Questions from a new Muslim

[dsaly1969]

Assalamu Alaikum!

I am a recent convert to Islam and had some lifestyle questions. These are important to me so I beg your indulgence.

Music - Is all music haram? Or is it just that music that promotes or endorses sin? For example, what about instrumental classical (Mozart, Beethoven, et al) or jazz music? (I grew up playing classical music as a child and still appreciate it so I wanted to check.) Are there any modern singers or bands that promote Islamic values?

Games - I am not referring to "games of chance" (gambling) but pastimes such as checkers, chess, dominoes, contract bridge, Tarneeb, Hokm which are not played for money. Are these haram or okay? What about modern board games such as Catan or role playing games (if placed in an Islamically appropriate setting like the Ottoman Empire playing Muslim characters - I would never do anything set in early Islam - yikes)? Are there any good Islamically themed and supportive games that you would recommend?

Sports - I like watching sports on TV especially cricket, rugby, Aussie football, baseball and rugby (I am a white American by the way). Is that okay as long as I do not gamble? What about fantasy sports which is not based on money prizes (just "glory points")?

Salat - I have physical difficulties (scoliosis, cervicalgia with neuropathy, gout, and obesity with bad knees) but I can do all of the positions in salat except for full prostration which I can do from a chair. Is that acceptable?

Ramadan - I was recently released from the hospital (last week) from severe blood loss (over 50%) due to having over 10 ulcers in my stomach so my innards filled up with blood until it "purged" itself and I went into hypovolic shock after blood level went way below 7 and my heart stopped. I am now on medication four times a day and must eat small meals throughout the day of bland diet to build up strength and iron levels (I am still at 9 blood level and not going up). So I can no longer fast, what are some alternatives that I can do?

Hajj - Similar question. Bad health so will never be able to go on hajj personally. Alternatives? Can I provide assistance to someone else who will be able to go on hajj?

Thanks!

Dave

 

[Ellen Brown]

Assalamu Alaikum!

I am a recent convert to Islam and had some lifestyle questions. These are important to me so I beg your indulgence.

Music - Is all music haram? Or is it just that music that promotes or endorses sin? For example, what about instrumental classical (Mozart, Beethoven, et al) or jazz music? (I grew up playing classical music as a child and still appreciate it so I wanted to check.) Are there any modern singers or bands that promote Islamic values?

Games - I am not referring to "games of chance" (gambling) but pastimes such as checkers, chess, dominoes, contract bridge, Tarneeb, Hokm which are not played for money. Are these haram or okay? What about modern board games such as Catan or role playing games (if placed in an Islamically appropriate setting like the Ottoman Empire playing Muslim characters - I would never do anything set in early Islam - yikes)? Are there any good Islamically themed and supportive games that you would recommend?

Sports - I like watching sports on TV especially cricket, rugby, Aussie football, baseball and rugby (I am a white American by the way). Is that okay as long as I do not gamble? What about fantasy sports which is not based on money prizes (just "glory points")?

Salat - I have physical difficulties (scoliosis, cervicalgia with neuropathy, gout, and obesity with bad knees) but I can do all of the positions in salat except for full prostration which I can do from a chair. Is that acceptable?

Ramadan - I was recently released from the hospital (last week) from severe blood loss (over 50%) due to having over 10 ulcers in my stomach so my innards filled up with blood until it "purged" itself and I went into hypovolic shock after blood level went way below 7 and my heart stopped. I am now on medication four times a day and must eat small meals throughout the day of bland diet to build up strength and iron levels (I am still at 9 blood level and not going up). So I can no longer fast, what are some alternatives that I can do?

Hajj - Similar question. Bad health so will never be able to go on hajj personally. Alternatives? Can I provide assistance to someone else who will be able to go on hajj?

Thanks!

Dave

Wa Alaikum Salaam:

You are a man, so will never have to put up with the silliness that a woman does.

 

[Godobeyer]

Welcome sister
Music is Ok , Some said it's forbiden without any argument from Quran.most of Muslims listen to Music and songs.
Watching TV or sport is Ok.
Play game I think it's ok ,even if you play against symboles ,since you can switch (not anti-Muslims).or encourage the hate against Muslims.

Salat (praying),just pray with easy way that can't force or hurt your self.
Ramadan don't fast since you are had health problems.
Hajj don't also since you had health problems.

I reply what I see as commun understanding and sorry for my simple English language

 

[Link]

(1) From what I understand of Quran, Music is outright forbidden if it has words to me. See hadiths quoting which verses, if they are convincing to you and their explanation using those verses are convincing to you, you should avoid it. You have to research, and I'm not sure if it is forbidden or not, My family thinks it's NOT while I think it IS.
(2)I am researching games, and I'm starting to believe despite wasting most of my life on video games and still addicted to them, it maybe one of the most emphasized forbidden things in Quran. I have to analyze and discuss about this. I'm not sure, I still play video games, but from personal experience and with what I see of what Quran says about them and seems many hadiths confirm (for example, chess can be seen as instance of that and not just particular to gambling in hadiths) it looks like they are forbidden. I have to do more research and so I'm not sure.
(3) Salah shouldn't be about hurting yourself, so pray the easier way.
(4) Don't fast
(5) Don't do the Hajj.

As for (1) and (2), it may seem like extreme, but you need to understand some of the topics of Quran and implicit themes. I'm going to make a topic about why I believe it's forbidden according to Quran (both (1) and (2)) but I'm not sure if I am right. I have to see if my proofs can be rejected and if my thinking went wrong somewhere from Quran and hadiths in this regard.

 

[Link]

That said for (1) and (2), they should be ok for you to do until you KNOW they are forbidden.

 

[Wasp]

The answers vary a lot depending on which school you follow. You'd better ask the scholars you prefer. I'll offer my general view anyway.

Music that is vile on one way or another is haram. Other kind of music like classical music some consider disliked or even haram.

Saudi Arabia has prohibited chess. But as far as I know in general if the game doesn't include anything harmful or anything that can lead to something harmful then it's okay.

Watching sports is disliked by some - essentially a waste of time that you could spend worshipping Allah. And of course if you are a man you can't watch female sports - that would be disliked or haram.

You can ask someone else to do Hajj for you. But they must have gone already at least once themselves.

On Ramadan you give food to the poor the prescribed amount. And complete the fast excluding the fast from food.

Certainly if you are unable to perform salat in the ordinary fashion you can change things. Exactly how you should pray regarding the positions, you should consult a scholar and possibly a doctor. The scholar for what is permissible and preferable and the doctor for what is good for your body (noting you will be repeating the salat several times a day for the rest of your life, Inshallah).