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 brother Burhan,

Aprreciate if you could enlighten me on the following issues

1. Are there any particular timings during the day or night when sex is forbidden besides the prayer times ofcourse? Kindly explain the
rationale behind it in context of the holy Quran

2. Does the Quran throw any light on existence of life beyond our planet, especially considering the size of the universe. Are there any
statements supporting the big bang theory or others describing the origin of the universe?

3. Under what set of circumstances will Qayamat occur. Does the holy Quran give any clues on this?

Regards,

(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:

Day of Judgement signs, Theories facts Origin

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. Are there any particular timings during the day or night when sex is forbidden besides the prayer times ofcourse? Kindly explain the rationale behind it in context of the holy Quran
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 222:

They ask you about the (women’s) monthly courses. Say, “It is a state of impurity; so keep apart from the women during their monthly courses and do not approach them until they are clean. When they have cleansed themselves, then you may go to them in the manner ordained for you by Allah. Most surely Allah loves those people who refrain from evil and keep themselves pure and clean.

There is no restriction for the believers to have conjugal relations with their wives at any time of day or the night. The restrictions that Allah lays on the believers to have sexual intercourse in the Glorious Quran is during the wife’s time of menses, while fasting, etc. There is absolutely no restriction on the particular timing of the day or night.

Q-2A: Does the Quran throw any light on existence of life beyond our planet, especially considering the size of the universe.

Allah Subhanah is the Creator of everything in the Universe; and He and His Messenger (saws) have given full and absolute guidance that is needed for mankind to live the life acceptable to Him.

The Quran does talk about the creation and life of the angels and the jinns in the Universe. But if your question is pertaining to life in other planet of our Solar System, then the Quran is silent about the issue. Therefore, a believer can neither confirm that there is life as we know it, beyond the planet earth, nor can we deny it.

Q-2B: Are there any statements supporting the big bang theory or others describing the origin of the universe?
There are indeed many verses in the Glorious Quran, where Allah Subhanah talks about the creation of the Universe. Man has been, over the centuries, obsessed with the beginning of creation and has made his ‘own’ theories regarding the beginning of the Universe such as Darwin’s Theory, whereby man originated from apes; or the Big Bang Theory, whereby everything in the Universe was one mass and was then split to form the heavenly bodies as we know them today, etc. Even until today, these are simply ‘theories’; not Scientific Facts!

The Glorious Quran, which was revealed to an uneducated Arab man from the Arabian desert almost 14 centuries ago, never ever goes against, or is contradictory to any established Scientific Fact! It may go against man made theories, but never against any Scientific Fact. After thorough investigation, research and generations of study, man may confirm a ‘theory’ and declare it a Scientific Fact; or disprove the ‘theory’ and declare it a fiction; but until this very day, and until the end of time, never will man find a statement in the Glorious Quran that goes against any established Scientific Fact!

To this day, the Big Bang theory of the most educated scientists of the worlds, remains a theory; until they establish it to be a Scientific Fact. Here is what Allah Subhanah revealed to an uneducated, orphan, man of the Arabian desert almost 14 centuries ago, and recorded it in the Holy Quran for mankind to see until the end of time:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verse 30:

Have not the people, who have disbelieved, ever considered this: The heavens and the earth were at first One Mass; then We parted them, and created every living thing from water? Will they then not believe (that this is Our Creation)?

It is indeed an established Scientific Fact today, that every living thing is indeed made from water!

For the people who still only believe that Science is the only truth, they are still waiting for the scientists to establish that the Big Bang theory is indeed a Scientific Fact. But for the believers who believe in the Truth of Allah and His Messenger (saws); believe with certainty that the heavens and the earth were at first One Mass, and Allah Subhanah Parted them into the billions of heavenly bodies, each floating in its own orbit.

