Answer: Yes, with restrictions:

• A Muslim man is permitted to marry a woman who is Christian or Jewish (referred to as "People of the Book") if she practices her faith and is chaste. This is mentioned in the Qur'an:

"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you..."
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:5)

• However, scholars emphasize that such marriages should be approached cautiously, as differences in faith can lead to challenges in raising children and maintaining religious harmony.
• Not Allowed with Polytheists:
  • A Muslim man is not allowed to marry a woman who is an idolater or from a polytheistic faith unless she accepts Islam.

3. Why This Distinction?

• In a Muslim man's marriage to a Christian or Jewish woman, Islamic teachings acknowledge that she already believes in a monotheistic God, which aligns with the Islamic concept of God (Allah).
• However, in the reverse case (a Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim man), there is a concern that the husband’s differing faith might influence the wife's ability to freely practice Islam and pass it on to her children.
• In both cases, if the non-Muslim partner accepts Islam, the marriage becomes permissible, as they would then share the same faith. This ensures compatibility in beliefs and practices.

Answer: Christianity, particularly traditional interpretations of the Bible, also discourages interfaith marriages:

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
(2 Corinthians 6:14)

• Therefore, Christianity, like Islam, often prohibits interfaith marriages or discourages them due to potential conflicts in faith and family dynamics.

Answer: Yes, Islam permits family planning under certain conditions, but it places restrictions on specific methods, particularly abortion. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Permissibility of Family Planning

Islam allows family planning as long as it does not involve actions or methods that are forbidden by Islamic teachings. The primary reasons for permitting family planning include:

• Health Considerations: To safeguard the physical and mental health of the mother.
• Financial Stability: To ensure that parents can adequately provide for and raise their children.
• Child Upbringing: To give sufficient attention, care, and resources to existing children.

This permissibility is supported by the principle of Maslahah (public interest) and numerous Islamic scholars who interpret family planning as a means to fulfill the responsibilities of parenthood effectively.

2. Conditions for Permissible Family Planning

Family planning is allowed in Islam if it meets the following conditions:

• Mutual Consent: Both spouses should agree on the decision to use family planning methods.
• No Harmful Methods: The chosen method should not harm the health of either spouse.
• Reversibility: Permanent methods of contraception, such as sterilization, are generally discouraged unless there are compelling medical reasons.
• Temporary Delay, Not Prevention: The intention should be to space or delay pregnancies, not to permanently avoid them without a valid reason.

3. Methods Allowed

Islam permits the use of modern and natural methods of contraception, such as:

• Birth control pills, condoms, or other temporary methods that do not harm health.
• Natural methods like withdrawal (‘Azl), which was practiced during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and permitted with the wife's consent.
  • A hadith states:

"We used to practice withdrawal during the Prophet's time, and he knew about it but did not forbid us." (Sahih Muslim)

Answer: Intercession in Islam has two aspects: ontological intercession and legislative intercession.

1. Ontological Intercession: This type of intercession refers to the mediation of existential causes between God and other entities. In this context, all existential causes and effects act as mediators in the creation system, serving as intercessors. This form of intercession is based on causal relationships according to the laws of creation and primarily has a natural and ontological aspect.
2. Legislative Intercession: Legislative intercession is divided into two parts:
   • Intercession in the World: In this category, there are certain factors that lead to forgiveness, mercy, and divine proximity. Elements such as repentance, the Quran, faith, and righteous deeds, as well as angels and true believers, can act as intercessors in the world, facilitating forgiveness and mercy for sins.
   • Intercession in the Hereafter: In the afterlife, intercession becomes particularly significant during the Day of Judgment. Based on verse 143 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the martyrs are considered witnesses of human actions. These witnesses are not only those who have died in God’s path but also those who have witnessed the deeds of others and may testify on their behalf in the hereafter.

In both types of intercession, the key point is the permission and decree of God. This permission and intercession reflect the vastness of God's mercy and His boundless generosity.

According to the authentic hadiths the followings are the intercessors:

1. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him & his progeny): In a narration from Ja'far al-Sadiq, it was asked: "Do believers need the intercession of Muhammad (peace be upon him & his progeny), on that day?" He replied: "Yes, believers also have faults and sins, and there is no one who does not need the intercession of Muhammad, peace be upon him & his progeny, on that day."
2. The holy Quran: ImamAli ibn Abi Talib says in Nahj al-Balagha: "The Quran is an intercessor whose intercession is accepted."
3. The holy Ahlul Bayt: It has been narrated from Muhammad Baqir and Ja'far Sadiq that they said: "By God, we do intercede; by God, we intercede for our sinful Shiites such that our enemies, upon seeing it, will say: 'We have neither intercessors nor a kind friend.'"
4. Intercession of the Divine Prophets: Ali ibn Abi Talib on this matter says: "Heed the call of God's prophets, bow your heads before them, and follow their commands, so you may receive their intercession."
5. Intercession of Angels: From the Prophet of Islam, it is transmitted that he said: "Intercession is exclusive to prophets, successors, believers, and angels."
6. Intercession of the Martyrs of Truth: The Prophet of Islam regarding the intercession of martyrs has said: "One of them intercedes for seventy thousand people from their family and neighbours."
7. Intercession of Scholars and Religious Learned: The Prophet of Islam regarding this matter has stated: "One of them intercedes for seventy thousand people from their family and neighbours."
8. Intercession of the Believers: Imam Sadiq about the intercession of believers has said: "Believers are of two kinds: a believer who fulfils the covenant with God, as God Almighty says, 'There are men who have fulfilled what they pledged to God.' Such a believer is not afflicted by the horrors of this world or the hereafter. He is among those who intercede and does not need anyone's intercession; the second type is a believer who, like a plant stalk, bends this way and that. Such a believer is subject to the horrors of this world and the hereafter and is among those for whom intercession is made, but he does not have the power to intercede."
9. Intercession of Relatives: Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) has said: "A person intercedes for his tribe; a person intercedes for his family; a person intercedes based on his deeds for two others; this is that praiseworthy station."
10. Intercession of Devotees: It is transmitted from Imam Ja'far Sadiq that he said: "When the Day of Judgment comes… it will be said to the devout: 'Go to Paradise.' And to the learned: 'Stand still and, because you have taught people good manners and education, intercede for them.'"

Answer: Yes, Islam views homosexuality as a sin and strictly prohibits such acts. This stance is rooted in Islamic teachings based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah (traditions of the holy Prophet). Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Prohibition in the Qur'an: The story of the people of Prophet Lut (AS) is the primary reference in the Qur'an regarding homosexuality. The people of Lut engaged in same-sex relations, and their actions were condemned by Allah:

• Explicit Prohibition:

"Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people."
(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:81)

"And We rained upon them a rain [of stones]. Then see how the end of the criminals was."
(Surah Al-A’raf, 7:84)

The destruction of the people of Lut serves as a warning against such actions, highlighting their moral and spiritual consequences.

1. Moral and Social Dimensions: Islam emphasizes the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of family and society. Homosexuality is viewed as a deviation from the natural order established by Allah, undermining family structure and societal values.
2. Compassion and Repentance: While Islam condemns homosexual acts, it offers a path to repentance and reform. Allah’s mercy is vast, and sincere repentance is always encouraged:

"Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'"
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53)

Muslims are instructed to approach those struggling with such tendencies with wisdom, compassion, and the intention of guiding them toward reform and repentance.

Answer: The adultery (Zina) is explicitly forbidden in Islam, and it is considered a major sin. The term Zina in Arabic encompasses both adultery (sexual relations involving a married person) and fornication (sexual relations between unmarried individuals). The Qur'an strongly condemns such acts and prescribes severe punishments to deter them.

Verses from the Qur'an Forbidding Adultery

1. Avoiding Zina:

"And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way."
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:32)

• This verse warns against not only committing Zina but even coming near it, emphasizing its immorality and its potential to lead to other evils.

1. Prescribed Punishment for Zina:

"The woman and the man guilty of fornication—flog each one of them with a hundred lashes, and let not pity for them deter you from carrying out Allah’s law, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment."
(Surah An-Nur, 24:2)

• This verse specifies the punishment for those found guilty of fornication or adultery under an Islamic judicial system.

Answer: Adultery is forbidden because it:

• Undermines the sanctity of marriage.
• Leads to the breakdown of family structures and societal harmony.
• Causes harm to individuals and communities, including emotional pain, loss of trust, and illegitimate offspring.

Islamic Principles Related to Adultery

1. Safeguarding Modesty: Islam emphasizes modesty and chastity, requiring both men and women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts.

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity..."
(Surah An-Nur, 24:30)

1. Strict Evidentiary Standards: Punishments for Zina are implemented only under stringent conditions, such as the testimony of four reliable witnesses or the confession of the guilty party. This ensures fairness and protects individuals from false accusations.

Answer: Yes, reading novels or treatises with explicit sexual themes is discouraged and considered harmful in Islam due to its potential to damage one's spiritual, moral, and psychological well-being. Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Impact on Thoughts and Morality: Islam emphasizes that one’s thoughts shape their character and actions. Engaging with explicit material can corrupt the mind and lead to immoral behaviour:

• Prophetic Guidance: The Prophet Isa (AS) said:

"Whosoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
(Matthew 5:28, a statement echoed in Islamic teachings.)

• Consuming such material fosters lustful and impure thoughts, leading to a distorted view of relationships and reducing respect for the opposite gender.

2. Negative Psychological Effects: Reading sexually explicit novels can create unnecessary tension and emotional disturbance:

• It over stimulates the mind, leading to constant preoccupation with sexual desires.
• This fixation can result in heightened anxiety, emotional stress, and even contribute to psychological conditions like addiction or depression.

