Fatwas Part One-Hundred-and-Twenty-One

Issued by: Dr. Ahmed Subhy Mansour, translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Getting the Entry Visa Is Impossible

Published in April 8, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, …  I desire to immigrate to the USA, and I feel afraid lest I fail in my endeavors; this fear began when I read your pondering of the Quranic verses 4:97-99. My wife does not approve of our leaving Egypt; shall I settle in the USA and leave her and our children?! How could I send money to them in that case? Could you (since you are an American citizen) help me get the entry visa? ....... What shall I do?! Could you help me in an way?!  … Thank you …    

Answer:

 We cannot help you; why are you assuming that we might have any measure of control over the U.S. embassy in Cairo, Egypt?! Of course, you can immigrate anywhere if you have the chance and you can settle the problem with your wife and children later on; yet, your chance of getting the entry visa to the USA is virtually zero. We have settled in the USA since Oct. 2001, and yet, we cannot bring in any members of our own family (and all of them are peaceful Quranists) to visit our person here in VA, let alone their settling here as refugees. Our own sister is very ill and she is over 60 years old; she desired to visit our person; she tried to get her entry visa from the U.S. embassy in Cairo and her request was refused several times, though we sent a letter telling the embassy that we promise to make her return to Egypt; we contacted persons we know within the U.S. Foreign Office; yet, our sister could not get her entry visa; this was four months ago. Let alone trying to help you (and we do not know you) get the entry visa! This is beyond our capacity; we cannot promise you anything. Under the Trump administration, the chances are nil that any immigration-seeking Egyptians would get an entry visa. Of course, God will not punish you since you cannot immigrate: "While the angels are removing the souls of those who have wronged themselves, they will say, "What was the matter with you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They will say, "Was God's earth not vast enough for you to emigrate in it?" These - their refuge is Hell. What a wretched retreat! Except for the weak among men, and women, and children who have no means to act, and no means to find a way out. These - God may well pardon them. God is Pardoning and Forgiving." (4:97-99).  

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About the Quranic Verse 4:91

Published in April 8, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Would you please explain the verse 4:91 to me? … Thank you …

Answer:

 The verse 4:91 is explained in the context of its previous verses; you should read 4:88-91 together, and the meaning will be clear in your mind. We have written before that this Quranic context is about hypocrites among Desert-Arabs and Bedouins who settled in Yathreb while feigning a conversion to Islam, but they were spies/agents serving the Meccan polytheists of the Qorayish tribe; they betrayed the early believers in times of self-defense battles. Please read our entire archive of writings before posing repeated questions.

 The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "What is the matter with you, divided into two factions regarding the hypocrites, when God Himself has overwhelmed them on account of what they did? Do you want to guide those whom God has led astray? Whomever God leads astray-you will never find for him a way. They would love to see you disbelieve, just as they disbelieve, so you would become equal. So do not befriend any of them, unless they emigrate in the way of God. If they turn away, seize them and execute them wherever you may find them; and do not take from among them allies or supporters. Except those who join people with whom you have a treaty, or those who come to you reluctant to fight you or fight their own people. Had God willed, He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. If they withdraw from you, and do not fight you, and offer you peace, then God assigns no excuse for you against them. You will find others who want security from you, and security from their own people. But whenever they are tempted into civil discord, they plunge into it. So if they do not withdraw from you, nor offer you peace, nor restrain their hands, seize them and execute them wherever you find them. Against these, We have given you clear authorization." (4:88-91).

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About the Quranic Verse 102:2

Published in April 8, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Abundance distracts you. Until you visit the tombs." (102:1-2); what is meant by visiting the tombs in 102:2? Does this verse refer to the polytheistic habit of deifying and worshiping at mausoleums of the so-called 'saints'? … Thank you …

Answer:

 No; this verse refers to death; the souls have their tombs in a Barsakh level within the earth and the bodies have their physical graveyards; death of souls is a (short visit) to the Barsakh realm of timelessness and senselessness; this is why upon the Day of the Resurrection, human souls will feel as if they (slept) for a day or part of a day. We refer you to our two books, in English, about death and Barsakh, respectively:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=120

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=138 

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About the Quranic Verse 33:27

Published in April 9, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Please write your ponderings about the Quranic verse 33:27 because the Sunnite Muhammadans misinterpret it to 'justify' the crimes of the Arab conquests of the sinful caliphs … Thank you …    

Answer:

 We have already written an article about this Quranic verse; here is the link of the English article:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=17664

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Prayers of the Lord God's Prophets/Messengers

Published in April 9, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, …  I've read your book about prayers and watched the videos about the same topic; yet, you have not explained how the Lord God's prophets/messengers prayed in all eras! Would please do so now! … Thank you …      

Answer:

 We have written/spoken about the fact that there are Quranic indications of the fact that one religion and one revelation were granted to all of the Lord God's messengers/prophets and this means the acts of worship are the same, including how to perform prayers. This is enough. No one has the right to talk about details never mentioned by the Lord God in the Quran; we cannot tackle aspects of the metaphysical realm of the past, known fully only to the Omniscient Lord God. 

