01-20: Questions and Answers

1-What does it mean to draw close to Allah?

Drawing close to Allah means to enhance one's love, devotion, awe, and faith for Allah. There is no limit to how near one can draw to Allah. In the Hereafter, people will be repaid in proportion to their nearness to Him and, accordingly, will earn eternal life in Paradise. Therefore, every person should strive to make a sincere effort, as Allah proclaims. The Qur'an points out the believers' efforts in the following terms:

And among the desert Arabs there are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and regard what they give as something that will bring them nearer to Allah and to the prayers of the Messenger. It does indeed bring them near. Allah will admit them into His mercy. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat at-Tawba, 99)

As a result of such an effort, the love and devotion of people who have drawn closer to Allah become even more intensified. They start to feel a greater contentment in their hearts with our Lord, seek to avoid acting in a way that would not please Allah, and accordingly ward off evil. Their devotion to religion, as well as their eagerness and will to serve religion, grow stronger. The stronger their closeness to Allah, the greater their virtues.

2 -What should the believers' target be in terms of getting close to Allah?

In the verse "You who believe! Heed Allah, seek the means of drawing near to Him, and strive in His Way, so that hopefully you will be successful" (Surat al-Ma'ida, 35), Allah invites people to seek ways to get close to Him. Hence, the believers' most important target is to conform to what Allah invites people to and to strive to be His nearest servant. The believers take the Prophets as their models, for the Prophets' nearness to Allah comes from their sincerity, heedfulness, righteousness, and the strong awe and love that they feel for Him.

In the verse "So We forgave him for that, and he has nearness to Us and a good Homecoming" (Surah Sad, 25), Prophet Dawud's (as) nearness to Allah is given as a model for all believers. Anyone who takes the Prophets' virtuous character and sincerity as their model may hope to attain their closeness to Allah by being in awe of Him as Prophets are, accurately fulfilling the Qur'an's commands, and dedicating their lives to earning His good pleasure. It should also be noted that one can get closer to Allah in only a few seconds by even one sincere intention to do so, for Allah is close to all men and women and answers His servants' calls.

3- How should the believers show their respect for the Prophets?

As the verse "And Isma`il, al-Yasa`a, Yunus, and Lut. All of them We favored over all beings" (Surat al-An`am, 86) states, Prophets are those individuals whom Allah has chosen and favored over all human beings. Allah has granted them a special knowledge direct from Him, supported them with His angels, and promised them Paradise. Throughout the ages, they have been responsible for communicating Allah's religion, and thus have conveyed His revelation to people and invited them to live by the religion of truth. No matter what difficulties they encountered, they always were resolute and continued their struggle with eagerness and steadfastness. All believers are attached to the Prophets, who are chosen by Allah and who are known for their strong faith and good morals, with true respect and love. The Prophet Muhammad (saas), whose loyalty to Allah is praised in the Qur'an, is said to be "closer to the believers than their own selves." (Surat al-Ahzab, 6)

As a result, all believers have a great respect in their hearts for the Prophets and hold them in high esteem. The Qur'an instructs them to display this respect to His Messenger (saas) as follows:

So that you might all believe in Allah and His Messenger, and honor him and respect him, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening. (Surat al-Fath, 9)

Several verses in the Qur'an tell us how the Prophets should be respected in daily life. Some of them are given here: "not to wait where the Prophet lives while food is being cooked," "not to call out to the Prophet from outside his private quarters," "not to raise one's voice above the Prophet's voice," "not to be as loud when speaking to him as the believers are when speaking to one another," or "not to put oneself forward in front of the Messenger."

Along with those who lived at the time of the Prophet (saas), all believers who lived after him continue to have the same idea of respect in their hearts. As the verse "You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much" (Surat al-Ahzab, 21) reminds them, they try to express the deep respect they feel for our Prophet (saas) by taking him as their role models in all of their behavior and by honoring and praising him.

For the other Prophets, the Qur'an says:

Say, "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Ibrahim and Isma`il and Ishaq and Ya`qub and the Tribes, and what Musa and `Isa were given, and what all the Prophets were given by their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them. We are Muslims submitted to Him." (Surat al-Baqara, 136)

As we understand from the verses, we are expected to show the same respect to all Prophets. In another verse, Allah says:

You have an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people "We wash our hands of you and all that you worship apart from Allah, and we reject you. Between us and you there will be enmity and hatred for everunless and until you believe in Allah alone." Except for Ibrahim's words to his father: "I will ask forgiveness for you but Ihave no power to help you in any way against Allah." Our Lord, we have put our trust in You and have repented to You. You are our final destination. (Surat al-Mumtahana, 4)

4 -What does "revelation" mean?

Revelation is Allah's way of inspiring the person's heart with whatever information He wills to provide. Based on the Qur'an's examples, revelation may be given by means of angels, "from behind a veil," or be placed directly in the person's heart by Allah without any intermediaries. Allah explains this matter as follows:

It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him, except by inspiration or from behind a veil, or He sends a messenger who then reveals, with His permission, whatever He wills. He is indeed Most High, All-Wise. (Surat ash-Shura, 51)

Prophet Musa (as) is given as an example. The Qur'an relates that when he saw a fire, he went to find out more about it:

Then when he reached it, a voice called out: "Musa! I am your Lord. Take off your sandals. You are in the holy valley of Tuwa. I have chosen you, so listen well to what is revealed. I am Allah. There is no god but Me, so worship Me and establish prayer to remember Me."  (Surah Ta Ha, 11-14)

Another verse relates that the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saas) by means of Jibril:

It is nothing but Revelation revealed, taught to him [the Prophet] by one immensely strong, possessing power and splendor. He [Jibril] stood there stationary—there on the highest horizon. Then he drew near and hung suspended. He was two bow-lengths away or even closer. Then he revealed to Allah's servant what Allah revealed.  (Surat an-Najm, 5-10)

Allah's revelation may also come through an invisible voice, as was the case with Prophet Musa (as):

When Musa came to Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: "My Lord, show me Yourself so that I may look at You." He [Allah] said: "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, then you will see Me." But when His Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He crushed it flat and Musa fell unconscious to the ground. When he regained consciousness, he said: "Glory be to You! I repent to You and I am the first of the believers!" (Surat al-A`raf, 143)

Allah revealed the following to Maryam, the mother of Prophet `Isa (as), by means of a voice from under a stream:

A voice called out to her from under her: "Do not grieve. Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm toward you, and fresh, ripe dates will drop down on you. Eat and drink, and delight your eyes. If you should see anyone at all, just say: "I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful, and today I will not speak to any human being." (Surah Maryam, 24-26)

On the other hand, Prophet Musa's (as) mother was told something in her heart:

We revealed to Musa's mother: "Suckle him, and then when you fear for him, cast him into the sea. Do not fear or grieve, [for] We will return him to you and make him one of the Messengers." (Surat al-Qasas, 7)

5- Are our prayers for other people of any use?

In the verse "Your Lord says: 'Call on Me and I will answer you. Those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell abject'" (Surah Ghafir, 60), Allah invites all people to pray and says that He will answer their calls. Therefore, if someone prays for someone else, it will benefit them, if Allah wills. In another verse, Allah tells the Prophet (saas) to pray for other believers, as follows:

… Pray for them. Your prayers bring relief to them. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surat at-Tawba, 103) Each believer desires that all other believers earn Allah's good pleasure and Paradise, and has the same hope for himself or herself. Hence, they pray for their fellow believers at least as much as they do for themselves. Yet whether the prayer is accepted or not, and how it is answered, is completely in Allah's hands. If He wills, He answers that prayer in a different way for a certain purpose and a better cause.

6- What does "praying with hope and fear" mean?

Allah commands people to obey Him, to exhibit good behavior, to race each other to do good, and to perform good deeds in order to earn His good pleasure throughout their lives. However, no one is sure of entering Paradise due to their actions. Thus, no matter how strong their faith and devotion to Allah, they live every instant of their lives in hope and fear. Fearing the punishment of Hell, they ask for forgiveness for their mistakes. On the other hand, since they sincerely believe in Allah, they seek His forgiveness. They always have both the fear of entering Hell and the hope of entering Paradise, until the Day of Judgment, when they will be called to account.

The Qur'an relates that the Prophets prayed to Allah in hope and fear:

We responded to him and gave him Yahya, restoring for him his wife's fertility. They outdid one another in good actions, calling out to Us in hope and fear, and humbling themselves to Us. (Surat al-Anbiya, 90)

7 -For what did the Prophets and believers pray?

Allah sets no limits on prayer, invites believers to take refuge in Him, and tells them to ask for help in anything: "Call on Me and I will answer you" (Surah Ghafir, 60) The Qur'an gives some examples of these prayers, as follows:

-To guide them on the Straight Path, the Path of those whom Allah has blessed, and to separate them from the path of those with anger on them, and of the misguided.  (Surat al-Fatiha, 1-7)

-To make the place they live a place of safety  (Surat al-Baqara, 126)

-To provide the inhabitants of their city, who have faith in Allah and the Last Day, with crops. (Surat al-Baqara, 126)

-To make them Muslims submitted to Allah, and their descendants a Muslim community submitted to Allah.  (Surat al-Baqara, 128)

-To show them their rituals of worship.  (Surat al-Baqara, 128)

-To turn toward them. (Surat al-Baqara, 128)

-To raise up among them a Messenger to recite His Signs to them, teach them the Book and Wisdom, and purify them. (Surat al-Baqara, 129)

-To give them good both in the world and in the Hereafter.  (Surat al-Baqara, 201)

-To safeguard them from the punishment of the Fire.  (Surat al-Baqara, 201)

-To pour down steadfastness upon them, make their feet firm, and help them against the unbelievers.  (Surat al-Baqara, 250)

