Acquiring Deeni Knowledge

Women going to the masjid to attend masjid programs

Q: I am a member of a Musjid committee. My question is about the ladies facility at the Musjid. 

Some committee members feel that we must invite the sisters to attend some Musjid programs, especially which take place on special occasions and in Ramadhaan, in the separate ladies facility at the Musjid. There is no intermingling in the Musjid. These programs may also include meals served to them. 

Other committee members are of the view that this must be avoided. 

Please advise which is the correct policy to adopt in this issue.

Listening to an orator who says that asking Nabi ﷺ at the Raudah Mubarakah to make dua for a person is incorrect

Q: There is an orator who has been recorded as saying that asking Nabi ﷺ at the Raudah Mubarakah to make Duaa for a person is far worse of an act compared to a person who did Zina with and impregnated his mother and thereafter killed her. Is it okay to listen to such a person's motivational lectures?

Learning and understanding the Quraan

Q: I know that being a Hafiz-e-Quran has virtues, and there is a sahih hadith that says their parents will be crowned on the day of judgement. There is also a weak hadith that mentions they will intercede for ten relatives on the Day of Qiyamah. Despite this hadith being weak, Ulama have said that a Hafiz-e-Quran still has virtues and might intercede and they will go to Jannatul Firdaus.

I want to do hifz because I want Jannatul Firdaus, but I am 26 and struggle to memorize things. It is also very challenging to do hifz in today's busy schedule, where we work 9 to 5 or run businesses, and also have to pray five times a day and give time to family. In this case, what if we don't do hifz but instead learn essential Quranic Arabic words and grammar to understand the Qur'an in Arabic, and study reliable tafsir under a scholar like Tafsir Ibn Kathir or Bayan ul Quran?

Who has more virtues: a Hafiz-e-Quran or a person who is a non aalim but understands the Qur'an, knows what is written in it, is familiar with the seerah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), and the stories of all the Prophets (qasas ul ambiyaa), and many other things? Can such a person who is not aalim and Hafiz but has the above mentioned knowledge go to Jannatul Firdaus and have virtues equal to a Hafiz-e-Quran or less or more?