QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH SYED MUHAMMAD NAQVI
Saturday, December 29, 2012 12:38 PM
28 December 2012
This Ashre Zainabiyya, Stanmore Jaffery’s Ladies Literary team organised a ladies only Q&A session
with Syed Muhammad Naqvi. As always, we are trying to meet our aim of allowing ladies to interact
more with the scholars of the Muslim community.
There was a variety of questions which were posed to Syed, and alhamdulillah, he managed to answer
all of them. A number of key points were raised which are important to remember to implement
during our daily lives. Arguably the most important concept that Syed mentioned is that Allah (SWT)
does not send any problems our way before giving us the strength and patience to endure this test. A
question was asked in reference to a loved one passing away, and Syed reminded us that when you see
the family of one who has passed away, you notice a sense of calmness after the body is buried. What
you are seeing is Allah’s quality of being Qayyum.
One lady asked an interesting question: why in the Holy Quran in Surah Mulk (Surah 67) does Allah
(SWT) address death before life? The ayat in question is verse 2:
“He, Who has created death and life that He might test you, as to whose work, is excellent among you.
And He is the Esteemed one the Forgiving.”
Syed Muhammad said that it was difficult to give a definitive answer. However, he suggested that
perhaps death in this sense was talking about our transfer between existences. He began by saying that
we are beings of atoms, who then go into the spines of our fathers and then the womb of our mothers
before entering this world – after which we will go on to the next existence, and Allah (SWT) may
have been talking about death in this way, and the life He gives us after each ‘death’.
Syed also addressed a question about the existences which have been before us. Entire humanities,
each with their own Prophet Adam. In the Holy Qur’an in Surah Baqarah, Allah talks about Prophet
Adam and says, “I will create a vicegerent on Earth”. At this point, Allah has not yet created Prophet
Adam, but straight away the angels question why Allah would make creatures which He knows will
cause bloodshed. Syed Muhammad raises a point of reflection – why would the angels say this, or
even know this before Prophet Adam has even been created? Throughout the entire programme, one
thing Syed displayed beautifully was his method of using the Holy Qur’an as evidence for what he
says.
Another concept which was mentioned was regarding the evil eye. Syed expanded about the idea of
najr and said that the concept is mostly brought upon ourselves psychologically. If someone believes
that an individual’s evil eye is upon them, then it is their belief which creates the evil eye. So if you
believe that no power is greater than Allah's power then you will be able to get rid of the illusion of
evil eye. Believing in the evil eye means that you are giving a greater power to that evil than to Allah
(SWT). It is important to have faith in Allah (SWT) and remember Him and that He will look after
you.
The ladies were able to ask for clarification on any questions posed to Syed, and Syed accommodated
for this, leaving all parties involved to come to the conclusion that the event was a success.
We would like to thank Syed Muhammad Naqvi for his time.
