Q&A SEMINAR WITH SH. SHAHNAWAZ
23 December 2009 13:17
STANMORE JAFFERY’S | Q&A SEMINAR WITH SH. SHAHNAWAZ
At the end of each calendar year, we all inevitably analyse the last 12 months of our lives. In a not dissimilar vein, the Day of Judgement will be a time when our entire lives are analysed. However, unlike annual accounting, the Day of Judgement will involve analysis of the most minute of details: our every action, our every thought: this was the basis of guest lecturer Sheikh Shahnawaz Mahdavi’s talks over the nights of Muharram. Therefore, the Question and Answer session with the Sheikh was a perfect opportunity for, as he put it, comprehension, clarification and dialogue on the events and happenings of Qiyamah.
The seminar was held following the main programme on the ninth night of Muharram. Sheikh Shahnawaz said that the topic in question, and particularly the ‘graphic detail’ with which he had articulated it, was required as a ‘jolt’ to ‘get us out of our slumber’, just as a paramedic resorts to a defibrillator when other attempts of resuscitation fail. And of course the discussion that followed proved revitalising.
Members from both the Ladies and Gents sides had the opportunity to put forward questions. A selection of the questions (and subsequent answers), which dealt with all manner of issues relating to the Day of Judgement and the hereafter, are detailed below.
Q: What happens to unbearded men, considering the punishment reserved for those women in hell who did not wear hijab?
A: Those who do sport beards qualify themselves for punishment from Allah. When it says in the Holy Quran, 2:255/256, ‘there is no compulsion in religion’, it relates to the idea that one cannot force religion onto another. However, once one accepts a religion, it is accepted in its totality: sporting a beard makes up a part of this.
It is the same as travelling to another country. It is not compulsory to travel to another country. However, once one is in that country, one must abide by and respect the rules of that country. While the first stage is wholly voluntary, the second is obligatory.
Q: Will one be together with their family on the Day of Judgement?
A: On the Day of Judgement, everyone will recognise another. However, a family will not necessarily be together. It is said, ‘No person shall bear the burden of someone else’, as illustrated by the story of Prophet Nuh (AS) and his rebellious son. A husband may be in heaven, his wife may be in hell – tradition states that they may even be able to see each other through a window.
Q: Is there any way to wipe off deeds previously accumulated, deeds archived by the ‘camera and microphone’ on all of us?
A: This question deals with Allah’s mercy. So great is Allah’s mercy is that if the general public knew of its magnitude it would be liable to fraud and deceit. Everything done by a human will be recorded. However, it is not necessarily the case that everything will be immediately recorded. The angel who records good deeds immediately writes it down. However, the angel who records bad deeds waits 7 hours – a window to allow for the wrongdoer to ask for forgiveness. Such is the bounty of Allah. However, if 7 hours passes, but later is remorseful, the bad deed will be wiped off. So great is Allah’s mercy, should one be truly remorseful, Allah will not only forgive the person, but will erase said bad act from the memory of the angel.
In the accounting of deeds, it is said that one good deed amounts to 10 hasana, while one bad deed is equivalent to one sin.
Q: Will a foetus/infant/one of retarded mental development/one not of the requisite mental capacity be questioned in the same way as another?
A: This question requires analysis into the question of what is the questionning? It is accounting in the form of ‘why did you do this?’ in crude terms. It is either a case of ‘why did you not do this wajib act?’ or ‘why did you commit this haram act?’
The pre:requisites to such questioning is that i) the person is of sound mind ii) the person is baligh and iii) the person can tell the difference between right and wrong. The grounds specified in the question are not of sound mind (nor baligh, in the case of infants), and so are not ‘held to account’.
Q: On the Day of Judgement, what form will we appear in?
A: Some, who commit certain bad acts will come in certain forms, such as animals, insects or with deformed bodies. For example, a person who thinks of himself highly, in a self:conceited arrogant manner, will appear as an ant.
Q: Are all movies haram?
A: It is not the case, as it sometimes perceived, that everything is haram and some things are halal. Rather, all things are halal, with some exceptions. Movies notwithstanding illicit content are halal.
Just as with a glass of water, which is normally halal, if one were to drop blood in it, it would become haram. In the same vein, there are three elements that make movies haram: music, dance sequences, and women dressed cladly and in a provocative manner. Notwithstanding these criteria, a movie is halal.
Q: Do we have free will in the hereafter?
A: We are not dictated actions. We have choice: we there is no compulsion to, for example, pray, fast etc. They remain a means of getting close to Allah, but by no means obligatory.
Our intellect not only remains: it grows. Veils blinding our perception are swept away, curtains are set:aside.
Q: What is the case with regards to forgiveness and repeating sins? What are the criteria for seeking forgiveness?
A: There are two types of sins: little sins and big sins.
For the big sins, deemed so great in the eyes’ of the creator, the sinner is promised the hell fire.
For the lesser sins, one may be punished in life, the grave or on the Day of Judgement. However, repetition may convert small sins into big sins (according to tradition). The greater the sin, the higher the threshold for forgiveness.
According to Imam Ali in Nahjul Balagha, there are several stages to getting ones misdemeanours pardoned:
1) Internal, sincere and profound remorse for the sin committed.
2) Ghusl of astagfar
3) Some things require action to get rid of the effects of the evil action. For example, to rid oneself of the sin of eating haram food, one is required to fast to be rid of the illicit food from the body.
4) Then, finally, the asking for forgiveness from Allah: if possible, tears of sadness on the prayer mat.
Q: Should one, say, backbite against someone, how does one go about gaining forgiveness?
A: Usually, it is only appropriate to ask the person in question for forgiveness. However, if there is fear from a serious fight or dispute arising should you go to that person, turn to Allah. This is supplemented by doing well to that person and forgiving them for any harm they may have done to you.
Q: Are thoughts punishable?
A: Yes and No. Some sins are ‘mental’ sins only: shirkh (rejection of Allah – blasphemy), riyah (doing deeds for the sake of others than Allah), fixation about members of the opposite sex who are not mahram. However, generally thoughts are not punishable unless they are acted out.
The questions and answers noted above represent but a cross:section of the dialogue at the seminar, which spanned almost two hours’ worth of insightful questions and Sheikh’s erudite answers. While it is of course impossible to illustrate the ambience and atmosphere of the occasion, it goes without saying it was a highly informative and indeed enjoyable seminar for all present. I would highly recommend that, in the future, as many attend such events as possible. Continued thanks must go to the Stanmore Jaffery’s team, the AV team and volunteers for running the seminar so smoothly, and, of course, to Sheikh himself, for giving up his time to aid us in our efforts to travel the sirat:al:mustaqeem.
29 December
Mohamedali Gokal
