Islamic Discussion Thread ٥: Free Tajweed, Absolutely Halaal

[Muzehnaya]

Shall we make a new thread to talk about the recent Islamophobic attacks and Islamophobia in general?

This thread seems perfectly suitable for that, I think.

[Masalaama]

Hello, salaam, new to this site and somewhat new to Islam, I converted about 4 years back and it has been a fascinating journey. Islamophobia is still unfortunately running rampant in the USA, though not at the point it was at before it's still pretty bad in much of the country. I live in Ohio and have had people treat me so weird for being a white guy who decided to convert. As I am a white man, that does give me, unfortunately, an advantage over Muslim women who decide to wear hijab or niqaab, or men who are Arab or of other non-white groups that are more easily "marked" as Muslim.
However, I have seen a LOT of good interfaith unity work between groups tho, including the fact that my college's Muslim Student Group worked with Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and IfNotNow recently to raise awareness about the latest Israeli assault on Gaza and to raise money for good, legitimate charities there. Also, we have been part of campaigns to put pressure on representatives to do something about US military aid to Israel and also to countries like Myanmar, India, and the Philippines where anti-Muslim policies and majoritarian anti-Muslim violence take place on a regular basis.

[North Washington Republic]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

[Dowaesk]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

No. Dogs are not seen like pigs. Islam teaches us that pigs are unclean and sinful to touch. Dogs arent given a rank as low as this, but the saliva of the dog is also considered impure. But its not a sin. You must simply wash it off, because it's saliva invalidates prayers. And dogs are not to be kept unless they have a purpose.

Heres a source. This website has similar answers to mine. Although, the website itself is Salafi.

[Dowaesk]

Hello, salaam, new to this site and somewhat new to Islam, I converted about 4 years back and it has been a fascinating journey. Islamophobia is still unfortunately running rampant in the USA, though not at the point it was at before it's still pretty bad in much of the country. I live in Ohio and have had people treat me so weird for being a white guy who decided to convert. As I am a white man, that does give me, unfortunately, an advantage over Muslim women who decide to wear hijab or niqaab, or men who are Arab or of other non-white groups that are more easily "marked" as Muslim.
However, I have seen a LOT of good interfaith unity work between groups tho, including the fact that my college's Muslim Student Group worked with Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and IfNotNow recently to raise awareness about the latest Israeli assault on Gaza and to raise money for good, legitimate charities there. Also, we have been part of campaigns to put pressure on representatives to do something about US military aid to Israel and also to countries like Myanmar, India, and the Philippines where anti-Muslim policies and majoritarian anti-Muslim violence take place on a regular basis.

Oh nice. Welcome to Islam my Brother.
I wanna ask. What led you to learn about Islam and what led you to convert?

[North Washington Republic]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

No. Dogs are not seen like pigs. Islam teaches us that pigs are unclean and sinful to touch. Dogs arent given a rank as low as this, but the saliva of the dog is also considered impure. But its not a sin. You must simply wash it off, because it's saliva invalidates prayers. And dogs are not to be kept unless they have a purpose.

Heres a source. This website has similar answers to mine. Although, the website itself is Salafi.

No offense, and I’m speaking as an ex-radical traditional Catholic, I’m wary of Salafi soruces.

[Dowaesk]

No. Dogs are not seen like pigs. Islam teaches us that pigs are unclean and sinful to touch. Dogs arent given a rank as low as this, but the saliva of the dog is also considered impure. But its not a sin. You must simply wash it off, because it's saliva invalidates prayers. And dogs are not to be kept unless they have a purpose.

Heres a source. This website has similar answers to mine. Although, the website itself is Salafi.

No offense, and I’m speaking as an ex-radical traditional Catholic, I’m wary of Salafi soruces.

Yes, I understand. I personally am as well.
Heres a good not-Salafi source that is quite similar to my personal views. Although a bit more to the Maliki side, than my own standing.

[Muzehnaya]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

In general, it is considered a bad practice to keep dogs as pets in the home. This is based on the following saying:

Abu Talhah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog, nor a picture of a likeness.”

Abu Talhah said, “The Prophet means by likeness an image of living souls.”

And exceptions have been made for dogs that serve some purpose, based upon the following narration:

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'whoever keeps a dog, two Qirats will be detracted from his reward each day, except a trained hunting dog, or a dog for herding livestock."

And so the majority position is that if a dog is doing something such as acting as a guide for an impaired person, a hunting dog, a police dog, a shepherd dog, or something similar, then that is permissible. It is also permissible to raise a puppy to fulfill that purpose; Al-Khatib al-Shirbini notes:

It is permissible to keep a dog for hunting or guarding livestock and for farming in addition to raising a puppy for similar purposes.

