It Is Tough Being a Muslim
Thomas Jefferson had a copy of the Qur'an in the White House because he wanted to understand the meaning of Islamic Jihad (struggle), that is, the motivation of America's first enemy, the Muslim pirates of the Barbary Coast.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was fluent in German, read Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in the original German in order to understand the meaning of Hitler's Jihad.
Similarly, I have read both books because I too want to understand the motivation behind America's greatest enemies past and present.
But the Qur'an is only a small part of Islam's control over its inmates - there are the deeds and words of God's last messenger: the ahadith, a collection of narratives that are used in Islamic law for items not expressly addressed in the Qur'an. That is to say, things that are attributed to Muhammad, as opposed to the Qur'an.
Sometimes it's not even actions or pronouncements of Mohamed but rather things said or done in the prophet's presence and in which he did not disapprove. If there is no reference in the Qur'an or a Hadith to answer a specific question of law, then sometimes Islamic Jurists will use khabar, or reports about Mohammed from his companions, to settle legal questions. And if there are still no specific answers, then the Sunnah, or early customs and habits of Mohammed, will determine how to decide a case.
Together all of these sayings, deeds, laws, customs, silent approvals, rumors, narratives, stories, and myths control every aspect of a devout Muslim's life.
Anyone who surfs among sites such as Ask Imam will notice that not a single minutia of a Muslim's life is free from consideration under Islamic law. For example, an accounting major asks if it is permissible to do accounting work for a company that charges interest. The answer: it is best if you change your major. (1)
It only takes a few hours to read answers to questions that are asked by Muslims living in western countries to realize that devout Muslims cannot live in pluralistic, secular democracies.
Muslims even have to ask how to cut their hair in a manner that does not offend Islam.
Let's say you are rubbing against your wife, but not having sex, and some fluid discharges from your penis. Does the man have to perform a ghusl (a full ritual washing) or can he get away with a wudu (simple washing) before prayers? Well, that depends on whether the fluid is thin or thick (2).
My readers have probably read a million times from comments left by Muslim women that wearing the hijab is not compulsory, that they do it as a matter of choice; however, Imams give fellow Muslims a different answer - it is mandatory upon women (3).
If a Muslim farts during prayer, does he have to wash up and start all over? Yes and no - I am saving this answer for another blog post.
The point is, devout Muslims cannot fart without asking for a fatwa on the matter, so completely does Islam control a person's life. Only a clueless infidel who has no knowledge of the Qur'an, the ahadith, the Sunnah, and the thousands of other little, piddling legal requirements upon Muslims can believe that a Muslim can live as a Muslim in a civilized society.
Please note, while I do make fun of fatwas in my series of articles Ask the Vizier (℠), nothing in this article however is fake. These are all genuine questions with genuine answers from genuine Islamic authorities. But that's how sick this is, I have to explain to infidels that the life of a devout Muslim is no joke.
ENDNOTES
(1):
Ask Imam, Is it permissible to work as an accountant and deal with interest?
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
As a chartered accountant if you will be recording, correcting or checking the books where the interest has already been charged, then that is permissible, yet best to avoid. This is assuming that the company you're working for derives the major portion of its income from halal avenues.
If the majority of the company's revenue is haram or you will be assisting in initiating, valuing, or proposing interest charges to be charged by the company then that is impermissible.[i]
The difference between the above two scenarios is that in the first case, you are merely recording an event that has already occurred and in the second you are actively assisting in the sin.
Since you have been blessed with the realization of the great severity of dealing with interest, it would be best for you to change your major to one where you won't have to deal with interest.
And Allāh knows best.
(2):
Ask Imam, My semen came out, does ghusul become fardh on me?
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
There could be two possibilities in your situation:-
1. Mazi (pre-coital fluid) which is thin.
2. Mani (sperm) which is thick.
If semen is discharged out of passion while one is awake or asleep, unconscious or conscious, through sexual intercourse or without sexual intercourse, or by fondling ones private part then ghusl becomes wajib. At the time of excitement, a particular fluid comes out which is called mazi. When climax is reached and one is satiated, the liquid which comes out at that time is called mani. The distinguishing factor between the two is that when mani comes out, satisfaction is attained and his passion becomes cooled, while the coming out of mazi does not decrease the excitement but increases it.
It will be necessary for you to have ghusl if you are certain that the liquid which came out is indeed semen.
And Allah knows best
(3):
Ask Imam, i am 15 years old and i have been wearing the headscarf for just over a year and i hate it.
Mashallah, it is good that you have obeyed the injunction of Allah and have donned the Hijab. You are correct in your understanding that it is compulsory; however, the reality of its importance has probably not donned upon you yet. Allah Ta’ala has honored the Muslim woman by concealing her beauty and safeguarding her chastity. It is a natural instinct for people to guard, cherish and conceal items of value lest they be stolen, vandalized or corrupted. No one leaves precious gems, stones and jewelry lying about waiting for a thief or bandit to steal, similarly, Allah Ta’ala does not allow the beauty of his female bondswoman to be flaunted and displayed for the lowly and vile people to gawk at. The institution of Hijab has been practiced by all the pious and righteous bondswomen of Allah since the creation of mankind.
