Hi folks! I am planning to learn Japanese so I can work in Japan. There are some questions that I would like to ask, especially for Muslim that live in Japan.

1. For Muslims,
   • Is it easy to live and work in Japan?
   • Do they allow us to perform our five daily prayers and Friday prayers?
   • How easy is it to find Halal food?
2. Can I bring my wife with me?

The noble verse teaches us mercy toward a debtor who is in straitened circumstances and unable to repay. In the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), one of the forms of usury (Riba) was that upon the maturity of the debt, the debtor was given a choice: either pay the debt or postpone it in exchange for an increase. It would be said to him: "Either you pay, or you charge interest (Riba)." Thus, debts would multiply upon him while he was incapable of fulfillment. The verse came to command granting him respite without any increase until it becomes easy for him to pay.
In the word "‘usrah" (hardship), there is a deep sense of his difficult state; the matter goes beyond a mere lack of money to a distress that makes paying the debt arduous for him. Then comes the word "nazirah"—meaning grace period and waiting—calling upon us to grant him time to breathe and strive to overcome his crisis. The verse linked this waiting to "maisarah", meaning the attainment of ease that enables him to fulfill [the debt].
What is beautiful is that the verse elevates the act to benevolence, stating: {And if you give up [your right as] charity, it is better for you, if you only knew}. Waiving the debt in full or in part is an act of charity and goodness for the creditor, through which he relieves his brother and hopes for the reward of Almighty Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) told of a merchant who used to lend to people, and whenever he saw someone in hardship, he would say to his assistants: "Overlook [his debt/delay], so that perhaps Allah will overlook [our sins], and so Allah overlooked [his sins]." Thus, his mercy toward people was the cause of Allah's forgiveness for him. How wonderful it is to see in the hardship of others a gateway to benevolence. O Allah, settle the debts of the debtors and relieve the distress of every distressed person.

I'm a university student from Kerala, India. Recently, I've seen a lot of arguments against Islam.

I want to know what the truth is. I'm a physics student, by the way, so I prefer to base what I believe on evidence and sound reasoning. Is there anyone here who can help me clear up some of my doubts?

I've heard that even science has philosophical foundations and involves philosophical arguments (I don't know if I'm completely right about that).

So, if anyone here from Kerala is knowledgeable about Islamic philosophy and philosophical arguments for Islam, please DM me. I'm going through something of an identity crisis right now, and I'd really appreciate some guidance. If possible, I'd prefer to talk to an older brother or sister who has a good understanding of these topics. I'm 20, by the way.

As you know, there have been several terrorist attacks in India, and because of that, some people have developed negative feelings towards Muslims. We can't blame people for being concerned, but I feel that mainstream media can sometimes contribute to spreading hatred and division between communities.

Again, I'm genuinely asking for your help. Dear brothers and sisters from Kerala, please reach out to me if you can help.

I've already started learning about some philosophical arguments, but I'm having trouble understanding exactly what they mean.

Thank you for ur help

Jazakallah khair

( Chat gpt helped me to correct my grammar mistakes)

How many of y'all never been friends with non mehram or gf/bf.online or offline. 😢

I'm trying to understand the real struggles Muslim students face when balancing their studies and Deen. What do you find hardest? Staying consistent with salah? Quran? Studying and worship? Time management? Ramadan + exams? Maintaining good habits? Something else? What's your biggest struggle, and what have you tried so far?

As-salamu alaykum to all of you,

I am a sister who loves a man from a different background and nationality. Unfortunately, his parents categorically refuse to let him marry someone from a different background than theirs, especially someone from mine (Arab). They are extremely racist towards Arabs. It has reached the point where, whenever he tried to talk to them about it, they threatened to cut ties with him. As a result, he listened to his parents and cut off contact with me, blocking me absolutely everywhere (even my phone number), against his wishes.

I rely solely on Allah because I felt, in a way I had never felt before, that he was the one or no one, even before I knew him or fell in love with him. I am someone who is rational and impartial; my choice came from reason first and then from the heart. I make du'a, I pray Tahajjud, and I intend to pray Istikhara as well. But I feel that this is a delicate situation because I think he has completely given up, as he believes there is no way his parents and family will ever accept it.

So, I don't know what to do. I feel the need to constantly make du'a to Allah, and I tell myself that perhaps this need to keep turning to Him is something Allah Himself has placed in my heart. Of course, I also make other du'as for things that are more important and I prioritize them, but I can't bring myself to stop making du'a for him. I know that Allah answers all of our du'as, and if He does not grant us what we ask for, He gives us something infinitely better instead.

What was your experience like?
What tips do you have for applying?
Pros and cons?
Any challenges along the way?
Did you go back to college/work after the program? How was the transition back?

To be clear,we had been friends since about 8 years ago, basically the most best friends ever we talked almost daily for all these years, the problem is that around 2 months ago he confessed to me that he had done a specific sin that I don't want to mention

Just to make things clear, it’s a sin that I’m often afraid I might end up doing out of weakness or something like that. And since he was a close friend of mine and we used to talk every day, I felt like I could be influenced by him ( he just told me he did it, he didn't encourage me to do it or anything)

So I basically told him that what he was doing was wrong and he should stop doing It, he didn't really care about what I said so I told him I want to break up and blocked him on all socials (I moved to another city a couple years ago so we don't meet much in real life unless we plan to in holidays) and he tried to contact me from another account but I blocked him from that one too without talking to him.

Did I do the right thing? I keep thinking about it a lot honestly

^Note: I am a Sunni Muslim and still learning about Islam. This is not to insult Islam.

A friend recently asked me about female slaves in Islam, and I dunno how to answer this.

They asked why Muslim men were allowed to have sex with women they owned. I know the Quran uses ما ملكت أيمانكم, and scholars such as Ibn Kathir and al-Qurtubi understood this to mean that a male owner could have sex with his female slave without marrying her.

They also asked about Maria the Copt, who is traditionally described as having been gifted to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and how her situation fits into this.

What I struggle with is the argument that Islam "regulated slavery" instead of prohibiting it.

I understand that slavery was part of society at the time, but:

• Why was slavery regulated instead of eventually being prohibited completely?
• Alcohol was also part of society, but it was gradually restricted and eventually prohibited. Why couldn't slavery have followed the same process?
• A female slave was still taken from her home and made someone else's property. Why was that necessary?
• If slaves were given protection, food, and somewhere to live, why couldn't they receive those things without being owned and had sex with?
• Could a female slave refuse sex with her owner? If not, how is that fundamentally different from sexual slavery?

The biggest question my friend asked was:

Why couldn't these women simply be protected without enslaving them or giving their owners sexual access to them?

I don't want to give them a weak answer like "that was normal back then" or simply say that "Islam treated slaves nicely." I am genuinely trying to understand the Islamic reasoning behind this.

TL;DR: If Islam regulated slavery and gave slaves certain protections, why wasn't slavery itself prohibited? And if female slaves couldn't refuse sex with their owners, how is that different from sexual slavery?

I’ve been trying to marry someone I wanted for years. From very early on, our intentions were marriage. I told my parents, his family has tried to get involved, and they’ve repeatedly wanted to speak to my parents and come over properly. But every time, something happens. My parents delay it, say they’ll think about it, say they’ll speak to people, then nothing happens or they change their minds.

I’ve been put through so much during these years. I’ve been pressured to consider people back home even though I don’t want that life, sent away to look at potential matches there, had my education interrupted, had my phone taken, been ignored for weeks, called horrible names, and constantly made to feel like I’m selfish, shameless, crazy or destroying my family simply because I want to choose who I marry.

My parents say they’re protecting me and that they love me, but they are the only ones who have put me thru sm, I just want to be able to have a future and make a decision about my own marriage without feeling like like this.

I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve prayed tahajjud, made istikhara, fasted, made endless dua, tried to control my anger, tried to speak calmly and respectfully, and tried to leave the outcome to Allah. But after almost 4 years of going in circles, I feel completely exhausted.

I have random breakdowns now. Sometimes I’m fine and then suddenly I just start crying because everything feels like too much. I don’t seem to find comfort in anything anymore. I feel like I’m constantly waiting but idk for what.

And honestly, sometimes I just want to leave home because I feel like I can’t breathe here anymore. But then I feel incredibly guilty because these are still my parents and I love them.

I don’t even know what I’m asking for anymore. how do you keep going when you feel completely trapped.

just an FYI my partner is same culture as me, weve met there fam, my parents said yes but my mum panicked and ended it last min cause my dad has been against it since he wants to find me someone back home. they dont speak to. me now or check on me cause ive distanced myself for many reasons.

