizes the traditional Islam he has grown up with
and in turn uses this understanding to criticize my beliefs. Although he
has backed off recently, in the beginning his verbal attacks were very strong.
I feel I can't engage in a religious conversation with him to inform him
of the true Islam that I have learned from the Quran because I know that
he will begin his criticisms without bothering to even listen. what should
be my role and responsibility towards my father?
In Need of a Father Figure
Dear "In Need of a Father Figure",
One of the most important commandments in the Quran is respecting and honoring
your parents. We read in 17:23:
"Your Lord has decreed that you shall not worship
except Him, and your parents shall be honored. As long as one or both of
them live, you shall never say to them, "Uff' (the slightest gesture of
annoyance), nor shall you shout at them; you shall treat them
amicably."
HOWEVER, if your parents are forcing you away from worshipping God then you
need to set some limits. In 29:8 we read:
"We enjoined the human being to honor his parents.
But if they try to force you to set up idols besides Me, do not obey
them..."
Our ultimate loyalty should be to God since God is the ultimate judge of
everything we do. You should treat your father with respect and tell him
in the nicest possible manner that you do not like him to criticize your
belief. If he continues, you can try to change the subject or simply leave
the room. If you have tried to inform him about the importance of God
without success, don't give up. Be patient and be careful not to push the
subject too far. There are many subtle and indirect ways to show your father
that we need God in our life and that Islam, which means submission, is a
way of life that helps us get closer to God. Most importantly, do not let
others take you away from worshipping God. Your conduct will be a great example
to others about the true meaning of Islam. You should be proud of your efforts
and know that God is rewarding you for striving in your current situation. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(5)
I am frustrated!!! I believe in God, pray, and
am an honest person but it seems that nothing is going right in my life.
I keep asking God for help but it just does not seem to change. Has God forgotten
about me?
Frustrated!
Dear Frustrated,
Are you breathing? Is your heart beating? Can you see? Can your hear, touch,
smell, and taste? Axe you in physical pain?
Are you living out in the streets in below freezing temperature with nothing
to eat?
If you truly think about all the things that are going RIGHT in your life
it will make all your problems seem like nothing.
God encourages us to pray to Him and thank Him both in good times and in
bad - especially in bad times. God mentions in the Quran that if you have
reached a point where you have lost all hope, sever your dependence on everything
and turn completely to God. If you remain patient, continue to do your prayers,
and reverence God, you are guaranteed an exit by God. Just do not give up.
It is Satan's trick to try and instill fear and frustration in you. You should
fear God and know that God will never forget those who believe in Him. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(6)
The other day I was doing my contact prayers
in school and 1 was given some very odd looks. I felt uncomfortable and
embarrassed. How can I deal with this situation better in the
future.
Signed, Shy Submitter
Dear Shy Submitter,
How great it is to hear that you respect and love God enough to pray in public.
If you only knew how much credit you are earning for your effort. When you
are in public and people see you standing and speaking to yourself or prostrating
they may look at you in a strange way because they are curious about what
you are doing. Public pray is not a very common sight. You have a great
opportunity to show people by your actions what it means to worship God.
Don't let those "odd" looks discourage you. You are responsible to God not
the people who are watching you. Being embarrassed is a natural feeling
especially if you know the people who are watching you. One way of making
it easier is to close your eyes. Another way is to inform your friends about
your prayers so that they are not surprised when they see you. How about
trying to find a more private place to pray? The first few times you pray
in public you will feel uncomfortable. However, after a while it will become
second nature and you won't even think about it. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(7)
When I read the Quran or Bible, it seems to me
that most of the messengers and prophets do not have last names. For example,
you just read about Noah, Abraham, Muhammad, or Moses. How come they only
have first names?
Signed, First Name Only
Dear First Name Only,
We're stumped! Great question. We have some thoughts about your question
but by no means do we have a perfect answer. Maybe people did not have specific
last names during those times. Perhaps people belonged to different tribes
and were identified by their first name and their tribe name. For example,
Muhammad was part of the Quraysh tribe. Another reason could be that God's
messengers were popular enough that they did not need last names. Or maybe
because God did not want them to have last names so that future generations
of people would not insist that they are related to a messenger. Food for
thought. If any of our readers have an idea, please write or e-mail us.
Adam
Here is an answer we received from brother Irfan A.;
In Quran it is mentioned that all messengers of God were created equal. They
all listened to GOD and obeyed. By not using last names in Quran, God is
teaching us few important lessons. Few of those are as follows.