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Abdel-Moneim!

Published in April 9, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Many men inside my village are called Abdel-Moneim; yet, the word (Moneim) is not part of the Quranic Holy Names/Epithets of the Lord God! What is your own view of this?! … Thank you …      

Answer:

 The name Abdel-Moneim in Arabic literally means (the servant of the Bountiful One); it is OK to name one's male child as Abdel-Moneim; it is also OK to refer to the Lord God as the Bountiful One, as we cannot count all the bounties He has granted to human beings, as per the Quranic Chapters 14 and 16. Of course, the Holy Names/Epithets of the Lord God are mentioned mainly in the Quranic Chapters 2, 3, 13, and 59. Of course, the greatest bounty from the Lord God is the Holy Quran itself. The Lord God is the One who have granted all bounties to human beings: "Whatever bounty you have is from God..." (16:53).

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About Mutual Consent

Published in April 12, 2019

Question:  … Dear Sir, … Whenever anyone asks you about banks and trade, you insist on emphasizing the idea of mutual consent; yet, you forget that illegal acts might include mutual consent such as gambling and selling hash and other harmful drugs! Mutual consent does not make such acts allowed, I suppose! ............ I do think that you should re-define mutual consent mentioned in this verse: "O you who believe! Do not consume each other's wealth illicitly, but trade by mutual consent..." (4:29) … Thank you …        

Answer:

 Thank you for your excellent question; of course, mutual consent is not something general that would apply to every case; for instance, it does not apply to committing sins such as fornication. Mutual consent is a must within legal things such as trade and marriage; it has nothing to do with sins like drinking wine and gambling.     

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About Rituals

Published in April 12, 2019

Question:  … Dear Sir, …  What is meant by (rituals) here: "So it is. Whoever venerates the rituals of God - it is from the piety of the hearts." (22:32)?… Thank you …      

Answer:

 They are acts of worship, commands, and prohibitions pertaining to pilgrimage; e.g., in the verses 22:32-36, 5:2, and 2:158. For more details, we refer you to our book, in English, about pilgrimage:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=90

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About the Quranic Verse 3:194

Published in April 12, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … What is meant by this supplication: "Our Lord, and give us what You have promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Surely You never break a promise." (3:194)? … Thank you …   

Answer:

 This is part of the supplication of believers with reason and understanding who reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (i.e., the universe): "In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding. Those who remember God while standing, and sitting, and on their sides; and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so protect us from the torment of the Fire." "Our Lord, whomever You commit to the Fire, You have disgraced. The unjust ones will have no helpers." "Our Lord, we have heard a caller calling to the faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and remit our misdeeds, and make us die in the company of the virtuous ones." "Our Lord, and give us what You have promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Surely You never break a promise."" (3:190-194). Of course, believers with understanding and reasoning minds know that all messengers/prophets of the Lord God have but one religion; i.e., Islam/monotheism, and that they conveyed the same message in different tongues/languages of their nations; they have received the same Divine Revelation which includes the promise of Paradise for those monotheistic believers who performed many good deeds.  

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About Shiite Imams

Published in April 13, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, …  The Shiites misinterpret some Quranic verses to support their erroneous view of 'holy' imams who are representatives of Allah on earth, such as these verses: "And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, "I am making you an imam/leader of humanity."..." (2:124); "And Abraham exhorted his sons, and Jacob, "O my sons, God has chosen this religion for you, so do not die unless you have submitted."" (2:132). How would you refute such a Shiite notion? … Thank you …     

Answer:

 Firstly, no religious legislations are to be inferred from the Quranic stories; secondly, the Shiite notion of deified imams contradicts the Quran which is the Lord God's Book whose ideas include never to deify mortals. Lastly, we must understand Quranic terminology from within the contexts of Quranic verses themselves. Shiites have distorted the Quranic term (imam) to accommodate their myths; likewise, the Sunnites have distorted the Quranic term (Sunna of Allah) to accommodate their own myths/hadiths; the Sufis have distorted the Quranic term (allies of God) to make it denote their so-called 'saints'. Please read more within our fatwas, books, and articles.

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About the Sufi Sheikh Ibn Araby

Published in April 13, 2019

Question: …  Dear Sir, … I am about to begin reading the interpretation of the Quran by the Sufi author Ibn Araby; what is your view of him? Have you any comments about his book(s)? Please tell me …  Thank you …        

Answer:

 It seems that you have no idea about our views on Sufism; please read our encyclopedia of Sufism and our book titled "The Religious Life of the Mameluke Egypt between Islam and Sufism"; we have mentioned some lines in this book and in our encyclopedia of Sufism about Ibn Araby. Of course, the Sufi religion has nothing to do with Islam; Ibn Araby was a disbeliever who hated the Quran and has expressed many blasphemous ideas in his books; he has insulted the Lord God and undermined the Quran through his writings.      

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Searching within Quranist Writings

Published in April 13, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir,  … If I desire to reach a certain article within your archive of Quranist writings, what am I supposed to do? … Thank you …

Answer:

 You can search within our archive of books, articles, and fatwas in Arabic, English, and French through these links within our website:

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/profile.php?main_id=1

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/show_books.php

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/show_bab.php?page_id=10

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/show_bab.php?page_id=11

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/show_bab.php?page_id=9

http://ahl-alquran.com/arabic/fatawa.php

http://ahl-alquran.com/English/profile.php?main_id=1

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By Land and by Sea

Published in April 14, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, …  The Quran mentions traveling by land and by sea: "We have honored the children of Adam, and carried them on land and sea, and provided them with good things, and greatly favored them over many of those We created." (17:70). Yet, the Quran never predicts traveling by air in planes, right?! What do you think? …  Thank you …

Answer:

 Traveling through the atmosphere is implied or mentioned implicitly when the Lord God mentions land and sea here: "It is He who transports you across land and sea. Until, when you are on ships, sailing in a favorable wind, and rejoicing in it, a raging wind arrives. The waves surge over them from every side, and they realize that they are besieged. Thereupon they pray to God, professing sincere devotion to Him: "If You save us from this, we will be among the thankful ones."" (10:22).

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The Holy Quran Is a Book of Guidance

Published in April 14, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir,  … Why does not the Quran contain predictions of natural disasters such as famines, earthquakes, floods as well as events of total destruction like WWI and WWII?! … Thank you …     

Answer:

 The Holy Quran is a Book of guidance and not about history of humanity or predictions; yet, it contains history of some destroyed nations and the divine laws which make any given nation, in any era, deserve to be destroyed. For more details, see our article and our book (in English), respectively, in the links below:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=16770

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=111 

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Battles of Muhammad as per the Holy Quran

Published in April 14, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir,  …  In your opinion, how many times did Prophet Muhammad fight? What are the names of such battles of self-defense? Are they mentioned in the Holy Quran? … Thank you … 

Answer:

 In the fake biography of Muhammad authored during the Abbasid Era by M. Ibn Ishaq, fictional battles are mentioned while real ones which are mentioned in the Quran are ignored and overlooked by Ibn Ishaq. The Quran is the only source of the true story of Muhammad. The battle of Badr is mentioned in 3:121-129, 8:1-19, 8:41-49, and 8:67-71. The battle of Uhud is mentioned in 3:139-58 and 3:165-175. The battle of the confederates or the trench is mentioned in 33:9-25. The battle of Hunayn is mentioned in 9:25-27. The battle known as Zat Al-Osra (i.e., the hour of difficulty) is mentioned in 9:41-49, 9:79-96, and 9:120-122. The skirmishes against the Qorayish tribe as it repelled early believers away from the Kaaba are mentioned in 48:10 and 48:18-27; the skirmishes against belligerent Bedouins and Desert-Arabs are mentioned in 4:88-91 and 9:123. The unnamed battles fought against the aggressors among the People of the Book near Yathreb are mentioned in 59:2-14, 33:26-27, 5:51-53, and 9:29. By the way, the Lord God mentions such battles to comment on them and to guide people so that moral lessons are drawn, and NOT in order to narrate detailed history or to amuse readers. The author Ibn Ishaq never mentioned how the Qorayish tribesmen and other Meccans rebelled against Muhammad who entered into Mecca shortly before his death, though this is mentioned in the very first verses of the Quranic Chapter 9. Likewise, Ibn Ishaq never mentions that the Quranic Chapter 110 means that Arabs embraced peace shortly before the death of Muhammad; he wrongly assumes that as if all men of Arabia converted en masse to Islam.     

