The Muslim Book of Why: What Everyone Should Know About Islam

Copyright © 2013 by Warithudeen Umar.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-4661-1 (sc)

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2012918485

iUniverse rev. date: 12/13/2012

Contents

Foreword

Preface

General Introduction

Chapter 1

Islam And Creation

Chapter 2

Allah, God Of The Universe

Chapter 3

Prophet Muhammad’s Life

Chapter 4

Practice, Worship, And Prayer In Islam

Chapter 5

Muslim Beliefs

Chapter 6

Muslim Garb And Garments

Chapter 7

Muslim Life And Death

Chapter 8

Jews, Christians, And Islam

Chapter 9

Islam And Modernity

Chapter 10

The Halal And Haram In Islam

Chapter 11

Conflicts Among Muslims

Chapter 12

Muslim Thinking

Chapter 13

Islamic Thinking

Endnote

Glossary

Bibliography

About The Author

Certain material in this book is controversial

and may be offensive to some.

Reader discretion is advised.

What Everyone Should Know about Islam

Why did Allah create the universe?

Why do Muslims pray five times a day?

Why don’t Muslims fear death?

Why is it said that Arabs and Jews are cousins?

Why did Prophet Muhammad marry a girl six years of age?

Why is America the target of terrorism?

Why did the Muslim Brotherhood come into being?

Why is there a Jew—Muslim conflict over the land of Israel?

Why are Elijah Muhammad and the Nation

of Islam important?

Why did America kill Imam Anwar al-Awlaki?

Why did the Shi’ites come about?

Why did Muslims cause 9/ll and change the world?

Why is there a modern-day Salafi Madthab?

Why is Islam so misunderstood?

Why is an apostate (one who leaves Islam)

given the death penalty?

Why is Islam forever connected to Judaism and Christianity?

Why don’t Muslims accept Darwin’s theory of evolution?

Why is the Holy Qur’an divided into 30 equal parts?

Why is Prophet Moses mentioned in the Holy Qur’an 124 times while Prophet Muhammad is mentioned only 4 times?

Why can’t Muslim women marry non-Muslim men?

Why can Muslim men marry Jewish and Christian women?

Why? Why not?

Distributed by the

Center for Advanced Religion

I pray to Allah, the Exalted, the Sublime, to accept this humble effort, forgive my shortcomings, and make it a provision for me for the Hereafter. May this book and these words be a cause for the preaching and teaching of Islam throughout the world.

Warithudeen Umar 10/10/2010 USA

Other Books by Warithudeen Umar

One Flew Over the Terrorist Net

What Is the Difference Between Jews and Muslims?

Jews Read . . .

Yahvehism: Jews for Salaam, book three

Judaiology: Jews for Salaam, book two

Jews for Salaam, book one: The Straight Path

to Global Peace

The Name Game

Controverses

The Wired Hatch Series

Wake Up, America

Name Tag

The Freedom Connection

Guerilla Rap Underground

This Affair of Ours: The Religion of the Muslims

Prison: Ummatul Islamiyyah fi sijn

The Real Shariah: What America and the World

Can Expect

PRIS (Post-Release Incarceration Syndrome)

The Sijjin Connection

Righteous Extremism

A History of the Devil and Forces of Evil

Fraudulent Nation

Acquitted: The Case of the Harlem Five

Fighting Giants: The Case against The Wall Street Journal

A Muslim Speaks

The Next New World Order

Jihad Theory

Ummatul Wasat: The Revival of the Muslim Community

Wealth & Resistance

Divine Captivity

Intifada USA: Shaking Off America

Dedicated

to the memory of Prophet

Muhammad Ibn Abdullah.

Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him.

And to Ibrahim Umar, Naeem Umar, and Yusuf Umar,

all born in 2009, sons of my sons.