1. All messengers were equal so Quran (GOD) addresses them by there first
name only. First name is the only identification a human need to be a Submitter
(Muslim) since this is the absolute common denominator. This is as purest
of an identity a person can have.
2. Last or family names Could be a form of idolatry (according to Quran,
our families, kids, wife, money etc. could be idols). Cultures have known
to use their families and tribes to make themselves superior to other. e.g.
All kings and queens today and in the past use their family name for power.
King of Saudi Arabia, King of Jordan, King of .... Even today some people
believe that generation of Ali is some how superior to others since they
came from the children of Ali and Fatimah (Mohammed's daughter)
Note: As far as we use our last names for identity only, we are OK. Since,
Quran says that God has crated us into Nations and tribes so we may know
each other. |
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Irfan |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(8)
Why do we have to bow down, kneel, and put our
forehead on the ground when we pray? Why can't we just stand and
pray?
Signed, Y?
Dear Y?,
You can pray standing up, on your head, sitting down, on your back, upside
down, on your side, or in whatever position you like. Thc fact that you are
taking the time to pray is the important part not your position. However,
the 5 daily contact prays do involve prostrating. The significance of prostrating
during the contact prayer may be rela~d to the time when God asked Satan
to fall prostrate before Adam and he refused. By disobeying God, Satan revealed
his arrogance and ego. God instructs us in the Quran to fall prostrate. Perhaps,
you are showing that you are humble and a servant of God and that you are
willing to fall to your knees in appreciation and commemoration of your Creator.
Also, the movement involved in kneeling and prostration may be a way to show
Satan and his jinn companions that you are engaging in an act of worship.
Satan does not know what we are thinking and influences us only by temptation
and whispers. If we are sitting with out eyes closed and praying it is not
as visible as prostrating. The position of kneeling and placing your forehead
on the ground is an act of submission. In that low position we say, "praise
be to God, the Most High." We acknowledge that as human beings we are vulnerable
and weak compared to the Lord of the heavens, the Lord of the earth, and
the Lord of the universe. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(9)
Is it true that music and dancing is forbidden
in Islam? It seems that some Islamic countries even punish people for having
simple, innocent fun.
Signed, Footloose
Dear Footloose,
The Quran is the complete and fully detailed revelation from God has in it
all that we are encouraged and forbidden to do.No where in the Quran is there
any mention that you can not listen to music or dance or have fun. However,
there is a limit to having "fun." For example, you should not drink alcohol
and not exceed the boundaries of a purely fun friendship with a member of
the opposite sex. Prohibiting something like dance music and saying that
it is God's commandment is a gross offense against God. Music and dance are
beautiful expressions of different cultures and are a way for us to enjoy
each other's company.
7:32-33 Say, "Who prohibited the nice things God has created for His creatures,
and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this
life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively
theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people
who know. Say, "My Lord prohibits only evil deeds, be they obvious or hidden,
and sins, and unjustifiable aggression, and to set up beside God powerless
idols, and to say about God what you do not know." |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(10)
My high school graduation is coming up and I
have been asked to give a speech. Everyone says that I should start my speech
by saying "In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful" I am embarrassed
to say this and I don't want to make my speech sound like a
sermon.
Signed, The Graduate
Dear "The Graduate"
The simple answer, don't speak at all. But, we are not letting you off the
hook so easy. Indeed, your righteous friends are giving you the correct advice
when they tell you to start your speech with the name of God. In fact, it
is a good practice to start anything with the name of God. Since God is the
source of everything and is the One who protects us, provides for us, and
guides us, remembering God before you start something is a chance for you
to acknowledge that you appreciate all His blessings.
Does this mean that you have to write, "In the name of God..." on your college
application or say it before you start a job interview? Your intention is
more important than your verbalization. If you think of God before you start
your speech and say His name to yourself, you have demonstrated your inner
most intention of worshiping and remembering God. If I were you, I would
include in the speech how important God has been in your life and in your
standing before your classmates today. Every little nudge and encouragement
you can offer to others is a chance of spreading God's message.
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(11)
How can God be the Most Merciful if some people
will burn in hell as you read in the scriptures? If God is the Forgiver then
everyone should go to heaven.
Signed, Peace & Love For
All
Dear Peace & Love ,
Wouldn't it great if we could all hold hands and sing "Cum-ba-ya" on the
Day of Judgement, The problem is that every human being chooses a different
path to follow in their lives. Some become career criminals and others devote
their lives to charitable causes. God points out both paths for us and we
decide which to chose. Since we have the freedom to decide our actions, we
also bear the consequences for our decision. How can the criminal end up
in the same place as someone who has charitable? How can the person who denied
the existence of God be in the same position as someone who has worshiped
God?
