Answers to Life's Questions

Islam is the religion of peace. It is also the religion that prohibits things you couldn't ever imagine. If in doubt as what to do, fear not! One website has a place where you can Ask the Imam any question about Islamic practice/law. You will receive a fatwa [Islamic religious ruling] by which to live. In case you didn't know, there is a law for everything in Islam.

For those unfamiliar with "Ask the Imam", some sample questions and answers are as follows:

Q: Is it ok for a Muslim to wear silk ties?
A: It is reprehensible for Muslims to wear any clothing that is associated with an un-Islamic culture.

Q: Is it very haram [sinful] to watch t.v and listen to music?
A: 1. According to Shariah, it is not permissible to watch TV due to the many un-Islamic issues in it.
2. It is also prohibited to listen to music.

Q: Is it allowed to obtain United States Citizenship so that travelling for deen [religion] becomes easier?
A: 1. If your intention is solely to facilitate easier travel, you are permitted to obtain US citizenship. Although the oath of allegiance is un-Islamic in nature, it will not be treated as an 'Islamic oath'. Therefore, you are not compelled to execute the oath.

Sounds to me like it's saying it's ok to lie (can a Muslim truly be trusted?). Interesting.

Q: Is It permissible to have relations with these slave-women without a formal marriage ceremony?
A: -It may, superficially, appear distasteful to copulate with a woman who is not a man's legal wife, but once Shariat makes something lawful, we have to accept it as lawful, whether it appeals to our taste, or not;
-This RIGHT OF OWNERSHIP was given to him by the “Ameerul-Mu'mineen” (Head of the Islamic state.) Due to this right of ownership, It became lawful for the owner of a slave girl to have intercourse with her.
-In short, permission to have intercourse with a slave woman was not something barbaric or uncivilised; on the contrary, it was almost as good as a marriage ceremony.

Get the picture? Here are a few random fatwas that you might not be familiar with:

-It is not permissible to have any premarital contact with one’s future spouse. That includes any form of expression of love.

-It is not permissible for men to wear titanium rings.

-The use of emotional signs, for example, smile [:-)], sad
[:-(], etc. in a cellphone falls in the category of animate pictures. It is prohibited to make use of such emotional signs in a cellphone.

-Yes, bright red and orange clothing are colours normally worn by women. It is undesirable for men to wear such colours.

-If a Muslim wears Nike shoes and garments, he/she will be committing a major sin.

No wonder they call us "infidels". Everything we do is a sin.

One young unmarried Muslim asked the Imam what to do about lustful thoughts when he looks at women. The Imam offers several suggestions, but this one is a real beaut:

3. Consider the reality of the woman at whom one is gazing. If she does not groom herself or apply perfume for one day, she will look dreadful and stink. For a number of days every month she has impurity pouring out of her. If one had to just go near such impurity, one will wish to flee. Imagine if she went to the toilet and forget to flush and, if you had to enter the toilet, will you still have the desire to gaze at her? If this woman does not have Deen [religion], then by raising her arms and exposing her unsightly armpits, she will give out the smell of a skunk. These are some thoughts (although undignified), will assist one in taming the evil desire to look at women.

Got a question? Ask the Imam.


UPDATE - I apologize for missing this one from Ayatollah Khomeni:

“There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."

And Islam is deadly serious.