Does the Soul Die?

Questions and answers from Madani Muzakarah

1. Does the soul die?

Question: Does a person’s soul also die at the time of death?

Answer: A person’s soul does not die at the time of death, rather it leaves the body. Death refers to the separation of the soul from the body. Believing that the soul dies is heresy.^[1]

2. A hen that utters the azan

Question: If a hen starts to utter the azan, can we eat its eggs and meat?

Answer: It is permissible to eat the eggs and meat of a hen that utters the azan. Some people consider such hens to be unlucky and slaughter them, whereas considering them to be ill-omened is superstition, and superstition is forbidden in shari’ah. Many such beliefs are widespread in society. For example, considering the month of Safar or any other specific date to be unlucky, considering it to be a sign of problems starting to occur if a cat crosses your path or one’s left eye twitches, are all superstitions. It is necessary to avoid this. To find out more about such misconceptions, refer to Maktaba-tul-Madina’s (Dawat-e-Islami’s publishing department) book entitled ‘Badshaguni’ consisting of 127 pages.^[2]

3. When should salaam be performed during a funeral prayer?

Question: During a funeral prayer, should salaam be performed when unfolding the hands, or can it be done with the hands remaining folded?

Answer: During a funeral prayer, salaam should be performed after the hands are unfolded.^[3]

4. Entering the masjid after eating pickle (achaar)

Question: Can an individual who performs wudu after eating pickle with its smell remaining in the mouth enter the Masjid?

Answer: It is not prohibited for there to be a pleasant smell in the masjid, rather it is a good thing. If pickles do indeed have a pleasant smell, then there is no problem in eating them and entering the masjid. However, pickles containing raw garlic or raw onions do not have a pleasant smell; they leave a bad smell in the mouth instead. One cannot enter the masjid in this state.^[4] An individual who has eaten pickle and wants to come to the masjid should decide for himself whether it has a good or bad smell.^[5]

5. Ruling on someone with vitiligo entering the masjid and leading the salah

Question: Can a person offer salah in the masjid if he has vitiligo skin, such that other people can see the white marks? Also, can such a person also lead salah?

Answer: In some instances, there are only white marks visible [on the body] which neither emit a bad smell, nor expel any substance. In this situation, there is no issue for such a person to enter the masjid; he can also lead the salah. However, as people normally distance themselves a little from such people, it is better to make someone else the imam instead. If any substance leaks out from the white marks or they emit a bad smell that causes people discomfort, then such a person is not allowed to enter the masjid. In fact, even if the masjid is empty, it will remain impermissible for such a person to enter, as the smell emitted will trouble the angels. ^[6]

6. How is it to refer to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as the servant of Allah Almighty?

Question: Can we refer to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as a servant of Allah Almighty?

Answer: The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a distinguished servant of Allah Almighty. Dr Iqbal states in his poem:

Abd deeghar abduhu cheezey dighar,

Een sarapa intizar aw muntazir^[7]

The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is indeed a servant of Allah Almighty, but not like normal people. Rather, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is ”عَبْدُہٗ“  , the distinguished servant of Allah Almighty. Therefore, there is no issue in referring to the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as the distinguished servant of Allah Almighty. ^[8]

7. Reciting یَا قَادِرُ when performing wudu at a basin

Question: When performing wudu at a basin in the bathroom, can یَا قَادِرُ be recited?

Answer: Nowadays, the homes of the wealthy are replete with luxuries and lavish decoration. Similarly, average people and those only poor by name also decorate their homes. However, there are not wudu facilities [in either]. Even only a few out of those affiliated with the religious environment of Dawat-e-Islami have a wudu facility in their homes. This is despite the fact people have been encouraged and advised to build a wudu facility in their home on countless occasions during the Madani Muzakarah. Maktaba-tul-Madina’s booklet entitled ‘Method of Wudu’ even includes a plan on how the wudu facility should be. Usually, wudu is performed in homes at a basin, and the basin is normally in the bathroom. Remember that if the basin is in a bathroom, then one cannot recite یَا قَادِرُ whilst making wudu or بِسْمِ اللہ prior to it. It is desirable (mustahab) to recite بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْم before wudu, and it is an emphasised sunnah (sunnah muakkadah) to say the name of Allah Almighty itself.^[9]  For this reason, it is not good if somebody does not recite this due to making wudu at a basin in the bathroom. If a habit is made to not recite it, a person will become sinful. In such case, it will become necessary to exit the bathroom in order to recite بِسْمِ اللہ.^[10]

8. How is it for an aunt and niece to be simultaneously married to the same man?

Question: Can an aunt and niece both simultaneously be married to the same man?

Answer: An aunt and niece cannot simultaneously be married to the same man. Likewise, a paternal aunt and paternal niece cannot be simultaneously kept under one nikah.^[11]