Q2: Explain these five rulings.
Answer:
1. Wājib (Obligatory): such as the five prayers, fasting in Ramadān, and dutifulness to one's parents.
Performing what is obligatory will be rewarded, whereas, abandoning it will be punished.
2. Mustahabb (Recommended): such as the regular Sunnah prayers, the night prayer, feeding people, and the greeting of peace. It is also called "Sunnah" and "Mandūb".
Performing what is recommended will be rewarded, and abandoning it will not be punished.
Important Note:
The Muslim must hasten to perform whatever is Sunnah or recommended and follow the example of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
3. Muharram (Prohibited): such as the consumption of alcohol, being undutiful to one's parents, and severing kinship ties.
Abandoning what is prohibited will be rewarded, whereas, committing it will be punished.
3. Makrūh (Disliked): such as taking and giving with the left hand, and lifting up the lower part of the garment during the prayer.
Abandoning what is disliked will be rewarded, and doing it will not be punished.
5. Mubāh (Permissible): such as eating an apple and drinking tea. It is also called "Jā’iz" and "Halāl".
Abandoning what is permissible will not be rewarded, as doing it will not be punished.
Q4: Mention some of the prohibited types of sales and transactions.
Answer:
1. Cheating: such as hiding the defect in a commodity.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) once came upon a heap of food, and when he put his hand into it, his fingers felt some dampness. So, he asked the owner of the food: "What is this, O owner of the food?" The man replied: "The rain had fallen on it, O Messenger of Allah." Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Why did you not put the damp part on the top of the food so that people can see it? He who cheats has nothing to do with me." [Narrated by Muslim]
2. Riba (usury): such as borrowing one thousand from someone to be returned as two thousands.
This excess is the prohibited usury.
Allah Almighty says: {But Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 275]
3. Gharar (uncertainty, risk) and Jahālah (ignorance): such as selling milk that is still in the female sheep udder, or fish that is not yet caught.
The Hadīth states: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade any sale that involves Gharar (uncertainty, risk)." [Narrated by Muslim]
Q5: Mention some of the blessings that Allah has bestowed on you.
Answer: 1. The blessing of being a Muslim and not being from the disbelievers
2. The blessing of adhering to the Sunnah and not being from the heretic innovators
3. The blessing of health and wellbeing, including the blessing of hearing, seeing, walking, etc.
4. The blessing of having food, drink, and clothes.
In fact, the blessings that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon us are numerous and cannot be counted or enumerated.
Allah Almighty says: {If you try to count Allah’s favors, you will not be able to enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat an-Nahl: 18]
Q7: What are the Muslims' festivals?
Answer: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Ad'ha.
This is mentioned in the Hadīth of Anas who said: "When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madīnah, the people had two days on which they used to play games. He asked: 'What are these two days?' They said: 'We used to play on them in the pre-Islamic period.' Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Allah has given you something better than these two: the day of sacrifice (Eid al-Ad'ha) and the day of the breaking the fast (Eid al-Fitr).'" [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]
All festivals, other than these two Eids, are counted as religious innovations.
Q13: Who are man's enemies?
Answer: 1. The human soul that prompts one to evil: This is when one follows what his soul dictates to him and follows his personal desires in disobeying Allah Almighty, Who says: {Indeed, the human soul prompts one to evil, except those to whom my Lord may show mercy. Indeed, my Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Surat Yūsuf: 53] 2. The devil: He is the human's foe whose main goal is to mislead man, whisper evil to him, and lead him to Hellfire. Allah Almighty says: {Do not follow the footsteps of Satan, for he is your sworn enemy.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 168] 3. Evil companions: They are those who urge one towards evil and prevent him from goodness. Allah Almighty says: {On that Day, close friends will become enemies to one another, except the righteous.} [Surat az-Zukhruf: 67]
Q15: What are the conditions of sound repentance?
Answer: 1. Abandoning sin
2. Remorse for committing sin
3. Resolve not to return to sin
4. Restoring the rights to its owners
Allah Almighty says: {And those who, when they commit a shameful act or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – who can forgive sins except Allah? – and they do not persist in what they did knowingly.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 135]