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:

Assalamo Alaikum
Plz advise me, because I am realizing that in Ramadan lots of pressure will be applied on me to go to bohri masjid. In context of, that they iftar after magrib prayer then almost after 20 to 30 minutes they pray isha and also behind that imam who pray innovated Adhan(ash hado anna moulana aliyan wali-u-Allah). And you said that prophet don`t take niyat verbally so can I do this that I raise hand to take niyat of namaz but don`t take niyat verbally. And can I start fasting with bohri calendar after knowing that Islamic calendar is set by moon and iftar is before magrib. Can I do above all things on compulsion? bear in mind that all we do is depend on our intention. Plz plz plz reply soon. I am deadly waiting for answer.

can i contact personally i live in karachi.
Allah Hafiz 

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Answer:

Bohra good brother

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.

My dear and beloved brother in Islam, the Truth of the matter is that if one’s heart is absolutely satisfied with the Oneness and Tawheed of Allah Subhanah, even if he was forced by compulsion to say a term of the abomination of ‘kufr’ (disbelief); Allah Subhanah has promised not to hold this believer accountable for his act done under compulsion.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 106: Whosoever is forced by compulsion to disbelieve after having believed, while his heart is convinced of the Faith (he shall be absolved); but whosoever accepts disbelief willingly, he incurs the Wrath of Allah, and there is a severe torment for such people.

The degree of ‘compulsion’ under which an illegal act was forced out of the believer is something between the person and His Lord, Who Knows the exact condition of each of His slaves. If one is under the shadow of a sword or it is a matter of life and death, the one who has been forced by compulsion to do an illegal act; it is expected that such a person would be excused in the Court of Allah Subhanah. But if one thinks compulsion is the disapproval of his loved ones and friends, or a severe reprimand from his elders and peers, or being ex-communicated from the community, etc.; then, in our humble opinion, one would have a difficult time proving his case of compulsion in the Court of Allah Subhanah!

Beloved and dear Brother in Islam, under the circumstances listed by you, your situation and case will indeed depend on your state, your condition, and your intentions. The things that you listed that you would have to do under ‘lots of pressure’ in Ramadan cannot be considered direct acts of ‘kufr’ or ‘shirk’; thus if you think that the pressure applied is so enormous that you would have to abandon your state of belief in the Oneness of Allah Subhanah and return back to the ways of your forefathers if you did not ‘tow the line’, it is expected that Allah Subhanah would have Mercy upon you and Forgive you your shortcomings.

But my beloved brother in Islam, you must realize that sooner or later you will have to sum up your courage and move away from the self-invented rites and rituals of the community, and follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws) in every act of worship you do. The decision to sum up this courage today, or at a later date, is a decision you will have to make yourself by studying your own state and condition of emaan, and the repercussions that you might have to face from your family, friends, and the community in general. This is the price each person whom Allah Subhanah has blessed with ‘emaan’ has to pay when he moves away from falsehood towards the Truth! It has never happened in the annuls of history, that a person who has been blessed with true ‘emaan’ from Allah Subhanah has been left unruffled by the practitioners of falsehood in the life of this transitory world!!!

When one who is born and raised amongst the followers of falsehoods, and subsequently Allah Subhanah honors and blesses this person with the wealth of true ‘emaan’ and Faith; it is inevitable that this person will have to pay the price and sacrifice the comfort of the love of his loved ones when he intends to move away from falsehood towards the Truth!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 20-24:

20 Those who believe, and suffer exile, and strive with might and main in Allah's Cause with their goods and their persons have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: They are the people who will achieve (salvation).

21 Their Lord does give them Glad tidings of a Mercy from Himself of His Good Pleasure and of Gardens for them, wherein are delights that endure.

22 They will dwell therein forever. Verily in Allah's Presence is a Reward, the Greatest (of all). ¹²⁷¹

23 O ye who believe! Take not for protectors your fathers and your brothers if they love infidelity above faith: if any of you do so, they do wrong.

24 Say: ‘If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, your kindred, the wealth that ye have gained, the commerce in which ye fear a decline, or the dwellings in which ye delight are dearer to you than Allah or His Messenger, or the striving in His Cause; then wait until Allah brings about His Decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious!’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.191 Narrated by Khabbaba

I came to the Prophet (saws) while he was leaning against his sheet cloak in the shade of the Ka'ba. We were suffering and being tortured greatly by the mushriks (pagans) of Makkah in those days. I said (to him (saws)). "Will you invoke Allah (to help us)?" He (saws) sat down with a red face and said, "(A believer from among) those who came before you used to be combed with iron combs so that nothing of his flesh or nerves would remain on his bones; yet that would never make him desert his religion! A saw might be put over the parting of his head which would be split into two parts, yet that would never make him abandon his religion! Allah will surely complete this religion (i.e. Islam).’

Now to answer your specific questions:

Your Statement-1: Plz advise me, because I am realizing that in Ramadan lots of pressure will be applied on me to go to bohri masjid.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 72 Surah Jinn verse 18: And that the ‘masjids’ are for Allah (Alone)! Therefore, do not call upon anyone else in them along with Allah.

Beloved brother, indeed these ‘masjids’ have unfortunately been made into dens of innovations bordering towards ‘shirk’ by the hierarchy and the high priests and his family; whereby their names and the names of their forefathers are glorified instead of or with the Blessed Name of Allah Subhanah! Even the food that is distributed and eaten in these places of worship are engraved with ‘salaawaats’ and ‘fatehas’ of the deceased slaves of Allah Subhanah recited upon them! It definitely does not behove a believer whom Allah Subhanah has blessed with true ‘emaan’ to be an accomplice or follower of the falsehoods preached and practiced by these worldly priests.

