Q6: What is the meaning of the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?
Answer: It means that Allah sent him to the worlds as a bringer of glad tidings and as a warner.
It is a must to:
1. Obey his commands
2. Believe his reports
3. Refrain from disobeying him
4. Worship Allah only in compliance with his Sharia, which requires following the Sunnah and abandoning religious innovations.
Allah Almighty says: {Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 80] He also says: {Nor does he speak out of his own desire. It is but a revelation sent down [to him].} [Surat an-Najm: 3-4] Allah Almighty also says: {Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remember Allah much.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 21]
Q8: What is worship?
Answer: It is a broad term that includes all apparent and hidden sayings and deeds that Allah loves and is pleased with.
Examples of the apparent sayings and deeds include making Dhikr with the tongue, like Tasbīh (glorifying Allah), Tahmīd (praising Allah), and Takbīr (proclaiming Allah’s greatness), praying, and performing Hajj (pilgrimage).
On the other hand, reliance on Allah, fearing Him, and having hopes in Him are examples of the hidden aspects of worship.
Q10: What are the types of Tawhīd?
Answer: 1. Tawhīd ar-Rubūbiyyah (Oneness of Lordship): It means to believe that Allah alone is the Creator, the Provider, the Owner, and the Disposer of Affairs.
2. Tawhīd al-Ulūhiyyah (Oneness of Worship): It means to single Allah out with worship, i.e., to worship none but Allah Almighty.
3. Tawhīd al-Asmā’ wa as-Sifāt (Oneness of the Names and the Attributes): It means to believe in Allah’s names and attributes that are mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah without Tamthīl (drawing resemblance between Allah and His creatures), Tashbīh (likening), or Ta‘tīl (negating).
Evidence on the three types of Tawhīd lies in the verse where Allah Almighty says: {Lord of the heavens and earth and all that is between them. So worship Him and be constant in worshiping Him. Do you know anyone equal to Him?} [Surat Maryam: 65]
Q11: What is the gravest sin?
Answer: Shirk (polytheism), i.e., associating partners with Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says: {Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but forgives anything less than that for whom He wills. Whoever associates partners with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 48]
Q12: Mention the definition of Shirk and its types?
Answer: Shirk is dedicating any sort of worship to other than Allah Almighty.
Its types are:
Major Shirk, like supplicating, prostrating, or slaughtering a sacrifice for other than Allah Almighty.
Minor shirk, like swearing by other than Allah, using amulets, which are things worn or hung to bring about benefit or ward off harm, and slight ostentation, such as praying in a perfect manner while people are looking.
Q14: What are the pillars of Imān (faith)?
Answer: 1. Belief in Allah Almighty
2. Belief in His angels
3. Belief in His books
4. Belief in His messengers
5. Belief in the Last Day
6. Belief in destiny, with the pleasant and unpleasant aspects thereof
Evidence lies in the famous Hadīth of Jibrīl (Gabriel) that was narrated by Muslim. Gabriel (peace be upon him) said to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): "'Tell me about faith.' He said: 'It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and destiny with the pleasant and unpleasant aspects thereof.'"
Q15: Explain the pillars of Imān (faith)?
Answer: Belief in Allah Almighty
It is to believe that Allah is the One Who created you and provided for you, and that Allah alone is the Owner and the Disposer of affairs.
It is also to believe that Allah is the only deity worthy of worship,
and that He is the Magnificent, the Great, and the Perfect to Whom all praise is due and Who owns the beautiful names and the sublime attributes. He has no rivals and nothing is like Him.
Belief in the Angels
Angels are creatures that Allah created from light. They were created to worship Allah and fully obey His commands.
Gabriel (peace be upon him), who was assigned to bring down the revelation to the prophets, is one of the angels.
Belief in the Books
These are the books that Allah sent down to His messengers. Examples are:
- The Qur’an that was revealed to Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
- The Gospel that was revealed to ‘Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him)
- The Torah that was revealed to Mūsa (Moses) (peace be upon him)
- The Psalms that were revealed to Dāwūd (David) (peace be upon him)
The Scriptures of Ibrāhim (Abraham) and Moses
Belief in the Messengers
They are the messengers whom Allah Almighty sent to His servants to teach them, bring them the glad tidings of good and Paradise, and warn them against evil and Hellfire.
The best among them are the Messengers of Firm Resolve, who are:
Nūh (Noah) (peace be upon him)
Ibrāhim (Abraham) (peace be upon him)
Mūsa (Moses) (peace be upon him)
Īsa (Jesus) (peace be upon him)
Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
Belief in the Last Day
It refers to what comes after death in the grave, on the Day of Judgment, and on the Day of Resurrection and Reckoning after which the dwellers of Paradise settle in their abodes and the dwellers of Hellfire settle in theirs.
Belief in destiny with its good and bad aspects
It is to believe that Allah knows everything that happens in the universe, which He had previously written in the Preserved Tablet and had willed to create and bring to existence.
Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, We have created everything according to a determined measure.} [Surat al-Qamar: 49]
It has four levels:
First: Knowledge of Allah Almighty: This includes Allah’s prior knowledge of everything, before and after it happens.
Allah says: {Indeed, Allah has the knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will do tomorrow, nor does any soul know in which land it will die. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.} {Surat Luqmān: 34]
Second: Allah had written this in the Preserved Tablet; so, whatever happened and whatever will still happen are written with Allah in a record.
Allah says: {He alone has the keys of the unseen; no one knows them except Him. He knows what is in the land and sea. Not a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything moist or dry, but is [written] in a Clear Record.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 59]
Third: Everything happens by the will of Allah, i.e., nothing happens by Him or by His creatures, except by His will.
