For children, - Allah: Arabic name for God, Allah the most Merciful, Allah the Creator and Lord of the Universe

Allah is the standard Arabic name for "God". The term is best known in the west for its use by Muslims as a reference to God. Arabic-speakers of all faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word Allah to mean "God". The Muslim and Christian Arabs of today have no other word for "God" than Allah. In Islam, Allah is the only deity, transcendent creator of the universe, and the judge of humankind. Some Islamic scholars feel that "Allah" should not be translated, because they perceive the Arabic word to express the uniqueness of "Allah" more accurately than the word "god" for two reasons: 1. The word "god" can take a plural form "gods", whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form. 2. The word "god" can have gender as male god or female god (called goddess) whereas the word "Allah" does not have gender. Tawhid (Tawheed, Tauheed)is the Islamic concept of monotheism (Oneness of God). In Islam, Tawhid means to assert the unity of Allah. The opposite of Tawhid is Shirk, which means "division" in Arabic, referring to idolatry. Shaykh Saduq, one of the most distinguished of Shi'a scholarsexpressed: "Verily, God is One, Unique, nothing is like Him, He is Eternal; Hearing, Seeing, Omniscient, Living, Omnipotent, above every need. He cannot be described in terms of substance, nor body, nor form, nor accident, nor line, nor surface, nor heaviness, nor lightness, nor color, nor movement, nor rest, nor time, nor space. He is above all the descriptions which can be applied to His creatures. He is away from both extremes: Neither He is just a non-entity (as atheists and in a lesser degree Mutazilites implied), nor He is just like other things. He is Existent, not like other existing things." Shi'a do not believe that God can or will ever be seen, and also reject the notion of Him having body parts, or any parts whatsoever. In a new study, Vander Hoven, a psychologist from Netherlands, discovered the effect of reading the Noble Qur'an and repeating the word ALLAH both on patients and on normal persons. The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others don't speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word "Allah" clearly; their result was great, especially on those who suffer from dejection and tension. Al-Watan, a Saudi daily has reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Noble Qur'anregularly are enjoying a great chance of protecting themselves from psychological diseases. The psychologist explained how each letter in the word "Allah" affects healing of psychological diseases. Vander Hoven pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word "Allah" which is the letter (A), released from the respiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant (L) in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and then repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration. Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter (H) makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and so this contact controls the heartbeat. What is exciting about this study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Islamic sciences and searching for the secrets of the Noble Qur'an. Allah (SWT), The Great and Glorious, says in the Noble Qur'an: "We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things?" (41:53) "ALLAHU AKBAR [Allah (SWT) is great], Allah (SWT) keeps me going day and night. Without Allah (SWT), I am no one. But with Allah (SWT), I can do everything. Allah (SWT) is my strength."

Fathwa, - {Conflictsamong family members}, - Muslimah living with her wayward family

Question I'm 20 and I am finding it extremely hard to guard my Deen living in a house that is far from Islaamic traditions and values. Although my family has always supported my Islaamic approach to life. But they don’t like my Daa'wah interfering with their western )indulging in music, free mixing so forth( and Haraam ways. My relentless efforts to help them realise their lack of obedience in Islaam has come to no avail and recently has escalated in to frequent arguments and fights between me and my brothers and sister. Further more it has also started to affect my Deen, I've tried so hard with them that now I'm beginning to take a step back and let them be! Plus - my father owns a Haraam business )alcohol, cigarettes(, even after knowing selling alcohol is Haraam he remains ignorant of the fact! I'm confused - I want to leave home and try to explain to them how serious the matter is. I've spoken to a sister who is willing to rent me a room in her house. But she advised that it was better not to move out, as I did be living without a Mahram, and also working to rent the place. Could you please advice me on what I should do? Answer All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammadis His slave and Messenger. Indeed you did well by being steadfast on the truth. We ask Allaah to make us firm on this religion until death. You have to know that since your family did not object to your following the straight path, this in itself is a bounty that requires someone to feel gratitude. Feeling gratitude is indeed a characteristic that even some people who are on the straight path may lack. The fact that they did not object to your following the straight path is an indication that they have some good in themselves. It is hoped that one can influence them if one deals with them with wisdom. Therefore, we advise you to do the following: 1. Be keen on being an example to them in your moral conduct and standards, as this has more effect. 2. Call and guide them with good admonition and soft words, and choose the appropriate time when you expect to benefit them more. 3. Be patient about the harm that might come from them, and do not hasten results, or behave in a bad way if they treat you badly. The outcome of being patient is goodness. You have the best example in our Prophetwho called his people for 23 years and was patient about their harm and their driving him out of Makkah, while it was his birth place where he was brought up, and where he returned as a conqueror. The first people who harmed him overwhelmingly embraced Islam. You have another example in our Prophet Noohwho called his people for 950 years and was patient about their harm and mockery. He was not hasty to bring the results and was not pessimistic. Despite this, only a few people believed, as the Qur'aan relates. 4. Use indirect ways of calling them, like the tapes of outstanding and influential callers to Islam. 5. Be keen on attending lectures held in Islamic foundations and keep company with pious believing women, as this will help you to continue performing good deeds. We do not see that you should leave your home. The advice of the sister to you was appropriate and correct. If you stay alone, something harmful could happen to you )in relation to your dignity, honour and chastity(, especially in disbelieving communities as you are well aware. It could be that the best advice in this case, and probably the solution to your problem, is to get married. So we advise you to inform your female friends that you wish to get married, or seek the help of Islamic foundations in this regard. May Allaah grant you a pious husband who would get you out of that environment. As regards work, in principle a woman should stay at home, but it is permissible for her to work if there is a need for it provided she can fulfill the Islamic requirements, like not mixing, wearing Hijaab and so on. If these requirements are met, may Allaah bless you, otherwise while living at home you can benefit from your father’s finances according to your necessity even if all his money is earned from forbidden sources. On the other hand, if his money is earned from mixed permissible and prohibited sources, it is permissible for you to benefit from it beyond your necessity though you may dislike doing so. Allaah knows best.

