Q: In Surah Fatihah, I have been exposed to two variants of the word “Maalik”:
1. Meem-aleef laam kaaf: tanzil.net/#1:4
2. Meem laam kaaf: quran.com/1/4-14
Could you please give an authoritative, comprehensive explanation to this geared towards the layman - which includes possible associated translation issues?
Q: Is it necessary that a person reciting Qur'an with the mushaf should be on a higher level i.e. on a chair e.g. if someone is sitting on a chair, then the reciter of Qur'an with mushaf should also be on a chair or the one sitting on the chair near him should sit on the ground?
Q: Well we know that there is no whale beneath earth? Here is the explanation from تفسير Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn Abbas
And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya'; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called 'Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah's name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam.
Q: I was recently asked to join a group on whatsapp with 29 other people, where they would make a Quraan khatam every two weeks. Each person would be given a para to read within 2 weeks. Every two weeks a khatam would be made with the intention of each person getting reward.
Q: We are making khatamul Quraan every month in a group. Each person recites one juz, and the following month he will recite the next juz and so on. We do not consider it to be sunnah, rather we are doing it just to engage family and friends in reading Quraan. Is it permissible?
Q: I go to an Islamic school. Every year they have a mandatory Quran competition. I am a Hafiz and will very likely get nominated alhamdulilah. However, I know that I should not participate because there is a monetary prize for winning. What should I do in this situation?
Q: My question is that how far does Islam allow young girls committing Qur'an to memory read and memorize Qur'an during their menstrual days? Are they allowed to read one whole ayat or break it necessarily or do the way they do in their normal days as it is their everyday practice. Provide relevant details please.
Q: Kindly guide me if ayat 53 of surah 39 being read alone without combining with ayat 54 gives a wrong notion of unconditional forgiveness from Haq Ta'ala, which is actually not the case and reform towards right path and leaving of deliberate sinning is a must for expecting His forgiveness. When ayat 53 alone is recited or explained in public, it sort of copies other religions prevailing preaching that do what you may, God is merciful. Similarly our religion is being pushed into the same concept of continue living a life of sins but along with also pray and fast and do pilgrimages and everything will be forgiven.
Q: Recently few messages have been going around regarding Quran Khatam groups and its authentication, I would like to know if:
1. Is it permissible to join a quran khatam group?
2. Is it permissible to have time limits to complete the khatam?
3. Can you join the group with the intention of making sure that you are completing at least 1 para a week even if the group was created with the intention of esaale sawaab of marhoomeen?
Q: Is maqaamaat permissible to listen to?