-Not to take them to task if they forget or make a mistake. (Surat al-Baqara, 286)

- Not to place on them a load like the one He placed on those before them, and not to place on them a load they do not have the strength to bear.  (Surat al-Baqara, 286)

-To pardon them, to forgive them, and to have mercy on them.  (Surat al-Baqara, 286)

-Not to make their hearts swerve after He has guided them, and to give them mercy. (Surah Al `Imran, 8-9)

-To forgive their wrong actions, to erase their bad actions. (Surah Al `Imran, 193)

-To give them what He promised them through His Messengers.  (Surah Al `Imran, 194)

- Not to disgrace them on the Day of Resurrection.  (Surat Al `Imran, 194)

-To judge between them and their people with truth. (Surat al-A`raf, 89)

-To take them back to Him as Muslims. (Surat al-A`raf, 126)

-To rescue them, by His mercy, from the unbelievers. (Surah Yunus, 86)

-To grant them supporting authority direct from His presence. (Surat al-Isra, 80)

-To make them people who keep up prayer and to accept their prayers. (Surah Ibrahim, 40)

-To forgive them and their parents on the Day of Judgment.  (Surah Ibrahim, 41)

-To expand their breasts and to make their task easy for them.  (Surat Ta Ha, 25-26)

-To safeguard them from the goadings of the devils. (Surat al-Mu'minun, 97-98)

-To make them a good example for those who do their duty.  (Surat al-Furqan, 74)

-To give them right judgment.  (Surat ash-Shu`ara, 83)

-To make them among the inheritors of the garden of delight, and not to disgrace them on the Day of Resurrection . (Surat ash-Shu`ara, 85, 87)

-To keep them thankful for the blessing He has bestowed on them and on their parents, and to keep them acting rightly and to admit them, by His mercy, among His righteous servants.  (Surat an-Naml, 19)

-To bestow good on them. (Surat al-Qasas, 24)

-To forgive them and their brothers (and sisters) who preceded them in faith and not to put any rancor in their hearts toward believers.  (Surat al-Hashr, 10)

-To give them a kingdom from His presence. (Surah Sad, 35)

-To give them decisive speech.  (Surah Ta Ha, 27-28)

8- Is it proper to refer to people as "the people of Paradise" or "the people of Hell" while still in this world?

Making such comments is improper, for only Allah knows who will enter Paradise and Hell. People will have such knowledge, if Allah wills, only in the Hereafter. The believers hope for Paradise, but they can never be sure whether they will enter it. Prophet Yusuf's (as) prayer that he be allowed to die as a Muslim is a good example of this:

... Originator of the heavens and Earth, You are my Friend in this world and the Next. So take me as a Muslim at my death and join me to the righteous.  (Surah Yusuf, 101)

9 -What does the phrase "leaders who summon to the Fire" mean?

Both the believers and the unbelievers have leaders. The believers' leaders invite them to live by the religion, perform good deeds, and exhibit good behavior. They inform them of Allah's existence and the good morals that they should have, describe how the religion's commands should be fulfilled, and enable them to improve themselves by showing them what they are doing wrong.

In the case of the unbelievers, we should not understand their "leaders" to be the community's leading people. People who do not believe in Allah, and reflect their unbelief in their way of thinking, behaving, and living, call others to the Fire, and so become leaders of unbelief. They do not direct people to believe in Allah; rather, they lead them away from belief in Him. They incite the people to follow Satan and their desires, instead of the Qur'an and their consciences. As a result, these leaders of unbelief draw their followers into the Fire and Allah's punishment:

... See the final fate of the wrongdoers! We made them leaders, summoning to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped. (Surat al-Qasas, 40- 41)

10- What does the Qur'an mean when it says that people's skin, ears, and eyes will bear witness against them on the Day of Judgment?

This statement means that all of the unbelievers' actions, even the ones that they thought no one knew about, will be revealed when their ears, eyes, and skins start to talk. Allah sees everything, whether hidden or open, but on that day He will make these people bear witness to their own crimes through a personal confession. This is a very easy matter for Him, for since He gave each person's tongue the gift of speech, He can surely bestow it upon each person's skin, eyes, and ears. This fact is related in the Qur'an, as follows:

On the Day We crowd the enemies of Allah into the Fire and they are driven in close-packed ranks, when they reach it, their hearing, sight, and skin will testify against them concerning what they did. They will ask their skins: "Why did you testify against us?" and they will reply: "Allah gave us speech, as He has given speech to everything. He created you in the first place, and you will be returned to Him. You did not think to shield yourselves from your hearing, sight, and skin testifying against you, and you thought that Allah would never know much of what you did." (Surah Fussilat,19-22)

11- What does the "Unseen" mean?