On the Day of Judgment, we will view the video tape of our lives. We will
see what we did and did not do. At the end, we will know if we deserve the
Oscar or if we should bury or record. When you face God after leading a life
of disbelief, we will be ashamed and embarrassed. You will wish you had chosen
another way of life, one that would allow you to face God with pleasure and
happiness. When you are ashamed to face God and are forced to turn away,
that is when the retribution or hell begins. God is not the one who put you
through the experience. You are the one who experiences the suffering as
a consequence of your own deeds. |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(12)
I am confronted with a very complicated situation
at school and generally in my life. I was born and am being raised here in
the States. Throughout my school years, especially in my social studies classes,
we touch upon Islam, the Muslim community and, more specifically, women in
Islam. The different fiction and non-fiction books that are assigned to us
for reading represent women in Islam in such a degrading fashion that it
makes me embarrassed to and ashamed to affiliate myself and say, "I am a
Muslim woman."
However, when I discuss this issue with my family,
especially my parents, they explain the picture in a completely opposite
color. At this junction, moving on to the young womanhood stage of my life,
I am very much confused as to what is right and what is wrong. Please
HELP!
Signed, Seeker of the Truth
Dear 'Seeker of the Truth',
Praise be to Allah,
it's certainly time to clarify certain issues in regards to women in Islam.
There are so many points that we will not be able to cover them all in one
issue.
As far as the Creator is
concerned, women are absolutely, positively without a doubt equal to men.
In the Quran, chapter Ali Imran (The Amramites), God supports this fact in
verse 195 (directly talking with us) "I never fail to reward any worker among
you for any work you do, be you male or female, you are equal to one another."
Are you listening? God is
telling you and me (men and women) that we are equal to one another. We must
remember nothing bad is from the Creator. Hence, the problem between men
and women in terms of equality and justice is the work of mankind supported
by Satan.
Further supporting this
equality issue, Allah indicates in chapter Al-Nesa (Women) in verse 124,
"As for those who lead a righteous life, male or female, while believing,
they enter paradise without the slightest injustice."
My dear friend, there are
overwhelming numbers of verses supporting this fact. In addition, in chapter
Al-Bara'ah (Ultimatum), verse7l and 72, Allah illustrates not only the character
of women in Islam, but that there are no gender differences as to the outcome
of the women: "'The believing men and the believing women are allies of one
another. They advocate righteousness and forbid evil, they obey God and his
messenger. These (men and women equally) will be showered with God's mercy.
God is Almighty, Most Wise. God promises the believing men and the believing
women (both equally) gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever
and magnificent mansions in the gardens of Eden. God's blessing and approval
are even greater. This is the greatest triumphs." We must distance ourselves
from anyone or any other source of information that differs from this fact.
These verses only serve as guidance. They are the truth, not man-made, and
certainly not coordinated by Satan.
My dear friend, as the final seal
of this subject, Allah re-emphasizes on the equality of his creations (men
and women) in chapter Al-Ahzaab, Parties), verse 35, "'The submitting men,
the submitting women, the believing men, the believing women, the obedient
men, the obedient women, the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast
men, the steadfast women, the reverent men, the reverent women, the charitable
men, the charitable women, the fasting men, the fasting women, the chaste
men, the chaste women, and the men who commemorate God frequently and the
commemorating women; God has prepared for them forgiveness and a great
recompense.
However, we ought to remember also
that although God created men and women equally, we are certainly endowed
with unique qualities. In chapter Al-Nesa, (Women), verse 32, God specifically
explains this phenomena; "You shall not covet the qualities bestowed upon
each other by God, the men enjoy certain qualities and the women enjoy certain
qualities. You may implore God to shower you with His grace. God is fully
aware of all things."
My dear seeker of the truth, we
have only scratched the surface of this huge subject matter (women in Islam).
However, I do hope indeed that, although brief, this answered some of you
immediate concerns.
Sebastian |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(13)
Where have you guys been ? I miss reading your
off beat
answers to the questions that you get . Anyway, I am dealing
with a situation that's kind of bothering me. I am fairly
popular in my high school (at least , think I am) and have a
great group of friends who are always encouraging me to go
out with them , enjoy hanging out with them a lot. I also
want to tell you that I have a great love for God and respect
my religious practices. Now, here comes my problem, When I'm with my friends they sometimes talk about things that I don't feel right talking about like guys,
or going to parties. It's also hard to
do my prayers when they are around because
I feel a little uncomfortable and it doesn't feel natural. I definitely don't want to completely
pull myself away from them because we
have fun together and I don't do anything
that's against my belief. On the other hand, it's harder to remember God when I am with them instead
of, let's say, my religious community.
As you can tell, I'm being pulled in
two different directions. What do you think?
Signed, A Popular Submitter
Dear Popular Submitrer,
Of course, you had to start us off with a doosy of a question.
Why can't we get the easy questions like who was given the
10 commandment or how many teenagers does it take to
screw in a lightbulb (we have no idea). All right, let's shake
off our cobb webs and start digging into your question. First,
congratulations that you realize what is right and wrong and
that you have the strong faith to keep yourself committed to
God even though you are facing challenges from all around
you as a teenager. Great job! You can rest assure that God is
pleased with all your efforts and will reward you generously.There is nothing wrong with having friends that don't practice
like you as long as they respect your belief and do not prevent
you from worshipping God.
You can enjoy their company and have a great time as long as
you maintain righteousness and do not sacrifice your belief in
God or your practices just to please your friends. The good
thing about you is that you know where to draw the line. If I
were you, I would have a very open talk with your friends
telling them exactly what you believe and what things make
you uncomfortable. This way your friends will know not to
talk about things that bother you. If they are true friends, they
will respect your thoughts and save their other discussions for
times you are not around. Talking with them is also a good
chance for you to tell them about your belief in God and bow
it helps you in life. You never know, maybe one of your friends decides to follow your example. If they pressure you or
continue to create uncomfortable situations, you should remind them again, change the subject or just excuse yourself.
Just make sure you do not give in to peer pressure. Remember
that you have been created to please God not your friends and
that in the end you will explain all your actions to God, not
your friends (check out 29:25 of the Quran). Once they know
about your faith in God, it will be a lot easier for you to do
your prayers around them because they expect it. If it is still
hard, try praying in another location then join up with them
until you are more at ease.
It's always easier to remember God when you are with a group
of people that worship God. If you have such friends, even if it's only one,
grab on to her and do whatever you can to develop that friendship. This type
of a friend is like a precious pearl and even though she may not be as popular
as your other friends, she will be a great soul mate who will help you come
closer to God. If you feel that the time you are spending with your friends
is pulling you away from God, you should reduce your time with them and hang
out with your religious community. It’s really important for you to
be with people who worship God, even if you have to force yourself (like
God says in 18:28). Never underestimate the benefits of a Quran study group.
It really gives your faith a great boost. Always remember that your priority
is God and doing the things that will please God.
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(14)
Assalamulakum Chancellor &
Adam,
How are you? I listen to music a lot and one
of favorite bands Is a group by the name of the Backstreet Boys. Now here
Is my question...are we allowed to like these kinds of groups? And can we
put up posters of them on our bedroom walls? Thank you for taking your time
to read my question.
Signed, S & Z Family Member.
Dear S & Z Family Member
Music is such a wonderful thing, It is a gift that God has given people to
use to express themselves and there is nothing in the Quran where God forbids
music.Although music comes in many different styles we must learn to distinguish
what is good to listen too and what is not. If you just listen to the tune
of a song there is no problem but if you listen to a song that has vulgarity
or improper context and you are aware of it or maybe start lip synching,
than you are repealing words that are not considered righteous. God
does not like the use of bad language so we should also he careful about
that. Another example would be a song that talks about dating and fooling
around. You may listen to it because you like the beat. But when you start
thinking about the words and the words encourage you to engage in that action,
then you should think twice about listening to it. Therefore, you should
be careful about listening to songs with words that aren't beneficial for
your soul (is that where soul music comes from?). We must look for the good
in all things and not read to deep into it.
As far as posting up their pictures, I think that's O.K. as long as you do
not idolize them and remember that God must occupy your mind. Also, God tells
us to subdue our eyes. So, if your poster has the Backstreet Boys doing
somersaults in their bathing suits on the beach, I suggest you find another
more well-dressed poster. By the way, what ever happened to the Spice Girls?
Did they run out of spice or what?
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(15)
Dear Adam & Chancellor:
I love the teenager website and love to read
the "Dear Adam & Chancellor". Here's my problem. Everytime my grandmother
and aunt comes to visit they usually try to correct our heathen ways. For
example if they see us eating with our left hand they tell us that we have
to eat with our right hand.
If we leave the washroom door open they tell
us that we have to close it that "Shaitan" will come out and the Angels don't
go with us in washrooms.
