Q.1. What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger?
Q.2. You said once that it is permissible to have a life insurance policy, but such a policy pays a person more than he pays into it, which I think is interest. Please clarify.
S. Akhtar, Jeddah
A.1. A messenger is a prophet who is given a message to deliver to his people, or to mankind, as in the case of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). A prophet may not have a message of his own, but rather he endorses the message of an earlier or contemporary messenger.
A.2. Life insurance policies pay on maturity more than the amount paid into them because the premiums paid by the insured are invested by the insurance company. Therefore, it is important to know in what ways the insurance company invests its customers’ money. If it invests them in usurious transactions, one should not take that policy. If it invests in commercial enterprises, this is perfectly legitimate.
To M.A.K.
You spoke about a man who, after traveling on home leave after more than three years, did something over his wife’s strong objections. You want to know what should he do to atone for this.
It is not permissible to have sexual intercourse when the woman is in menstruation, even in such a situation as the reader describes. Of course it is difficult for the young couple to resist the temptation when they have been separated for such a long time. Since the woman tried her best not to yield to her husband, she is not responsible for his action. As for him, he should genuinely repent, seek God’s forgiveness and resolve not to repeat his mistake. He should also give some charitable donation, or sadaqah.
Arab News Islam 30 December 2002