Hq = Holy Qur’an

Foreword

On Ijtihad

The accepted juridical sources of Islam (Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijmah, and Qiyas) are valid forever, for all times and places, and accepted by all Islamic scholars and jurists. Ijtihad is described as a creative and disciplined intellectual effort to derive legal rulings from the Islamic sources while taking into consideration the variables brought on by the fluctuating circumstances of the Muslim world. Consigning ijtihad to the trash bin of history or annals of dissenting academia is nothing more than denial of the rationalistic, egalitarian, and humane aspects of a most realistic and durable faith. The Muslim world is hampered by centuries of intellectual malaise, political misdirection, extremism, and disunity. It is undeniable and proven historically that the Muslim world society entered its current state of crisis and decay after ijtihad fell into disuse and was gradually replaced with taqlid (blind following).

Why Muslim society has fallen so low after receiving so much can be answered only with ijtihad. Changing times demand that Muslims construct a new, specific methodological intelligence infrastructure capable of addressing the crisis of Islamic thought. The Muslim mind-set has failed in its capacity to carry the people of Islam to greater heights practicing the religion revealed to Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. There has been one mistake after another and gross misguidance on the part of Muslims since the death of Prophet Muhammad. To right these wrongs we first have to deconstruct history, going back in time to the conditions before Islam to spell out what went wrong after a right way of thinking had been established with the revelation of the Qur’an. This effort won’t be easy and it won’t be nice, but it has to be undertaken.

We can do this by following the approach taken by Prophet Muhammad, who came upon an ignorant society following their own whims and fancies like the societies of today—except that today the societies are advanced in their ignorance and have special methods and instruments that can enhance and multiply their thulm (evil, wrongdoing). They have advanced technology and advanced science aforethought. The Prophet’s approach was to establish the aqueedah (creed or belief) as a strong spiritual base for mankind before focusing on the organization of human relations in social patterns that would shape man’s culture and civilization. He used Qur’an throughout his plan. Today people are no less and no more ignorant than the ignorant Arab populations of old. The depth of what we are about to approach is beyond the scope of this book. So suffice it to say that our methodology cannot be fully expounded upon here but will begin in my next book soon to be released, insha’llah, entitled 1000 Years of Arab Muslim Misguidance.

We pray to Allah that the thinking of the Muslims for all time will be focusing on a life of faith, family development, and worship. Strong faith in Allah as the One God who knows everything and guides us to openly make declaration of faith in Him, gathering for prayer, community fasting for Allah, personal charity, and universal pilgrimage to His House, for our individual and collective devotion. Surely these are our Pillars that stand on the foundation of continuous struggle to uphold and support this great religion of Islam.

Preface

Why is the most profoundly probing word in the English language. The Arabic word for why is lematha pg%20xxi.pdf .

Who, what, when, where, and how only skim the surface of matters and guide us to why. Why is used to discover and find out for what reason, purpose, or cause, and with what motive a person, place, or thing is, was, or will be or will be doing or will be existing. Why?

Islam is a very cerebral and intellectual religion in prayer and practice. Verification, evidence, and proof are required to substantiate facts of matter, facts of history, and facts of belief. Daleel is the Arabic word used to capsulate proof, evidence, and verification. Daleel is even required to present knowledge of religion.

A major part of our efforts as rational beings is devoted to the search for why, the search for causes. We want to know why things happen. We want to know why things are the way they are. The knowledge of why or the knowledge of causes, even from a theoretical point of view, can be very satisfying. To know the causes of things is to have a truly comprehensive and profound understanding of them.

I begin this discourse by first proposing a paradigm. A passage in the Qur’an says, "And they (the people) ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the Ruh (spirit). Say to them: The knowledge of the spirit is with my Lord, and the knowledge you (mankind) have been given is only a little" (Surah Al-Isra 17:85).