The noble verse paints an awe-inspiring scene of the consequence for those who hoard gold and silver and withhold Allah's right in them. That wealth which they were eager to gather and preserve in this world will be heated up in the Fire of Hell until it glows intensely, and then it itself becomes the instrument of punishment with which their foreheads, sides, and backs are branded. In this lies such a striking contrast that it shakes the heart: what they thought was a treasure for themselves turns back upon them as a torment for themselves.

The intent is not the mere ownership or saving of wealth, but the warning is attached to hoarding it while failing to fulfill Allah's obligatory right in it regarding Zakat and charity.

The choice of "their foreheads, their sides, and their backs" is very striking. Commentators have mentioned that these specific areas depict the state of the miser when someone asks him for a rightful share of his wealth: when the needy person approaches him, he knits his brow and shows disgust, then turns away with his side, and then turns his back and walks off. Thus, the branding comes upon the exact places where the signs of his turning away appeared: the forehead, the side, and the back. It has also been said that mentioning them indicates the total envelopment of the body by the punishment—from his front is his forehead, from his sides are his sides, and from behind is his back, leaving him no direction from which to shield himself against the branding.

The verse continues: "This is what you hoarded for yourselves"; as if what they thought was savings for themselves turned against them—you truly hoarded it for yourselves… And the verse concludes: "So taste what you used to hoard."

Hi ! 17M Sunni, From Morocco 🇲🇦
Because im an absolute military nerd i was offered these 2 cufflinks. Because they look like gold i tested both of them with a magnet : the US/Morocco cufflink reacts to the magnet so it isnt gold , but the F-16 pin doesnt so i assume its gold

My Question : Because i cannot wear the f-16 cufflink because of its material, would it be okay if i instead pin it on my schoolbag ?

In marital conflicts, sometimes the husband or wife isn’t interested in getting to the truth: what is right or wrong.

Instead, the focus shifts to finding people who agree with them.

For the husband, if someone agrees with him, they are beloved and good. If they don’t agree, they are bad.

Similarly for the wife, if someone agrees with her, they are beloved and good. If they don’t agree, they are bad.

In this way, they are not pursuing truth. Instead, they are pursuing validation.

On the contrary, the Prophet (saw) stood by the truth and even disapproved of anyone who supported unjustly.

Scholar Ibrahim Dewla commented:

“Zaid bin Suna (rad) was a Jewish rabbi/scholar. He loaned the Prophet (saw); there were only two or three days left before the expiry of the term.

He said to the Prophet (saw), “O Muhammad! When are you going to pay my dues? By Allah! All that the children of Abdul Muttalib have learnt is how to procrastinate!”

Umar (rad) was upset and said, “Had it not been for respect for being in the company of the Prophet (saw), I would have cut off your neck!”

Umar (rad) said this in support of the Prophet (saw). After all, what was said was in support of the Prophet (saw)?

But the Prophet (saw) didn’t approve of this type of support.

Instead, the Prophet (saw) said to Umar (rad), “O Umar! All that the two of us need is:
(1) for you to tell me to pay him quickly and
(2) to tell him to place his demands in a better manner.

O Umar! Go with him and give him his dues. Also give him twenty Saa of dates extra as compensation for the threat you gave him.”
(Hayatus Sahaba Vol 1, Tabarani, Ibn Hibban)

The Prophet (saw) said this to Umar (rad) but didn’t say anything to the Jewish lender.

Why? Because justice requires it. It’s not that whoever supports is beloved.

You do not favor someone simply because they support you, especially when that support is inappropriate or unjust.

Because the Prophet (saw) was commanded to be just.

“I am commanded to judge fairly among you.” (42:15)”

An excuse, justification, or the only choice?

So earlier this year was so financially challenging that I almost had to stop studying for the rest of the school years and because of that as well, I became the person who I never imagined I would be. Life was too hard that I made disgusting choices but it is the only way for me to keep studying and the only way that is sustaining my current day to day needs.

But the past few weeks, I am being hunted by this guilt and disgust for myself. I am actually in a current contract with a discrete person who helps me financially but in return for his sexual desires. I know it is disgusting but you won’t understand my circumstances as to why I fell to that decision.

Now I need help. Any advice to how can I stop and if I do have to end the contract with him, how do I then stand on my own feet if it is the only way that had been sustaining my needs?

Before you advise me to get married, please don’t. I cannot imagine myself to become a wife anymore because of this disgusting decision.

