Q. I am a 16-year old student who has been troubled by the need to reconcile what I am taught as Muslim and as a student. Islam says that Adam and Eve were the first creatures on Earth. What about dinosaurs, which lived on Earth long before the first man? Please comment.
(Name and address withheld)
A. Islam does not say anything about the history of life on Earth. It speaks about Adam being first placed in Heaven with his wife, Eve, or Hawwa, and then their fall to the Earth, which was ready to support human life. This means that Adam and Eve were the first human beings on Earth, but not necessarily the first creatures. Indeed, the reverse may be understood, because when they fell to the Earth they needed to have their means of sustenance, i.e. food and shelter. While they could have shelter in caves, food needed to be found, and this required animals to help in cultivating the Earth and provide meat.
On the other hand, you need to look at the fact that the Qur’an says that the heavens and the Earth were created by God in six days. Scholars agree that these are not six Earth days, of 24 hours each. The word “day” in this instance means, most probably, a stage of creation. This could refer to an age of those, which the Earth experienced in its history before the advent of man, such as the “Ice Age”. In other words, the Ice Age could be one of those six days of creating the universe. It could also be only a part of one day.
The dinosaurs lived on Earth before man, and there is enough geological evidence to support this. We have no problem in accepting that. It does not contradict the Islamic position that mankind started life on Earth with the fall of Adam and Eve from Heaven. We study science as Islam encourages us to do. There is no rigid dogma in Islam. Indeed there is no contradiction between science and Islamic teachings. All we need is to have an open mind and we will find that whatever is scientifically proven is acceptable in Islam. Should there appear to be a conflict, it is due to incomplete knowledge.
Grand Ablution for Women
Q. Which are the situations that make it compulsory for a woman to have the grand ablution, or ghusl?
I. Khan
A. The grand ablution, or ghusl, is a ritual of purification, which is required of men and women in certain situations to be able to pray. It involves washing one’s body in full, with water, once only. A dip in the sea, river or a swimming pool is sufficient to complete it. Taking a shower is perfectly adequate as well.
In women’s case, it is obligatory when the woman finishes her period and her discharge has stopped. The same applies to postnatal discharge. In both cases the woman is required to make sure that her bleeding has completely stopped before she performs the grand ablution. A third situation is sexual intercourse, involving at least partial penetration. Scholars speak of the two genitals meeting or being in contact at the right place, i.e. the opening of the female genital. In this case, grand ablution is required of both man and wife, even if no discharge takes place.
A question arises about the fluids a woman may discharge during foreplay. These require only the normal ablution, or wudhu. Even if foreplay leads to the woman having an orgasm, it still requires only the normal ablution. This is not the case for the man. A discharge of semen, due to arousal, requires grand ablution.
Restrictions on Marital Relations
Q. Could you please explain on which days physical relations between man and wife are forbidden?
S.Z. Hasan
A. A married couple are not allowed to have sexual intercourse when the woman is in her period, or during postnatal discharge. What is not allowed is the actual intercourse. The reader asks about physical relations, but it should be clear that physical relations are allowed during these restricted times as long as they remain short of sexual intercourse. Hugging, kissing, cuddling and foreplay are all allowed. The restriction is stated in the Qur’anic verse that says: “They ask you about menstruation. Say: ‘It is an unclean condition; so keep aloof from women during menstruation, and do not draw near to them until they are cleansed. When they have cleansed themselves, you may go in unto them in the proper way, as God has bidden you. God loves those who turn to Him in repentance, and He loves those who keep themselves pure’.’ (2: 222)
As for the permission of what is less than intercourse, this is derived from the Prophet’s own action. Lady Aishah, his wife, reports: “When I was in my period, the Prophet would tell me to wrap myself well, and we would have foreplay.” By wrapping herself well she meant that she tied her underwear well.
A different situation is that of fasting. Sex is not allowed between man and wife if either one of them is fasting. This prohibition applies during the hours when the fast is observed. Once it is over at sunset, the restriction is removed until the beginning of the next fasting day.
