Aqaaid

Dua paper falling on the floor

Q: I am a very doubtful person and in my kitchen I have printed a paper with the before and after food dua so my family and myself remember to read it. This morning when I went to go eat breakfast I was sitting at the table when my sister walked by and said the paper with the dua is on the floor near my seat so she picked it up and put it back on the wall. I didn't remember seeing the paper when I went to sit down so I don't think I stepped on it but now I can't stop thinking what if I did. It may have fallen after I sat down because i can't remember seeing it when I went to go sit down but I am a very doubtful person and now I don't know what to do? Will I be severely punished for my actions. I didn't mean for it to fall or not to pick it up or step on it. I'm not even sure if I did because I think it might have fallen after I sat down but now I can't stop thinking about it. What do I do? I am usually very careful with stuff that has Qur'an words on it to only touch when I am clean and now I don't know what to do? I keep doubting myself what if I stepped on it without noticing? What can I do now?

Moving into a new home

Q: I am moving into my new house which has just been renovated. I called a Shaikh for dua and food and I have also fed my immediate family members and neighbours on that day. Is this bid'at? I am a bit worried. I have been correcting my intention doing it to please Allah and not to please makhlooq. What should I do immediately after entering the home? Me and my wife were thinking of performing two rakaat of Salaah and making dua, then reciting Qur'an and making ta'leem of fazail. Can you please advise.

Adab and respect

Q: I want to ask regarding the adab of not calling a person's elders using the word 'you' , but rather repeating their title e.g. moulana

1) What are the origins of this and which kitaabs is this mentioned in?

2) In Arabic when addressing Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in madinah munawwarah, the word ka / you is used. Also when making dua to Allah Ta'ala both in English and Arabic, does this not then become much more disrespectful than using the same word you for some elder?

Discussing aspects about Islam with a non-Muslim

Q: One of my Muslim friends last time started a discussion about apostasy in Islam while there was a non-Muslim there. He sent me some Hadith which I want to share here and I need the exact context in which these hadiths came. He means that why if someone changes his religion from Muslim to some other religion he or she should be killed. He thinks its a cruel act. The Hadiths are:

Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." — Sahih al-Bukhari, 9:83:17

Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' — Sahih al-Bukhari, 4:52:260

A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism. Mu'adh bin Jabal came and saw the man with Abu Musa. Mu'adh asked, "What is wrong with this (man)?" Abu Musa replied, "He embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism." Mu'adh said, "I will not sit down unless you kill him (as it is) the verdict of Allah and His Apostle. — Sahih al-Bukhari, 9:89:271

Shirk

Q: There are many hadiths which speak about how the shirk that the Sahaba used to do before accepting Islam such as worshipping idols and their other sins have been forgiven once they accepted Islam and became Muslims. Obviously, anyone who was never a Muslim before will be forgiven no matter what did they did in the past once they become Muslims because they didn't know about Islam before. But are there any authentic hadiths which talk about a Muslim committing shirk and being forgiven by Allah even after being a Muslim. Are there any hadiths about a person who is a Muslim and leaves Islam by committing Shirk but Allah still forgives him. I don't think I came across any hadith that speaks about a Muslim being forgiven for shirk, only for non-muslims being forgiven for shirk once there Muslim. Can you give me an authentic hadith that say Allah forgives a Muslim who does shirk and also verses from the Quran if it says this? I'm specifically talking about a Muslim who does shirk and is forgiven, not a non-muslim who does shirk and is forgiven when he accepts Islam. Please give me any references that specifically says this.

Moulood

Q: My locality had a whole weekend (13-15/2/2015) program in celebration of the moulood of Rasulllah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). I am aware of the "over importance" given to this as it is considered an innovated matter in the religion but do you know why this weekend in particular? Also the speaker mentioned that he would rather want to be seen to support Hussain (Radiyallahu Anhu) than Yazid. Can you also explain/clarify if delaying the athaan and jamaat salaah for other religious activities like lectures and naats etc is permissible. Then the masjid was heavily "decorated" with banners and flowers. Is this permissible? The people are known as Sunnis. Please advise.