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Subject: Ability to question

Author:
Shaheed

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Date Posted: 00:13:31 09/05/02 Thu
Author Host/IP: s1a-176.olypen.com/208.238.207.176

My question is kind of ironic. I would like to know what ability the Muslim has to question things concernig the religion. I have been Muslim for some seven years now. Before my reversion to Islam, I was Christian. The ideology in Christianity of not being able to question things, even the things you do not understand, is something that certainly repelled me, and many, from the religion. I have read time and time again in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed(saws), as well as the Qur'an, that it is highly recommended that the Muslim should "seek knowledge". To my understanding, and Allah knows best, the best way to learn something, or gain "knowledge", is to ask a question. I have come to understand that there is two extremes in the Muslim Umm'ah. One extreme is to question everything, even if you understand it, question it anyway. The other extreme is to question nothing. Even if you do not understand something, never question it. Some treat questions as though the Muslim asking the question has commited Shirk Al-Akbar. Where is the middle ground? Is it alright to question, and to get at the philosophy of why something is said in the Hadith and Qur'an? Where is the "line" for asking questions in Islam? Are there things we are not supposed to question? Thank you. Jazakallah Khair.

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[> Subject: Re: Ability to question

Author:
Moustafa Morsy
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Date Posted: 12:30:00 09/05/02 Thu
Author Host/IP: mt.24.171.69.29.charter-stl.com/24.171.69.29

Assalam Alikom.
Allah (S W T )says:{the meaning is [And We sent not before you (O Muhammad SAW) but men to whom We inspired, so ask the people of the Reminder [Scriptures ]if you do not know.21/7}

The general answer is that the Muslim believes that Allaah is All-Wise and All-Knowing, and He does not create anything in vain; all of His actions are based on Wisdom. If the wisdom behind any of His actions is hidden from the believer, then he should still adhere to this principle, and not think of his Lord in bad terms.
As example Allah says the Meaning):{ He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over (Istawaa) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty},and He says{
And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge)� [Qaaf 50:16] .So we should believe that Allah is above His throne but we can not ask how He is doing that because what we know about Allah is what He has mentioned in the Quran or in Al sunnah through the prophet (P B UP HIM),we did not know about the Essence of Allah,so we should not ask about His Essence.
Sometimes Allah mentions the wisdom behind some orders like when He says: O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, AlAns�b[], and AlAzl�m (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shait�n's (Satan) .
handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful[]. Shait�n (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of All�h and from As-Sal�t (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain? And obey All�h and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and beware (of even coming near to drinking or gambling or AlAns�b, or AlAzl�m, etc.) and fear All�h. Then if you turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger's duty to convey (the Message) in the clearest way.5/90-93,but another time we do not know the wisdom of some kind of worshipping,like why fajr prayer is 2 Rakaat while Zuhr prayer is 4 only,in this case we say Allah knows the wisdom,but still we can ask ,but if we answer we can not say this is the wisdom behind that but we should say: this is may be the wisdom,it is just our opinion.
Allah says:{ Say (O Muhammad SAW): "No wage do I ask of you for this (the Qur'�n), nor am I one of the Mutakallif�n (those who pretend and fabricate things which do not exist).38/86

Muslim has to believe that everything that Allaah does is good, and that there is no pure evil in what He creates. In everything that He creates there has to be some aspect of good, even if it is hidden from us, as is the case with the creation of Iblees, who is the head of evil. But there is wisdom and a purpose behind his creation, for Allaah tests His creatures by means of him, to distinguish the obedient from the disobedient, those who strive from those who are negligent, the people of Paradise from the people of Hell.
Another thing I like to say is this Aaya which is (He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.21/23.
Finally,you can ask about the wisdom behind any act in islam and the answer could be through mentioning the wisdom( based on Quran or Hadeeth),or the answer could be : I do not know,as Imam Malik said: who says I do not know ,he have answered ( the question).

Allah Knows Best.

Moustafa Morsy.