Your Statement-2: In context of, that they iftar after magrib prayer

Hadrat Sahl ibn Sad (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "The people will always be with the good as long as they hasten in breaking the fast."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Hadrat Anas ibn Maalik (r.a.), the servant of the Prophet (saws) of ten years, reported: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) would break his fast with ripe dates before he would pray. If those were not available, he would eat dried dates. If those were not available, he would drink some water." Related by Abu Dawud and by al-Hakim.

Hadrat Anas ibn Maalik (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If the food is already presented, eat before the sunset prayer and do not eat your meals in haste."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21: There is indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

If one wishes to obey and follow the Sunnah or Way of the Messenger of Allah (saws), then he should hasten to break his fast immediately after the sun has set and before the Magrib prayer.

Your Statement-3: then almost after 20 to 30 minutes they pray isha

Al-Muwatta Hadith 1.9

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Rafi, the mawla of Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet (saws) asked Abu Hurayra about the time of the prayer. Abu Hurayra said, "Let me tell you. Pray dhuhr when the length of your shadow matches your height, asr when your shadow is twice your height, maghrib when the sun has set, isha in the first third of the night, and subh in the very first light of dawn," i.e. when the dawn has definitely come.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103: Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at their appointed times.

The time for Isha prayers is the first third of the night and starts about 90 minutes after the sun has set.

Your Statement-4: and also behind that imam who pray innovated Adhan (ash hado anna moulana aliyan wali-u-Allah).

Indeed this declaration in the ‘adhaan’ or call to prayer is an innovation in the deen of Islam! Never was this declaration announced in the ‘adhaan’ at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saws), nor even in the times when Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) became the Ameer-ul-Munineen.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Hadrat Ali ibn AbuTalib (r.a.)

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Hadrat Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.)

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

Your Statement-5: And you said that prophet don`t take niyat verbally so can I do this that I raise hand to take niyat of namaz but don`t take niyat verbally.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.38a (part)

Certain requirements must be met for a valid prayer, and failure to meet any of these may invalidate the prayer. These requirements are given below:

1. Intention

The real intention is what is in the heart, and its verbal utterance is not legally required. Allah says in the Qur'an (98:5): "And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true in (faith)." And the Prophet (saws) said: "Verily, all deeds (of a person) will be judged in the light of the intentions behind them, and every person will attain what he intends." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)

The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was that he would make the intention in his heart for the prayer he was about to offer, raise his hands above his shoulders with his palms facing inwards towards his ears, and start his prayers by declaring aloud the ‘takbeer’ of ‘Allah-o-Akbar’.

Your Statement-6: And can I start fasting with bohri calendar after knowing that Islamic calendar is set by moon

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 5: It is He (Allah) Who gave the sun his brightness and the moon her light, and ordained the moon's phases precisely so that you may calculate years and dates from this.

In Islam, the sun is used to determine the times of the obligatory prayers, and the moon is used to determine the months and years.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.130 Narrated by Abdullah

Allah's Messenger (saws) mentioned Ramadan and said, "Do not fast unless you see the crescent (of Ramadan), and do not give up fasting till you see the crescent (of Shawwal), but if the sky is overcast (if you cannot see it), then act on estimation (i.e. count Sha'ban as 30 days)."

In light of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws), the believers at the time of the Prophet (saws) always determined the number of days of every Islamic month, including the days of Ramadan, Hajj, Eids, etc. through the sighting of the moon. That Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) is still followed today by the majority of believers who follow the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (saws), and even today the Islamic dates are determined by the sighting of the moon by the believers worldwide.

Our brethren claim to see the so-called “haqiqi” moon to determine the number of days according to their published calendar. They must be able to see their ‘haqiqi’ moon months in advance, as their Islamic calendar is published at the beginning of every Islamic year!

What we do know from the Prophet’s (saws) authentic traditions that he(saws) certainly determined the days of every month through the sighting of the crescent of the ‘actual’ moon. Thus the people who follow the Prophet (saws), even today, and until the end of time, Insha Allah, will calculate the days of the months by the same method as used by the Prophet of Allah (saws).

The ‘haqiqi’ moon must have appeared after the Prophet’s(saws) death, because he(saws) never saw or mentioned anything regarding the ‘haqiqi’ moon! That is because even the Bohra scholars will agree that the Prophet(saws), during his life, always started the Islamic months by sighting the actual moon.

Your Statement: can i contact personally

Beloved and dear Brother in Islam, if I can be of any assistance to you in your quest of the Knowledge of the Truth from the Quran and Sunnah, you can contact me on this site.

May Allah Subhanah make your trial and transition to the Truth of Islam easy for you, help you, have mercy upon you, and give you the wisdom, the courage and the strength to be steadfast on the path of Truth you have chosen in preference to the path of falsehood.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 256-257:

256 Let there be no compulsion in religion! Truth stands out clear from error! Whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the Most Trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah Hears and Knows all things.

257 Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith, their patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness! They will be companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for ever).

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), he can be assured of being led astray.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 78: Exert your utmost for the cause of Allah, as one should. He has chosen you for His service and has not laid on you any hardship in your deen. Therefore, be steadfast in the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah had called you ‘Muslims” before this, and has called you (by the same name) in this Quran also, so that the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you, and you may be witnesses in regard to the rest of mankind. Therefore, establish the ‘salaat’ and pay the ‘zakaat’, and hold fast to Allah. He (Allah) is your ‘Maula’: what an excellent ‘Maula’ and what an excellent Helper!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 13: Then, instead of Allah, he invokes those who can do him neither harm nor good. This is the last extremity of deviation. He invokes those who are more likely to do him harm, than good! What an EVIL ‘maula’ he chooses, and what an evil companion.

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