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There Is No Contradiction

Published in April 15, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Do these three verses seem contradictory or not: "That Home of the Hereafter - We assign it for those who seek no superiority on earth, nor corruption. And the outcome is for the pious ones." (28:83); about Joseph: "He said, "Put me in charge of the storehouses of the earth; I am honest and knowledgeable."" (12:55); about Solomon: "He said, "My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom never to be attained by anyone after me..." (38:35)? What do you think? Any ideas? …  Thank you …    

Answer:

 There is no contradiction whatsoever. The Lord God has chosen certain men to convey His message; His prophets/messengers never sought superiority on earth and never committed any corruption; Joseph and Solomon were never corrupters or seekers of superiority; the essence of their message (which is the same one conveyed by all of the Lord God's prophets/messengers) is monotheism; this message includes the fact that superiority is confined to the Lord God. This is the message which has been conveyed by all of the Lord God's prophets/messengers from Adam to Muhammad, and they strove to spread it among their contemporaries.     

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About the Quranic Verse 7:31

Published in April 15, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … The Lord Allah says the following in the Quran: "O children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship..." (7:31). Yet, most human beings are not religious and it's very rare to see them within congregations inside houses of worship! Why is 7:31 addressed to all humanity and not to believers exclusively, then?! Any ideas?  … Thank you …    

Answer:

 Of course, the Quran addresses all humanity in all eras to urge them to become among pious ones; all people are free to (dis)obey and to (dis)believe; all of them will be judged and rewarded/punished in the Hereafter on the Last Day. We have discussed the verse 7:31 in our videos titled "Exposing Salafism" and in our previous fatwas and articles.

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The Human Mind & Prohibitions Mentioned in the Holy Quran

Published in April 15, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … The Lord God urges people in the Quran to use their minds and the faculty of reasoning and understanding; yet, you mention that lesbian sex and masturbation are prohibited in your own opinion though both practices are never mentioned in the Quran; yet, in other fatwas and articles of yours, you subscribed to the view that no one is to prohibit anything never mentioned as prohibited in the Quran! What are the boundaries or limits, then, between the human mind and prohibitions mentioned in the Holy Quran?! … Thank you …  

Answer:

 Apparently, you have not read our archive of articles; we have discussed this topic many times in our writings and our subtitled-into-English YouTube videos (https://www.youtube.com/user/ahlalquran1/featured). We say briefly here that there is a room in Quran-based societies to issue laws to prohibit harmful things but this must be done within the application of higher Quranic values of justice, mercy, facilitation, and human rights. Lesbianism and masturbation are prohibited but they are minor sins or mistakes and not grave/major sins; we infer this from the following two verses. This is among the features of the pious believers: "Those who safeguard their chastity."" (23:5); this is about prohibiting things/acts leading to immorality or promiscuity: "Say, "My Lord has forbidden immoralities - both open and secret - and sin..." (7:33).

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=17015

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=17003

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The Divine Revelation Granted to Moses

Published in April 16, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Have God talked to Moses directly or through an angel? Why have God refused to be seen by Moses in 7:143, then?! … Thank you …  

Answer:

 Of course, the Quran tells us that the Lord God spoke directly to Moses; the divine revelation had many ways and we cannot fully grasp or imagine such ways: "It is not for any human that God should speak to him, except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His permission whatever He wills..." (42:51); "We have inspired you, as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him. And We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon. And We gave David Zabur. Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about. And God spoke to Moses directly." (4:163-164); "God chooses messengers from among the angels, and from among the people..." (22:75); "Praise be to God, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Maker of the angels messengers with wings-double, triple, and quadruple. He adds to creation as He wills. God is Able to do all things." (35:1). If you refuse to believe in the Quranic facts, this is your own choice: you are free to (dis)believe in the Quran and to reject or to accept it. True monotheistic believers believe in the entirety of the Holy Quran and never seek to cast doubt on the absolute Quranic facts.

 No mortals will see God in this world and in the Hereafter; see our article in English on this link:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/English/show_article.php?main_id=16303

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Human Beings as Creators?

Published in April 16, 2019

Question: … Dear Sir, … Can we describe human beings as "creators"? Does the term (Creator) pertain only to the Lord God? … Thank you …        

Answer:

  Human beings can be described as creators of things; they use their minds and the things created by the Lord God to make new items. In contrast, the Lord God is the Creator and the Originator; He has created/originated things out of nothing. In six Quranic verses, the Lord God describes Himself as the Originator of the heavens and the earth (i.e., the universe). The Lord God, as per the Quran, is the Best of all creators; this implies that there are human beings who are creators of things; yet, human beings are never 'originators'. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "...Most Blessed is God, the Best of creators." (23:14); "Do you call on Baal, and forsake the Best of creators? God is your Lord, and the Lord of your ancestors."" (37:125-126). Of course, lies/myths/falsehoods are not created by the Lord God; rather, they are created/fabricated by people; Abraham said the following to his contemporaries who were polytheists: "You worship idols besides God, and you fabricate falsehoods. Those you worship, instead of God, cannot provide you with livelihood. So seek your livelihood from God, and worship Him, and thank Him. To Him you will be returned."" (29:17).