The "Unseen" is that of which we can have no knowledge, sight, or hearing unless Allah reveals part of this knowledge to us, for only He knows the Unseen. Only Allah is Transcendent, free from the limitations of time and space, and so only He has full knowledge of the past, the present, and the future. As the verse "Though you speak out loud, He knows your secrets and what is even more concealed" (Surah Ta Ha, 7) informs us, He is the One Who possesses the knowledge of the most concealed things, which we can never know. He knows what our hearts contain, what people conceal in their subconscious, and their most secret thoughts, which they do not share with anyone. The Qur'an relates that only Allah knows the Unseen:

The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and nothing moist or dry, which is not in a Clear Book.  (Surat al-An`am, 59)

12- Can anyone relate information about the future?

Knowledge of the future, whether close or remote, belongs only to Allah, the sole possessor of the knowledge of the Unseen. Thus, people cannot relate any information about the future. Allah, however, says in the Qur'an that He may provide some information about the future to His Messengers:

He is the Knower of the Unseen, and does not divulge His secrets to anyone—except a Messenger with whom He is well pleased, and then He posts sentinels before him and behind him.  (Surat al-Jinn, 26-27)

13- Is it proper to talk about the future in a definite manner?

No, for only Allah knows what will happen. Whatever one encounters in a week, a minute, or a second later occurs completely by His will. Thus, people cannot possibly make a definite plan even for the following day. Allah may redirect or even end the course of a person's life, send a serious accident or a fatal illness, destroy his or her city by means of an earthquake, or send some other unexpected events. As people cannot know their destiny, which Allah has predetermined, they have no guarantee that they will even be able to execute a given plan in the next second. Given that all events occur according to Allah's decree, the Qur'an advises people not to talk about anything so definitely, but rather to say: "If Allah wills," as follows:

Never say about anything: "I am doing that tomorrow," without adding: "If Allah wills." Remember your Lord when you forget, and say: "Hopefully my Lord will guide me to something closer to right guidance than this." (Surat al-Kahf, 23-24)

14- How should compliments and praises be proclaimed?

People are praised for their physical beauty or good morals, although the unique and real possessor of all of these admirable features is Allah. Hence, we present all of our compliments to Him, the only One Who creates and shapes everything in its perfect form. For example, if one's physical beauty is praised, we have to remember that Allah has given that beauty as a blessing. Wisdom, intelligence, and all other features are the blessings of Allah on that person. Therefore, all praises find their proper place only when they are made with the intention to praise Allah. The Qur'an proclaims that Allah is the true owner of everything that can be admired, as follows:

And say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has had no son and no partner in His Kingdom, and Who needs no one to protect Him out of weakness." Proclaim His Greatness repeatedly! (Surat al-Isra, 111)

For that reason, when praising a thing's or a person's beauty, we have to realize that Allah created it, that it belongs to Him, and that He may take that blessing back, if He wills to do so.

15- Does Allah accept the repentance of a dying person?

Allah reveals that He will accept repentance, but not at the time of death. Even so, every person has the chance to repent while still alive, for Allah sets no limits on what may be forgiven. Even the worst crimes or the most irreligious acts can be forgiven if the person's repentance is sincere, if he or she proves this sincerity by abandoning such activities and becoming a devoted servant of Allah, and if Allah wills to accept it. However, Allah says the following about those people who do not find it necessary to repent of a long life of unbelief and turn to Him until they find themselves on the point of death and the fear of death overtakes them:

There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say: "Now I repent," nor for people who die as unbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. (Surat an-Nisa, 18)

16- Can one seek forgiveness for another?

It is always possible for a person to ask that other believers be forgiven, regardless of what they have done. The Qur'an mentions that the believers pray to Allah for all believers to be forgiven and for mercy. Since they know that only those with whom Allah is well pleased will be safeguarded from Hell's punishment and will earn Paradise, they desire the wrongdoings of other believers, as well as their own, to be forgiven. Allah's command in this matter is expressed as follows:

Know then that there is no god except Allah, and ask forgiveness for your wrongdoing and for the men and women who believe. Allah knows both your activity and your repose. (Surah Muhammad, 19)

Until the end of their lives, the believers seek forgiveness for other believers. However, whether their prayers are accepted or not is completely within the authority of Allah. The Qur'an gives the following example of such a prayer:

Those who have come after them say: "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not put any rancor in our hearts toward those who believe. Our Lord, You are All-Gentle, Most Merciful." (Surat al-Hashr, 10)

17- Can anyone know when the Last Hour will come?

No, for such knowledge is unique to Allah. No person, unless Allah wills, can know when it will take place. All we know is that it is coming, for the Qur'an states:

People will ask you about the Last Hour. Say: "Only Allah has knowledge of it. What will make you understand? It may be that the Last Hour is very near."  (Surat al-Ahzab, 63)

18- Who are the people "with sickness in their hearts"?

This phrase is used in the Qur'an to designate those people whose faith is weak and who lack sincerity toward Allah, religion, and the believers. Their sickness is not physical; rather, it is spiritual. In other words, it indicates a problem with their degree of faith.

People who have a sickness in their hearts generally reveal their true nature through some behavioral deviations, some of which the Qur'an reveals: not remembering Allah, not living by the Qur'an's moral codes, not striving to serve religion, being unwilling and slow to perform prayers, being uncaring and cold toward the believers, being cowardly, and not paying meticulous attention to the limits set by Allah when they encounter a difficulty. Allah says that these signs can be perceived by those of His servants whom He wills to perceive such things:

Or did those with a sickness in their hearts imagine that Allah would not expose their malevolence? If We willed, We would show them to you and you would know them by their mark and their ambivalent speech. Allah knows your actions. (Surah Muhammad, 29-30)

19- What about being persistent in Allah's worship?

In the verse "He is Lord of the heavens and Earth and everything in between them, so worship Him and persevere in His worship. Do you know of any other with His Name?" (Surah Maryam, 65), Allah commands people to be persistent in their worship of Allah. All good deeds that are performed to earn His good pleasure will be paid in full in His sight. Nonetheless, Allah tells people to be resolute in this matter to point out that perseverance in worship is the real satisfactory objective:

Wealth and sons are the embellishments of the life of this world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions that are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (Surat al-Kahf, 46)

20 -How should one behave toward one's parents?

Allah commands people to show kindness to their parents. Speaking kind words, showing affection and respect, and being compassionate to one's parents is a requirement of the Qur'an's morals. Allah reminds people not to say even "Ugh" to their parents. Even if their parents do not share their children's belief and do not believe in Allah, the believers still maintain their compassionate and respectful manner toward them.

The fact that they do not follow their parents' advice when it conflicts with religion does not affect their idea of respect negatively in the least:

We have instructed man to honor his parents. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me something about which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. It is to Me that you will return, and I will inform you about the things that you did. (Surat al-`Ankabut, 8)

21-40: Questions and Answers

21 -Who is responsible for spreading the message of religion?

Enjoining right and forbidding wrong is everyone's responsibility, anybody who knows the truth is obliged to convey it to others. For that reason, conveying the message of religion and inviting people to believe in Allah is not restricted to Allah's Messengers; every person who believes in Allah must be engaged in this undertaking. Allah informs the believers that calling people to religion and showing them the right path is the way to endless salvation in the Hereafter:

Let there be a community among you who calls to the good, enjoins the right, and forbids the wrong. They are the ones who have success.  (Surah Al `Imran, 104)

22 -How does the Qur'an define wrongdoing?

The Qur'an classifies those people who refuse to worship Allah, despite being reminded by His signs, as "those who do wrong," as follows:

Who could do greater wrong than those who lie about Allah and deny the truth when it comes to them? Do the unbelievers not have a dwelling place in Hell? (Surat az-Zumar, 32)

Among the most significant signs of the erroneous path taken by these people is their inability to be grateful to Allah for His innumerable gifts and favors, as well as their lack of reflection on their weakness before His greatness. Besides drawing themselves to Hell by means of their erroneous character, they also call other people to the same evil conduct. Preventing others from living by the religion, they lead them to a great punishment both in this world and in the Hereafter. This is why Allah warns against following such people: "Do not rely on those who do wrong, thus causing the Fire to afflict you, for you have no protector besides Allah. Then you will not be helped." (Surah Hud, 113)

23- Is saying "I am a Muslim" sufficient to be considered one of the faithful?

No, because people are considered believers only if they verbally affirm their belief and then live according to it and call others to follow Allah's commands. According to the Qur'an, the believers have the following attributes:

They pay constant attention to living by the values of religion, sacrifice their personal benefits for the common benefits of religion, overcome the selfish passions of their own souls, pardon others, control their rage and are moderate in their behavior, sacrifice for others even when they are in need, spend their wealth in the way of Allah, are steadfast, convey the message of Islam to spread the religion, remember Allah constantly, perform the prayers meticulously, control their temper even when faced with injustice, are just, and who make sincere efforts in many other such matters.

None of these actions can be fulfilled only by speaking. In other words, it makes no sense to say: "I am doing my best" when no actual effort is being made, or to say: "I will spend my wealth when necessary" and then not doing so. Accordingly, even though saying "I am a Muslim" may be the first step in becoming one of the faithful, it will become true faith only when the person sincerely adheres to Allah's commands to the best of his or her ability. This is explained in the Qur'an, as follows:

Who could say anything better than someone who summons to Allah and acts rightly and says: "I am one of the Muslims"? (Surah Fussilat, 33)

24- How does the Qur'an explain that unbelievers are also under Allah's control?

All beings in the universe, whether living or nonliving, are under Allah's absolute control. Whether they are aware of it or not, the unbelievers are under His control at every instant of their lives, for as "... all things We created with predestination" (Surat al-Qamar, 49) reveals, only Allah has the power to determine the destiny of all beings. As He has predetermined their destinies, they live throughout their lives completely dependent on this destiny. Allah relates this fact in the following verse:

Is it other than the religion of Allah that you desire, when everything in the heavens and Earth, willingly or unwillingly, submits to Him, and to Him you will be returned?  (Surah Al `Imran, 83)

Given that Allah's existence surrounds the entire universe, He sees and hears the voice of every living being.

