Answer:
- Ibne Rushd was a philosopher and also one of the great Fuqahaa (jurists) of his time and a personality of great calibre. He was a follower of the Maaliki Math-hab. He has compiled many books of which Bidaaytul Mujtahid is one. He passed away in 520 AH.
- Suicide bombing will be permitted at the time of the war in order to cause harm to the opposite army but will not be permissible in public places such as restaurants, etc and also not on innocent women, children and the elderly.
- The ring should not contain more than 4.3 grams of silver, regardless of its weight.
- Imam means ruler. It is necessary for Muslims to appoint a ruler from amongst themselves who can keep them united, fulfil their needs, establish a judicial system, implement the Islamic criminal law and attend to the needs of the widows and orphans, etc. This ruler is also called an Ameer, Imam or Khalifah. It is of due importance that this ruler or governor be of sound mind, mature, pious, intelligent, Quraishi Muslim who has the ability and is worthy of governance. After the demise of the Prophet (S.A.W.), the Muslims agreed on Abubakar (R.A.) being his Khalifah. After his demise Umar (R.A.) became the Khalifah, then Uthmaan (R.A.), then Ali (R.A.), then Hasan (R.A.), then Mu’aawiyah (R.A.), then his son Yazeed, then Abdullah bin Zubair, then Abdul Malik bin Marwaan. The first four amongst these are known as the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen. Hasan (R.A.) reconciled with Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) after becoming the Khalifah. That is the reason why Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) is usually known as the fifth Khalifah. Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) was the Sahabi who used to write the Wahi (revelation) for Nabi (S.A.W.). Nabi (S.A.W.) made a Du’aa for him that: “O Allah, Keep Mu’aawiyah on guidance and make him the means of guidance.” Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) remained as a Khalifah for twenty years. He fought against the Christians and prepared the first Muslim navy. He was a very tolerant person. It will not be permissible to use vulgar words when mentioning him. Whatever the Shiites accuse him of doing is all mere fabrication and incorrect.
The Shiites state that the Imam or Khalifah must be from the family of Nabi (S.A.W.) and there are only twelve such Imams. The first being Ali (R.A.) and the twelfth being Imam Mahdi’ who was born in 256 AH and is still alive and is hiding in a cave and will appear before Qiyaamat. From amongst the twelve Imams of the Shiites, only two of them became Khulafaa. First it was Ali (R.A.) who became the Khalifah in 26 AH and was martyred in 40 AH. After him Hasan (R.A.) became the Khalifah, who after six months, reconciled with Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) and relinquished his Khilaafat before handing it over to Mu’aawiyah (R.A.) The Shiites regard this act of Hasan (R.A.) as incorrect. All these theories of the Shiites are self-made and have not been substantiated in the Qur’an, Sunnah or history.
The names of their twelve Imams are as follows:
1. Ali (R.A.)
2. Hasan (R.A.)
3. Hussein (R.A.)
4. Zainul Aabideen (R.A.)
5. Imam Baaqir
6. Imam Ja’far Saadiq
7. Imam Moosa Kaathim
8. Imam Ali Razaa
9. Imam Jawwaad (Taqi)
10. Imam Haadi (Naqi)
11. Imam Hasan Askari
12. Imam Mahdi
After Mu’aawiyah (R.A.), his son Yazeed became the Khalifah. Before the news of his Khilaafat could reach Hijaaz (Makkah, Madinah and surroundings), the people of Kufa (a town in Iraq) called for Hussein (R.A.) by writing letters to him stating that: “Come over to us and we will make you our Khalifah. Hussein (R.A.) departed for Kufa with his family and close ones. His caravan consisted of approximately seventy people. When they drew close to Kufa the people of Kufa did not cooperate with him and appointed Yazeed as their Khalifah. Ubaidulllah bin Ziyaad (Yazeed’s governor) through Yazeed’s command sent an army against Hussein (R.A.) who surrounded their caravan and attempted to arrest Hussein (R.A.) by cutting off their water supplies. Hussein (R.A.) did not allow them to arrest him. Eventually a battle broke out in which Hussein (R.A.) with most of his men were martyred. This incident took place on 10th Muharram 60 AH in a plain called Karbalah which is in Iraq. What Ubaidullah bin Ziyaad and Yazeed did was incorrect but this should not be made a reason to curse Yazeed. It should be understood that Hussein (R.A.) was oppressively martyred. This was caused by Ubaidullah bin Ziyaad and his army and Yazeed too is guilty of this act.
Other than this, whatever the Shiites state and make into an emotional issue by keeping it alive, repeatedly making mention of it, etc. These things are not permitted in Shariah and is against the teachings of Islam. Islam is not the name of loving a family and mourning for them but Islam is a practical religion. The picture that the Shiites present about Islam is totally incorrect.
- If a woman accepts Islam in a non-Islamic state and remains there, her marriage with her husband will automatically break if the husband fails to accept Islam before the termination of her Iddat (passing of three menstrual cycles) and a new marriage contract will have to be enacted if he accepts Islam after the Iddat and wishes to remarry her. However, if he accepts Islam within the Iddat period, the marriage will remain intact. (Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 2, Page 423-424)
- It has been stated in a Hadith that playing chess is like placing one’s hand in pig’s blood. Similarly, Umar (R.A.) and Ali (R.A.) have regarded playing chess to be the same as idol worship. (Imdaadul Fataawaa, Vol. 4, Page 240)
- ibid’ is the abbreviation of ibidem which means “in the same book, chapter, passage, etc.” (Concise Oxford Dictionary)
And Allah knows best,
Qasim bin Hashim Limbada
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
19 May 2003
16 Rabee’ul Awwal 1424