Q.1. It is said that we should not say assalamu alaikum to people who are doing their ablution, or eating, and if someone says salam to people in either state, that person should not reply. Is it correct? On the other hand, when we visit a graveyard or pass by it, we are recommended to say salam to the dead. How can they reply?
Q.2. A portion of land next to the graveyard in our town is made a car park, but people suggest that the area was formerly part of the graveyard. Could it be used for such a purpose?
A.1. If people are doing the ablution in a bathroom, then salam should not be addressed to them, because this word is also one of God's names. Hence, it should not be used in such places. If a person is performing the ablution by the side of a stream, or a pool, there is no harm in saying it to him. The same applies to replying to such a greeting. As for eating, people generally say: "no salam over food", but it appears that it is now misunderstood. Originally, this phrase is said by the people eating when someone passes by them and greets them. It means an invitation to him to join them for a meal. As for offering the salam greeting, there is no harm in that.
When we pass by a graveyard, we are recommended to say: "Assalamu alaikum, or peace be to you. This is the dwelling place of people who were believers." This is a greeting to the dead which is communicated to them by God. The angels reply to us on their behalf, even though we do not hear their reply.
A.2. It is agreed by scholars that a grave is the property of the deceased for as long as his remains are in it. If the deceased's flesh and bones have dissolved, the area of the grave could be used for any useful purpose. This means that if the area of the car park was used for burying the dead a long time ago, and no one was buried there for the last 20 years or so, its use as a car park is legitimate.
S. Akhtar, Jeddah
Numbers and Fortune
Q. A television channel in an Islamic country shows a program called Numerology, in which people from different countries tell about the adverse situations they go through and request to know what the future has in store for them. The host proudly tells them to change something in their names so that they would have a bright and prosperous future. Please comment.
S. Ahmad
A. It is in the nature of man that he would love to know what will happen to him in the next hour, tomorrow, next month, year and in the rest of his life. However, God has not given this knowledge to anyone. He describes Himself on several occasions in the Qur'an as the one who knows what is concealed, as well as what is apparent. This is of general import, including what is concealed by time, or within a person's mind or thoughts. One verse states: "No one in the heavens or the earth knows what is concealed except He."
This being the case, anyone who claims to know, or to be able to divine what may happen in the near or distant future cannot prove his claim. On the contrary, we can prove his claim false by reference to the Qur'anic text. Not only so, but such people are aware that they have no basis for their claims. Hence, they try to make it a little more convincing by resorting to certain tricks, or giving a false feeling. For example, the program you have described relies on convincing the viewers that numbers or letters of one's name have an effect on bringing him good or bad fortune. Others rely on similarly flimsy grounds, such as the rising stars at the time when a person is born. All that they come up with is nonsense, because neither numbers, nor stars have anything to do with what the future holds for us. It is God's will that influences that, and God's will is not subject to any influence other than what God decides.
Look at people who claim to be able to predict the future, and ask for money to part with such information. Had they been able to predict anything with any degree of accuracy, they could use that knowledge to enrich themselves without waiting for silly customers who trust them and give them money in return for information. Why don't they predict the winning lottery numbers, or the winning horse, or which company's shares will make large profits? The fact is that they are too wise to rely on their claims, knowing them to be false claims.
Because the temptation to trust such people is too strong, the Prophet warns us: "Whoever goes to a fortune teller for information disbelieves in what has been revealed to Muhammad." This means that going to such people is a very serious act of disobedience to God and His messenger. We must put any such thoughts out of our minds.