In other words, some things are hidden from us in creation and in religiously legislated matters, and we may not be able to determine the meaning or the wisdom inherent in them. A questioner might ask why the giraffe was created with such a long neck. The answer might be so the animal can reach the fruit, buds, and more nutritious leaves at the tops of trees for food. Really? Why? What proves this? Then more questions might come up; for instance, don’t animals with shorter necks get just as much nutritious food closer to the ground? The same food at the top of the tree could be available for the flying fruit bat and climbing monkeys and birds. This inquiry could lead nowhere since one may not be able to answer with evidence or proof the reason why the giraffe has such a long neck.

If we ask why Allah made the Asr (late afternoon) prayer consist of four rak’at (units of prayer) and not eight or three, we would not know the wisdom behind the fact. We can accept this state by saying ma sha’llah (it is as Allah has deemed) and Allahu alim (God knows best). If Allah guides us to the wisdom behind created matters and legislated matters, the scholars of Islam say we should consider it an extra favor and blessing from Allah. If we fail to see the wisdom behind some of what Allah has for us, we should rest assured and find comfort in the knowledge that we are not lacking anything if we don’t get an answer. In fact the Qur’an says that anything that is for us will come to us, and anything that passes us by was never meant for us.

In Islam there is a concept conveyed by the Arabic word tadaboor, which means to go behind and beyond a thing to find its real meaning and to discover lessons that may be concealed therein. The word tafaqoor means using your thinking capacity to probe deeply into a subject. The proper use of the mind, ta’akul, is utilized best when asking who, what, when, where, how, and why. However, the questions and answers are useless and unimportant if no lesson is learned from them and used or applied in the current time and for planning the future direction and future activities.

General Introduction

Islam is the word in Arabic that means peace. A person can reach the state of peace as a result of the humble acts of surrender, submission, and obedience with sincerity to the Will of God (Allah). If the person accepts these conditions, he or she reaches this state and is called Muslim or Muslimah. Muslim means one who has achieved peace (or is striving to achieve peace) as a result of submitting to the Lord of the worlds (Rabbil Alameen). The Islamic code of life is called shari’ah. The book of guidance for the Muslim is the Holy Qur’an. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the last divinely revealed scripture to mankind and that Muhammad ibn Abdullah is the last Prophet and Messenger sent to mankind. So Muhammad is not considered an Arab or an Arab Prophet. He is considered a universal Prophet and Messenger to the world.

Most books on Islam are written to expose this fast-growing and misunderstood religion to the readers. The present book, The Muslim Book of Why, is written to explain why Muslims do what they do and why the religion instructs and guides in the manner that it does.

The Muslim Book of Why is an advice tome for Muslims on how to conduct their lives because it includes fiqh (Islamic law in its jurisprudential sense) and shari’ah, the canonical law of Islam as a guide for productive conduct that brings the feelings of peace into one’s life.

The number of questions that could go into a book of this nature is almost limitless, relatively speaking. However only those questions foremost on the minds of people today, especially those in the West and in these times of modernity, are selected. The questions and answers given here are those most germane to give credence and sense to allay fears and provide clarity. A full bibliography is provided for those seekers of knowledge who want to delve deeper into the essence of subjects that I will present in a fundamental but cursory way. Islamic information and verdicts are serious matters, and I as a researcher and mu’allif (writer) take this task with the utmost care and concern for detail so as not to misguide readers and, Allah forbid, give false information or wrong answers to these serious questions. It is imperative that Muslim believers adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, salallahu alaihi wa salaam (Allah’s Peace be upon him).

Therefore, I will support the answers in The Muslim Book of Why with evidence, proof, verification, and facts from our book of guidance, the Holy Qur’an. Insha’llah (God willing), I will use the Arabic Mushaf (pages of Qur’an); Yusuf Ali Qur’an translation and commentary; The Interpretation and Meaning of the Noble Qur’an in the English Language by Hilali/Khan; Ibn Kathir. The legal rulings will reflect some of the best Islamic scholars of their time: Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaimin, Shaikh Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman Al Jibreen, and Shaikh ul Islam ibn Taimiyyah.

