Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I wish to aks two more questions

If a person keeps the money in the bank, not for the interest but to only keep the money safe...is this also HARAM

Does the Quran say that Muslims must eat meat within 45 days. Is it true that if you do not eat meat within 45 days it is a sin.

Why do Bohras pay so much attention to Moharram. Sometimes I feel we give more importance to Moharram than to Ramzan. Is this correct?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is it Haraam to have a Savings Account in bank?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: If a person keeps the money in the bank, not for the interest but to only keep the money safe...is this also HARAM.

If a person keeps the money in the bank for safekeeping, it is not Haraam.   What is haraam is the interest that this money generates, and if the person takes this money then he will be involved in ‘haraam’. 

Allah says further in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 278: O Believers! Fear Allah and give up that ‘riba’ which is still due to you, if you are true believers. But if you do not do so, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you by Allah and His Messenger!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 161: That they took ‘riba’, although they were forbidden.  And that they devoured men’s substance wrongfully.   We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment (of Hell Fire)!

But today, a believer has the option of keeping his money in one of the many good Islamic banks that have emerged in the past couple of years and earn ‘halaal’ income.

Your comment: Does the Quran say that Muslims must eat meat within 45 days. Is it true that if you do not eat meat within 45 days it is a sin.

The Holy Quran says no such thing.  A muslim can eat ‘halaal’ meat as often as he wants, or not eat it at all, if he so desires. There is absolutely no sin in that.  By no means, are we as believers, forced to eat all the halaal things in this world!

What would definitely be a sin is if a person does not eat ‘halaal’ meat and terms it haraam for himself! But if for any reason, be it taste, or desire, or will, or habit, or health… the person does not consume meat at all, there is no sin in that.   

Your comment: Why do Bohras pay so much attention to Moharram. Sometimes i feel we give more importance to Moharram than to Ramzan. Is this correct?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 verse 185: Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down. This Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of clear teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the truth and falsehood. Therefore from now on, whosoever witnesses it, it is obligatory on him to fast the whole month.

Allah revealed the Holy Quran in the month of Ramadan to His slave and Messenger, Mohamed ar Rasool-Allah (saws). The Messenger of Allah (saws) termed this month ‘shahr-Allah” (the month of Allah). To fast the whole month of Ramadan is one of the pillars and conditions of Islam. There is a blessed night in this month of Ramadan, which Allah says is better than a thousand months!  

We do not have the right to give more importance to any other month above Ramadan, simply because a pious personality in Islam was born or died in that month.

And Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength.  

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam.   

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan