Questions and Answers
The Light (Pakistan), 1st August 1925 Issue (Vol. 4, No. 15, pp. 7–8)
Question:
In a Jumuah [Friday] prayer, would a muktadi [follower] follow the imam [leader] in reciting the Surah-i-Fatihah [Opening Chapter of the Holy Quran]? If not, why? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
Yes [the muktadi would follow the imam].
Question:
What is [the meaning of] mazhab? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
According to the Islamic conception of it, mazhab is the practical code of life aiming at complete evolution of human potentialities.
Question:
Does our religion command us to obey the sayings of the four Imams? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
No [our religion does not command us to obey the sayings of the four Imams]. Allah and His Apostle are enough for a Muslim. The opinions of the Imams may, however, be respected in the absence of any better solution of a knotty point.
Question:
What is the good of reading the Holy Quran daily for a person who does not know the Arabic language? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
He preserves the familiarity of the Word of God, and excites the curiosity of the coming generations to know what is in the book. Curiosity is the first step to acquisition of knowledge. Thus he who reads the Quran without knowing the Arabic language unwittingly does a service to Islam.
Question:
Does Quran permit smoking? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
The Quran permits the use of
“the lawful and good things of the earth.”
It has enumerated what is unlawful. All else is
“lawful.”
As to what is
“good,”
it has left the matter entirely on the choice and taste of individuals. Personally, we don’t like smoking.
Question:
Is one allowed to perform a short prayer when the Imam is reading the khutbah (sermon) before the Jumuah prayer? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
We think, not. It is a disturbance to the congregation, as well as bad taste.
Question:
Some people are of opinion that if a person does not follow a preceptor (pir) his prayer and devotion will be of no avail to him. How far is it true? — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
It is not true. Islam does not countenance priest craft. It is a trick to earn money dishonestly.
Question:
Is it true that the great library of Alexandria was burnt by the order of Caliph Omar [Umar]? If not, give sufficient statements on its behalf. — M. Rahman, Dacca
Answer:
No. The library in question was not in existence very long before the great Omar [Umar] succeeded to the Caliphate. Consult Gibbon, Dr [John William] Draper’s [History of the] Conflict between Religion and Science, and other books of modern research in history. Rasail-i-Shibli [by Allama Shibli Nomani], and Zafar Ali’s translation of Draper’s book, known as Marka-i-Mazhab-o-Science, will also do.
Question:
The Mullah [cleric] says Islam allows no liberty of conscience. Does it not prove that Islam was preached by the sword? — Abdul Majid, Dacca
Answer:
When you have an easy access to the Quran itself, which is the basis of Islam, why do you allow yourself to be duped by the Mullah? The pages of the Holy Book are replete with expressions such as:
“Why don’t you consider”;
“Why don’t you think over”;
and
“Why don’t you meditate.”
If no liberty of conscience were allowed, as your Mullah would ask you take, these expressions would be redundant. In fact, your Mullah tells a brazen lie. Hence your question does not arise.
Question:
The clergy says that the Bible contains the teachings of Moses and Jesus. Is it true? — Abdul Majid, Dacca
Answer:
Partially.
Question:
Has our Holy Prophet [Muhammad (pbuh)] done any miracles? — Abdul Majid, Dacca
Answer:
Yes. The revolution he wrought is admitted on all hands to be miraculous.
What other miracles would you have?
Question:
Is it true what Rev. C. G. Founder says in his book Miyar-ul-Haq that Muslims are forbidden to touch wine in this world but in Paradise they are promised tanksful of it, and beautiful young women besides? — Abdul Majid, Dacca
Answer:
The Christian mentality can conceive nothing except things material. Jesus called himself son of the Lord in metaphor. They took him literally and made a god of him. Similarly, they take the parables of the Quran too literally and weave webs of lies around them. Do not take the Quran on trust. Try and read it yourself with the assistance of a good translation. It has answered all your questions already.
Question:
Is it stated in 4:3–4 of the Quran that Muslims are allowed to keep concubines and marry as many women as they like? — Abdul Majid, Dacca
Answer:
The verse referred to is translated in [Maulana] Muhammad Ali’s English Commentary of the Holy Quran, thus:
“And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them) then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper that you may not deviate from the right course.”
You will observe that the verse occurs just at the start of Chapter 4. Chapter 3 ends with a mention of the battle of Uhud, in which the infant Muslim commonwealth had lost a large number of family men and consequently there were orphans and widows whose helpless condition was engaging the attention and exciting the pity of the survivors. Provisions were to be made for them. Chapter 4 deals with them, and is named for that very reason The Woman.
The particular verse under reference treats the sub-heading “orphans.” So you will see that the verse is pre-eminently a measure to mitigate the post-war evils threatening the peace of the community and does not sanction plural wives wholesale. Secondly, the sanction is accorded with a limitation:
“if you fear that”
you will not
“do justice then only one.”
Thirdly, it is meant to prevent from
“deviation from the right course.”
Under these circumstances and with these limitations no right-minded person except a Christian missionary whose prejudices never permit him to take a correct view of things would take this verse to be a license to
“marry as many women as they like.”
As to concubines, the word اَوْ [“aw”] clearly indicates that what follows is nothing but an alternative to be availed of under the same circumstances and the same limitations.