Fathwa, - Having sexual intercoursewith one’s wife in the direction of the Qiblah

Question
What is the ruling of having sexual intercoursewith one's wife in the
direction of the Qiblah?
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 Muhammad
isHis slave and Messenger.
There is nothing wrong with having sexual intercourse towards the
direction of the Qiblah for there is no evidence preventing one from
such an action and the permissibility is the basic rule here. However,
it is forbidden for Muslims to answer the call of nature towards or
against the direction of the Qiblah, based on the Hadeeth. The
majority of scholars confine this ruling (i.e. forbidding relieving
oneself towards or against the Qiblah's direction) to the outdoors but
it is permissible indoors.
Allaah Knows best. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
http://translate.google.com/m/ ▓███▓ - -

Fathwa, - A praying person recitingAl-Faatihah after a short Surah

Question
Sometimes I forget to recite Al-Faatihah before the short Surah so I
reciteit afterwards. Is this permissible? If not, what should I do if
it occurred?
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 Muhammad
isHis slave and Messenger.
An individual who forgot to recite Al-Faatihah and then recited it
before theRukoo' is not obliged to do anything. However, he has to
recite some portion of the Quran after it since the portion he recited
before it did not meet its proper position.
Allaah Knows best.

--
- - ▓███▓ Translator:-> http://translate.google.com/m/ ▓███▓ - -

Consistency between the Quran and modern science –I

Cosmology
These theories involve a lot of very sophisticated mathematics for a
full understanding. Basically,they concern the laws of motion under
high speeds approaching the speed of light (special relativity) and
the impact of strong gravitational fields (general relativity) applied
to the explanation of cosmological phenomena. What is a wonder and an
indication of the universality of Islam is that several of the key
scientific findings in modern cosmology, according to some scientists,
seem to be reflected in the Noble Quran, revealed by Allaah to the
Prophet Muhammad , more than 1400 years ago.
These findings are: (a) the 'big bang theory' of how the universe
began; (b) the expansion of the universe and (c) relativityof time.
The Big Bang Theory and the Unity of Creation
Most cosmologists today have accepted the Big Bang Theory in
describing the origin of the universe. This theory states that the
universe began at a single hot, dense point, or 'singularity'. Out of
this point developed what is often referred to as 'cosmic soup', a
constant interchange between matter and energy with no separation
between stars and planets or the heavens and the Earth as we recognise
them.
The Noble Quran appears to be consistent with this theory; Allaah Says
(what means): "Have those who disbelieved not considered that the
heavens and the earth were ajoined entity, and We separated them..."
[Quran 21:30] This verse clearly describes the initial unity of all
creation and subsequent division of the universe into the phenomena we
observe. Abdullaah Yusuf Ali, in the notes to his English translation
of the twenty first Quranic chapter, points out, that as man acquires
more knowledge about the physical world, he is also bound to expand
his awareness of the overriding unity in the cosmos. As an example, he
cites the discovery of the direct correlation between measurements of
sunspot activity and changes in the Earth's magnetic field. There are
many other examples in our daily life, including the influence of the
moon on the tides and women's monthly cycle, the influence of the
Earth's magnetic field on the migration of birds, gravitational and
centrifugal forces that keep the solar system bound together in
harmony, preventing planets from flying away and crashing into each
other.
In essence, the initial unity of creation continues to exist, not in
the form of a singularity, but through various bonding relationships
that allow multiple forms of creation to maintain their linkage to the
initial'oneness' of the universe.
The Expansion and Structure of the Universe
The Quran points to the continued expansion of the universe in the
verse (which means): "And the heaven We constructed with strength, and
indeed, We are [its]expander." [Quran 51:47] In 1929, American
astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that the farther a galaxy was from
the Earth, the greater the speed of its outward movement. In fact, he
found the movement of a galaxy to be directly proportional to its
distance. This means that if a galaxy is ten times as far away as
another galaxy, it is moving at ten times the speed.
Based on this discovery, and other observations, scientists have
concludedthat the universe is expanding. Furthermore, Dr. Haruk
Nurbaki, in his book 'Verses of the Koranand Facts of Science', states
