Questions and Answers
The Light (Pakistan), 1st May 1922 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 10, pp. 2–3)
Question:
What and where are Heaven and Hell? — M. Muhy-ud-Din
Answer:
As already stated in a previous issue, Heaven and Hell are not the names of particular places. These words only represent the two states of the human soul: one of perfect happiness and enjoyment, and the other of affliction and distress.
Question:
What and where is Arash? — M. Muhy-ud-Din
Answer:
Arash means divine control over the universe. It is not a material thing.
Question:
Are there evil spirits in the world, and do they take the shape of a creature? — M. Muhy-ud-Din
Answer:
Bad men who make mischief and mislead others are evil spirits. They are spoken of as “devils” in the Holy Quran.
Question:
Why is it that music played on an instrument is prohibited? Where is the harm if my wife sings on a harmonium to please me? What does the Shariat say about gramophone or a military band? — Idris
Answer:
Music generally leads one to sensuality and indolence, and it is rather difficult to keep the mean in such matters. I do not think there is any harm in the occasional use of gramophone or in a military band.
Question:
Can the miracles of (1) the shadowlessness of the Holy Prophet’s sacred body, and (2) the splitting of the moon into two distinct parts be proved from the Holy Quran? — M.S.A. Khuraishi
Answer:
There is no mention in the Holy Quran of the Holy Prophet’s body being shadowless.
The splitting of the moon is, however, mentioned. But it may mean the breaking down of the power of the Arabs, as the moon was their national emblem.
Question:
What is the Islamic conception of Jinn? — Ghulam Safdar
Answer:
Literally, anything or being which is invisible to the human eye is called a jinn. In the Holy Quran the word is used for evil spirits, that is, for the beings that invite men to evil, as opposed to angels. It is also sometimes used to signify powerful leaders who do not mix with the people freely and thus keep themselves hidden from the popular eye.
Question:
What is the difference between Shias and Sunnis? Can they both attain salvation? — Ghulam Safdar
Answer:
The chief difference is this: Sunnis hold that Abu Bakr, Omar [Umar], Usman, and Ali were all true and “rightly directed” Caliphs of the Holy Prophet, while Shias think that the first three were not, and that Ali was the only rightful successor to the Prophet.
They can both attain to salvation, provided they do good deeds, as salvation depends upon actions.