3. Harm to Physical Health: Constant indulgence in sexually stimulating material can have adverse physical effects:

• Nervous Tension: Overexposure to such content can strain the nervous system and impair natural emotional responses.
• Impact on Relationships: Unrealistic expectations formed by these materials can harm marital intimacy and lead to dissatisfaction in real-life relationships.

4. Islamic Teachings on Modesty: Islam promotes haya (modesty) and chastity in all aspects of life, including what one consumes in literature and media:

• Allah says in the Qur'an: 

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is acquainted with what they do."
(Surah An-Nur, 24:30)

• This verse reminds Muslims to protect their eyes and minds from anything that may lead to impurity or immoral thoughts.

5. Long-term Consequences: Habitual engagement with such materials can erode moral foundations, reducing sensitivity to ethical and religious boundaries.

• It can lead to viewing others as objects of desire rather than as individuals deserving of respect and dignity.
• Such behaviour may also negatively affect one’s ability to build healthy, respectful, and loving marital relationships.

6. Alternatives and Solutions: Islam encourages seeking productive, uplifting, and spiritually enriching content. Here are alternatives:

• Engage in reading material that promotes knowledge, morality, and spiritual growth.
• Focus on strengthening your relationship with Allah through the Qur'an, Hadith, and other beneficial literature.
• If one struggles with consuming inappropriate content, they should seek repentance, adopt healthy habits, and avoid triggers that lead to such indulgence.

Answer: No, goat's meat (or any meat) slaughtered by a Jew is not considered Halal in Islam. Here's a detailed explanation of why this is the case:

1. Conditions for Halal Slaughter (Zabiha) in Islam: For meat to be considered Halal (permissible) for consumption, the following conditions must be met:

1. The Slaughterer Must Be Muslim:
   • One of the essential conditions for Zabiha is that the individual performing the slaughter must be a Muslim who believes in Allah and follows Islamic teachings.
   • This is based on the Qur'an: 

"So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses."
(Surah Al-An’am, 6:118)

1. Invocation of Allah's Name:
   • Before slaughtering, the name of Allah (Bismillah Allahu Akbar) must be pronounced. This invocation is a declaration of intent and ensures that the act is performed in obedience to Allah.
   • If this is not done, the meat is not Halal, as stated in the Qur'an: 

"And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed it is grave disobedience."
(Surah Al-An’am, 6:121)

1. Proper Method of Slaughter:
   • The animal’s throat must be cut, severing the trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels to ensure quick and humane death while draining most of the blood.

• If these conditions are not fulfilled, the meat is not Halal, even if it is slaughtered by a Muslim, Jew or Christian.

Answer: Islamic Shariah is a comprehensive legal and moral system that categorizes human actions into five key types of rulings, each with distinct implications. These are as follows:

1. WAJIB (Obligatory): These are religious duties that are mandatory for a Muslim to perform. Reward: Performing Wajib acts earns a reward. Punishment: Neglecting them is sinful and punishable. Examples: Performing the five daily prayers (Salah).Fasting during Ramadan. Paying Zakat (charitable tax).

2. HARAM (Prohibited): These are deeds that are forbidden in Islam. Sinful: Committing Haram acts is sinful and punishable. Reward: Abstaining from Haram acts is rewarded. Examples: Consuming alcohol or pork. Theft, lying, and adultery. Eating meat from an animal not slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines.

3. MUSTAHAB or SUNNAT (Recommended): These are acts that are highly encouraged but not obligatory. Reward: Performing Mustahab acts earns a reward. No Sin: Neglecting them is not punishable. Examples: Reciting the Qur'an regularly.Offering extra prayers (Nafl Salah). Giving charity beyond the obligatory Zakat.

4. MAKROOH (Disliked):These are deeds that are discouraged, but not sinful. Reward: Avoiding Makrooh acts is rewarded. No Sin: Committing them is not punishable.Examples: Wasting water during ablution. Eating food with an unpleasant odor that may bother others (e.g., garlic before attending a mosque).

5. MUBAH (Permissible):These are neutral actions that are allowed in Islam.

• No Reward or Sin: Performing or neglecting them carries neither reward nor punishment. Examples: Choosing what type of food to eat (provided it is Halal).Engaging in lawful professions or recreational activities.

Key Guidelines for Muslims

• Wajib and Haram: A Muslim must strictly adhere to these rules. Neglecting a Wajib or committing a Haram act is not permissible.
• Mustahab and Makrooh: These are optional, and Muslims have the liberty to perform or avoid them without sin.
• Mubah: Muslims are free to act within this category as long as their actions do not lead to violating Wajib or Haram rulings.

For example:

• The prohibition of eating meat from animals slaughtered by non-Muslims falls under the category of Haram. This rule is obligatory and cannot be ignored by any Muslim under normal circumstances.