Everything, from the unbelievers' subconscious to a thought that crosses their mind, from a single spoken word to any act, is known to Allah at every instant. Therefore all people without exception live, always and everywhere, under His control and oversight. As the Qur'an states:

You do not engage in any matter, recite any part of the Qur'an, or do any action without Our witnessing you while you are occupied with it. Not even the smallest speck eludes your Lord, either on Earth or in Heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not in a Clear Book.  (Surah Yunus, 61)

25- How should we love Allah?

Love for Allah, a very deep-rooted affection, is a combination of various emotions. This love contains a feeling of submission to our Creator, Who is the Lord of infinite might, a strong trust in His infinite mercy, a respect for His infinite wisdom, and a great admiration for the infinite beauty He creates. Knowing that Allah is the Lord of all adds loyalty and devotion to this love. Those who are aware of all of these things become devoted to our Lord with a very intense love, which is utterly real and pure. The love that the believers feel for our Lord is expressed in the Qur'an, as follows:

Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe have a greater love for Allah. If only you could see those who do wrong at the time when they see the punishment, and that truly all strength belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment. (Surat al-Baqara, 165)

26 -What does "being mighty against the unbelievers" mean?

O You who believe. If any of you renounce your religion, Allah will bring forward a people whom He loves and who love Him, humble to the believers and powerful against the unbelievers, who strive in the Way of Allah and do not fear the blame of any censurer… (Surat al-Ma'ida, 54)

Allah commands the believers to conduct themselves according to the Qur'an's morals and, no matter what happens or how they are treated, always to be resolute in this respect. On the other hand, unbelievers exhibit some behaviors that are completely opposed to the believers' good morals. Upon encountering such behavior, the believers do not respond in the same way, but rather respond in a mighty and dignified manner and, by displaying their strong decisiveness, never neglect the Qur'an's morals. They respond to corrupt words with good words, arrogance with humility, injustice with justice, and mercilessness with mercy. They never consider it necessary to adopt attitudes resembling the attitudes of those who reject belief.

The Qur'an gives several examples of believers' maintaining their dignity toward the unbelievers, as follows:

Those who do not bear false witness and who, when they pass by worthless talk, pass by with dignity. (Surat al-Furqan, 72)

The servants of the All-Merciful are those who walk lightly on the land and who, when the ignorant speak to them, say: "Peace."  (Surat al-Furqan, 63)

27- Is the person who communicates the religion responsible for someone's decision to believe or not to believe?

No, because each person is responsible only for himself or herself. The believers are responsible only for conveying the message to others in the best way and to call them to believe in Allah. Nevertheless, the heart of the person to whom the religion is communicated is completely in Allah's hand. If it is that person's destiny to believe, Allah will give him or her the love of Islam and will settle faith in his or her heart. Accordingly, Allah states in the Qur'an that Muslims communicate the religion, but only He guides the person:

You cannot guide those you would like to, but Allah guides those whom He wills. He has best knowledge of the guided. (Surat al-Qasas, 56)

28- Can a Muslim live in isolation from other Muslims?

As long as they do not have sound reasons for being alone, Muslims should live with other Muslims in order to exhibit good morals, generosity, submissiveness to advice, humbleness, love, and loyalty.

The believers should be together, because they cannot be loyal to those who are irreligious, yield to the unbelievers' conduct, be submissive to unbelievers or remember Allah with unbelievers. Therefore, the believers must be with other believers in order to live the Qur'anic lifestyle.

Besides this, the believers have to spread the morals of Islam among people so that everyone can live by them, since this is one of the responsibilities that Allah has given to the believers. Such a responsibility requires that the believers support each other as much as possible, for Allah commands them to act "in ranks like well-built walls."(Surat as-Saff, 4)

In addition, the believers can be at ease only when they are with other believers who live by the Qur'an's morals. They find pleasure only in the friendship of people who have taken Allah as their Friend. They would like to see people with good morals, who are deeply devoted to Allah, and would wish to live in the world with people whom they desire to be with eternally in the Hereafter. Allah has related this command in the Qur'an, as follows:

Restrain yourself patiently with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance, who follows his own whims and desires, and whose life has transgressed all bounds.  (Surat al-Kahf, 28)

29 -Can one be happy without religion?

People who do not live by the religion cannot be happy, in the true sense of the word, for in order to be happy, first of all one's conscience needs to be at ease. In other words, nothing should cause them distress or confusion, or make them feel remorse. Ease of conscience can be attained only by living by the religion. One's conscience, which is under Allah's control, always commands a person to believe in Allah, to fulfill the religion's requirements, and to adhere to the Qur'an's values. For that reason, irreligious person, one who has struggled against this command of his or her conscience throughout his or her life, cannot be truly happy. Allah reveals that people can attain ease of heart and true peace only by having faith in Him:

Those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace. (Surat ar-Ra`d, 28)

30- Is everybody responsible for living by the religion?