I am fortunate to be able to study and add two of the greatest revolutionary thinkers of our time to reflect on their works in what I do. I respectfully call them The Two Sayyids; Shaikh Sayyid Qutb, and Maulana Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi. For a proper understanding of contemporary Islamic thinking, Sayyid Qutb’s insight, powerful intellect and widely acclaimed literary grasp give students a magnified view of history and current paths of knowledge. Welcome to wisdom and welcome to work, because once you become enlightened and learn, you are obligated to teach and make a contribution for the betterment of this world.

Why do Muslims stick out and wag their right index finger while sitting in prayer? Why do Muslims contort their right foot in a tiptoe position while sitting in prayer? Why can’t a Muslim eat with the left hand? Why can’t Muslims have dogs as pets? Why can Muslim men marry more than one wife? Why can’t Muslim women marry more than one husband? Why do Muslims sit on the floor in mosques? These and many other questions swim in the rivers of the minds of the world’s people. When they are introduced to Islam, the rivers begin to flow.

There is an explanation for everything eventually. The universal principle of sufficient reason tells us that things don’t just happen. They are caused to happen. We know that everything has a cause. In our search for causes we have to finally encroach upon the final and ultimate cause: the cause that has no cause, Allah, Al Khaliq (God, the Creator). From here we proceed. As intelligent beings we just want to know. why.

The Muslim Book of Why is a book of wisdom. Herein resides Allah’s hikmah (wisdom) behind each praiseworthy act and thought that He commands. These writings are drawn from our book of guidance, the Holy Qur’an, Ahadith of the Prophet’s way, and books of praiseworthy knowledge. The knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are presented in summary form for easier comprehension. For more information and knowledge, again, please review the bibliography section for students and others who want to study in depth.

Imam Umar

As Salaam Alaikum

CHAPTER 1

Islam and Creation

Introduction

Mankind and the universe were not created by accident or chance, but according to the plan of the Creator, who is known as Allah (literally, One God) in Islam. The Qur’an states that it is the duty of all individuals to learn about Allah and to live according to His will. We cannot accomplish this by ourselves, so Allah has sent messengers and prophets to guide humanity through the ages. All of these chosen individuals have brought the same message and have served as examples to their people as how Allah wants His creatures to live, how to think, how to act toward one another, and what to do with our time in this life. All of this is in preparation for more life to come. We have been told why we were created, what is expected of us, and what will happen to us after we die. Most important, we have been told that Allah is unique. He has no partners, no sons or daughters, and no competitors.

Muhammad was raised as the last of Allah’s prophets and messengers to present revelation. His message, along with that of all the other prophets and messengers, has always been the same. This is due to the kindness and benevolence of Allah. If the message changed from one prophet and messenger to another, we would be confused due to the level of understanding that man has been given.

Arabic has been chosen as the language to bring us this revelation because it is unique in how it gives light. All other languages have many names for God. Arabic has only one, and it is difficult to get it wrong. Allah is the name for God. When the Prophet was asked by his contemporaries about the name of Allah, they were given the answer directly from Allah and were told to say: He Allah is One, He is Unique and Absolute, He has no sons or daughters, and He is the Everlasting refuge, He neither begets nor is He begotten, and there is none equal to or even like Him. This short statement from Allah gave mankind the clear light on explaining who Allah is.

1. Why did Allah create the universe?

We know very little with regard to purpose in the whole of creation. This is because our knowledge of the whole of creation is limited. However we do know that creation is a manifestation of divine volition. Divine volition is God’s power to choose freely and make His own decisions. We don’t know the beginning of creation. Remember, the big bang is only a theory. We know Allah merely says, Be, and it is. We do know that whatever God wills comes into being for a duration or term. So we know that we are finite and God is infinite. The finite cannot comprehend the infinite, so we can’t be dogmatic on such a subject that is beyond human knowledge, and high-minded speculation is not part of religious affirmation. Allah states clearly in Qur’an what means: And they [the people] ask you [O Muhammad] concerning the Ruh [the spirit]. Say to them: The knowledge of the spirit is with my Lord, and the knowledge you [mankind] have been given is only a little (Surah Al-Isra 17:85).

