-What Do Scholars Say about Intermixing? - II

• Shaykh Ibn Baaz answeringthe advocates of permissiveness and
necessity of intermixing between the sexes:
In answer to the Director of San'aa' University, Abdul-'Azeez
Al-Muqaalih, who wrote an articlein As-Siyaasah newspaper in 24/7/1404
AH, calling for intermixing between the sexes ineducational
institutions, arguing that both men and women used to perform prayer
in the same mosque during the lifetime of the Prophet Shaykh Ibn Baaz
said:
There is no doubt that this call represents a serious violation of the
Islamic Sharee'ah (Islamic legislation), because the Sharee'ah does
not call for intermixing between the sexes but rather forbids it and
stresses such forbiddance. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the
display of the former times of ignorance.} [Quran 33:33]
• {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the
believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer
garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be
abused. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 33:58]
• {And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and
guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that
which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their
head covers overtheir chests and not expose their adornment except to
their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons,
their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their
sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or
those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are
not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp
their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And
turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might
succeed.} [Quran 24:31]
• {And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a
partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.} [Quran
33:53]
There are many other verses in the Quran calling women to remain in
their houses for fear of temptation, as long as there is nonecessity
for them to leave the house.
It was narrated on the authority of Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Prophet
said: "I am not leaving behind me a more harmful temptation for men
thanwomen." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that the
Prophet said: "The world is sweet and green (alluring); and verily,
Allaah is making you succeed each other, generation after generation
in order to see how you act. So, beware of this world and bewareof
women, for they were the firsttrial of Banu Israel." [Muslim]
It is known that when male and female students sit at the same desk,
this causes temptation, particularly when the female students do not
adhere to the Hijaab (Islamic covering). There was no intermixing
between men and women during the lifetime of the Prophet -- neither in
the mosque nor in markets; rather, rows of women were always behind
those of men. The Prophet said: "The best of the men's rows (in
prayer) is the first row and the worst is the last; and the best
ofthe woman's rows is the last andthe worst is the first." The Prophet
also used to command his Companions to wait for a while until the
women had left the mosque. He also commanded women not to walk in the
middle of the road, and used to go to the women to preach to them
after the men at the conclusion of the 'Eed prayer because they were
at a distance, unable to hear the Khutbah (sermon).
• Shaykh Ibn Baaz also said in answer to Al-Jazeerah newspaper, issued
in 15/4/1403 AH, where some writers suggested mixed education in
elementary schools:
This is a very dangerous and evil suggestion. It was narrated on the
authority of 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas that the Prophet said:
"Command yourchildren to perform prayer when they are seven years old,
and beatthem for (not offering) it when they are ten, and separate
them in beds." [Abu Daawood]
The Prophet commanded us to prevent boys and girls from sharing the
same bed after the age of ten because such intermixing may lead to
immorality.
• Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen was asked the following question:"I am a young
man from a rich family. I study at a mixed school and this helped me
establish shameful relationships with girls. I have committed many
sins and I want to know what I should do to get rid of my misery. Is
there repentance for me? What are the conditions of repentance?"
In his response to this question, Shaykh ibn 'Uthaymeen called upon
rulers to protect their people from the causes of evil and temptation,
particularly the Fitnah (trial) of intermixing between the sexes. In
addition tosincere intention and true determination, this can be
achieved through establishing schools, institutes, and universities
only for girls. Womenhave the right to learn just as men, but they
must be separatedfrom men.
Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri reported, "A woman came to the Messenger of
Allaah and said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Only men benefit from your
teachings, so please devote some of your time to us; a day onwhich we
may come to you so that you may teach us about what Allaah The
Almighty has taught you." The Prophet said: "Gather on such-and-such
aday at such-and-such a place." They gathered and he went to them
and taught them what Allaah The Almighty had taught him".
[Al-Bukhaari]
This apparently proves that a special place should be dedicatedto the
education of women, sincethe Prophet did not tell them to attend with
men.
• Dr. Muhammad Ismaa'eel Al-Muqaddim said in his book 'Awdat Al-Hijaab:
The example of those who underestimate the matter of prohibited
intermixing between men and women under the pretext that they are
habituated to adherence to chastity and virtue, is that of a people
who put an amount of gunpowder near a lighted fire and then claim that
there will not be an explosion because there is a warning written on
the gunpowder that it should not burn. This is merely illusion that is
removed from reality because it contradicts the nature of things.
Those who invented intermixing are now suffering from its catastrophic
results and calling to have it cancelled.