Everybody, from the moment one gains consciousness to comprehend Allah's existence, is responsible for fulfilling His commands. Being sick or poor, very rich or very famous, or having a high rank does not hinder a person from living by the religion. No one can change the fact that people are created to serve Allah. The Qur'an informs us that only physically disabled people will not be held accountable for some of the religion's commands. Apart from this, every person is to worship Allah and fulfill His religion's commands. Allah states that the Qur'an is a binding duty upon humanity:

It [the Qur'an] is certainly a reminder to you and to your people, and you will be questioned. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 44)

31 -Can Isa' (as), Musa (as), and other Prophets be referred to as "Muslims"?

All Prophets, including `Isa (as), Musa (as), Sulayman (as), Ibrahim (as), Nuh (as), and Yusuf (as), are referred to in the Qur'an as "Muslims," because Allah's religion is one: Islam. The religion that has been taught since Prophet Adam (as) has always been the same. The essence of the Gospel of Prophet 'Isa (as), the Torah of Prophet Musa (as), and the Psalms of Prophet Dawud (as), before they were distorted, conveyed the message of this religion. For that reason, all of Allah's Prophets communicated and belonged to the religion of Allah—Islam—the religion of truth. This point is explained in the Qur'an, as follows:

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a man of pure natural belief—a Muslim. He was not one of the associaters.  (Surah Al `Imran, 67)

In another verse, Prophet Musa (as) referred to his followers as "Muslims":

Musa said: "My people. If you believe in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims." (Surah Yunus, 84)

Another verse informs us that the disciples of Prophet 'Isa (as) also referred to themselves as Muslims:

And when I inspired the Disciples to believe in Me and in My Messenger, they said: "We believe. Bear witness that we are Muslims." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 111)

32- What does "being pleased with Allah" mean?

This phrase means that people should be content with the destiny that Allah has predetermined for them and with what He gives them, both unconditionally and without any internal resistance. People may not realize the goodness in a given event at that very moment. But whether they realize it or not, they know that Allah wills goodness in a given event at that very moment and in every event. In fact, believers always have infinite trust in Allah in everything that befalls them. They never wonder whether that event will bring them good or bad; rather, they trust in Allah unceasingly and know that they will always find good.

One may become fatally sick, have a serious accident and become physically disabled, lose all of his or her wealth, be wronged by others, or encounter an utterly unexpected event. No matter what happens, one should know that all of these things take place under Allah's complete control, and therefore feel at peace. That person submits completely to Allah's wisdom and mercy and thanks Him, regardless of the circumstances in which they find themselves. This is the behavior exhibited by those who are pleased with Allah, about whom Allah states the following:

Allah will say: "This is the Day when the sincerity of the sincere will benefit them. They will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever and ever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the Great Victory."  (Surat al-Ma'ida, 119)

… Allah has inscribed faith upon such people's hearts, and will reinforce them with a Spirit from Him and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. Such people are the party of Allah. Truly it is the party of Allah who are successful.  (Surat al-Mujadala, 22)

33- Is it appropriate to believe in superstitions?

Superstitions are irrational and mistaken beliefs that spread among the people. Some people may become nervous due to their unfounded beliefs, such as believing that some beings bring bad luck. However, no one or thing can bring good or bad luck, for nothing in the universe comes into being by mere chance. Every person, plant, animal, or object has its own destiny. How long they will live, how their life will be, what they will look like, and everything else is already known in Allah' s sight, for not a leaf falls without Him knowing it.

Every event that has taken place since the creation of the universe, and that will take place in the future, occurs according to Allah's will. No person, animal, or object has the strength to change this destiny. If a person meets with an unexpected accident, this is due to his or her destiny, which was predetermined even before he or she was created. Achieving success, regaining one's health, or coming across something good is not due to good luck, but to Allah's favor:

The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and nothing moist or dry, which is not in a Clear Book.  (Surat al-An`am, 59)

34- Has the Qur'an been sent to all nations, regardless of time or location?

Yes, for the Qur'an's commands are for every person who lives until the Day of Resurrection. Those who lived 1,000 years ago and those who will live from now on will all be judged by the same book and the same commands. Entering a new century or changing technology or cities do not change humanity's responsibilities to Allah. Whether a person lives in the midst of a great desert or in an apartment in a skyscraper, he or she must pray and adhere to the Qur'an's values. Allah reveals that the Qur'an is sent to all beings and that all people will be judged from this book:

Blessed be He Who has sent down the Criterion (Furqan) to His servant, so that he can be a warner to all beings.  (Surat al-Furqan, 1)

35- Is it proper to complain about a disease, a disability, a physical defect, or poverty?

