Mukallaf, Choices, Istikhara
Name 3 conditions that makes a person mukallaf.
Puberty / sanity / knowledge of obligation
This part of a human is described in the Qur’an as a “trust from Allah” and is breathed into humans at creation.
Ruh
Allah's knows (1) what happened, (2), what is happening, and what's the other 2?
(3) what will happen, (4) if something didn't happen, then He knows what would have happened if it happened
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every religion has a characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is ________.”
Haya
Recite Surah Fatiha in English
A mukallaf is held responsible for actions because they possess both intellect ('aql) and _____?
Free will
This “self” can either command evil or become tranquil, depending on discipline and obedience to Allah.
Nafs
Does Allah create and want evil to happen?
Yes, He creates it, but does not love it. He allows it to happen for a greater wisdom.
Describe how ḥayā functions as both a personal and social regulator in Islam.
Answer: What is: It restrains a person from committing sins privately while also guiding interactions with others, promoting respectful, ethical, and modest behavior in society?
What is the difference between ٱلْحَمْدُ versus يَحْمَدُ ? Why does Allah use the former?
ٱلْحَمْدُ is a noun,
not requiring a do-er, whereas
يَحْمَدُ
requires a do-er. To Allah belongs All praise and thanks regardless of if there is someone doing it or not
Can a human being be higher in status than angels? Why or why not?
Yes, because we have the choice to worship Allah, angels do not.
Nafs al-lawwāmah is best described as:
The self that reproaches itself
List 8 reasons why Allah may allow suffering to occur
refer to slides
List 10 clothing that go against haya in public
Revealing tops – showing the chest, cleavage, or midriff.
Transparent or see-through clothing – where the body or undergarments are visible.
Tight clothing – that clings to the shape of the body.
Extremely short skirts or shorts – exposing legs above the knees.
Low-rise pants – exposing the waist or abdomen.
Clothing with offensive or indecent slogans/images – promoting immorality or shamelessness.
Sheer leggings or tights worn without modest covering – revealing body shape.
Sleeveless or backless outfits – exposing shoulders or back in public.
Excessively flashy or attention-seeking attire – intended to attract unwanted attention.
Improperly covering traditional garments – such as hijab not covering hair, chest, or arms for women, or pants above the ankles for men in some scholarly views.
Why does Allah mention He's the Entirely Merciful, Always Merciful before He mentions that He's the Owner of the DoJ? Why does He mention that He's the owner of the DoJ from the first place?
His Mercy is greater than His wrath. But His wrath is also mentioned so people feel at ease with His justice, and so people also try and tame their lower nafs since they know they'll have to answer to Him one day.
A person prays Istikhārah sincerely, feels anxious afterward, proceeds with the decision anyway, and the outcome turns out painful and difficult.
Did the Istikhārah “fail”? Explain why or why not using the purpose of Istikhārah.
No, Istikhārah did not fail. Istikhārah is not a request for comfort, certainty, or immediate ease, but a request that Allah decree what is best and make the heart content with it. A difficult outcome does not mean it was bad; it may still be خير (good) in religion, character, or the Hereafter. The role of Istikhārah is alignment with Allah’s knowledge, not emotional reassurance or worldly success
A person knows an action is wrong, feels inner resistance toward it, yet repeatedly gives in and later feels guilt and emptiness.
Which of the three—nafs, rūḥ, or qalb—is failing first, and why?
The qalb is failing first, because it is the moral and spiritual governor that should restrain the nafs and respond to the guidance of the rūḥ. When the qalb becomes weakened or diseased, the nafs dominates despite knowledge, and the rūḥ’s guidance is no longer acted upon. Everyone has a pure ruh (soul),but it is the heart that gets contaminated by the lower nafs
Give an example of each:
A) Allah loves it, allows it to happen
B) Allah loves it, doesn't allow it to happen
C) He doesn't love it, He allows it to happen
D) He doesn't love it, He doesn't allow it to happen
1) Abu Bakr (R) becoming muslim. 2) Abu Talib not becoming muslim. 3) killing innocent person. 4) assasination attempt against the Prophet (pbuh)
Explain why losing ḥayā can negatively affect both personal faith and societal trust. Provide an example.
Without ḥayā, individuals may act shamelessly, lie, or engage in immoral behavior, which corrupts personal spirituality and erodes ethical norms and trust within the community.
Ṣirāṭ alladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn” distinguishes three groups of people. Explain the subtle difference between those who are maghḍūb (incurring wrath) and ḍāllīn (those who are astray).
Maghḍūb refers to those knowingly rejecting or opposing divine guidance (e.g., arrogance, deliberate sin, like the Jews), while ḍāllīn refers to those who have gone astray due to ignorance or misguidance (Christians). This distinction teaches discernment in following guidance and avoiding harmful paths.
What is the istikhara dua, in either arabic or english, either or is fine.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek Your guidance (in making a choice) by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, and I do not. You know, and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, my worldly affairs, and in the hereafter then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me the good wherever it may be and make me content with it [Sahih al-Bukhari #6382].
The Qur’an mentions that guidance and misguidance ultimately affect the heart (qalb), yet the ruh is described as pure and untouched by sin. Considering this, explain how a person can act in ways that appear righteous externally while their qalb remains “sick,” and which part of the self is primarily responsible for this internal dissonance.
A person can perform outwardly righteous actions (like prayer, charity, fasting) while their qalb is sick because the nafs—especially if inclined toward desires or heedlessness—can dominate intention, making acts mechanically performed without sincerity. The qalb suffers when it is distracted, hardened, or filled with attachment to worldly desires, while the ruh remains pure and connected to Allah. The internal dissonance arises from the struggle between the commanding nafs and the heart’s potential for submission and purity.
This group claimed humans possess complete free will and that Allah has no role in the creation of their actions.
Qadariyyah
How does ḥayā contribute to avoiding hypocrisy (nifaq) in outwardly righteous behavior?
By aligning inner restraint and moral awareness with outward actions, ḥayā ensures that external worship and public behavior reflect sincere faith, preventing a disconnect between heart and deeds.
How does “Iyyāka na‘budu wa iyyāka nasta‘īn” counter deism, which claims God created the world but does not intervene?
It demonstrates that humans must actively worship and seek help from Allah, implying His ongoing involvement in creation and guidance.