A couple of other examples of the aayahs of creation, from the Creator of the Universe Himself:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Yaa Seen verses 81-83:

Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them? Why not, when He is indeed the Creator Supreme, of infinite skill and knowledge! When He intends anything, He need only say: ‘Be’, and it is! So Glory to Him, in Whose Hands is the Absolute Control of everything, and to Him you shall all be returned.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 4:

Allah it is Who created the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them in six days; and is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority). You have no supporter nor intercessor besides Him. Will you then not take heed?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter10 Surah Yunus verse 3:

Verily, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him), except after His leave. That is Allah, your Lord! So worship Him. Will you then not believe?

Q-3: Under what set of circumstances will Qayamat occur. Does the holy Quran give any clues on this?
The Glorious Quran mostly warns about the conditions of what will happen on the actual Day of Judgment; for it will be brought forth by the Command of the Omnipotent Lord all of a sudden! The Knowledge of when the Day of Judgment will actually occur is with the Lord of the Worlds Alone!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 81 Surah Takvir verses 1-4:

When the sun is folded up; and when the stars scatter away; and when the mountains are set in motion; and when the ten-month she-camels are left unattended; and when the beasts are gathered together; and when the oceans are set ablaze; and when the souls are re-united (with their bodies); and when the infant girl buried alive, is asked for what crime she was killed; and when the Book of Deeds is laid open; and when the veil of heaven is removed; and when Hell is set blazing; and when Paradise is brought nearer; then each person shall know what he has brought with him (to the Day of Resurrection)!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 82 Surah Infitar verses 1-5:

When the heavens split asunder; and when the stars scatter away; and when the seas are torn apart; and when the graves are laid open, then every person shall know all his works, the former and the latter!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verses 67-69:

These people have not recognized the True Worth of Allah, as His Worth should truly be recognized. (As for His Omnipotence) the entire earth on the Day of Resurrection shall be in His Grasp, and the heavens shall be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glory to Him! Far Exalted is He above what they associate with Him! The Trumpet shall be blown on that Day, and all those who are in the heavens and the earth shall fall down dead, except those whom Allah may allow to live. Then the Trumpet shall be blown again, when behold!, they will all be standing and looking on! The earth will shine forth with the Glory of its Lord; the Record (of Deeds) will be placed open; the Prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward; and a Just Decision pronounced between them, and they will not be wronged (in the least).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 187:

They ask you: “Well, when is the Hour of Resurrection coming?” Say, “Its knowledge is with my Lord Alone. He Himself will disclose it at the proper time. That Hour will weigh heavily on the heavens and the earth! It will come on you all of a sudden!” They ask you about it as though you have been in search for it!!! Say, “Its knowledge is with Allah Alone, but most of the people do not know this!”.

But if your questions pertains to the Signs of the coming of the Day of Resurrection; then those are mentioned mostly in the authentic narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws). Some are narrated below:

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.401 Narrated by Auf bin Mali

I went to the Prophet during the Ghazwa of Tabuk while he was sitting in a leather tent. He said, "Count six signs that indicate the approach of the Hour: my death, the conquest of Jerusalem, a plague that will afflict you (and kill you in great numbers) as the plague that afflicts sheep, the increase of wealth to such an extent that even if one is given one hundred Dinars, he will not be satisfied; then an affliction which no Arab house will escape, and then a truce between you and Bani Al-Asfar (i.e. the Byzantines) who will betray you and attack you under eighty flags. Under each flag will be twelve thousand soldiers.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6931 Narrated by Hudhayfah ibn Usayd Ghifari

Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion) He said: What do you discuss about? (the Companions) said: We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), The Gog and Magog, and landslides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 7015 Narrated by An-Nawwas ibn Sam'an

Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) mentioned of the Dajjal one day in the morning. He sometimes described him as insignificant and sometimes described (his turmoil) as very significant (and we felt) as if he were in the cluster of the date-palm trees. When we went to him (to the Holy Prophet) in the evening and he read (the signs of fear) on our faces, he said: What is the matter with you? We said: Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) you mentioned the Dajjal this morning (sometimes describing him) as insignificant and sometimes very important, until we began to think he was present in some (nearly) part of the cluster of the date-palm trees. So he said: I harbour fear in regard to you in so many other things besides the Dajjal. If he comes forth while I am among you, I shall contend with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth while I am not among you, a man must contend on his own behalf and Allah will take care of every Muslim on my behalf (and safeguard him against his evil). He (the Dajjal) will be a young man with twisted, cropped hair, and a blind eye. I compare him with AbdulUzza ibn Qatan. He who among you will survive to see him should recite over him the opening verses of Surah al-Kahf (xviii). He will appear on the way between Syria and Iraq and will spread mischief right and left. O servant of Allah! Adhere (to the path of Truth). We said: Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him), how long will he stay on Earth? He said: For forty days, one day like a year, one day like a month, one day like a week, and the rest of the days will be like your days. We said: Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) will one day's prayer suffice for the prayers of the day equal to one year? Thereupon he said: No, but you must make an estimate of the time (and then observe prayer). We said: Allah's apostle (peace be upon him) how quickly will he walk upon the earth? Thereupon he said: Like cloud driven by the wind. He will come to the people and invite them (to a wrong religion); they will affirm their faith in him and respond to him. He will then give a command to the sky: there will be rainfall upon the Earth and it will grow crops. Then in the evening, their pasturing animals will come to them with their humps very high, their udders full of milk and their flanks distended. He will then come to another people and invite them. But they will reject him so he will go away from them; they will have a drought and nothing will be left with them in the form of wealth. He will then walk through the desert and say to it: Bring forth your treasures. The treasures will come out and gather before him like a swarm of bees. He will then call someone in the flush of youth, strike him with the sword, cut him into two pieces and (make these pieces lie at the distance which is generally between the archer and his target. He will then call (that young man) and he will come forward laughing with his face gleaming (with happiness). It will at this very time that Allah will send Christ, son of Mary. He will descend at the white minaret on the eastern side of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two Angels. When he lowers his head, there will fall beads of perspiration from his head, and when he raises it up, beads like pearls will scatter from it. Every non-believer who smells the odour of his body will die and his breath will reach as far as he is able to see. He will then search for him (Dajjal) until he catches hold of him at the gate of Ludd and kills him. Then a people whom Allah had protected will come to Jesus, son of Mary, and he will wipe their faces and inform them of their ranks in Paradise. It will be under such conditions that Allah will reveal to Jesus these words: I have brought forth from among My servants such people against whom none will be able to fight; you take these people safely to Tur, and then Allah will send Gog and Magog and they will swarm down from every slope. The first of them will pass the lake of Tiberias and drink out of it. And when the last of them passes, he will say: There was once water there. Jesus and his companions will then be besieged here (at Tur, and they will be so hard pressed) that the head of the ox will be dearer to them than one hundred dinars. Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him), Jesus, and his companions will supplicate Allah, Who will send to them insects (which will attack their necks) and in the morning they would perish as one single person. Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him), Jesus, and his companions, then come down to Earth and they will not find on Earth as much space as a single span that is not filled with putrefaction and stench. Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him), Jesus, and his companions will then beseech Allah who will send birds whose necks would be like those of Bactrian camels and they will carry them away and throw them where Allah wills. Then Allah will send rain which no house of mud-bricks or (tent of) camel-hair will keep out and it will wash the Earth until it resembles a mirror. Then the Earth will be told to bring forth its fruit and restore its blessing and, as a result thereof, there will grow (such a big) pomegranate that a group of people will be able to eat it and seek shelter under its skin, a dairy cow will give so much milk that a whole party will be able to drink it. The milking camel will give such (a large quantity of) milk that the whole tribe will be able to drink from it, and the milking-sheep will give so much milk that the whole family will be able to drink from it. At that time Allah will send a pleasant wind which will soothe (people) even under their armpits. He will take the life of every Muslim and only the wicked will survive who will commit adultery like asses and the Last Hour would come to them.

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