They also tell us that we shouldn't hang any
pictures on our wall or display it anywhere in the house. We shouldn't have
any teddy bears, dolls etc with us in our room especially when we are sleeping
that the Angels won't come in our room.
Are these things really forbidden to us? Are
they just superstition? or what?
I need help in understanding these things. What
should I do? Should I listen to them and try not to do these things? What
do I tell them if I don't do these things? Help!
Signed,
Would like to do the right
things.
Dear Would Like To Do The Right Things,
I think your grandmother and aunt may need a refresher course in Quran 101.
First of all, the things they ask you to correct are in no way "heathen"
which means not acknowledging the God of Islam. These things are absolutly,
positively not forbidden in the Quran. I mention the Quran because God says
that the Quran should be our ONLY source of guidance. These strict
details are probably coming from hadith and God mentions in the Quran that
we should not follow any hadith (but the Quran), and that the Quran is the
best hadith (check out these verses regarding hadith 45:6, 12:111, 31:6,
6:38, 6:114).
One of the worst things you can do as a muslim (which means someone who submits
to God alone) is to make up a law and attribute it to God (16:116, 10:59-60).
God assures us that the Quran is perfect, complete and fully detailed. God
also mentions in 5:6 that He has made the religion of Islam (submission to
God alone) easy to follow and that He does not want to place any unnecessary
harship on us to practice our faith. The things your grandmother and aunt
are talking about are superstitious fabrications.
My advise to you is to read the Quran. In particular, I recommend a great
translation by Rashad Khalifa. You can order this through Amazon.com or if
you like I can send you an extra copy that I have. I suggest you treat your
grandmother and aunt with the deepest respect as your elders and discuss
with them in the nicestpossible manner what the Quran has to say. However,
if they start to force you to follow their way or ridicule you or make you
feel bad, I suggest you tell them that your understanding of the Quran is
different than theirs and that you prefer that they do not interfere with
your religious beliefs. God tells us in the Quran that we are responsible
for checking out the information that people tell us regarding our religion
(17:36). You should not accept any information just on blind faith. That
also goes for the info. I am giving you. You need to check out the verses
of the Quran and find out for yourself.
If all muslims followed only the Quran, there would not be so many different
branches of Islam (shiite, sunni, etc.) These different branches of
Islam have come about because of the differences in the thousands of volumes
of hadith out there. In the Quran, God tells us not to divide our religion
in sects (6:159). All the practices of Islam come from the prophet Abraham
(22:78). We need to try as hard as we can every day to remember God, praise
Him, thank Him, and do our best to please Him. We should spend our energy
and effort on glorifying God and not be diverted by the worries of which
hand to eat with.
God bless you in your strivings!
Signed,
Adam |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(16)
My name is V. B., and I am 15 years of age right
now. My problem is that I committed a grave sin about a year ago and I want
to seek repentance for it. I realize that what I did was terribly wrong,
and I have been pleading the Almighty's forgiveness since that awful day,
but I feel that I need to seek repentance in some other way. Can you please
tell me the best way to ask for forgiveness for my sins? Should I say special
prayers for it, or should I read the Quran, or give money or what?
I need help, this is something I am very ashamed of, and I cannot ask anybody
for guidance, because I am afraid people are rather ignorant about religious
concepts these days.I will be waiting anxiously for your reply, please write
to me as soon as you can .You will have my blessings with
you.
Thank you so much
Peace to you.
Anxiously waiting
V.B.
Peace be upon you V. B.,
I can tell that you are very concerned. Let me start off with a beautiful
verse from the Quran just to give you a glimpse of God's infinite Mercy and
Kindness:
[39:53] Proclaim: "O My servants who exceeded the limits, never despair of
GOD's mercy. For GOD forgives all sins. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."
The best way to ask for forgiveness is simply to speak with God directly
and ask for forgiveness directly:
[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their
prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe
in Me, in order to be guided.
You should know that God forgives all sins as long as you follow these steps:
when you commit a sin, remember God, ask for forgiveness, repent, and reform
yourself so that you do not do it again. Let me repeat that God forgives
ALL sins as long as you observe the steps above. The only unforgivable sin
if maintained until death is idol worship. There are some other added things
you should do depending on the type of sin. These added things mostly include
fasting, freeing a slave (if applicable) and feeding the poor. For example,
5:89 says that if you violate an oath you should do the above (read the verse
for exact details). 5:95 talks about what you should do if you kill any game
during pilgrimage (I'm sure this one does not apply to you). For the most
part, if you remember God, ask for forgiveness, repent and reform, then God
is Most Gracious MostMerciful. Trusting in God that He will forgive your
sins if you sincerely follow these steps is just as important as actually
following these steps. When you pray for forgiveness you must trust in God
that He will forgive you. You can't pray for forgiveness and think in your
mind that your prayer is hopeless and that your sin is unforgivable.