Fathwa, - {Conflictsamong family members}, - Her parents have poor relations with her spouse

Question I am a American Muslim convert and have been married to a Muslim husband for 2 years. I became Muslim before marriage and although my parents were not unhappy about my conversion, they were confused with the changes it brought me. Despite this, I remained close to my family, and even talk to my Mother everyday day until a few months ago. Since my parents met my husband, they have never had a very good relationship with him. I have always felt that they do not trust him. They think my husband changed me a lot and they don't understand why he doesn't open up to them and talk to them and feel as close to them as I am. Recently my father got very angry with my husband because he felt that my husband was rude to my mother )he actually just didn't agree with her on something(. The problem is that he started physically and verbally attacking my husband. I was very scared because he did this in front of me and could have severely hurt my husband. I knew my father has a bad temper but this was extreme. He pushed and shoved and tried to nearly choke him. My husband told me I should not contact my family anymore. We are afraid that with contact the relationship will just get worse. I haven't talked to my family for several months and although I am upset with their actions, I miss them. I'm not sure what to do. I miss my family, naturally because they are my family, and because I know that even if our parents mistreat us we must respect them. I am not sure what to do, Islamicly I need to listen to my husband, but I am afraid that by severing ties with my parents, who are getting older in age, that I will punished by Allah. What should I do? Answer Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. There is no doubt there are filial obligations upon children even if their parents are not Muslims. This, in fact, demonstrates the parents' right over their children. So, we advise the inquiring sister to reach an agreement with her husband concerning her obligation to visit her family, since failing to them may violate their rights for which she is accountable in Islam. If your visit to your family will not produce harm in your religion and there is no legal justification to prevent you, then you have to do your best to convince your husband to allow you to visit your parents and treat them kindly, since this is your duty. If your husband refuses and persists that you have to obey him in such illegal action, then you are not obliged to obey him, since there should be no obedience to someone if such obedience constitutes disobedience to The Creator. After all, we urge you to be kind and gentle with your parents, to return their offence in kind' to treat them mildly, and then, to overlook their wrong. This, Insha Allah, might constitute a good motive to make them embrace Islam. Allah knows best.

Fathwa, - {Conflictsamong family members}, - Trying to make peace between brothers

Question There are some family problems between my husband and his brother. This family is a very lovely and religious family, but things happened to be hard and made these two brothers get in a big fight. My concern is that always solved small problems between them but this last one two months ago was the biggest. My brother in-law cursed, threatened, and tried to attack our house with a hammer. Since then the family was splitting. My turn came and I was trying to make things better but in a way to keep my husband calm because he went through allot. My question is: do I get blamed in the religion if I do things behind by husband just to make them go back to each other with no problems? For example, if I spoke with him without telling my husband or if I lied to my husband telling him good things his brother did or any thing to make things better, please I really need an answer for this thing. Answer Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Making conciliation between two quarreling parties is among the great good deeds. Allah Says )interpretation of meaning( in this concern: }"There is no good in most of their secret talks save )in( him who orders Sadaqah )charity in Allah's Cause(, or Ma'raf )Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained(, or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward."{]4:114[. Your efforts and aspiration to settle the dispute between the two brothers is highly encouraged and you will be rewarded for that. Lying to make peace between two parties is permissible. Therefore, there is no harm to lie to your husband for that purpose provided this does not cause any harm or lead to greater harms. You may seek help of good people or other respected family members who can settle the matters. Allah knows best.