Mawlana Ibrar Shafi replies differently to question on Niqab: QUESTION: I live in the west and InshAllah I have the intention to wear the niqab soon, but I have read scholars discouraging women to wear niqab in the west. What is the correct opinion? ANSWER: In al-Durr al-Mukhtar it is stated: “A young woman is forbidden from revealing her face in the presence of (non-mahram) men.” [al-Durr al-Mukhtar vol 1 pg 406] May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala give tawfiq to the women of the Ahl al-Sunnah to act upon this ‘neglected’ wajib. Why would anyone discourage a Muslim woman from fulfilling a shar’i requirement? May Allah elevate the ranks of the likes of Sayyidi Mawlana Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri (hafizahullah) who has encouraged the women of the Ahl al-Sunnah to veil themselves eastwards and westwards. Supplicate to Allah for istiqamah and tread the path of the pious predecessors, may Allah give you success in both worlds. Allah knows best. Answered by Mawlana Ibrar Shafi http://www.seekerspath.co.uk/question-bank/women-issues/q-id0147-wearing-the-niqaab/
Under the topic Why were we created? (1:27:33), the Shaykh addresses the objection that some atheists will say "Why does this god of yours need worship?" Another point to add to the Shaykh's response: the question is flawed as god has no needs; if he had a need, he would not be god; therefore the atheists should revise their question to 'why has god willed for us to worship him?' (at which point it should hit the atheist that the god with needs he was imagining was false and that the true god has full power and authority over him, so who is he to question god?)
I think these topics could have been elaborated on a bit more by the Shaykh, a few more points could have been made.
Part 1 - Select topics Slavery 2:30 Jihad 14:43 Hudood punishments 27:34 Apostate law 43:40 Abandoning prayer 48:26 Blasphemy 49:40 Women's rights Inheritance 52:11 Hijab 55:12 Honour killings 57:28 Polygamy 58:13 Hazrat Aisha's (RA) marriage 1:01:44 Ways of reciting Qur'an 1:05:55 Ahl ul Dhimma - minorities in Muslim world 1:08:37 Part 2 - Questions which relate to theological or philosophical questions What if Islam does not reach a person? 1:12:34 Who is exempt from divine punishment? 1:15:25 You have a rational individual who chooses not to believe but when he is resurrected in the hereafter, in the afterlife, he observes the divine power of god...what if he chooses to believe then? Why is he eternally punished after this in hellfire? 1:17:20 Why is the punishment of hell eternal? 1:19:06 Do we have freedom of choice? 1:21:13 If God knows what we will do and where we will end up why does he not place us in hellfire in the first place? 1:23:20 Meaning of verse "You cannot will except what Allah has willed for you" 1:24:24 Why were some people chosen to be born in Muslim families and others chosen to be born in non-Muslim families? Does this not make the choice for some people for guidance easier and for some people difficult? 1:25:25 Why were we created? 1:27:33 Evolution 1:28:50 Finish of Part 2 1:33:00 Part 3 - Q&A Is it an obligation on every individual to apply sharia law? 1:33:26 Are there any countries today that correctly apply sharia law? 1:34:44 Mumtaz Qadri 1:36:18 Are there any books that Shaykh Asrar would recommend? 1:38:00 How does the big bang theory fit in with Islam? / Do we interpret the Qur'an in light of modern science? 1:38:33 Offensive jihad 1:41:10 Do we believe in gravity? 1:45:38 How as Muslims do we understand the suffering of children and the suffering of animals if the creator is merciful? 1:48:25 Is the niqab an obligation on Muslim women? 1:51:38 A person accepted Islam and after accepting Islam he wants to know if he can supplicate for his mother who passed away prior to accepting Islam 1:52:58 The truthfulness of the Qur'an 1:54:04 End of talk - closing du`aa 1:57:28