that the Quran alsosuggests a structure of the universe which
corresponds to modern scientific findings. The Quran states (what
means): "[It is Allaah] who created the seven heavens in layers. "
[Quran 67: 3]
Dr. Nurbaki correlates thereference to the seven heavens with the
descriptions of cosmic regions by modern scientists. He states that
when one looks at space from Earth, he is surrounded by seven magnetic
fields extending into the infinity of space. These fields consist of
(i) the spatial field occupied by Earth and the rest of the solar
system; (ii) the spatial field of the Earth'sgalaxy, the Milky Way;
(iii) the spatial field occupied by a 'local cluster' of galaxies to
which the Milky Way belongs; (iv) the central magnetic field of the
universe represented by a collectivity of clustered galaxies; (v) the
band represented by quasars, which serve as 'star hatcheries'; (vi)
the field of the expanding universe, represented by the receding
galaxies; and (vii) the outermost field of space representing
infinity.
The Relativity of Time
Dr. Mansour Hassab-Elnaby, in a paper entitled: 'A New Astronomical
Quranic Method for the Determination of the Greatest Speed C', asserts
that the Quran establishes a time/space reference system, which is
indicative of the relativity of time and the constancy of the speed
oflight (represented by 'C' in scientific notation). Albert Einstein
used theseconcepts to establish his well-known 'field equations' which
providethe mathematical explanation for the interaction of matter,
energy, space and time inthe universe. The basis ofDr. Hassab-Elnaby's
paperis the Quranic verse (which means): "He arranges[each] matter
from the heaven tothe earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the
extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count." [Quran
32:5]
Thus, the Quran suggests that time is not absolute in the universe, a
discovery made only in the early part of the twentieth century. The
abovementioned Quranicverse, according to Dr. Hassab-Elnaby, implies a
'cosmic affair' of extremely high speed, making it possible to travel,
in one day, the distance the moon travelsaround the Earth over a
period of 1,000 years. The use of the lunar calendar in reckoning
Earth time is explicitly stated in the following verse (which means):
"…[It is Allaah who made] the moon a derived light and determined for
it phases – that you may know the number of years and account [of
time]…" [Quran 10:5]
Furthermore, Dr. Hassab-Elnaby uses the mathematical relationship
given in this verse – one day of 'cosmic reckoning' equal to a
thousand years of 'Earth reckoning' – along with established
scientific data on the movements of the Earth and the moon to
calculate the speed which provides a linkage between the two systemsof
reckoning time. The resulting speed, he points out, is
299,792.458kilometres per second, which is exactly, to the decimal
point, the speed of light recorded by the United States National
Bureau of Standards.
The Quran as Part of Universal Order
The correlation between the findings of science in the past century
and the Quran highlights the importance of preservingthe written word,
emphasised in Islam because it bridges space and time, providing
inspiration and verification for those separated from direct contact
with the Prophet Muhammad and his companions . It has also led some
scientists totake a closer look at the Quran.
Dr. Maurice Bucaille of the French Academy of Science, author of 'The
Bible, the Koran and Science' , states that "…It comes as no surprise
to learn that religion and science have always beenconsidered to be
twin sisters by Islam and that today, at a time when science has taken
such great strides, they continue to be associated. Furthermore,
certain scientific data areused for a better understanding of the
Quranic text. What is more, in a century wherefor many scientific
truth has dealt a deathblow to religious belief, it is precisely the
discoveries of science that, in an objective examination of the
Islamic Revelation, have highlighted the supernatural character
ofcertain aspects of the revelation." Islam encourages man's search
for knowledge to both enhance appreciation of the cosmic order and
augment his capability toserve as a representative of Allaah in
governing the affairs of the Earth. The Quran seems to call attention
to the importance of observing the heavens in this search. It states
(what means): " And We made the skya protected ceiling, but they, from
its signs, turned away." [Quran 21:32]
Thus, important evidenceseems to be emerging in the modern world that
the Quran contains revelation which transcends space and time, forming
a part of the cosmic order to guidethe path of mankind and strengthen
the bond between religion and science. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
http://translate.google.com/m/ ▓███▓ - -