In regards to the purity of dogs, I believe what Dowaesk said is correct. I think the Malikis hold the view that the dog along with it's saliva is pure, but I believe the other schools maintain that the dog itself is pure, but it's saliva is unclean.

---

In regards to the opposing view (that dogs are perfectly fine to keep as pets), I found this article which attributes this view to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Ali Gomaa. That being said, this article seems somewhat unreliable, and even if it was, it does not present proper reasoning for how such a conclusion was arrived at. In general, I have not really seen any great support for this position.

---

You may also find some people who support that all dogs should be killed. Their opinion is wrong and should be ignored. Most often, you will find them quoting the following Hadith (or some variation of it) in support of their belief:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered that the dogs should be killed.

However, this opinion is wrong because it ignores the fact that this command was specific to the wild dogs that were around in Medina, and that Muhammad (SAW) later restricted this command. As Imam Nawawi writes:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ordered that the dogs be killed. Later, he said, ‘What is the matter with them (the Companions) and the dogs?’ This was at the point when they even killed the dog of a bedouin lady who came to Medina with it. He then ordered that only the black dogs should be killed, and later the command was restricted to harmful dogs.

Further, using this as a general command does not make sense, because we have many examples of incidents where people were commended for showing mercy towards dogs:

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A prostitute had once been forgiven. She passed by a dog panting near a well. Thirst had nearly killed him, so she took off her sock, tied it to her veil, and drew up some water. Allah forgave her for that.”

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A man suffered from thirst while he was walking on a journey. When he found a well, he climbed down into it and drank from it. Then he came out and saw a dog lolling its tongue from thirst and licking the ground. The man said: This dog has suffered thirst just as I have suffered from it. He climbed down into the well, filled his shoe with water, and caught it in his mouth as he climbed up. Then he gave the dog a drink. Allah appreciated his deed, so He forgave him.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for charity even for the animals?” The Prophet said, “Yes, in every creature with a moist liver is a reward for charity.”

It has also specifically been mentioned that one is not supposed to take the life of a dog without a just reason:

Al-Dhahabi reported: Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “By Allah, it is not lawful for you to harm a dog or a pig without a just cause, so how can you harm a Muslim?”

[Masalaama]

Hello, salaam, new to this site and somewhat new to Islam, I converted about 4 years back and it has been a fascinating journey. Islamophobia is still unfortunately running rampant in the USA, though not at the point it was at before it's still pretty bad in much of the country. I live in Ohio and have had people treat me so weird for being a white guy who decided to convert. As I am a white man, that does give me, unfortunately, an advantage over Muslim women who decide to wear hijab or niqaab, or men who are Arab or of other non-white groups that are more easily "marked" as Muslim.
However, I have seen a LOT of good interfaith unity work between groups tho, including the fact that my college's Muslim Student Group worked with Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and IfNotNow recently to raise awareness about the latest Israeli assault on Gaza and to raise money for good, legitimate charities there. Also, we have been part of campaigns to put pressure on representatives to do something about US military aid to Israel and also to countries like Myanmar, India, and the Philippines where anti-Muslim policies and majoritarian anti-Muslim violence take place on a regular basis.

Oh nice. Welcome to Islam my Brother.
I wanna ask. What led you to learn about Islam and what led you to convert?

Shokran my brother! I was always interested in religion and spirituality but over time kinda gave less thought to it, until I made some Muslim friends at college in 2014 or so and began hanging out with them more. I read the Quran and hadiths and did my research over time and converted officially in march of 2017. It just feels right, I suppose.

[Kowani]

Saudi Arabia to allow 60,000 vaccinated residents to participate in the Hajj

[Dowaesk]

Saudi Arabia to allow 60,000 vaccinated residents to participate in the Hajj

They only allowing Saudi citizens this time as well. Like last time.
I can understand why they would take a precautionary step like this.

[Jolthig]

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are also opening up their masjids here in the US and we are doing more in person activities gradually. Alhamdulilah.

[Jolthig]

Getting more refined with my Urdu and Arabic. Slowly but surely.

For you Pakistani Muslim NSGers here, sub Kesi hai? (How is everyone doing?)

[Cereskia]

Mom told me that Sunah Mu'Akkad stuff is obligatory, from Salat Taraweh, Ngaji, heck, even praying 5 different prayers before sleeping! _{This was at a time when i had trouble sleeping}.

I am an Indonesian Sunni Muslim, and I find this to be RIDICULOUS.

[Samudera Darussalam]

Mom told me that Sunah Mu'Akkad stuff is obligatory, from Salat Taraweh, Ngaji, heck, even praying 5 different prayers before sleeping! _{This was at a time when i had trouble sleeping}.

