""Would you do so in front of your parents, or guests, who you have respect for? i-e, sit with your legs stretched, and feet pointed straight at them? ""
what an inteliigent and relevant argument right there. Let us extend it to make it closer to the topic at hand. suppose you are sitting in your living room in New York and your grandpa is 11,000 miles away in Cheechawatni. What would be direction of your feet and legs?
NYAhmadi,
Thanks for explaining, sorry for being rude, hope it’s forgatten by now.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
Ahmadjee and Atif,
You both made some good points, in my view both are correct in their way. I also agree with Akif, I think it’s good if you can avoid streching your feet towards Kabba out of respect.
Shahreen,
you made some interesting points, I have not heard that the position of toilet seat should also not face towards Kabba, seeeh
(don’t tell my mom
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif
) Tell me the back or the front side of your toilet seat was facing the Kabba?
I think about not entering the bathroom with jewellery with Allah’s name, I have heard the same somewhere, but I doubt that its praticed so actually. If it has religious significance I can’t really tell. There are also duwas for entering the bathroom, I saw this once in my relatives house in Pakistan.
I think there are many more such customes regarding our behaviour and so, it would be interesting to see if there are more such things practiced.
[quote]
Originally posted by Yogi:
suppose you are sitting in your living room in New York and your grandpa is 11,000 miles away in Cheechawatni. What would be direction of your feet and legs?
[/quote]
As noted above, Allah is everywhere, and whether you are 10,000 miles this way, or that way, He will always be just as close to you. Certainly doesnt compare to humans.
Its a matter of respect. If someone wants to do it, that does not automatically make them a better muslim than one who doesnt. There is a lot more to being a good muslim than just this. To take this so personally, and tackle it as a matter of pride is childish.
i, persoanlly, regard it as a matter of disrespect to turn my legs towards KAABA....
i have read of Imam Abu-Hanifah that he never spread his legs even while sleeping....
he was of the view that Allah was present everywhere and always so how could he shud always sit respectfully....
i have never read any hadith or a verse on the issue....
"Our Lord! forgive us our sins and anything we may have done that transgressed our duty; establish our feet firmly and help us against those that resist faith." **Quran(3:147)
[quote]
Originally posted by Akif:
** As noted above, Allah is everywhere, and whether you are 10,000 miles this way, or that way, He will always be just as close to you. **
[/quote]
hmmmmmmmm....you mean he sees ALL and knows ALL, right??
Allahu Alim
'Rabbee zidnee`ilmaa'
My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.[20:114]
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Whoever sets out on a path to seek knowledge, Allaah will make easy his path to Paradise."
[Saheeh Muslim]
I too believe its disrespectful, and though we are not ordered to do so, we must show respect to the holiest place of all....
However, I went to Saudi Arabia for umrah, and there I was that Arabs didnt follow this rule... I mean I was horrified when I saw them putting the Quran Majeed down on the floor while reading it, we were taught to place it in the highest place possible and these guys were placing it on the floor next to their feet while sitting down...
[quote]
Originally posted by Spock:
*....I mean I was horrified when I saw them putting the Quran Majeed down on the floor while reading it, we were taught to place it in the highest place possible ... *
[/quote]
Whats more horrible to me is to recite Quran like a parrot and NOT understand a bit and then place it back on the highest shelf, or even worse keep the Quran in home perhaps to tell God/Allah that they love the Quran and have a copy at home, its covered by dust so what, they still love it.
May Allah SWT guide us all towards right and help us follow the right
Changez_Like is right.
So long as you are venerating the Book without reading it, you are a parrot!!!
This thread reminds me of my little argument with my parents a few years back.
They objected me taking the Quran in my back pack to school. According to them it will be disrespectful to put Quran on your back (while I put the bag on my shoulders). My answer was, is it more disrespectful to put it physically on my back for a few minutes or is it more disrespectful to not read it at all for the fear of being disrespectful? I wanted to read it during my breaks & found nothing wrong with it. They were persistent on their argument ... and I was on mine.
[quote]
Its a matter of respect. If someone wants to do it, that does not automatically make them a better muslim than one who doesnt. There is a lot more to being a good muslim than just this. To take this so personally, and tackle it as a matter of pride is childish.
[/quote]
Akif Bhai, if everyone thinks the same way I would not have no problem with it. But unfortunately its not a personal preference but has been incorporated in "Islam" & not being 'respectful in the same manner' is considered unislamic. Often taken as a sign of a person's religiousness.
It is all about gestures and cultural idiosyncrasies. Touching a Guru’s (or elder’s) feet is a sign of great respect of your teacher/elder in Hindu religion (implying that “I” am not even worthy of your feet, or implying that Feet are the least “worthy” part of one’s body. So it is understandable how not pointing your feet towards Kaba came from.
