Aqaaid

Q: Why Muslims believe in Sharia law? While the bible tells us only God has the power to punish not ourselves?

Q: I am a home schooling mother who really wants to learn as much as she can about Islam but due to my commitments I am not able to leave home to attend any lessons. I have recently come to know of a website called Islamic Online University which is run by Dr Bilal Philips which offers a range of Islamic courses. I would like to know if it will be permissible for me to study this way and through this institute as I am very worried about their aqeeda and if I will be learning the correct Islamic beliefs that I should have.

Q: What is the exact, complete, all-inclusive definition of bidat, please explain with current examples.

Q: I read in a kitaab that cobwebs breed poverty. I have since lost the kitaab in a fire at home and cannot remember the name of the kitaab. I want to know if this is true. Many friends and relatives of ours have cobwebs in their homes and businesses and don't remove them as per the story of our beloved Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).

Q: What is your opinion regarding the book Ar Raheeq Al Makhtum by Saifur rehman Al mubarakpuri?

Q: A Gair Muqallid told me that Taqleed is shirk. I asked him the reason for Taqleed being shirk. He told me that the Muqallids follow their Imam even if the Imam's view conflicts with Qur'an & Hadith. So Muqallids are Mushriq. Is the statement about Muqallids being mushrik given by him correct? Can you tell me some authentic reference to tell him that Taqleed is not shirk and give me some online sources links where I could gain knowledge about the topics of Taqleed, following only one imam etc?

Q: Concerning "the pen has been lifted and the ink has dried", what is this referring to? i.e. What aspects of destiny? I was of the opinion that dua can change destiny, but how does dua changing destiny fit into the qouted hadith?

I guess what i'm asking is:

1. What exactly has been written in ink? i.e. Is every action of every insaan written down?
2. Can dua change any of what has been written in ink?
3. If I make dua to change my destiny, is me making this dua written down? If so then is it not true that my dua hasnt really changed anything as it was already written that I would do this and my destiny would change? I just can't quite get my head around this, any light shed on the matter would be appreciated.

Q: Below are the Kitaabs that I make common use of. The list below is in the order in which I store them - one on top of the other.

Mufti Saheb, please advise if the order is fine owing to their respective importance.

From top to bottom:

1. Surah Ya-Sin Kitaab.
2. First five para’s of the Qur’an Shareef.
3. “Essential Duas In The Life Of A Muslim.”
4. “Duas for the contentment of the heart.”
5. “Taleemul Haq”

Q: I want to know whether the 73 sects are created today or not. Please tell the names of all the sects created today.

Q: Is it kufr to say that this medicine cures like acne as example. Like is it kufr to put your trust in that medicine? Before I read a fatwa of someone asking that question but they said its not, I don't really remember. But now I am hearing that Allah cures him not the medicine, so I am confused. So whenever I say this medicine has a cure for this, I think is the cure from Allah or Allah put the cure in the medicine. But I know if Allah wills he wouldn't let him be cured by that medicine. Did I commit kufr?