I am an Indonesian Sunni Muslim, and I find this to be RIDICULOUS.

Doesn't the prophet discontinue praying Taraweeh prayers for fear one day that it would become compulsory? It's voluntary lmao

.....also what 5 prayers?

Edited: I guess I found it

...A hadith narrated by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that was recorded by both Bukhari and Muslim – was the first to establish praying Taraweeh in a congregation inside the mosque. He prayed it that way for about three or four nights, and then stopped doing it, as he explained, because he feared it might become obligatory for his Ummah to pray it in that manner (i.e., inside the mosque and in congregation).
Source

[Insaanistan]

Getting more refined with my Urdu and Arabic. Slowly but surely.

For you Pakistani Muslim NSGers here, sub Kesi hai? (How is everyone doing?)

Mei Pakistani nahin hoon, lekin mei thik hoon, shukriya! Aur tum?
(I’m not Pakistan, but I’m fine, thanks! What about you?)

[Insaanistan]

Mom told me that Sunah Mu'Akkad stuff is obligatory, from Salat Taraweh, Ngaji, heck, even praying 5 different prayers before sleeping! _{This was at a time when i had trouble sleeping}.

I am an Indonesian Sunni Muslim, and I find this to be RIDICULOUS.

Doesn't the prophet discontinue praying Taraweeh prayers for fear one day that it would become compulsory? It's voluntary lmao

.....also what 5 prayers?

Edited: I guess I found it

...A hadith narrated by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that was recorded by both Bukhari and Muslim – was the first to establish praying Taraweeh in a congregation inside the mosque. He prayed it that way for about three or four nights, and then stopped doing it, as he explained, because he feared it might become obligatory for his Ummah to pray it in that manner (i.e., inside the mosque and in congregation).
Source

Yep! If I remember correctly, it was because he noticed that each night more and more people turned up to taraweeh, treating it as if it was fard.

[Muzehnaya]

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are also opening up their masjids here in the US and we are doing more in person activities gradually. Alhamdulilah.

Alhamdulilah, so has our masjid. Although they still are keeping the requirement to wear a mask, the cases in our area have dropped low enough that they are no longer mandating that people bring their own janamaz, and we can pray shoulder to shoulder again.

Saudi Arabia to allow 60,000 vaccinated residents to participate in the Hajj

I am pleasantly surprised that they made this decision. Inshallah, the conditions will be better so that we all can make Hajj next year.

Mom told me that Sunah Mu'Akkad stuff is obligatory, from Salat Taraweh, Ngaji, heck, even praying 5 different prayers before sleeping! _{This was at a time when i had trouble sleeping}.

I am an Indonesian Sunni Muslim, and I find this to be RIDICULOUS.

Yeah, Taraweh Salat is firmly considered Sunnah. I'm not sure what you mean by praying 5 different prayers before you go to sleep (last 4 Surahs + Ayatul Kursi?). I haven't heard the term Ngaji before either.

[Dowaesk]

Getting more refined with my Urdu and Arabic. Slowly but surely.

For you Pakistani Muslim NSGers here, sub Kesi hai? (How is everyone doing?)

Mei Pakistani nahin hoon, lekin mei thik hoon, shukriya! Aur tum?
(I’m not Pakistan, but I’m fine, thanks! What about you?)

Lemme try translating that word to word.
I Pakistani no am, but I okay am, thanks! And you?

I take joy in comparing languages like that.
Fun fact: I learnt Hindi by watching Bollywood series with my mother. Watched it since a little boy. Comparing what the people were saying, their actions and the subtitles. I taught myself hindi.

[Dowaesk]

Image from Pew Research Forum. Found it just a minute ago.

In the case of Sri Lanka, I would like to include that Sri Lanka is a very racist country towards Non-Buddhists. Pew Research would have been off fine with writing Muslims, since they make up 15% of the population. I been to Sri Lanka (I went once during the civil war and once after) and although I was too small to understand back then, 10 years later, I look back (to the time we went after the civil war) and understand why they stopped my mother on the streets and ravaged through our stuff. (They took away my mother's deodorant spray). The only reason they went easy on us was because we are Maldivians. I saw it in their faces. When they saw my mother as a Muslim, they were like ready to pound on her, but when my mother told them that she was Maldivian. Their whole behaviour and expressions changed. Suddenly they were friendly, acted as if nothing happened and that it was all good. And they knew they'd get in trouble if they hurt or offended a Maldivian. If it had been anyone else, I cant say what would have taken place.

Sri Lanka's the only country I had a personal encounter like that. Although, that happened. Sri Lanka was very nice and had good time. Except for the fact that I was very sick.
I personally cant say for any other countries, since I've never been there (exception to India). All I know is what I get from the internet and foreign frnds.