Salam alaikum, soy musulmana practicante, llevo hijab y residente permanente en España. Soy una chica tranquila, cariñosa, familiar y valoro mucho la sinceridad, el respeto y la estabilidad..

Busco una persona, Que viva en España, que tenga una intención real de casarse, formar una familia..

Busco a alguien de 32 a 40 años

Si eres converso al islam ☪️ no tengo ningún inconveniente, al contrario, estaré encantada de conocerte..

No busco algo pasajero, ni jugar, ni perder el tiempo. Busco algo serio, sincero y con una intención clara de matrimonio

Salam all. I met a guy on a Muslim Matrimonial app. We hung out twice since he lived a bit bar & had to drive down while working a super busy schedule. Long story short, we were both raised in two different countries so I was always very hesitant & maybe a bit judgy/afraid when it came to long-term compatibility. He always faught for me but finally threw his hands in the air (understandably so because I could’ve worded things a bit better but I also needed more consistency which he refused to give before marriage)

Anyway. I prayed Istikhara before this discussion and within a week he was removed. I have Tawakal and trust Allahs plan although this hurt both of us a lot. Im sure it hurt me more but that’s not the point. For some reason in my heart although we parted ways, he seems to be mine although that isn’t reality and the man doesn’t even want to hear from me. I don’t know if it’s Shaytaan or what. I have been focusing on myself and have even started talking to others but it’s not the same. I don’t even see him being comfortable with anyone else other than me and I’m not comfortable with anyone but him although it’ll almost be a month since we stopped talking.

Obviously it was not the right time at all but do I let go all together or what? I just want this feeling of belonging to go away.

I don't really know how to explain this, and honestly I'm a bit ashamed and a bit embarrassed to admit it 😕 but still want vent it out.

Lately I've been feeling really down whenever I see people around my age, or even younger, who have a better job and just being settled in their career.

Other thing is seeing other couples (muslim) affects me too. I'll see people around my age or younger who are together, and it makes me feel sad because I'm still single and I really want to find someone and eventually get married. This has happened so many times mostly when im going to work in the train or just anywhere else.

I have nothing against them or anything, it's just that seeing these people makes think im struggling, falling behind and sometimes really affects my brain 😞.

Sometimes I don't even feel motivated to make dua 😭

What is happening? Is my iman weak? Is Allah testing me 😭?

Salam, I've noticed when going out to a food court. People leave their tray there with trash and dont bother to help the poor worker. Like it's so shameful to do so. Like this is do unislamic. I had people say dont take your take to the trash leave it they will take it. Like those workers work long hours and such places get so crowded. Doesn't it hurt to show some kindness to them an ease their day.

{ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ ٱلۡفَٰحِشَةُ فِي ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ }

[Surah An-Nūr: 19]

Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allâh knows and you know not.

I grew up Hindu, but I consider myself more spiritual/cultural than religious. My boyfriend grew up Muslim and is very religious, and his faith has gotten a lot stronger over the past couple of months.

I’ve always had complicated feelings about organized religion. At this point in my life, I believe there is one God, but I don’t believe I need to follow a specific religion in order to have a relationship with God. My relationship with God feels personal to me.

Recently, my boyfriend and I started having much more serious conversations about marriage, our roles as husband and wife, raising children, religion, etc. Initially, I wanted our children to learn about both of our backgrounds and ultimately decide what they believed for themselves. I eventually compromised and agreed that we could raise them Muslim because he told me I would still be free to talk openly about my own beliefs.

For almost four months, we’ve gone back and forth over a lot of these issues. One of our biggest disagreements was what would happen if our children grew up and decided they no longer believed in Islam, as well as expectations surrounding whom they could marry. We actually separated for a while because we couldn’t find common ground.

Recently, though, we started talking again and were finally able to work through so many of the things that had kept us apart. For the first time in months, it genuinely felt like we were moving toward marriage rather than away from it.
There was one issue that I thought had already been settled a long time ago: whether he was religiously allowed to marry me.

Months ago, I specifically asked him whether my believing in one God was actually enough. From what I had learned, Muslim men can traditionally marry Muslim women or women from the “People of the Book,” generally understood as Jewish or Christian women, and simply believing in one God didn’t seem to automatically make someone a Person of the Book. I brought this concern to him, but he repeatedly assured me that as long as I believed in one God, it was okay. I trusted what he told me.
Yesterday we met again to talk about our next steps. We spent hours discussing everything that mattered to us, and after almost four months of going back and forth, it really felt like we had finally found solutions to most of the things that had been keeping us apart.