-What Do Scholars Say about Intermixing? - I

• Imaam Ash-Shaafi'i said in his book Al-Umm, "I do not like women to
be buried with men in a single grave as long as there is no necessity.
However, if this is necessary, then the man should be in front and the
woman in theback along with a separator of dust between them."
Imaam Ash-Shaafi'i hated mixing men and women even if they were dead
in the grave not feeling the presence of one another, so, what should
we say about college students who sit with the boy's thigh stuck to
his girlfriend's thigh while they are alive, with desire running in
their veins and each of them wants theother?
• Ibn Al-Qayyim said in At-Turuq Al-Hukmiyyah fi As-Syaasah Ash-Shar'iyyah:
Some Islamic jurists rightly stated that it is allowable for the ruler
(concerned authorities) to spoil the clothing of women
whoimpermissibly expose their adornment with ink or so if this is
suitable. This is considered the least financial punishment, as
theCommander of the Believers 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab prevented women
from walking with men or intermixing with them in the roads.
Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in Al-Fataawa (15/297),"Unlike the
man, the woman should be protected and preserved; hence, she was
specified with the command to wear the Hijaab (Islamic covering)and
refrain from showing her adornment before non-Mahram (marriageable)
men. Therefore, she, unlike the man, must abide in her house and must
abide by Hijaab, because the appearance of women without necessity
causes temptation, and men are in charge of them."
• Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir said,
Imaam Ahmad narrated on the authority of Umm Salamah that she said, "O
Messenger of Allaah, why are we not allowed to perform Jihaad (armed
struggle) like men? Why do we receive half the share of inheritance
available to males?" Thereupon, Allaah The Almighty revealed (what
means): {And do not wish for that by which Allaah has made some of you
exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for
women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allaah of
hisbounty. Indeed Allaah is ever, of all things, knowing.} [Quran
4:32]
Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir commented on this Hadeeth (narration) saying,
"This Hadeeth refutes the allegations made by the contemporary liars
who are keen on spreading immorality among the believers to be as
immoral as the non-Muslims. They encourage women to leave their houses
to enlist in the army,where their arms and thighs are exposed and
their front and back are shown, intending, in fact, to entertain the
young soldiers whoare deprived of women in the army; in imitation of
the dissolute Jews and Westerners, may the successive curses of Allaah
be upon them until the Day of Judgment."
• Dr. Saalih ibn Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan said in his book Rulings
Pertaining to Muslim Women:
Today, the enemies of Islam - rather, the enemies of humanity,
including the disbelievers and hypocrites who have a disease in their
hearts -- are embittered by the chastity and honorable statusof the
Muslim woman under Islam.
That is because the enemies of Islam want women to serve as a tool of
destruction and a trap by which they can seduce and prey on those who
have weak faith and those who have a perverted nature, after getting
her to fulfill their frenzied desires. Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): {Allaah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow
[their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.} [Quran
4:28]
The Muslims who have a disease in their hearts want the woman to be a
cheap commodity displayed before lascivious people. They want her to
be an object, exposed before their eyes so they can enjoy her beauty
or reach of her what is uglier than that.
That is why they endeavor to get the woman out of her house to work
side by side with men, or toserve men as a nurse in hospitals,a
stewardess on board planes, a teacher or professor in mixed schools,
an actress or singer in theaters, or a broadcaster in the mass media
where she would seduce men by her voice and beauty.
Immoral magazines have taken seductive pictures of girls as a means
for promoting and marketing themselves. Similarly, some businessmen
and companies exploit such pictures to promote their products.
These conspiracies led women to abandon their natural and true duty
inside her house, which forced husbands to hire foreign female maids
to raise their children and take care of the affairs of their
households, and this has resulted in great evil and much temptation.

