Question:

As-Salamu `Alaykum. My parents have always told me that when someone is reading the Qur'an every one has to be on the same level. For example, if I am reading the Qur'an and I am sitting on the bed, but my sister is sitting on the floor, that is wrong. Either she has to come up to the bed, or I have to sit on the floor, but we both have to be sitting on the same level. Why is that?

Also take the next scenario: My brother is sitting in the next room and he is reading the Qur'an on the floor, but I am sitting on the bed, does the same rule apply, even though we are in separate rooms? Why or why not?

Anak-anak adalah amanah dari Allah SWT yang diberikan kepada kedua orang tua. Untuk itu para orang tua seyogyanya mengemban amanah ini dengan sebaik-baiknya. Salah satu langkah awal menjalankan amanah tersebut adalah dengan memberikan nama kepada anak.

Nama adalah doa dan harapan dari kedua orang tua kepada anaknya agar anaknya bisa menjadi seperti apa yang mereka doakan/harapkan. Jadi berikanlah nama-nama yang baik lagi bermakna kepada mereka. Selanjutnya dalam etika memberikan nama, tidak ada larangan dalam Islam memberikan nama kepada anak hanya dengan menggunakan bahasa arab saja dikarenakan Islam adalah agama yang universal. Namun sebaiknya memang berikan nama kepada anak yang menunjukkan identitas diri kita sebagai seorang Muslim.

Question:

Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. I am married and I am confused about something. Is the husband of my wife's sister a mahram (husband or close male relative forbidden in marriage) to my wife or a non-mahram? Can my wife talk to him alone in seclusion or must she cover her `awrah (parts of the body that must be covered) in front of him?

Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

Question:

As-Salaam `Alaykum. Dear scholars. Is it permissible to consider the DNA test as a legal proof to establish paternity and prove crimes such as Zina? Can the DNA be used as an independent proof? Can it be put in the same category of witnesses? Please answer my queries as this issue has triggered wide debate among our Muslim community.

Answer:

Wa`alaykum As-Salaam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Hidayah untuk memeluk agama Islam bisa datang kepada siapa saja jika Allah Swt. sudah menghendaki. Dalam e-book ini dikisahkan tentang seorang surat-menyurat seorang gadis muallaf yang berkat ketekunan, semangat dan hidayah Allah Swt. akhirnya memeluk agama Islam.

Maryam Jamilah atau yang dulunya bernama Maryam Marcus adalah seorang gadis yang berasal dari suatu keluarga Yahudi yang bermukim di New York, Amerika Serikat. Tentu saja perpindahan agamanya ke Islam membuatnya mengalami penderitaan yang berkepanjangan, hal ini dikarenakan oleh masyarakat New York yang mayoritas beragama Kristen dan keluarga Yahudinya yang membuang dan mengucilkan muslimah muallaf ini.

"How is it possible for one to love two (or more) people at the same time?". That's may be some people thought about polygamy. They doubt about the issue of polygamy in Islam. They believe the idea that God created one mate for each person, just as Adam had his Eve, and believe of true love or loyalty and love for one person.

"How can a husband love more than one wife while his heart has (or should have) room for only one?", some people claim of that. In fact, this claim may not be true, because when a parent, for example, has more than one child, does he or she love only the first child? The answer is "no." Parents do in fact love all of their children; so, such a parent does love the second child just as he or she loves the first one. Yes, a parent may love one of his or her children more than the others, but ultimately, this parent will always have a place in the heart for every one of his or her children.

In Muslim countries, celebrating the Prophet's birthday (maulid Nabi) is a routine event. The Prophet's birthday celebration (maulid Nabi) is usually filled with a narrative about the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and we got some great lessons from that event.

But how we suppose to do if we live in a non-Muslim country and want to introduce the Prophet, peace be upon him, and his message of mercy to the Muslims as well as non-Muslims?