In terms of Quran, it is only worth the piece of paper it is written on. It is the words that matter and not the physical book. Just my opinion.
Ahmadji Bhaijan. You are really very dedicated. What was the problem with just carrying one Sipara at a time?
[quote]
Originally posted by Changez_like:
** Whats more horrible to me is to recite Quran like a parrot and NOT understand a bit and then place it back on the highest shelf, or even worse keep the Quran in home perhaps to tell God/Allah that they love the Quran and have a copy at home, its covered by dust so what, they still love it.
**
[/quote]
^ True, the Quran says:
62: 5. The likeness of those who were charged with the Taurat, then they did not observe it, is as the likeness of the ass bearing books, evil is the likeness of the people who reject the communications of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.
"He who lives upon hope only will die fasting."
Question:
Some people say that you are not allowed to point your feet at the qibla while sitting down in the mosque and that it is bad adaab. Does this have any basis or is it a cultural thing or is an addition?
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Humayd (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about pointing one’s feet in the direction of the qiblah. He replied:
There is nothing to say that this is not allowed, but some of the scholars regarded it as makrooh (disliked) to stretch the feet out towards the Ka’bah if one is close to it; they regarded this as makrooh but not emphatically so. But if there is a mosque somewhere else and there is a Muslim there who points his feet towards the qiblah, there is no harm in that and he is not doing anything forbidden in sha Allaah, as the scholars stated. And Allaah knows best.
See Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Humayd, p. 144
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about pointing the feet towards the qiblah whilst sleeping. He said:
There is no blame on a person if he sleeps and his feet are pointing towards the qiblah.
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 2/976.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)
Note from moderator: Dear member, when quoting ahadeeth, at least make them relevant to the topic. The discussion is regarding pointing the feet toward the Ka'bah.
Sentinel.
[This message has been edited by Sentinel (edited June 27, 2002).]
[quote]
Originally posted by Nagarjuna:
**Changez_Like is right.
So long as you are venerating the Book without reading it, you are a parrot!!!
**
[/quote]
The last thing I need would be a Hindu telling me not to respect my Holy Book...
You would never know the delight I get from reciting and listening the Quran in Arabic, especially by great Qaris... I agree the book is there to be understood, but plz dont disrespect it by making such statements as its our Holy Book and reading it its original language means alot to us...
[quote]
Originally posted by Spock:
** The last thing I need would be a Hindu telling me not to respect my Holy Book...
...**
[/quote]
What I meant to say was that the emphasis should be on understanding and not mere reading without understanding. Don't take Quran for its 'literary' work, but for its teachings, its lessons etc.
Perhaps the words "like a parrot" offended you, you might've been "less" offended if I were to use words "like a record player".
May Allah SWT guide us all towards right and help us follow the right
Changez_like,
Of course you have to understand the Quran to follow the teachings. We are told to read the Quran in the original language FIRST and than to read the translation. I have allways heard that if you recite Quran in Arabic there is more swab. Now even if you recite the Quran in arabic and do not understand it does not mean that it's wrong to do so. There isn't anything parrot like in my opinion, some like to read simply arabic and some like to read the translations.
Excellent point made by Akif and I think some guppies simply could not agree for some odd reason Allah knows why.
Since the question was weather we should point our feet towards Mecca, Quran or not. I think it does matter and one should not point his/her feet towards Kaba or Quran.
Those of you who do not agree specially those who are saying Allah is every where so how can you avoid pointing your feet toward Allah.
Well I think the question here is not that you are pointing your feet towards Allah the question is about Kaba and the Quaran. As far as I know correct me if I am wrong Kaba and Quran is an entity, something that is visible, something you know where it resides, as compare to Allah whos where abouts one doesn’t know. And lastly I would ask why would you face towards Kaba while praying? Since you know and Allah knows deep down your heart that you are praying for Allah and you believe there is no other GOD but only ALLAH then why would you face towards Kaba? You can face towards anything and pray.
[This message has been edited by Question (edited June 30, 2002).]
[quote]
Originally posted by Question:
** And lastly I would ask why would you face towards Kaba while praying? Since you know and Allah knows deep down your heart that you are praying for Allah and you believe there is no other GOD but only ALLAH then why would you face towards Kaba? You can face towards anything and pray.**
[/quote]
why does everyone keep missing the point. The earth is round. there is no 'direction' of Kaaba.. anywhere you look you are 'facing' towards kaaba.. now I haven't come across any orders to face towards kaaba along the shortest possible imaginary line of travel.. have you??
So then basically, I can be talking to you PakistaniAbroad, with my back towards you but ofcourse since the world is round, I would theoretically be facing you!. Yes that does make a lot of sense.