Islam & alcoholism - I

In these days, countries that allow alcohol are suffering from it and
the number of alcoholics isincreasing rapidly. In the U.S.A.
forexample, the number of alcoholics has increased from four million
in the 1960s to ten million in the 1970s. In Britain thenumber of
alcoholics has increased from half a million to one million. In some
European countries, the percentage of alcoholics is 8% of the
population!
Alcoholic drinks are the only poison that is licensed in those
countries. However, Islam took a clear attitude towards alcoholic
drinks more than 1400 years ago. Islam prohibits such drinks. Any
drink that causes drunkenness is prohibited in Islam regardless of the
matter it is made from and regardless of the quantity.
According to Islam, if too much of a drink causes drunkenness, then
any small quantity of this drink is prohibited, because all alcoholics
start with small quantities, then they become the slaves of alcohol.
Islam does not only prohibit drinking alcoholic drinks, but
alsoprohibits making them. Islam also prohibits carrying, selling,
orbuying such drinks. According to Islam, if something is prohibited,
all means to it are also prohibited. The reason is that it isno use to
forbid something and allow the means leading to it at the same time.
If alcoholic drinks are prohibited, all means to themshould be
prohibited; Islam prohibits the making, transporting, importing
exporting, buying, and selling and selling of such drinks.
However there are some illusions that many people falsely believe
about alcohol. In this article we will try to discuss and refute them
to show the wisdom of prohibiting alcohol in Islam. We will also prove
that Islam does not prohibit a thing unless it is harmful and
dangerous.
Illusions and Facts:
1- Alcohol and Appetite: It was believed that alcoholic drink function
as appetizers, but this is against confirmed scientific
facts.Alcoholic drinks function as appetizers for the first week or
month only, then soon the stomach and other parts of the digestive
system become inflamed. Infections and ulcers begin to show up;
vomiting starts; all appetite is lost.
2- Alcohol and False Warmth: It was also believed that alcoholic
drinks cause warmth in the human body. But facts proved that it is
only a false warmth caused by the widening of outer blood vessels. But
if the drunkardis exposed to cold weather, he loses all his warmth and
energy and may die of cold thinking he isenjoying warmth.
3- Alcohol and the sexual drive: Alcoholic drinks increase the sexual
desire and thus may lead the drunkard to commit strange crimes under
the influence of alcohol because his brain cannot function normally
and in this casesocial values are trespassed. However, continuous
drinking of alcoholic drinks ends up with sexual impotency. This shows
us the wisdom of prohibiting alcohol in Islam.
Alcohol and Health:
Alcoholic drinks, which are prohibited by Islam, have a destructive
effect on the nervous system through the direct toxic effect. Besides,
alcohol may lead to alcoholism with its psychological and mental
troubles such as convulsions and hallucination. Further, alcohol leads
to malnutrition caused by inflammations in the digestive system,
repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, and bad absorption in the
digestive system. To add, some alcohols may cause complete blindness
and heat failure owing to their severe toxicity.
An alcoholic becomes careless, selfish, easily provoked, and
suspicious. He may suffer paranoia. He becomes sexually impotent. He
is hated by his wife and children. He suffers from melancholy. He may
end up committing suicide. An alcoholic may suffer from
hallucinations: he may think he sees unreal ghosts or hear unreal
voices or smell unreal scents.
Alcohol causes decay in the cells of the brain and the cortex. This
may cause alcoholic psychosis and loss of memory. In this stage, an
alcoholic loses the ability to distinguish the concretefrom the
abstract and the real from the unreal. He cannot even know the day or
the place. An alcoholic loses the ability to calculate, to add or
substract the easiest numbers. An alcoholic cannot remember the most
recent incidents in his life.
An alcoholic may become unable to stand up without losing his balance.
When he walks, he staggers. When he speaks, he slurs. He may suffer
from the clubbing and swelling of his fingers. A male alcoholic
developsfemale qualities and female alcoholic develop male qualities
such as the stoppage of menstruation and the complete loss of the
sexual motive.
An alcoholic suffers continual nightmares, where he sees and hears
terrible things. All his life becomes a series of delusions and
hallucinations. He may faint and lose consciousness any time.
The body of an alcoholic soon loses resistance to microbes and thus
becomes an easy prey to anymicrobe. He has troubles in the kidneys,
albumin in the urine, fatal blood acidity, which may end tragically
with heart failure.
An alcoholic does not usually carefor buying food. If he buys food, he
has no appetite to eat it. If he eats it, he vomits what he has eaten.
If he does not vomit, his digestive system cannot function well or
absorb well. Thus an alcoholic soon goes into malnutrition and lack of
vitamins;especially vitamin B. further, this Vitamin B is consumed by
alcoholin the process of oxidization.
As a result of the lack of Vitamin B and malnutrition, the alcoholic
may suffer paralysis in the hands,feet, and legs. He may have
infections in the brain. He may have decay in cortex cells, which
leads to madness. He may have infection in eye nerves, which ends up
with blindness. Alcohol is simply a poison.
A drunkard may fall down under the influence of wine. This fall may
cause a brain shock, a brain pressure, and a breakage in the backbone,
bone breakage, or bleedings.