[22:15] If anyone thinks that GOD cannot support him in this life and in
the Hereafter, let him turn completely to (his creator in) heaven, and sever
(his dependence on anyone else). He will then see that this plan eliminates
anything that bothers him.
You also mention in your question if you should say a special prayer, read
the Quran or give money in order to atone for your sin. You should do these
things not necessarily to atone for your sins but as a great way to strengthen
your faith in God and to prevent yourself from falling into sin again. The
five contact prayers are essential for you because these prayers prohibit
evil and vice (29:45). Reading the Quran consistently is a wonderful way
to learn and stay connected to God.
I have a piece of good new for you. Not only does God forgive your sins if
you follow these steps, He transforms these sins into credits:
[25:70] Exempted are those who repent, believe, and lead a righteous life.
GOD transforms their sins into credits. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
You will notice that the important part in this verse is maintaining your
belief in God (this means performing your contact prayers 5 times a day,
giving 2.5% of your income to charity each time you earn money, etc.) and
leading a righteous life. No wonder why God is Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Your concern and desire to do the right thing shows me that your belief in
God is strong. I am very pleased to see your committment and sincere interest
in seeking forgiveness.
God bless,
Adam |
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Dear Adam & Chancellor,
(17)
Dear Adam & Chancellor:
I am a 12 year old with lots of questions to
ask. Here are some of them for now.
1. Were there ever any women prophets or messengers? If not why?
2. Can we read or touch the Quran when we have our periods?
3. When we are in our own home by ourselves do we still have to cover our
heads and wear long outfits to pray with? What is the proper clothing for
us girls to wear when praying? Do we have to wear Hijab and long clothing
to go to Masjid?
Signed,
Eager learner
Dear Eager Learner,
I was very impressed with your intelligent and important quesitons! You are
off to a great start as a young submitter striving to get closer to God.
You should be proud of yourself.
1) The Quran does not mention any women prophets or messengers. However,
that does not mean that none existed. God mentions in the Quran that there
are many messengers that He did not tell us about (4:164).
They could have been women but we don't know. I guess we can then ask your
question another way by saying why didn't God mention any women prophets
or messengers? I'm sorry to say that I would not know this one. I noticed
that you mentioned both a prophet and a messenger. This really shows how
intelligent you are because there is a clear difference in the Quran between
the two. A prophet is given a scripture from God and a messenger is sent
to clarify and warn people about the scripture that the prophets have sent.
It is intersting to note that Muhmmad was the last prophet but not the last
messenger (33:40). This means that God can and will send other messengers
after Muhammad.
2) Most certainly you can read and touch the Quran during menstruation. The
traditional "muslims" have really complicated and distorted God's message
in the Quran by inventing new laws and regulations which God condemns. Women
have been incorrectly taught that they can not touch the Quran during this
period beacuse they are not clean. No verse in the Quran support this. In
fact, the verses in the Quran say something completely different if you put
the pieces together. First, in 5:6 God mentions that He did not make the
religion difficult for you. Second, throughout the Quran, God mentions that
the believing men and women are equal and that you should strive to remember
God and do the things that bring you closer to Him. Now, just imagine
if there was a law that said that women could not touch the Quran during
menstruation. This would not be fair to the women who would not be able to
spend time reading and studying the Quran during a portion of each month.
The women would be deprived of the opportunity to do something that God
encourages. God mentions in 17:78 that the recitation of the Quran at dawn
is witnessed. This verse is encouraging us to recite the Quran at dawn. Perhaps
the part that people have interpreted incorrectly is the verse that says
God loves those who are purified. However, this has absolutely nothing to
do with menstruation. God loves those who are clean and that is one reason
why we do our ablution before prayer (5:6).
3) The Quran is a complete, fully detailed and perfect revelation from God
to anyone willing to read it and benefit from its wisdom and guidance. In
the Quran, God mentions that we should not resort to any other sources such
as hadith and sunna and that everything we need for our guidance is contained
in His revelation. It is interesting to note that the many different sects
of Islam (which means Submission to God) are a result of the differences
in hadith and sunna even though God mentions that we should not divide our
religion into sects. One of these differences is related to dress code. Even
though God clearly states in the Quran what the proper dress code for women
should be, there is still great confusion and misconception about what is
right.
