Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| new muslimah questions |
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| Anonymous |
| 12/10/01 at 22:54:17 |
| Asalaamu aleykum, I am new to islam and have a couple of questions. I reverted two months ago and now some muslims are saying that i am supposed to get a gift of money for reverting. I have never heard of that before and i dont want to be rewarded with "money" for finding the true path. Has anyone heard of this gift for new muslims? I asked them to donate it to a charity if they wanted to but they said i could not refuse it. My second question is what is the difference with hanifi, salafi etc? When i reverted i thought it was just sunni and shia. Do i need to choose hanifi or salafi? How do i know which is right if i am new to the entire thing? Thanks in advance for your answers Confused Newbie |
| Re: new muslimah questions |
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| se7en |
| 12/10/01 at 23:31:45 |
| wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah, Welcome to the board and welcome to the faith :) May Allah bless you and guide you always. [quote]I reverted two months ago and now some muslims are saying that i am supposed to get a gift of money for reverting. I have never heard of that before and i dont want to be rewarded with "money" for finding the true path. Has anyone heard of this gift for new muslims? I asked them to donate it to a charity if they wanted to but they said i could not refuse it. [/quote] Hmm.. that's kinda wierd. I think they're talking about one of the six categories of people the zakah can be given to: [color=black] Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the Cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. -[url=http://www.orst.edu/groups/msa/quran/quran/9.html#60]9:60[/url][/color] From what I've been taught though, this money is for people who are in financial trouble since their conversion (like in the case of people whose families have disowned them, or other unfortunate things like that), and this category can also apply to non-Muslims, who show no aggression towards Muslims and who helping out in this way will help encourage them to support Muslims in the long run. (this is what I remember *vaguely* from a class on zakah a while back..) So, I don't think it's applicable in your situation if you really have no need for it, and if you don't *want* it :) I think the people are well-intentioned, and thought this would be something nice for you.. perhaps if they insist on giving it to you, you could then donate it to good causes like charity or relief organizations. [quote]My second question is what is the difference with hanifi, salafi etc? When i reverted i thought it was just sunni and shia. Do i need to choose hanifi or salafi? How do i know which is right if i am new to the entire thing? [/quote] Ok this is a big question :) Basically, there are a whole bunch of labels for different methods or ways of understanding Islam. These are commonly referred to as schools of thought, or madhabs. Some other madhabs are: Shafaii, Maliki, Hanbali. People will tell you all sorts of stuff, but you just need to worry about being Muslim :) I get asked this all the time.. "what kind of Muslim are you?" I say, "the good kind" 8-) Let me give you an excerpt from Dr. Siddiqi, cool knowledgeable guy who was president of [url=http://isna.net/]the Islamic Society of North America[/url] a while back when answering a question on this same subject: (the words in [] are mine) [color=black] Allah has blessed you and has guided you to the right path. May Allah continue to shower His blessings upon you. You try to follow the Companions of the Prophet - peace be upon him and may Allah be pleased with all his companions. The Sahaba [companions of the Prophet Muhammad] were neither Hanafis, nor Shafi'is, nor Malikis, nor Hanbalis. They were only Muslims. They believed in Allah and His Messenger. They accepted the Qur'an and the Sunnah and they tried to live their lives as best as they could following these two sources. This is all what is required in Islam. You do not have to put any other label upon yourself beside Islam. Just call yourself a Muslim and do not worry about other names, labels or groups. The differences between the Hanafi, Shafi'I, Maliki and Hanbali schools are basically in the matters of practice, not beliefs. They do not differ from each other in doctrines ('aqidah) but they do have various interpretations of the practical and legal aspects of Islam (Shari'ah). There were many scholars and jurists in the early history of Islam. Among them four, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi'I, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal -may Allah have mercy upon all of them- became most well known and were recognized for their knowledge and piety. They had their students who explained to others the methodology of their teachers and slowly their interpretations were followed throughout the Muslim world. No one is really required in Islam to follow these scholars, but we must take benefit of the knowledge that they have left for us. It helps to take one teacher and follow his explanations. However, if we find that a particular opinion of one Imam is closer to the Sunnah than the opinion of the other Imam, then we should follow the opinion that is closer to the Sunnah. All these Imams emphasized that Muslims are obliged to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah and if they find any of their opinions against the Qur'an and Sunnah then they must not follow that opinion. Imam Shafi'I used to say, "Whatever an authentic Hadith says, that is my opinion." Similar statements were also made by other Imams. We should respect all these four Imams and other great scholars of Islam. Muslims should not quarrel with each other on the minor differences that exist among various schools of jurisprudence. [/color] And Allah knows best. May Allah guide you :) Please let us know if you have any other questions! take care :) wasalaamu alaykum. |
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