Our Dialogue

Q. What is the surest way to have our prayers answered and come true? There is something I have been praying for, as I need it urgently. I have made a pledge that if it comes true, I will fast in Makkah. I intend to do the Umrah and fast, but I heard that it is too tiring. Is it possible for me not to fast, and still have my prayer answered?

May I also ask what is the best way to protect ourselves from people’s envy?


A. God answers all prayers that are addressed to Him with sincerity and humility. He has promised this in the Qur’an, saying: “Your Lord says: Pray to Me, and I will answer you.” (40: 60) What we need to understand is that when we pray to Him, He is certain to answer us. God is always true to His promises.


Having said that, however, I need to explain an important point. We all know that our present life in this world is a test, and that the true life is that of the hereafter. The test could take the form of affliction, or going through very difficult times. It could also be a test with easy means and affluence. Therefore, conditions in this life must never be taken as indicating privilege if one is rich, or divine displeasure if one is afflicted.


Being human, however, we are often impatient. We want the best for ourselves and we want it now. But there is no way we can tell that what we think to be in our best interests at a certain point in time will not turn out to be to our disadvantage. Therefore, we must place our trust in God in all situations.


When we pray to Him for something, we must be certain that He will answer our prayers and that He will choose what He knows to be best for us.


This works in one of the three ways: 1) God grants us what we prayed for; or 2) He gives us something better in this life; or 3) He defers our prayer to be answered on the Day of Judgement. When we see what He gives us in place of what we prayed for, we would wish that He deferred all our prayers until then.


An important point to remember is that we must never hasten answering our prayers, nor despair of them not being answered. The Prophet (Pbuh) says: “Any servant of God will have his prayers answered unless he hastens their answer.” On the other hand, despairing of God’s mercy is tantamount to disbelief in Him. It must never be the state of a believer.


One way of such impatience or uncertainty about prayer is that people pledge to do certain acts of worship if a particular prayer is answered, or if a certain purpose they have is granted.


We must always remember that we offer God nothing by making such pledges. Hence, it is discouraged. We should only pray for what we need and trust on God that He will give us what we prayed for or something better. Having said that, I must make it clear that if one pledges something good, such as prayer, or fasting or doing the Umrah, one must fulfill his pledge.


There is no escaping that. It is a commitment he has made to God and he must fulfill it. On the other hand, someone may pledge something forbidden, as in the case of one who says, “If God grants me this I will get drunk”. In this case, he must not fulfill his pledge. If he does, he incurs a sin that leaves him liable to God’s punishment.


Envy is warded off by reading Surah 113, Al-Falaq, and praying God for protection. Reading any part of the Qur’an and following it with such a prayer also helps.

Q. I read in your column that reward for reading the Qur’an only applies to reading it in Arabic. Could you please explain your answer, and whether it means that we should not read the Qur’an in translation.


A. Reading the Qur’an earns a generous reward from God, because the Qur’an is His own word that admits no distortion, editing, change or modification. Therefore, reading it is an act of worship. Although each one of His words carries a meaning, putting the meaning in a different language is not the same. Anyone who fluently speaks more than one language is aware that words from two languages expressing the same action are not identical in sense and connotations. Therefore, when we read something in translation, we cannot say that it is identical to the original. The maximum that can be said for it is that it is an approximation of the original.


Because of the special style of the Qur’an, which is unlike any human form of literary expression, an accurate translation cannot be given. It is for this reason that competent translators have attempted to produce different versions of translating God’s Book. None of these translations can be considered a mirror image of the Arabic text revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At times translators make mistakes. Besides, no writer can maintain the same degree of excellence throughout his writing career. Every sentence and verse of the Qur’an is of superior literary merit. How can a human being achieve a similar excellence?


When we speak of the act of worship that is reading the Qur’an, we are referring to reading God’s word, as He revealed it to His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad. This means the Arabic text, not its translation. The Prophet says that for each letter of the Qur’an we read, we are credited with the reward of a good deed. This cannot apply to a translation. What this means is that if you want to read the Qur’an as an act of worship, you have to read it in Arabic. Even if you do not understand it, or you pronounce the words with a heavy accent, you will still be rewarded for your reading.


