Dought & clear, - (Manners of Seeking Knowledge), - Ruling on making bets in matters of shar’i knowledge

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Some students of shar’i knowledge make a kind of bet whereby the one who is wrong (on a given issue) has to buy a book, for example, for the one who gets it right. Is this halaal?
Praise be to Allaah .
This is a competition, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) thought that there was nothing wrong with competitions on issue of sharee’ah. He explained this by pointing out that jihaad may be either with knowledge or with weapons. He also used as evidence the reports about Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) when the aayah (interpretation of the meaning)“Alif-Laam-Meem. The Romans have been defeated in the nearer land (Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine), and they, after their defeat, will be victorious, within three to nine years…” [al-Room 30:1-4]was revealed. The Persians were the ones who had defeated the Romans; the Romans were Christians, People of the Book, whilst the Persians were Magians (Zoroastrians), who had no revealed Book. Allaah said (interpretation of the meaning):“… And on that day, the believers (i.e., Muslims) will rejoice (at the victory given by Allaah to the Romans against the Persians).” [al-Room 30:4], because the believers wanted the Christians to defeat the Persians as the Christians were People of the Book and therefore closer to Islam than the Magians. Quraysh, on the other hand, wanted the Magians to defeat the Romans, and said, “The Romans cannot defeat the Persians, because the Persians are stronger than they are, and they do not believe in the Qur’aan.” So Abu Bakr bet them a number of camels that (the Romans) would prevail within seven years. The seven years passed and nothing had happened. Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) went to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who told him, “Add two years, and increase the bet” (reported by Ibn Jareer in his Tafseer, 10/165, 166, no. 27876) – because the wordbid’used in the aayah refers to any number between three and nine. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him to play it safe by increasing the time period and increasing the prize. Abu Bakr did this, and before the two years had passed, travellers brought news that the Romans had defeated the Persians. From this report Shaykh al-Islam deduced that it is permissible to bet in matters of shar’i knowledge.

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Dought & clear, - (Manners of Seeking Knowledge), - He wants to marry a girl but she wants to go to university and they live in a corrupt society

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I am a 19 year old muslim brother. I want to marry a girl.
I've asked her and she's agreed. The problem is that once were married she wants to go to university. But I go to uni myself and its an extremely un-islaamic environment where boys and girls mix freely, people walk around half naked, people drinking alcohol, swearing, and where there
is very little morality. She wants to go to uni because she doesen't want to let her mother down because her mother has told her cousins that her dauhgter will get a degree but if she doesn't go to uni her cousins will say to her mother that I stopped her from getting a degree. What should she do. Should she go to uni where its a corrupt envornment just to keep her mother happy or not go to uni?
Also after I get my degree and a couple of years working experience I want to leave this corrupt country and go to an islaamic country. I had afghanistan at the topp of my list. Is this a good idea? If not where else can I go?
Thank you for any help you can give me
Praise be to Allaah.
If the situation in the university is as you describe, then it is not permissible for her to study in that place or to go there. One of the well-known basic principles of sharee’ah is that there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience to the Creator. She should not obey her mother in this instance. She should try to convince her mother that it is haraam, by explaining to her gently and politely, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But if they [parents] strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly…” [Luqmaan 31:15].
If the mother does not accept this, it is still not permissible for the daughter to obey her and there will be no sin on her for that, in sha Allaah.
But there is another important point we must make here:
It is not permissible for you to talk to this girl or to sit with her before marriage. The Prophet said: “Beware of entering upon women” and “No man is alone with a woman, but the Shaytaan is the third one present.” So beware of doing that.
As for your travelling to settle in a Muslim country: look for a land where you can openly practise the rituals of Islam and where you will feel safe to practise your religion and not feel in any danger, where the environment will help you to worship your Lord properly and where there is less fitnah (temptation). Allaah is the source of help and He is the Guide, there is no god besides Him.