Certainly the little we have been given keeps us wondering, searching, and learning. However, we do know some of the reason God created the universe, reflecting what is said in Qur’an. God created all that is on earth for our use. This is very telling. We Muslims are told that we were created to serve and worship God (Allah). The Qur’an explicitly asserts that man was created to be in charge of the earth and earth’s affairs. Consequently everything on earth is placed at man’s disposal to use as he sees fit. Animals, trees, the seas, lakes, rivers, mountains, birds, fish, soil, chemical elements, air, oil, carbon, nitrogen, minerals, cotton, wool, insects, light, heat, electricity, wind, weather, plants, flowers, and millions of man-made products like railroads, art . . . And if you were to count the gifts of Allah, you would not be able to number them (16:18 hq).

Allah does not say that He places all of the universe at man’s disposal or for man’s use. He does say the night and the day is for us and the Sun and the moon is for our use. This seems to fit with man’s very limited success in the exploration of outer space. In all of man’s history and technological advances he has not found life on other planets or been able to use other places in the universe. We don’t know if we are the first here or the last here. Allah knows best.

2. Why did Allah create life, death, heaven, and earth and give us wealth and children?

Allah created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds (67:2).

He created heavens and earth that He might try you and see which of you is best in conduct (11:2).

You will most certainly be tried and tested in your wealth and persons (3:186).

Allah will test you by evil (sharr) and good (khair) by way of trial (21:35).

We tested and tried all those who came before you. (29:3).

Do men imagine that they will be left alone on merely saying, We believe and they will not be tested 29:2?

The favors of Allah (ni’mat) may be but a trial (39/49; 89/15; cf. 7/95).

Here and throughout Qur’an Allah tells us that man is tried in this life, and this is why Allah created this life. Man recognizes this trial, and if he is a believer, he says, God has tried me and it is a blessing. Allah has honored me. And if he is further restricted and seems at a loss he may say, Allah has disgraced me. Allah will come back and say, No indeed, this is only a test of faith.

3. Why did Allah create mankind?

God created everything and everyone. He created man (men and women) and gave them a special place in His creation. He made man His agent on earth. He gave him understanding, gave him spiritual insight, made his affections pure, and gave him intellect. All this was so that man could understand himself and understand nature. More important, man was so equipped so that he would know Allah through His signs and glorify Him. Man was given an independent limited free will. Man’s will was given so that his activities and behavior would reflect Allah’s universal will and God’s laws. Man was created to worship Allah. Man was created to serve Allah as His vicegerent on this earth.

A question of this nature can be disturbing to the individual who is introspective like this writer. Introspection makes me want to ask, Why did Allah create me? What am I here for? Why was I created? What am I doing here? Have I had an impact of any kind? For there to be a reasonable answer, I have to review my life and see if I’ve done anything that has affected or changed conditions or has made things better for others or for the world (or made things worse). I married and have eleven children. I have fourteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. So if I am part of Allah’s creation that has furthered mankind, certainly I can see me being part of God’s creation and having an active participation in it. I embraced Islam as a young man, and all of my children and grandchildren and great-grandchild are Muslims and worship Allah.

Steve Jobs recently died (2011). He was the founder and head of the Apple Corporation. If one were to ask why he was here, he could easily answer: to bring new ideas and communication devices to mankind. Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama, who are power players, could answer that they are here to be influential and point out the new ways to leadership, science, sports, education, literacy, philanthropy or style.

But what about you and me? Most of us have not done anything and probably won’t do anything of wide note. We were born and will grow up, go to school, get a job, marry, have children and family, become consumers, and probably benefit from the