Allah says: {For those among you who wish to take the straight path. But you cannot wish except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of the worlds.} [Surat at-Takwīr: 28-29]
Fourth: Believing that all creatures are created by Allah. He created them and created their qualities, movements, and everything related to them.
Allah says: {When it is Allah Who created you and all what you do?} [Surat as-Sāffāt: 96]
Q18: What is religious innovation? Should we accept it?
Answer: It is everything that people introduce in the religion that did not exist at the time of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.
We should not accept it; rather, we should reject it.
Because the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every religious innovation is an error." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]
Examples of religious innovations are: adding to worship, like adding a fourth-time washing to ablution, and celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, which was not reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.
Q19: Mention the principle of Al-Walā’ (allegiance) and Al-Barā’ (dissociation)?
Answer: Allegiance: It means loving and supporting the believers.
Allah Almighty says: {The believers, both men and women, are allies of one another...} [Surat at-Tawbah: 71]
Dissociation: It means hating the disbelievers and taking them as enemies.
Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, you have a good example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We dissociate ourselves from you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We renounce you, and the enmity and hatred have arisen between us and you forever until you believe in Allah alone”.} [Surat al-Mumtahanah: 4]
Q21: Kufr (disbelief) could be committed by words, deeds, and beliefs; give examples?
Answer: An example of committing Kufr by words is blaspheming Allah Almighty or His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
An example of committing Kufr by deeds is degrading the Mus-haf (a bound copy of the Qur’an), or prostrating to other than Allah Almighty.
An example of committing Kufr by belief is believing that there is someone who is worthy of worship other than Allah Almighty, or that there is a creator besides Allah.
Q22: What is hypocrisy and what are its types?
Answer:
1. Major Hypocrisy: It means hiding disbelief and proclaiming faith.
It gets one outside the fold of Islam and it is considered major disbelief.
Allah Almighty says: {Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire, and you will never find for them any helper.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 145]
2. Minor Hypocrisy:
Examples include: lying, breaking promises, and betraying trusts.
Hypocrisy does not take one out of the fold of Islam. Rather, it is a sin, and the one who commits it will be subjected to divine torment.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he tells lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Q23: Who is the seal of the prophets and messengers?
Answer: He is Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
Allah Almighty says: {Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets...} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 40] Moreover, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I am the seal of the prophets, and there is no prophet after me." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and others]
Q24: What is the miracle?
Answer: The miracle is every supernatural act or event with which Allah Almighty supported His prophets to prove their truthfulness. Examples are:
- Splitting the moon for the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
- Splitting the sea for Moses (peace be upon him) and the drowning of Pharaoh and his soldiers
Q25: Who are the Companions? Should we love them?
Answer: The Companion is the one who met the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), believed in him, and died as a Muslim.
We should love them and follow their example, since they are the best among the people after the prophets.
The best Companions are the four Caliphs, who are:
- Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)
- ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
- ‘Uthmān (may Allah be pleased with him)
- ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)
Q31: What is fear? What is hope? What is the evidence?
Answer: Fear: means to fear Allah and fear His punishment.
Hope: means hoping for Allah’s reward, forgiveness, and mercy.
Evidence lies in His saying: {Those whom they call upon seek means of nearness to their Lord, each trying to become closer, hoping for His Mercy and fearing His punishment.} [Surat al-Isrā’: 57] Allah Almighty also says: {Inform My slaves that I am indeed the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, and that My punishment is the most painful punishment.} [Surat al-Hijr: 49-50]
Q33: Explain these names?
Answer: Allah: It means the only God worthy of worship with no partners.
Ar-Rabb: It means the only Creator, Owner, Provider, and Disposer of Affairs.
As-Samī‘: It means the One Whose Hearing encompasses everything, and Who hears all voices despite their differences and variations.
Al-Basīr: It means the One Who sees everything, no matter how small or big it is.
Al-‘Alīm: It means the One Whose knowledge encompasses everything in the past, present, and the future.
Ar-Rahmān: It means the One Whose mercy encompasses all creatures and all living beings, i.e., all the servants and creatures are under His mercy.
Ar-Razzāq: It means the One Who provides for all the creatures including the humans, the jinn, and all other living beings.
Al-Hayy: It means the One Who does not die while all creatures die.
Al-‘Azhīm: It means the One Who possesses all perfection and all magnificence in His names, attributes, and deeds.
Q34: What is our duty towards the Muslim scholars?
Answer: Our duty towards the Muslim scholars is to love them and refer to them in Sharia-related issues and unprecedented events. We should mention the scholars in a positive way, and whoever mentions them negatively is not following the right path.
Allah Almighty says: {Allah will raise in ranks those who believed from among you and those who are given knowledge. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.} [Surat al-Mujādalah: 11]
Q37: Does Imān increase and decrease?
Answer: Imān increases by obeying Allah, and decreases by disobeying Him.
Allah Almighty says: {The true believers are those whose hearts are filled with awe when Allah is mentioned, and their faith increases when His verses are recited to them, and they put their trust only in their Lord.} [Surat al-Anfāl: 2]
Q41: What is the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil?
Answer: Enjoining good: means enjoining people to do every act of obedience to Allah Almighty, and forbidding evil: means forbidding people from every sin with which they disobey Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says: {You are the best nation ever raised for mankind: you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 110]
Q42: Who are Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah?
Answer: They are those people who adopt the way of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions in words, deeds, and beliefs.
They are called "Ahl-us-Sunnah" because they follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and refrain from introducing innovations in the religion.
"Al-Jamā’ah" (group) refers to the fact that they have united on the truth, and were not divided therein.