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Dought & clear, - (Manners of Seeking Knowledge), - Moving to another mosque after Fajr for a halaqah

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We pray Fajr in a mosque that is close to us, then we young men get up and go to another mosque in which there is a study-circle (halaqah) for memorizing Qur’aan. This mosque is not far away, it takes only five minutes on foot. Does this moving (to the second mosque) mean that we will lose the reward for a complete Hajj or ‘Umrah with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? Because in the hadeeth he said: “Whoever prays Fajr then sits remembering Allaah until the sun rises will have…”). Does this mean its rising or does it mean when it has risen to the height of a spear [above the horizon]? I.e., should we pray the two rak’ahs when the sun rises, or do we have to wait until it has risen to the height of a spear [above the horizon]?
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with moving from one mosque to another after the prayer in order to attend a class or study circle. This is better than sitting in the first mosque until the sun rises, because it is for the purpose of seeking knowledge. With regard to the two-rak’ah prayer, this should be done after the sun has risen to the height of a spear [above the horizon].

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For children, - Big Ship that Landed on an Island: Life of this World and Hereafter in Islam

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There was once a big ship that landed on an Island. The Captain said to the people: "Dear passengers, we will anchor here for you to gather provision and admire the nature and we shall move on with our journey in a few hours time".
All passengers got off and roamed around the island in groups.
Some 'Wise' gentlemen and ladies walked peacefully, collected some souvenirs and food for the journey and returned quickly to the ship. Since they were the first ones back, they got the best and comfortable places on the ship.
The second group of 'Forgetful' people walked, played and enjoyed their time. They admired the island and explored its nature. But soon they remembered the ship, so they ran back, without any food and souvenirs. Coming on board, they were tired, but alas the best seats were taken, so they had to do with the less comfortable ones.
The third group of ' Greedyand Lustful' people got amazed by the wonders of this island and they began to collect its plants and precious stones. After a while, having heard the call of their captain, they started to head back to the ship, carrying plants, stones and jewelry of all colors and value. However, the heaviness of the treasure they eagerly wanted to bring back slowed their return, and by the time they reached the shore, the boat had already left.
And finally, some 'Aimless and Narrow-Minded' people, convinced themselves that the island was all there is and the ship was just something they had imagined. They thus explored the island and built for themselves houses. The boat, of course left them to perish on the island and to be forgotten by everyone.
Similarly, on our journey to Allah (SWT), The Creator, we have landed on this island, called the World (Dunya).
Some 'Wise' gentlemen and ladies will walk around and collect good deeds, love and knowledge of Allah (SWT) and quickly return to The Creator. They of course will be handed paradise, the best of it!
The second group of 'Forgetful' people will get distracted by the world (Dunya) until their last moment. They will then repent at the last minute. Perhaps they will make it and get the lowest levels of paradise (Jannah).
The third group of 'Greedy and Lustful' people will be amazed by the world, and get attracted by its temporary and fake beauty. They will indulge in desire and food and be illusion by it. Perhaps, a call will bring them back to realization, but alas, the attraction will be too much to leave behind and they will miss the ship of salvation.
And finally, some 'Aimless and Narrow-Minded' people will just ignore the journey to Allah (SWT) and pretend that this world is all there is. They will take their houses as their homes and their desires as god. Indeed history as seen many people as such, but no one remembers them. They have been left in hell.
So, my friend... The ship is waiting, please jump on board! Your Creator Allah (SWT) is calling you: Oh man! Surely you must strive to your Lord, a hard striving, until you meet Him. Noble Qur'an (84:6)
Imam Ali Naqi (as)said: The world is a market in which one group makes profit and another group incurs loss.
Imam Mohammad Bagher (as) said: The one that sincerity of truth and faith took place in his heart, will turn his face from decorations and ornaments of the world.
Moral of the Story: Those who spend their lives devoted blindly to worldly goods will realize that they consumed all their lives chasing illusions. They will realize their ridiculous situation after they die. Only then will the ultimate purpose of life, to be a sincere servant of Allah (SWT), be clear to them.

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