all the best,
Usama Mazhar

Just to add a little to the topic.

(Despite being a Muslim and being a bit shy to comment about the scientific basis and understanding of the universe, as we always tend to leave all the pros and cons of the study of different models of the Universe to “them” (The West), still I would dare to write a few lines.)

1. The Big-Bang model of the Universe and Second Law of Thermodynamics are very well established and time tested concepts and augment each other. In fact they are the two faces of the same coin, joined together by the concept of the arrow of time. They both point towards one fact…that the Universe is not there from eternity but from a finite time and had a definite beginning. The Second Law is in fact so profound that Sir Arthur Eddington had to say:

“The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of Nature. If someone points out to you that your pet theory of the universe is in disagreement with Maxwell’s equations — then so much the worse for Maxwell’s equations. If it is found to be contradicted by observation — well, these experimentalists do bungle things sometimes. But if your theory is found to be against the second law of thermodynamics I can give you no hope; there is nothing for it but to collapse in deepest humiliation.”

2. There are many who find it difficult to gulp the concept of absolute nothingness before Universe…nothing…not even space and time, as they are also the essential components of the created Universe along with matter and energy. These people make desperate attempts to take refuge under extremely fancy theories of the Universe like String Theory, Multi-Verse, Brane Cosmology, and similar others. Despite the fact that Big Bang Model of the Universe and the Second Law of Thermodynamics have been very well established and repeatedly verifiable, this is extreme arrogance and ignorance of the “enlightened scientific community” to talk of alternate concepts of the creation of the Universe…all this…to avoid one thing…the acceptance of the fact that the Universe with all its infinitely complex yet ultimately perfect laws were actually created and did not exist from eternity.
What more can be the scientific and reasonable proof of the existence of a creator than the Big Bang theory coupled with the Second Law?

after reading the above articles and comments i’d like to make a small request to all of who are reading. its not bad while presenting one’s own reasoning because its in the Quran where reasoning and arguing with proper knowledge has been made halal but we have to remember that we have to have respect to opponent unless problem of “ego” may create problem. and there’s nothing harm in accepting one’s own mistake. Rather Allah dislikes those people who intentionally present false argument in order to support their own misconception. for example calling rib’a as an investment.

coming to the point of different madhhab, i used to consider myself as a hanafi. but since reading the quran where it is mentioned that creating sects is haram, i started looking for authentic hadith where i found the final solution mashallah.

i’d like to present a simple logic. albert einstein was a genius and there’s no doubt about that. but do u think he was right about everything he stated. if he is compared to a modern scientist regardless of the difference of era, anyone can conclude that the modern scientist is more knowledgeable than einstein. but is this logical to compare person with more information available with a person who with less information. answer is “NO”. einstein gave his theories according the information available to him. but the availability of information regarding science is great in modern age compared to the age of einstein. the bottom line is that although we don’t doubt that albert einstein was a genius but neither we follow his false theories rather we approve the information which is fact.

in the same way we respect all the imams but we have to understand that at their age only the quran was compiled not the hadiths. so, it could be possible that the da’eef (weak) hadith reached abu hanifa (ra) and not the sahih hadith. he commented his fatwa concerning his own understanding with the available information he had. he also ordered people not to follow him without having proper knowledge about the source of his fatwa. moreover he and all the other imams stated that if any of his fatwa contradicts with the quran or sahih hadith throw out his fatwa and accept what rasulallah (saw) said.

prophet (saw) said that, whoever obeys him obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys him disobeys Allah. so, i’d like to request u not to take risk by following any fatwa without really knowing it.

Alhamdulillah i found it clear about the confusions that i had for a long time. thanks to you brother to propound such an illustrious article. i have already mailed it to a number of my friends so that they could correct their prayer.

Brother i’ve got some problems still regarding salah. the questions regarding those are as follows:

1. do i have to raise my hands while standing for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th raka’h?

2. did prophet (saw) pray 4 raka’h sunnat muakkada before zuhur prayer (fard)? is this a sin if i only perform the fard prayer and omit the sunna prayer?

mashallah – seerah an nabi was really beautiful, jazakallahu khair for that.
Is the daure quran and tafseer of quran ……by huma najam available online.. please if anyone can make it available… it will be really helpful.
walaikum assalaam

May Alla reward you,

Wasalaam

Mojum

u Al-Irbad Bin Saireyah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I advise you to hear and obey, even if an African slave rules over you, and indeed whomsoever from you lives will see many differences, so hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs after me; hold on to it with your molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters (in the religion). Verily every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is destined for the Fire.” (Sahih – Abu Dawood no. 4607, Al-Tirmidhi no. 2676, Ibn Majah no. 43-44, Ahmad 4/126)

u Abdullah Bin Mas’ood said: “Follow and do not innovate, for you have been given what is sufficient and every innovation is misguidance.” (Reported by Abu Khaithamah in Kitabul- ‘llm, Sahih)

u Abdullah Bin Umar said: “Every innovation is misguidance even if people regard it to be something good.” (Reported by Ad-Daarimee with an authentic transmission)

u Imam Sufyan Ath-Thawri said, “Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a person makes repentance of sin but does not repent from innovations (because he thinks Bid’ah is from the religion).” (Al-Laalikaa’ee in As-Sunnah, no.238)

u Imam Malik said: “He who innovates something in Islam regarding it as something good has claimed that Muhammad has failed to deliver the Message which he was entrusted to do as Allah says:

Today I have Perfected your Deen for you. (Qur’an, 5:3)

Whatever was not Deen at the time of the Prophet cannot be considered to be a part of the Deen today.” (Reported by Ash-Shaatibee in AI-l’tisaam)