The common belief among muslims is that the women are required to cover their
entire body from head to toe so that only their eyes are visible. However,
this belief is contrary to God’s teachings in the Quran. In 33:59 God
instructs the women to lengthen their garment. In 24:31, God mentions
that the women should no reveal any part of their body except that which
is necessary and to cover the chests. Reading these verses alone, you
may interpret that the only thing necessary to reveal are the eyes and that
everything else should be concealed. When you read these verses in reference
to other parts of the Quran, a more clear and reasonable understanding emerges.
First of all, Godnever mentions that the women should cover their hair even
though He uses the word hair in other verses in reference to hajj. God is
not short of words so He could have very easily said that the women should
not reveal their hair. Secondly, God states in 24:30-31 that the believing
men and women should subdue their eyes which means they should not stare
at each other or look each other up and down. If all women had to cover
themselves from head to toe then there would be no need to subdue the eyes
since there is nothing to see. Third, in 33:52 we learn that the ProphetMuhammad
was forbidden from substituting a new wife for his existing one nor matter
how much he admired that person’s beauty. Again, it is obvious that
the women were not completely covered since it is hard to admire the beauty
of someone you can not see. Fourth, God mentions in 7:31 that we should be
clean and dress nicely when we go to the masjid.Dressing nicely does not
mean covering yourself from head to toe. Ask yourself what would you wear
if you had to dress nicely for an important interview for a job or school.
Fifth, God mentions in 5:6 that He did not make the religion difficult for
us which clearly points against covering your entire body and then having
to go to work or school. Finally, God informs us that the best garment is
not one that conceals your entire body. The best garment is the garment of
righteousness (7:26).
Reading these verses together we can draw the conclusion that God does not
require us to cover our heads or entire bodies. The proper dress code is
not specifically spelled out because it is very subjective. God gives us
the general parameters to lengthen our garments and cover our chests. Your
intention is very important in determining your proper outfit. If you are
out to attract attention then your intentions are not righteous. Your should
dress comfortably with clothing that does not draw attention to your body.
For example, very tight pants or blouses may cover your body but they reveal
a lot in doing so. The alternative would be to wear loser fitting clothes
that cover the essential parts of your body so that you maintain your comfort
and do not attract attention. Also, check out this site for more info.
http://www.submission.org/teenagers/dress-teens.html
May God continue to bless you and increase your knowledge as you continue
to eagerly learn!
Sincerely,
Adam |
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| Dear Adam &
Chancellor,
(18)
Hello. i am a muslim in Calgary. my name is A.f.
and i am 12 years old.
I went to your site about the quran. I would really want to know
about
halloween. I want to know what it is and all the other stuff about it .Please send me a lot information on it. I would really appreciate it.
Thank you very much.
Signed : A.f.
Dear A.f.,
Where did Halloween come from? What is it that we are celebrating?
How come some people don't like to celebrate Halloween?
Is it some kind of demon worship or an innocent time to pamper
our sweet tooth?
Come to think of it, we don't know the real reason behind many traditional holidays but we celebrate them anyway because of
popularity and tradition. The history and customs of Halloween
has a very interesting past. The word "Halloween" itself originally
comes from the Roman Catholic Church. The church had appointed
certain days to honor each saint and basically ran out of days in
the year for all their saints to have a day, so they decided to have
one day to remember all the saints. They called this day, All Saints'
Day. In the 8th century, the church changed All Saints' Day
from May 13th to November 1st and later extended this celebration
to the entire Roman church. This event was called Allhallowmass and
the celebration on the evening before October 31st was called All
Hallow E'en, "all hallow" meaning all of the hallowed ones or all
the blessed ones. The customs and rituals of Halloween most likely
originated in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland. The Celtic new
year began when summer officially ended on October 31st. One
story says that on that day, the spirits of all those who had
died in the previous year would come back in search of living bodies
to possess for the next year. It was believed to be the only hope
for the afterlife. Of course, the people who were living did not want
to be possessed so on the night of October 31 villagers would extinguish
fires in their homes to make them cold and undesirable.
They would then dress up in scary costumes and would parade noisily
around the neighborhood, being as destructive as possible in order to
frighten away the spirits who were looking for bodies to possess.
The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish
immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. The custom of trick-or -treating is thought to have started with a 9th century European custom called souling. On November 2, All Souls Day, early
Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes,"
made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more
soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would
promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the
time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a
time after death, and that prayer, even by a stranger, could help
a soul go to heaven.
Adam
Here's a question to Chancellor and Adam that will
give you more info. about Halloween.
