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:

Dear Burhan,

Asalaam Aleikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

If one is in a place where pork is eaten regularly, what should one do if you are not sure whether the meat is separated or is cooked in the same saucepans or different ones? Should someone not eat the meat at all? what does islam say about it? Also being a non-muslim dominated area one is not sure whether the cows, chicken are slaughtered by a muslim or not, what should one do, stop eating the meat completely?

Can one pray salaat taraweh in Ramadhan using the short surahs of Juzu Ama everyday for lack of ability to recite other surahs or it is obligatory to read the other surahs too?

(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:

Can we recite Juz’u Amma in the Taraweeh Prayers and Pork?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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 one is in a place where pork is eaten regularly, what should one do if you are not sure whether the meat is separated or is cooked in the same saucepans or different ones? Should someone not eat the meat at all? what does islam say about it?

If you are absolutely certain, that the same saucepan or utensil has been used to prepare pork with the meal you are about to take, then one should not eat that meal. But if you are not certain, and only have a doubt or a thought that the same utensil might have been used to prepare pork, then there is no harm in taking the meal. The permitted and forbidden in Islam is based on knowledge and conviction, and not doubts. Obviously, wherever possible, it would be best to ask the waiter or the server if the same utensil has been used.

Your comment: Also being a non-muslim dominated area one is not sure whether the cows, chicken are slaughtered by a muslim or not, what should one do, stop eating the meat completely?

If the animal is slaughtered by the Jews or the Christians, that meat is permitted to the believers. But if the animal is slaughtered by any other than muslims, or Jews, or Christians, then that meat is not permitted for the believers. In that case, a believer should not eat the meat.

Your comment: Can one pray salaat taraweh in Ramadhan using the short surahs of Juzu Ama everyday for lack of ability to recite other surahs or it is obligatory to read the other surahs too?

The ‘taraweeh’ prayers are not obligatory, but rather voluntary. Thus if one prays them, he will receive a great reward from Allah; and if he does not pray them, there is no sin.

There is absolutely no harm if one recites only the short surahs from Juza Amma in the taraweeh prayers. In fact, if some believer has only been able to memorize two surahs, he can pray the same both surahs in all the rakahs! There is absolutely no restrictions in what Surahs have to be prayed in the rakahs, other than the Surah Fateha in each rakah, which is a ‘fard’ part of the prayer.

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