Q. A friend of mine, who until recently was a Hindu, embraced Islam and began, with God’s help, to attend to all his religious duties. However, he just discovered that Islam forbids marriage with one’s niece. As he is already married to his niece, he is at a loss what to do, considering that he has young children. What is the status of his marriage? If he divorces his wife, it will certainly affect his relations with his present wife and children, as they will inevitably feel that Islam is responsible for the break-up of their family. Please comment.
S. Habibullah, Riyadh
A. This man has adopted Islam because he realized that it is the truth. When one adopts a new religion on the basis of conviction, he must abide by what that religion dictates. Such dictates are part of the truth he has come to accept. It is not possible for a person to accept a religion and then say that he wants one or two of its teachings modified in order to suit his circumstances. Some people made such requests to the Prophet, but he did not accept any such conditions. It was not for him to do so, because the religion of Islam is given to us by God, and no one can alter what God makes lawful or forbidden.
This man has recognized the truth of Islam and accepted it. He then discovered that his marriage cannot be accepted by Islam. No one can alter God’s prohibition of a marriage between a man and his niece. This is a permanent prohibition which will not be relaxed in any circumstances. Therefore, he has no way other than to abide by what God has ordered and to refrain from what He has prohibited. His marriage cannot continue, because it is invalid. He must divorce his wife.
Now, when this marriage is over, relations between the man and the woman may continue as one between uncle and niece. However, because of the marriage between them, they should not stay alone in any private situation. They may make any suitable arrangements so that their children are brought up normally, cared for by both their parents, but the separation must take place. There is no way out.
Free iftar in Ramadan
Q. Many mosques offer a free meal at the end of the day of fasting in Ramadan. Some of our friends are of the view that those of us who are able to look after themselves should not go and partake of such meals. They say that they are meant for those who cannot afford to have a decent meal at the end of their fasting day. Others say that such generous gifts are given to all people and there is no harm if those who are able to look after themselves partake of such free meals. Please comment.
M. Anvardeen, Riyadh
A. I understand the argument put forward by those who say that people who are able to look after themselves should not attend such donated iftar, or fast-ending meal. It is a question of leaving the donated food to people who are more deserving than they are. Yet the people who provide such free iftar simply seek their reward from God. The Prophet has explained that God grants a rich reward to anyone who gives a meal to a fasting person. He did not specify that such a person has to be poor or unable to find something to eat. It is simply the invitation and the hospitality one shows to a fasting friend or relative which earns the reward. The Prophet’s aim when he explained this was to encourage people to share their food with others on fasting days.
This increases their feeling of unity in worship. Hence, when you invite some relatives and friends to a fast-ending meal in your home, you do not merely receive their thanks and a warmer relationship with them. You also get a reward from God similar to their reward for fasting.
The people who donate money to provide such iftar service in mosques do so in order to earn such reward from God. This will be theirs regardless of the financial status of those who attend their invitation.
As to the question whether to attend such iftar or not when one is able to look after himself and his family, the answer is relative. If you live in a country where those who are in real poverty are numerous, then it is better not to go to such iftar, so as to give a chance to people who are poorer than you to benefit by it. On the other hand, if what is offered is plentiful and anyone who comes will be looked after and will have his meal, then there is no harm in attending.
Prizes in competitions
Q. Is it permissible to take part in competitions such as ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’, or the one that offers prizes that are placed behind closed doors? These are shown on television. There are prizes offered through a draw or scratch cards. What is the Islamic ruling on these?
Habeeb, Riyadh
A. Where a prize is offered through a challenge, or for a straightforward question and answer, and does not involve the payment of money by the participants, then it is permissible to take. Where it involves an element of gambling, it becomes forbidden.
If we now consider the types of game the reader mentions, I find no problem in most TV shows that offer prizes. If we take the examples mentioned, we find that ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ offers cash money for answering a number of questions, with the prize being doubled with the next question. There are two landmarks which ensure certain prizes. Should the competitor give a wrong answer, he loses some of the money already won. There is little that can be objected to in this sort of prize. Although the competitor is risking the loss of some of his winnings, should he or she give a wrong answer, if we look at the game as a whole, we can say that he started with nothing, and after the first five questions he is guaranteed a certain amount, and a higher amount after ten questions.
I do not know the other TV competition the reader mentions, but with scratch cards that are offered free, people are not putting in any money. It is a prize offered at random.
There is nothing in that. If you were to have to buy the scratch cards, even though they may be one riyal for a hundred, this makes it a lottery and lottery is forbidden. Prizes that are offered by way of promotion of certain types of merchandise, or winning customers for a shop, without deception or gambling, are acceptable.