Reading a translation of the Qur’an in order to understand its meaning and know what God requires of us is a worthy act and will, God willing, be rewarded. The reward is commensurate with the effort, time and money a person puts into such a learning exercise. Yet it is not the same as reading the Qur’an in its original form.

These hearts are getting extremely rusty! The polish they need is the recitation of the Qur’an, the remembrance of death, and attendance at sessions of remembrance (dhikr).

Q. You mentioned earlier that it is permissible for a Muslim to eat the meat offered by Christians and Jews. May I ask about the meat bought in supermarkets in non-Muslim countries? This is different from that being offered, because we buy it for ourselves. My other question is about meat in secular countries where the majority of the population is either Christians or Jews, such as countries of Western Europe or America. Regulations in many of these countries require that the animal to be slaughtered should be first stunned by an electric shock.


A. This question comes up frequently, and people continue to ask about particular details of it, when they should accept the general principle and abide by it. When God gives us a concession, we should be grateful for it and implement it. He has made it lawful for us to eat of the meat slaughtered by the people of earlier revelations, i.e. the Jews and the Christians. We need not go further than that and question details. Had He wanted us to abide by certain rules, He would have made these very clear. He says in the Qur’an: “He has clearly spelled out to you what He has forbidden you (to eat) unless you are driven to do so by sheer necessity.” (6: 119) Therefore, we do not need to add anything to what God has spelled out. What He did not mention to be forbidden is lawful. With regard to the food of Christians and Jews, God says in the Qur’an: “The food of those who were given revelations is lawful to you, and your food is lawful to them.” (5: 5) This verse occurs within the context of the meat God has made forbidden to Muslims. So, it clearly points to the meat these people eat.


The verse does not specify any conditions for this food to be lawful to us. It is general in its import. Nor do we have any other Qur’anic verse or Hadith that restricts its application. Therefore, we take it as it is. Scholars say that it means that what Christians and Jews consider lawful in their religions is lawful also for us to eat, unless it is specifically forbidden in our faith. Pork, for example is specifically forbidden, but it is eaten by Christians. Therefore, it remains forbidden to us when offered by Christians. Sheep, goats, poultry, etc. are lawful to eat in our religion. They are also lawful when they are slaughtered by Christians and Jews. We do not need to apply any strict conditions to this concession.


To answer your points specifically, the meat you buy in a supermarket in Europe or America is lawful to eat. Even when stunning is applied, it remains lawful, because the stunning does not kill the animal. It only stuns it so as it would not feel the pain of slaughter, and it would not resist the slaughterer

Q. My parents want me to go back home, whereas, considering all my commitments, I feel I should continue to work here for another five years. Although they acknowledge the benefit of my stay here, particularly as I am looking after them, they feel that the sacrifice is high. Please advise.


A. This is more of a family question than a religious one. A man like yourself, with a family and children of your own, has to consider all his commitments before taking a decision as serious as leaving a well-paid job. Your parents are speaking from their own point of view, wanting you near them, which is perfectly understandable. They cannot impose on you a choice that might not be wise in your circumstances. You have to deal with this taking all factors into consideration.


Normally parents are very understanding and willing to sacrifice their own comfort for their children. Therefore, you need to have a very cordial discussion with your parents, stating your circumstances, and showing willingness to do what is best. Your father may be easier to persuade that continuing in your job is better for all concerned. If so, then let him undertake the responsibility of persuading your mother, or at least pacifying her. On the other hand, I advise you to perform the istikharah before taking any decision. This is a prayer seeking God’s guidance in making a decision regarding anything of which one is uncertain. When you have performed this prayer, you actually let God choose for you. The option that seems to be easier and readily available is the one you should follow.

Cultivation must be carried out in the heart. The seed is faith. The ground is ploughed and irrigated by good actions. If the heart contains tenderness, compassion and mercy, growth will take place within it, but if it is hard, coarse and rough, its soil will be salty, and saline soil does not produce crops.