Salaat al-Haajah .Prayers on various occasions ,-

|
My question has to do with praying to allah for a need. I know it is
called satatul hajah. Howmany times does a person have to pray it and
when should it be prayed. Is it right to prayit at the times when
duaas are most likely to be answered
Praise be to Allaah.
It is prescribed for the Muslim to worship Allaahin the ways that He
has prescribed in His Book, and in the ways that have been proven from
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The
principleconcerning matters of worship is tawqeef [i.e., following
what is in the Qur'aan and saheeh Sunnah; with no room for individual
opinion]. And we cannot say that any act of worship is prescribed
unless there is saheeh evidence.
The so-called Salaat al-Haajah was narrated in da'eef (weak) or munkar
(denounced) ahaadeeth – as far as weknow – which cannot beused as
proof and whichare not fit to base acts ofworship on.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 8/162
The hadeeth narrated concerning Salaat al-Haajah says:
"From 'Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Awfa al-Aslami, who said: The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came out to us and
said: 'Whoever has need of something from Allaah or any one of His
creation, let him do wudoo' and pray tworak'ahs, then let him
say,"There is no god but Allaah, the Forbearing, the Most Generous.
Glorybe to Allaah, Lord of the mighty Throne. Praise beto Allaah the
Lord of the Worlds. O Allaah, I ask You for Your mercy and forgiveness
and I ask You for all good things and for safety from all sins. I ask
You not to leave any sin without forgiving it, or any distress without
relieving it, or any need which it pleases You to fulfil without
fulfilling it for me." Then let him askAllaah for whatever matter of
this world or the Hereafter that he wishes, for it will be fulfilled."
(Narrated by Ibn Maajah,Iqaamat al-Salaah wa'l-Sunnah, 1374)
Al-Tirmdihi said: this is a ghareeb [strange] hadeeth, and concerning
its isnaad it was said: Faa'id ibn 'Abd al-Rahmaan is weak in hadeeth.
Al-Albaani said: rather it is da'eef jiddan (very weak). Al-Haakim
said: mawdoo' (fabricated) ahaadeeth were narrated from Abu Awfa.
Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, vol. 1, p. 417
The author of al-Sunan wa'l-Mubtada'aat said, after mentioning what
al-Tirmidhi said concerning Faa'id ibn 'Abd al-Rahmaan: Ahmadsaid he
is matrook (left, i.e., his hadeeth is not to be accepted), and Ibn
al-'Arabi described him as da'eef (weak).
And he said: You know what is said concerning this hadeeth. It is
better and more perfect and safer for you to make du'aa' to Allaah in
the depths of the night and between the adhaan and iqaamah and at the
end of every prayer before the tasleem; and on Fridays, for then there
are times when du'aa' is answered; and when breaking one's fast. For
your Lord says (interpretation of the meanings):
'Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask
Mefor anything] I will respond to your (invocation)'[Fussilat 40:60]
'And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer
them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the
invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any
mediator or intercessor)'[al-Baqarah 2:186]
'And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him
by them'[al-A'raaf 7:180]." al-Sunan wa'l-Mubtada'aat by al-Shuqayri,
p. 124