Consistency between the Quran and modern science -II

Embryology
The Quran is the last revelation, and a proof not only to the
paganArabs one thousand four hundred years ago, but also to the
scientists of today. Perhaps one of the most remarkable qualities of
the Quran for those living nowadays is the complete consistency
between it and manyof the discoveries of modern science.
One of the first Western scientiststo make a serious study of this
subject was Maurice Bucaille, who wrote a book called 'The Bible, the
Koran and Science'. In this book, he compared the statements
concerning natural and scientific data in the Bible and the Quran. He
concluded:
"The Quran is not only free from contradictions in its narrations, the
sign of the various human manipulations to be found in the gospels,
but provides a quality allof its own for those who examine it
objectively and in the light of science, i.e. its complete agreement
with modern scientific data."
Embryology, the issue to be discussed in this part, is one of the most
remarkable areas of description in the Noble Quran. The development of
the foetus is mentioned in the Quran in some detail. The early stages
of which could not have been known at the time of Prophet Muhammad
because the size of the foetusat these stages is too small to see with
the naked eye, rather a microscope is needed.
The Quran states (what means): "What is [the matter] with you that you
do not attribute to Allaah [due] grandeur. While He has created you in
stages?" [Quran 71:13-14] And also (what means): "And certainly did We
create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop
(Nutfah) in a firm lodging [i.e., in the womb]. Then We made the sperm
drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of
flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones,and We covered the bones
with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is
Allaah, the best of creators. " [Quran 23:12-14]
The use of the phrase (which means): "…Extract of clay…" means, in
other words, that we are made from the earth.
The word: "…Nutfah…" literally means a 'small drop'.
The description of the next stage as a "…Clinging clot…" accurately
represents the stage where the fertilised cell attaches itself to the
innermost layer of the uterus by hair-like projections. Another
meaning for the Arabic word 'Alaqah' which is used in the Quran,
(other than 'clinging clot'),is 'leech like'. This describes the
process of implantation in the first few days entirely correctly and
is so concise as to use just one word.
The word 'Alaqah' has been also translated as 'something that clings'.
This only identifies part of the descriptive accuracy of this word.The
word has a number of meanings: its root meaning is from the Arabic
verb 'Aliqa' whichmeans: "To hang, be suspended, dangle; to stick,
cling, cleave adhere to; to catch, get caught orstuck; to be attached,
affixed, subjoined." Other forms of the verb have related meanings,
suchas to be affectionately attached to someone. (Dictionary
definitions from Hans- Wehr)
The meanings apply ideally to theprocess through which the fertilised
ovum becomes lodged in the womb.
The noun 'Alaqah' carries the meaning of 'medical leech' and 'blood
clot'. The leech is an interesting little creature. The creature is a
parasite, which lives on blood, which it sucks out of the body of its
host. Not only is this a similar process to what happens to an embryo
in the earliest stages, but also in the earliest stages of the embryo
it looks remarkably like a leech.
The meaning of a clinging thing can easily be seen in this use of the
verbal noun. As for blood clot, it is first necessary to point out
that it is the process of clotting or coagulating which brings the
idea of clinging to this word and not blood. When bloodcoagulates, the
material is primarily known to be sticky which explains the use of
'Alaqah' for this material. What we have is also a living fluid half
way to becoming a soft solid, which is an accurate description of the
embryo as the cells which have multiplied until they form a fluid now
begin to form tissue structures.
The description of the: "…lump [of flesh]…" 'Mudhghah' is the Arabic
word, which also means (chewed flesh) implies somethinglike teeth
marks.
This accurately describes the Somite development. The Somites, as
Hamilton, Boyd and Mossman say, "Are conspicuous features of embryos
in the periodunder consideration and are readily seen in the surface
contour. They are bases from which the greater part of the axial
skeleton and musculature are developed".
The age of the embryo is referredto by the number of these Somites
since "They form one of its characteristic external features". These
features, along with the pharyngeal arches which also appear at this
period (four weeks), give the embryo theclear appearance of a chewed
lump in which the indentations of teeth are present.
The structure of the embryo, as itdevelops and gains its form, is
primarily skeletal at and before five weeks. That is, what you see in
pictures of embryos this age is the bones and a number of
semi-translucent organs.
The bones at this stage have structure and form and are easily the
most marked and visible feature of the embryo, but they are, of
course, not fully calcified (many bones are still in the final
calcifying stage into adulthood).
Over the next couple of weeks, a quite definite change takes place in
the appearance of an embryo. Instead of bones and organs, all that can
be seen now is (the fleshof) a naked body. The embryo begins to look
much more human. It is a reference to this, which seems most fitting
with the general tone and meaning of (this part of) the verse
mentionedabove (which means): "…And We covered the bones with flesh…"
- - ▓███▓ Translator:-> http://translate.google.com/m/ ▓███▓ - -