[A m e n r i a]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

It's okay to touch them so long as you clean yourself up afterwards. I myself love watching dog videos and have no problem with them. I'm more of a cat person tho.

[NationStates Puppet]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

I just thing that they're nagis, that touching them cancels wudhu, but not haraam to touch them.

[Dowaesk]

I want to ask the Muslims of NSG a question about how it views dogs. I’ve seen various viewpoints on this subject. There are Muslims that own dogs as pets, and some view them as similar to pigs, as unclean and dirty. Any good sources that provide both points of view? Thank you.

It's okay to touch them so long as you clean yourself up afterwards. I myself love watching dog videos and have no problem with them. I'm more of a cat person tho.

Same here. Although I find it quite disgusting when the humans kiss it on the dog's mouth.

[Samudera Darussalam]

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are also opening up their masjids here in the US and we are doing more in person activities gradually. Alhamdulilah.

Alhamdulilah, so has our masjid. Although they still are keeping the requirement to wear a mask, the cases in our area have dropped low enough that they are no longer mandating that people bring their own janamaz, and we can pray shoulder to shoulder again.

Saudi Arabia to allow 60,000 vaccinated residents to participate in the Hajj

I am pleasantly surprised that they made this decision. Inshallah, the conditions will be better so that we all can make Hajj next year.

Mom told me that Sunah Mu'Akkad stuff is obligatory, from Salat Taraweh, Ngaji, heck, even praying 5 different prayers before sleeping! _{This was at a time when i had trouble sleeping}.

I am an Indonesian Sunni Muslim, and I find this to be RIDICULOUS.

Yeah, Taraweh Salat is firmly considered Sunnah. I'm not sure what you mean by praying 5 different prayers before you go to sleep (last 4 Surahs + Ayatul Kursi?). I haven't heard the term Ngaji before either.

Ah! "Ngaji" is an Indonesian (Javanese-dialect) term for reading the Qur'an.

Image from Pew Research Forum. Found it just a minute ago.

(Image)

In the case of Sri Lanka, I would like to include that Sri Lanka is a very racist country towards Non-Buddhists. Pew Research would have been off fine with writing Muslims, since they make up 15% of the population. I been to Sri Lanka (I went once during the civil war and once after) and although I was too small to understand back then, 10 years later, I look back (to the time we went after the civil war) and understand why they stopped my mother on the streets and ravaged through our stuff. (They took away my mother's deodorant spray). The only reason they went easy on us was because we are Maldivians. I saw it in their faces. When they saw my mother as a Muslim, they were like ready to pound on her, but when my mother told them that she was Maldivian. Their whole behaviour and expressions changed. Suddenly they were friendly, acted as if nothing happened and that it was all good. And they knew they'd get in trouble if they hurt or offended a Maldivian. If it had been anyone else, I cant say what would have taken place.

Sri Lanka's the only country I had a personal encounter like that. Although, that happened. Sri Lanka was very nice and had good time. Except for the fact that I was very sick.
I personally cant say for any other countries, since I've never been there (exception to India). All I know is what I get from the internet and foreign frnds.

Sorry to hear you and your mother have to go through that.
Though why with Maldivian? No offense, but I'm curious.

[Insaanistan]

Image from Pew Research Forum. Found it just a minute ago.

(Image)

In the case of Sri Lanka, I would like to include that Sri Lanka is a very racist country towards Non-Buddhists. Pew Research would have been off fine with writing Muslims, since they make up 15% of the population. I been to Sri Lanka (I went once during the civil war and once after) and although I was too small to understand back then, 10 years later, I look back (to the time we went after the civil war) and understand why they stopped my mother on the streets and ravaged through our stuff. (They took away my mother's deodorant spray). The only reason they went easy on us was because we are Maldivians. I saw it in their faces. When they saw my mother as a Muslim, they were like ready to pound on her, but when my mother told them that she was Maldivian. Their whole behaviour and expressions changed. Suddenly they were friendly, acted as if nothing happened and that it was all good. And they knew they'd get in trouble if they hurt or offended a Maldivian. If it had been anyone else, I cant say what would have taken place.

Sri Lanka's the only country I had a personal encounter like that. Although, that happened. Sri Lanka was very nice and had good time. Except for the fact that I was very sick.
I personally cant say for any other countries, since I've never been there (exception to India). All I know is what I get from the internet and foreign frnds.

I remember one Muslim lady of Sri Lankan heritage was in the country, wearing a hijab, when a woman came up to her and began berating her for it. Eventually, the woman realized the Muslim lady had a bit of an accent and asked where she was from. When the Muslim lady told her she was born in Britain, the woman calmed down and began speaking to her in a more civil manner.