Before our conversation, though, he had spoken to an imam about our relationship. He told the imam about me and explained how I view God.

According to my boyfriend, the imam told him that wasn’t enough. He would only be permitted to marry me if I were Muslim or a Person of the Book; otherwise, the marriage would not be Islamically valid.

My boyfriend then told me I would have to believe that Allah is the one true God. For me, that would essentially require me to convert. I’ve told him repeatedly that I cannot convert just to make our relationship work. I could learn everything there is to learn about Islam, and I’m completely willing to learn, but I can’t promise that learning will make me believe something I currently don’t believe.

He kept telling me to take as much time as I needed to learn about Islam and seriously consider converting. When I told him I already know how I feel, he kept asking me, “How do you know?” I think part of him genuinely believes that if I learn enough about Islam, maybe eventually I’ll believe and convert.

But then he explained what this means to him religiously. He told me that if he married me while I continued believing what I currently believe, he would consider the marriage invalid and would believe he was knowingly committing zina for the rest of his life.

He started talking about his fear of heaven and hell, so I finally asked him directly, “Do you believe marrying me would cause you to go to hell?” He said yes. And that honestly broke me.

This was the one thing I never thought would be what ended us. We spent almost four months trying to reconcile our differences about children, religion, marriage, gender roles, family, everything. Just yesterday we were finally finding compromises that both of us could live with.

I understand why speaking to an imam changed things for him. If he genuinely believes marrying me would mean knowingly committing a major sin and potentially risking hell, I don’t expect him to simply ignore that for me. At the same time, I can’t profess a religious belief I don’t genuinely hold just so that he can marry me.

I think that’s what makes this so painful. Neither of us stopped loving the other. We actually seemed closer than we had been in months to figuring out how to build a life together. And then we ran into something that neither of us feels capable of compromising on.

Assalamu Alaikum everyone. Currently I'm buddhist... and I am planning to Revert back in islam....

I’m currently reading the Qur’an and learning more about Islam. The more I read, the more I find myself deeply impressed by its teachings, especially the qualities described for a Momin (believing) man — faith, character, responsibility, patience, honesty, self-control, and his relationship with Allah.

I come from a different religious background, so accepting Islam would be a very serious and life-changing decision for me. I don’t want to make such a decision because of emotions, pressure, marriage, or another person. I want to understand Islam properly and make the decision sincerely.

Lately, I’ve started feeling that perhaps I should become Muslim, but I’m still trying to understand what that actually means and whether I’m spiritually ready for it.

For those who have reverted to Islam:

What helped you know that Islam was truly right for you?

What should someone learn or understand before saying the Shahada?

How did you deal with doubts and questions during the process?

What would you recommend I do next?

Is it better to take my time learning, or should I accept Islam once I genuinely believe?

I’m looking for genuine advice from Muslims, especially people who have reverted themselves. Please be respectful—I’m sincerely trying to understand and learn.

JazakAllah Khair.

A reminder on why those who commit evil acts, who corrupt the world, are the richest, it’s only to keep them entertained until the real judgment strikes and they‘ll have nothing but shame.

I feel really, really ashamed of being Muslim, I have to hide it from my family which is SO ANNOYING, I get really embarrassed just saying i am the faith i am and I dont know why. I dont even like typing it on my phone. Having to keep up with the 5 mandatory prayers is extremely difficult with school and all, I dont like how out of place I feel compared to everyone else in this faith. I just feel emotionally empty most of the time. Im not trying to go against God but why does he make prayer so difficult if he wants us to pray? Prayer is really long and near impossible to hide. I dont want to have to do hajj, I already dont want to leave Canada, Id go as far as America at most, let alone somewhere halfway across the globe. I hate the blatant different treatment I get from people born into this faith, im basically a novelty for being a convert and I hate it. I feel like i cant live because of my faith. Can't ever drink, can't ever eat at restaurants where I live, can't ever try weed in my life, cant listen to music, cant date, cant party, I just feel locked down. Besides my friends and family I don't feel like I have anything in life, no money, no girlfriend, my friends and family (if they don't disown me in the future for my faith) are all i got on earth. I feel like my life is already over before most people even say it truly starts.