Q and A

A question and answer session with Shaykh Salim Ghisa.

Presenters: Zahid Maqbool, Sajid Iqbal

Guests:Shaykh Salim Ghisa

Broadcast Date: 28 August 2010
Duration: 2hr 20mins

A Question and answer session on Zakaah

Questions and answers session starts 20 minutes in.

Presenters: Zahid Maqbool, Sajid Iqbal

Guests: Shaykh Salim Ghisa

Broadcast Date: 21 August 2010
Duration: 2hr 3min

I pray but my mind wanders off to things like football, TV, work etc. So is there any point of praying then?

Prayer is judged based on action as this is what a person can control. Of course a person's mind should be focused on what they are doing especially when it is worship.

However, Allah is the most Merciful and is fully aware that Shaitaan will try and discourage you from praying and therefore he will use all types of distraction.

Therefore a person should stick to their actions as this means you are worshipping Allah even though your desires are telling you otherwise, and InshaAllah you will be rewarded for your patience.

Slowly, these distractions will start to go away and one will obtain satisfaction, so one must not give up.

A question and answer session on issues relating to Ramadan as asked by the listeners and answered by Imam Zahoor Chishti.

(Actual Q & A starts 14 minutes in)

Broadcast date: 12 August 2010
Duration: and is 1hr 30mins.

Presenters: Zahid Maqbool, Sajid Iqbal

Guest: Imam Zahoor Chishti

Shaykh Salim Ghisa answers ten questions on Ramadan and fasting in the latest issue of The Revival Magazine.

1. When I fast I just get headaches and feel really rough; I thought fasting was suppose to make me get closer to God?

Fasting is a virtue which in physical terms means abstaining from food, drink and conjugal relations. As Allah says in the Quran ‘Oh Believers fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become pious’ (Quran - 2,183)

Therefore fasting is an obligation and must be fulfilled. The physical effects may mean that you feel hungry, thirsty, tired or getting headaches etc.

Q. I have a room to pray at work but no particular Wudhu (ablution) facilities. I don't feel comfortable washing my feet in the sink or in the toilets at work because I look silly and plus my non-Muslim colleagues look at me funny and say its unhygienic, so what should I do?

A. In the name of Allah the most Beneficent and Merciful.

Q. If someone misses the Khutba, but makes the Jama'ah, is the Jummah prayer still valid or should the person then pray Dhuhr to make up?

A. In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful.

The Khutba is an obligation for the Jummah prayer to be valid. However, it is not an obligation for the person attending Jummah to have taken part in the Khutba.

Q. What is the ruling on reading Jummah when you're at work because depending on your job/employer it’s not always possible to read Jummah Salah in this country? So what should one do?

A. In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful.

Jummah prayer is only an obligation if it fits the following six qualifiers:

1. An Islamic State or ruler (sultan) has allowed the Jummah to be prayed.
2. It has to be a city or town where the Jummah is to be prayed (i.e. not a village).
3. It must be prayed during Dhuhr time on a Friday.
4. It must be prayed in congregation with a minimum of 1 Imam and 3 followers. (According to the Shafi'i Madhab it must be 40 followers as a minimum.)

A recording of The Revival's "Let's Talk Show" from 14 September 2008 where Shaykh Ibrahim Ossi Effa is bombarded with questions about Islam mainly on topics where there are misconceptions held either within the Muslim community or by Non Muslims.

Questions were asked and answered on many topics mainly focussing on:

1. The Qur'an
2. The Prophet
3. Violence and terrorism
4. Women's rights

A few other questions were sprinkled in for good measure.

From Muslimness:

Former Guantanamo guard Terry Holdrooks, now named Mustafa Abdullah answered questions put forward by Muslimness on Facebook and YouTube. Brother Mustafa gives his personal views on the media, the chosen title of his book 'Traitor?' living as a Muslim in America, the need for public Muslims taking a stance, his conversion and contemplating finding a 'partner in crime' - that is, marriage. Girls, get your headscarves on.

Does America need Islam? Why was the book title 'Traitor' chosen?

Why make a book about your conversion and experience?