Bay’ah & Tasawwuf
I would like to know about Sufism. Is it a part of Islam or is it something which has just been made up by fraudulent people who are marketing it as religion ? What I hear sometimes makes me think this is a “hoax” – a money-making racket. Many talk about shaykhs, peers, taking bay`ah with such people, Islaahun nafs, etc. I would appreciate a correct understanding of the ideology. What is the purpose?
Homosexual Inclinations
I am a Muslim male who was very ‘normal’ in my nature until recently. Having watched a movie which explicitly encouraged homosexuality, I now find myself strongly attracted to other males, to the extent that it is extremely difficult to restrain the desire to engage in Haraam. I am overcome with remorse and very ashamed of these feelings and also afraid of giving into my desires, knowing that this is a very major sin. Please help.
Marrying a Non-Muslim
I am in my 20s and still not married. The Muslim boys that I know are of dubious and doubtful character, womanisers or into drugs and drink and other Haraam. Their character also leaves little to be liked. I am working with a man who is very good-natured and very kind-hearted. He also respects me and is very keen on marrying me but he is Christian. I consider him better than hundreds of Muslim men, so I would like to know if it is permissible to marry him. He will not force me to give up my faith. I am worried about what the community will say and I think this decision will hurt my parents. I also want to bring up my children in a religious environment but he is offering me what I want in a husband also.
Acquiring Wealth
I am a Hindu and want you to please foretell my future. Will I become rich in the future? I am not well off and am very desirous and ambitious of becoming a rich man. I will also like your suggestions on how to become rich.
Intolerance When Teaching
I am a Madrasa teacher and find myself intolerant when it comes to some of my students, especially the ones who are weak and slow in learning. In my frustration, I sometimes insult such students and thereafter regret my behaviour. Due to their slowness, I even leave off testing them. Please advise on how to overcome my intolerance.
Horoscopes
QUESTION My question is that should we believe in horoscopes and signs, because sometimes I read things about my sign and the prediction that is written for my sign upsets me, if it is something scary. I want to know whether this information is true or useless. Please clarify this. May Allah bless you. REPLY Bismihi Ta’ala Respected Sister in Islam, Wa-alaykumus Salaam wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatum 1.) It is Haraam to believe in horoscopes. You should not even look at it in newspapers, etc. Make sincere Taubah. It is all useless information but very dangerous for a person’s Imaan. 2.) Fortune tellers are disbelievers because they are claiming having knowledge of the Unseen; knowledge which is exclusive to Allah Ta’ala. It is a money-making industry which millions have become easy prey to. Reading palms, looking into crystal balls, reading tarot cards, etc. are all Haraam. 3.) Moreover, a person who believes in such fortune telling, that is, that the fortune teller has the knowledge of the Unseen, loses his Imaan. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) has said : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller or a soothsayer and believes in what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) .” 4.) If one reads or visits such people out of curiosity but does not believe, then too the person has committed a serious sin. It is mentioned in a Hadeeth : “Whoever goes to a fortune teller and asks him about something, his prayers will not be accepted for forty nights.” (Of course, the person will have to pray, as well as repent for the sin). 5.) All in all, this is a very grave sin which many Muslims take lightly, spending a lot of time and money in having their futures being read. Na-uzu Billahi min zaalik. Was-Salaamu alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakaatuhu Yunus Patel (Maulana)