Dear Chancellor and Adam,
Halloween is coming up and all my friends have
great costumes and are planing
to go out trick-or-treating. I really want to be with them because I know I will have a blast but
my mom does not want me to go.
What’s the big deal. It’s a time to
have innocent fun with my friends.
Signed, Confused and Spooked.
Dear Confused and Spooked,
Your mom may not want you to go out for several
reasons. First, she may be worried about
your safety since Halloween can be a wild and crazy
night. I remember when I was young (about 100 years
ago) kids on Halloween night would throw
eggs at people, spray shaving cream, vandalize homes, and run the streets
like mad-men. Also, there are a lot of reports every year about candy that
is poisoned and kids getting sick. Your mom may also be discouraging you
from participating in Halloween because it represents a religious holiday
that has a very interesting history.
It’s hard to believe or even remember that
this holiday has a religious significance. What’s wrong with celebrating
a religious holiday you ask? Well, many religious holiday’s are centered
around people such as saints, prophets, messengers, and other holy people.
We should remember these individuals for the devotion and faith
they had in God and strive to demonstrate our own
submission to God. These individuals
are no longer around for us to focus on them. We can
only focus on their message of submission to God
alone. Celebrating a holiday blindly
without knowing what it’s all about can be dangerous
since we loose sight of the significance. Also,
we will make distinction between many other holidays that are out there.
We learn from the Quran that we should not give any special distinction to
a particular person. We should
focus our attention on God. Also, verse 25 of chapter 29 tells us not to
give in to peer pressure and that we
should be worried about what God thinks of
us not what our friends think of us.
Finally, if your mom says don’t go out for any reason, you should respect
her decision and listen to her wishes since she knows what is in your best
interest.
Adam
Dear Confused and Spooked,
I agree with Adam on some points and disagree with him on others.
Your mom probably have good reasons to say no. You should ask her about her
reasons. God definitely wants us to respect our parents. They want the best
for us.
I personally find no problem in allowing the young to celebrate Halloween
and have fun. Halloween have no religious value any more. None
of the kids that I knew ever celebrated Halloween in memory of the saints
or in memory of Satan.
I remember some of my Christian friends , when I
was growing up, were not allowed to celebrate Halloween by their religious parents and were told this is the Devil's
holiday. A celebration is what you make out of it. If you ask
90% of the kids who celebrate Halloween, you will find out that they just
celebrate the pumpkin, the costume, the sweets and the fun. None
of them celebrate the Devil or the saints. I still remember how heart broken
were our Christian friends who opened the doors of their home for us
to give us the treat.
Almost all the schools in California, USA, celebrate that day as
a fun day. They allow the kids to go to school in their costume, carve the
pumpkins, collect candies, parade in and around the school. I think it is
better and healthier to allow the kids to celebrate this fun and
be part of their community and school than to prevent them from sharing in
this fun activity and make them resent their parents and that religion that
do not understand simple and clean fun.
We have a great religion and we should not fear being in the middle of any
celebration as long as we know that we are not celebrating the
Devil, the Saints or any bad tradition. We only value
God, worship Him Alone and care about following His
commandments.
Since we live in this society, I see nothing wrong in sharing with our
friends in celebrating together the New year, the first day of
the Spring, Thanksgiving, Mothers day, Fathers day, Independence Day....etc.
We should take the chance of every celebration to remember God more, glorify
Him more, appreciate His blessings more and thank Him more. We do not
have to fear getting involved in our community. We do Submission (Islam)
a better service by showing up as part of the society and teaching people
about our great religion than isolating ourselves in our homes and hurting
the innocent kids' feelings who will never understand why their parent say
no. We should never however compromise on our religion if any celebration
contradict it or is against its principles. If the kids start to celebrate
a Saint's day or a Devil's day, then it is time to say no.
Otherwise, I believe it is OK to celebrate Halloween for the fun of it,
carve the pumpkin and trick or treat.
Chancellor |
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Dear Adam &
Chancellor,
(19)
Adam and Chancellor, part two
From this section, #19 you can go to a special section of Dear Adam and
Chancellor that deals with some sexually oriented questions. It may not be
suitable to everyone to read. You may choose to read it in the presence of
your family members or let them check it out first for you before you read
it.
As we grow older we will have different problems and questions. We will be
very careful presenting these materials and as usual we will only use the
Quran as our guide and help for all the answers.
Remember you or any of your family members or friends can write to us with
their suggestions, corrections or just to share their opinions.
To visit that section of Adam and Chancellor, part two, please
click here. |
|
More in part
three. Click
here.
And More in part four. Click here.
info@submission.org
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