Friday, May 7, 2010

Asking Questions

Here's another post in my Conversation Ideas series.

Asking questions of other people is normal in our culture. We learn a lot by asking questions. In my country we ask a lot of questions but there are certain questions which are not considered appropriate to ask another person. Generally speaking it is inappropriate to ask someone:

How old are you?
How much money do you make?
What is your birth control method? Why don’t you have more children? Were you a virgin when you got married? (Sometimes asked, “Was he your boyfriend?” – meaning did you sleep with him?)
How much do you weigh?
How much did ____cost?
How much are the mortgage payments/rent of your house?
When exactly is your due date(pregnancy)?
Personal questions about another person’s religious practices early in a relationship such as whether she fasts, prays, etc. That is considered private matter.

How do you feel about asking questions about your holy book or prophet? What if a person would have a doubt about something that is written in the Qur’an? If you have questions how do you try to find out the answers? Is there freedom or encouragement to ask any question about Islam or the Qur’an?

Encourage your friend that God welcomes any question about faith issues. He won’t be angry with us or punish us for asking a question. You won’t go to jahannam(hell) if you ask a question. Share with your friend any spiritual questions you may have wrestled with. You can also suggest reading a Zabour(Psalm)where the prophet Daoud(David)asked God some hard questions. Or perhaps from the book of Job(Ayub - pronounced 'eye-yube).