Such imperfections are specially created by Allah in order to make people grasp the temporary nature of this world's life and yearn for Paradise, so that they will strive to attain it. Hence, and in fact, these imperfections are blessings that Allah grants to His servants. For those who know how to take heed, situations that seem to be difficulties in the world turn out to be great blessings in respect to the eternal life. Allah promises Paradise to His servants who, when faced with the deficiencies and difficulties of this world's life, trust Allah and are steadfast in order to earn His good pleasure. Furthermore, Allah will remove all imperfections, both spiritual and physical, of those who attain Paradise and will create them in the most beautiful and eternal form.

That is why, when faced with any imperfection, one should remember this fact and utterly yield to Allah, the Lord of infinite wisdom. There is absolute goodness and great wisdom, unknown to any person, in the destiny that Allah has determined for them. It is incompatible with the Qur'an's morals to be displeased with and to complain of situations that people do not like, such as poverty, unattractiveness, or sickness. All men and women should be content with their destiny, for those who complain and are unhappy with a situation are, in fact, displeased with a good thing that Allah has willed for them. Such an attitude displays their ingratitude toward Allah, because He creates every incident in order to test people, and makes it a means for their eternal salvation. The ideal behavior that believers should exhibit is described in the Qur'an, as follows:

Say: "Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust."  (Surat at-Tawba, 51)

36- Will we see the Prophets on the Day of Judgment?

All people who have ever lived, including the Prophets, will be gathered on the Day of Judgment. Each Prophet will return to Allah to bear witness to his people. People will be judged in His presence for all of their actions in the world. Hence, it will be possible, by His will, to see Prophets Muhammad (saas), `Isa (as), Adam (as), Yusuf (as), and all of the other Prophets on that day. Allah relates this in the Qur'an, as follows:

And Earth will shine with the Pure Light of its Lord, the Book will be put in place, and the Prophets and witnesses will be brought. It will be decided between them with the truth, and they will not be wronged.  (Surat az-Zumar, 69)

37- Who will accompany the believers in Paradise?

In Paradise, all of the believers who have lived since the time of Prophet Adam (as) will be together. Among these people will be the Prophets, martyrs, and sincere believers who affirmed the Messengers and followed the path they showed. The glad tidings are given to the believers in the Qur'an, as follows:

Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the Prophets and the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent company such people are!  (Surat an-Nisa, 69)

38 -What is the place of "boasting of things that one has not done" in the Qur'an?

In the Qur'an, Allah advises humanity to be sincere in every deed and to seek only His good pleasure. On the other hand, any expectation of praise results from seeking the appreciation of other people and trying to please them. Those who have such a point of view attempt to boast about what they have and have not done. However, taking credit for what one has not done and using it to gain other people's esteem is simply lying to Allah, for He knows what each person has and has not done. The Qur'an condemns trying to profit from knowledge unknown to people, whereas Allah knows it, and boasting. Even though such people may seem to be gaining some benefit at that very moment, they are, in fact, losers, for Allah will hold them responsible for every word they utter and will certainly pay them their due in the Hereafter. Their situation is explained in the Qur'an, as follows:

Those who exult in what they have done and love to be praised for what they have not done should not suppose that they have escaped the punishment. They will have a painful punishment.  (Surah Al `Imran, 188)

39 -How should Muslims understand art?

Allah has created many beautiful things; art is the product of people's activities, those who take beauty as a model and imitate it. Given that art is a favor that Allah grants to humanity, it is part of human nature to appreciate aesthetics and beauty. The believers, especially, are people who can appreciate Allah's blessings, perceive the subtleties in them, and are broad-minded in terms of aesthetics. As a result, the pleasure they find in art multiplies.

The believers consider art as a gift of Paradise. The Qur'an relates that Paradise is furnished with unparalleled elegant art, which deeply impresses the soul.

In addition, it relates that Paradise contains gold-embroidered cushions, garments made of rich brocade, jewels, lofty chambers, green garments made of the finest silk, and thrones encrusted with gold and precious stones. All of this beauty, which Allah commends, are blessings for the believers in this world, too.

Besides these, the exquisiteness of Prophet Sulayman's (as) palace, as mentioned in the Qur'an, is noteworthy in terms of revealing the believers' understanding of art and aesthetics. Prophet Sulayman (as) decorated his palace with pools, large basins, and statues, and produced such excellent work of art that everyone was struck with admiration.

40 -What does "wisdom" mean?

Wisdom is the ability to determine what is right and most appropriate. All speech, decisions, and behavior of people of wisdom are wise and proper. They can explain a subject in the most correct, most concise, and wisest manner; can make the right diagnosis of an event, a person, or a behavior; react to events wisely; and can exhibit the finest behavior. Therefore, people of wisdom are also people of high intelligence.

One can have wisdom only through belief in Allah and following the Qur'an, for the Qur'an is the only source that teaches humanity the truth of events, good and wise behavior, thought, and speech.

Allah gives wisdom as a blessing to His sincere servants who turn to Him. The Qur'an points out that Allah grants this gift to whom He wills:

He gives wisdom to whoever He wills, and he who has been given wisdom has been given great good. But no one pays heed but people of intelligence.  (Surat al-Baqara, 269)