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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:

Assalam alikum

Can you tell me why we say salam at graveyard. Because the people died can’t here us? - What islam says about working under Non Islamic country. I mean to say who is woking in Canada?

- A person who’s taking the interest is Haram but what about the person who is giving the interest. Is it also haram?

- What is the concept of Banking in Islam. working in Bank is Haram but now a day almost every company taken loan from Financial Institutions and paying or taking Interest over it. So working in that kind of company is also Haram?

Allah Hafiz 

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Answer:

Why say Salaams in graveyard

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.

Q-1:Can you tell me why we say salam at graveyard. Because the people died can’t here us?
Ibn Abbas reported: "Once the Prophet (saws) passed by graves in Madinah. He (saws) tumed his face toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves. May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us, and we are following your trail'."

Related by Tirmidhi.

Aishah reported: "I asked: 'What should I say when I pass by a graveyard, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?' He (saws) replied, 'Say, "Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allah grant mercy to those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you"'.

Related by Muslim.

Indeed, the dead in the graves by themselves do not possess the power to hear those who are living; but Allah Subhanah, if He Wills, makes them hear what He Wills and Pleases.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verse 22:

22 Nor are alike those that are living and those that are dead. Allah can make any that He wills to hear; but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.452 Narrated by Ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) looked at the people of the well (the well in which the bodies of the pagans killed in the Battle of Badr were thrown) and said, "Have you found true what your Lord promised you?" Somebody said to the Prophet (saws), "O Messenger of Allah (saws), you are addressing dead people?" He (saws) replied, "You do not hear better than they, but they cannot reply!"

Neither the living have power to communicate with the dead, nor do the dead have the power to communicate with the living; but it is Allah Subhanah Alone Who decides what He wants and wills the dead to hear. If He Wills, He might allow the pious and the righteous to hear the salutations of peace made for them by their living loved ones so that they may be pleased; and if He Wills and Pleases, He might allow the wicked transgressors to hear the curses of the living, so that they might be remorseful.

Q-2: What islam says about working under Non Islamic country. I mean to say who is woking in Canada?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verse 56:

56 O My servants who believe! Truly spacious is My Earth: therefore serve ye Me (and Me alone)!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 73 Surah Muzammil verse 20:

20 The Lord doth know that thou (O Prophet (saws)) standest forth (to prayer) two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint night and day in due measure. He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye therefore of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through the land seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause. Read ye therefore as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls Ye shall find it in Allah's presence; Yea! Better and greater in Reward! And seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

There is absolutely no harm or restriction if one seeks or wishes to search for Allah’s Bounty anywhere on His earth; for indeed, the whole earth belongs to none save Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

But if there is a nation which does not permit the believers to practice their religion and their way of life, then one should not stay in such lands for on the Day of Judgment the excuse that they were not allowed to practice their religion in the land will not hold weight. For such people who have the means and the ability, it becomes a duty to migrate to another nation where they would be able to worship and fulfill their duties towards their Lord.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 97-100:

97 When the Angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls they say: "In what (plight) were ye?" They reply: "Weak and oppressed were we in the earth." They (the Angels) say: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (from evil)?" Such men will find their abode in Hell what an evil refuge!

98 Except those who are (really) weak and oppressed, men women and children, who have no means in their power nor (a guide-post) to direct their way.

99 For these there is hope that Allah will forgive: for Allah doth blot out (sins) and forgive again and again.

100 He who forsakes his home in the Cause of Allah finds in the earth many a refuge, wide and spacious: should he die as a refugee from home for Allah and his Messenger, his reward becomes due and sure with Allah: and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

But if one is permitted to follow and practice their deen, it is absolutely permissible for them to live and work in a non-Islamic nation, if they wish to do so; but it goes without saying, that it would obviously be preferable, better, and purer for the believers to live amongst their brethren believers in a righteous society so that they might not fall into the trials and temptations of this world.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 184 Narrated by Mu'adh ibn Jabal

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Verily, the Shaytaan is the enemy of man just as the wolf is (the enemy) of a flock. He seizes the solitary sheep going astray from the flock or going aside from the flock. So avoid the branching paths; it is essential for the believers to remain along with the community.’

Q-3: A person who’s taking the interest is Haram but what about the person who is giving the interest. Is it also haram?

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)!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.259 Narrated by Abu Juhaifa

The Prophet invoked the curse of Allah on the lady who practices tattooing and the one who gets herself tattooed, and on the one who eats (takes) Riba, and the one who gives it.

Islam has absolutely forbidden and declared haraam the concept, dealing, transacting, taking, and paying of ‘riba’.

Q-4: What is the concept of Banking in Islam. working in Bank is Haram but now a day almost every company taken loan from Financial Institutions and paying or taking Interest over it. So working in that kind of company is also Haram?
The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that unless and until the main essence of the business where one is employed is dealing in the ‘haraam’ (conventional banks, bars, night-clubs, casinos, etc.); there is absolutely no harm in being employed by such a company or business. If the main business of the company where one is employed is dealing in the ‘halaal’, but it takes or gives interest in its course of running the business, the salary one earns from such a company will be deemed from amongst the company’s halaal earnings, and thus it would be lawful to be employed in such companies.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan