Our Dialogue

Q. Shaitaan (Iblis) was thrown out by Almighty Allah on not obeying the orders. Thus Shaitaan is one entity, how can he be present at so many places at one given time to distort Muslim believers from doing their duties.


A. Adam was alone in the beginning and God created for him, his wife so that the human race could start and spread. Iblis is one person but being from Jinns, he may have his progeny. At which stage, Allah created his pair, is not known to us, as most other things about them are also unknown. We know that Iblis was the most learned and respectable of all Jinns before being expelled from the proximity of Allah. It does not necessarily mean that he was the lone person of his race when his expulsion came about. In one of the verses, where his non-compliance is described, it is at the same time stated that he was from among (the race of Jinn), which indicates that there may have been others of his race at that time also, though not necessarily in high heavens. The relevant verse is: “...they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns and he broke the Command of his Lord.” (18:50)


Shaitan was not to be physically present near a man to allure him. Being a person whose basic constituent of the body is heat energy instead of matter, he can penetrate and infiltrate from a
distance in different directions.


The Qur’an tells us that he misleads by sending thought waves (Waswasa).


Qur’an has used, the words ‘tribe of Shaitan, hosts of Shaitans, brothers of Shaitans and it informs us that the Shaitans are from both Jinns and humankind. See the verses 7:27, 26:95, 17:27, and 6:112 etc. So there are and have been innumerable number of devils from among Jinns and human beings from day one.


Besides the above, it is possible for a Shaitan from Jinns to tempt and mislead more than one person from human beings even if they are at different places. Shaitan has not to be physically present near a man to allure him. Being a person whose basic constituent of the body is heat energy instead of matter, he can penetrate and infiltrate from a distance in different directions. He did not allure Adam by physically sneaking into the heaven from where he had been expelled. There was no question of his approaching near a place where from none other than Allah had debarred him. He allured Adam and Hawwa by sending thought waves. “Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them bringing openly before their minds all their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said “Your Lord only forbade you this tree lest ye should become angels or such beings as live for ever.” (7:20). We have been warned thus:


“O ye children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you in the same manner as he got your parents out of the garden stripping them of their raiment to expose their shame: for he and his tribe watch you from a position where ye cannot see them: We made the devil the protecting friends of those without faith.” (7:27)

Q. After cutting our nails, how should we dispose the same? As we are residing in apartments, can we first put it in our dustbin and later throw it outside? Is it true that the nails should not be kept inside the house?


A. Life will be very difficult if we are required to refrain from what we cannot find in Qur’an and Hadith. The rule of Shariah is that everything is permitted which is not clearly prohibited. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: “Do not indulge in things which Allah has declared Haraam. And there are things regarding which He has intentionally kept silent. This silence is a blessing for you, so
do not argue therein.”


You can collect and throw nails in the dustbin until the dustbin is emptied outside. I have heard a Hadith from an Aalim (which I could not trace in any collection) that the Prophet (Pbuh) forbade cutting the nails after sun-set. May be it is because uncleanness is stuck to the nails and throwing them about the living place is against the nature and spirit of Islamic codes of cleanliness. He probably forbade to cut nails after day-light because then there were available only earthen lamps whose light was insufficient to see the tiny nails scattered all over the place. However, since we do know the exact wisdom behind the order, it is advised not to cut nails after daylight.

Q. Certain groups in my country say that one cannot be admitted to heaven unless he follows the guidance of a Pir who shows him the way, and plead with God to make such admittance possible.


A. A unique feature of the Islamic faith is that it has no clerical order, or priesthood. The relationship between every individual and God is direct, with no intermediary in between. The only intermediary was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who delivered God’s message to us complete. God has undertaken to preserve it intact, so that everyone may have direct access to it at all times. On the Day of Judgment we are held to account, but each will be on his or her own. No one will speak for anyone else. God says in the Qur’an: “Not one of all (the beings) that are in the heavens or on earth but shall appear before the Most Gracious as a servant. Indeed, He has full cognizance of them. He has kept a strict count of their numbers, and every one of them will appear before Him all alone on the Day of Judgment.” (19: 93-95)


I suppose this is very clear. There are numerous other verses that make absolutely clear that no relative, friend or tribe will avail any person anything on the Day of Judgment. Only their faith and actions will determine whether they will attain to a happy state or not. The only one who is allowed to intercede with God on behalf of his community will be Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). God will judge everyone according to what they have done in their time on earth. He bestows His grace on whomever He wills and punishes those who deserve punishment.


These are basic principles of the Islamic faith. The Qur’an is full of verses that confirm them, making clear that no intercession takes place except by God’s leave, and He does not give it except to the Prophet. Any different view is erroneous. So, where does the role of a Pir come in?


The answer is that it does not. Anyone who claims to have a role to ensure that people are saved from hell, or that they are assured of entry into heaven is a liar. He cannot be sure of his own position: How can he help others? Besides, what these people say implies that they themselves are certain of going to heaven. Where do they get such information from, when the Prophet says that he does not know what will happen to him? The fact is that such people gain a great deal from deluding people into thinking that they show them the path to attain God’s pleasure, and they want to enjoy these gains. Well they may enjoy their gains in this life, which is very short. On the Day of Judgement they will have to answer for their lies, and God knows what happens to them then.


The only way to ensure admittance to heaven on the Day of Judgment is by following the Prophet’s guidance, contained in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Scholars who explain these help us to know what God requires us to do and to practice it. But it is up to every one of us to act on that or not. The result depends on what we do, not on any liar or a Pir.

Q.1. A person is working in an entertainment company that provides all types of channels. He wants to leave his job as he considers it unacceptable from the Islamic point of view, but the company would not release him to a different employer. He is the only wage earner in his family, and if he leaves, both his parents and his own family would suffer. What is he to do?


Q.2. After the death of a relative, people organize some functions after 3 days and after 40 days, inviting relatives, neighbours and friends, and distributing food. Is this according to Sunnah or not?


A.1. As this person is the only wage earner in his family, he must not leave his job until he has secured an alternative. However, he must try his best to secure a different job that gives him satisfaction and a reasonable salary. He may try to speak to his employer and explain why he wants to leave, or he may get a prospective employer to take up his case with his present employer. If all routes are closed and he must remain with this company, then he should try to move to a job that does not involve anything forbidden. He should continue to try to move into something better and more acceptable from the Islamic point of view, praying to God to help him to find a more suitable job.


A.2. All these customs and traditions are cultural, not Islamic. This is why you do not find them practised in the same way in all Muslim countries. In Islam, death is considered the beginning of a new phase, not the end of all life. Therefore, our attitude should be one of total acceptance, as this is part of God’s will. We pray for the deceased, but the customs done by people on particular days and anniversaries are un-Islamic. A deceased person is no less in need of our prayers on the fourth, 12th or 50th day of his death than the third, 10th or 40th day. Nor do anniversaries signify anything from the Islamic point of view.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If you are put in a position of authority...fear God and act justly.”

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1046