________________________________________________________________________ | w w w |\ | || || | || |\ | o_,_7 _|| . _o_7 _|| 4_|_|| o_w_, |\ | ( : / (_) / ( . |\ | |\ | || || | || |T | | || | |\ | . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o _|_c 4_|_|| _|,_p q |\ | (_): / (_): . : / (_S (_S / |\ | |\ | In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful |\ | Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\ |_______________________________________________________________________|\ Assalamu 'Alaykum The following questions were kindly answered by Dr. Takim Salaams & Duas Ummulbanin Merali - Moderator - 'Aalim Network ******************************************************************************** QUESTION: I am not so sure about this but alcohol including wine is haram - yet the Qur'an says that in heaven there will be wine. How does this tie in? I have been asked this by a non-Muslim. Another confusing question, I have is that we Muslims believe in decency and lowering our gaze and hijab - how does this tie in with the ideas of 'hurs' in heaven? I am asking these questions because I got into a discussion with a non- Muslim and I could not answer all these questions. I hope you will enlighten both myself and the non-Muslim. ANSWER: This answer will cover both questions. This earthly life is a period of what is called taklif i.e. where the performance of certain acts is incumbent and refraining from some acts is also incumbent. It is a place of trial. However, paradise is a place of reward. Therefore, one of our most prominent theologians, Shaykh al-Mufid (RA) says in his Awa'il al-Maqalat that heaven is not a place of taklif i.e. there are no religious obligations imposed there. A person can have whatever s/he may wish. That is why the Qur'an does mention the availability of wine (47:15), silk (44:53), huris (55:46) gold (22:23) etc. in heaven. May Allah reward you for your efforts. Please remember me in your prayers. Your brother in Islam Liyakatali Takim