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Sisters Writing to Non-Mahram Prisoners

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Question:

As-salamu alaykum. Is it permissible for Muslim women to write letters to Muslim men who are held in prisons in non-Muslim countries (sometimes in solitary confinement) in order to raise their eeman and keep their spirits high at a difficult time? Some sisters are claiming that it is necessary for them to do this even though these brothers in prison may be married (as may the sisters themselves) since there are not enough men writing letters to these prisoners. It is well-documented that women (including Muslim women) may become infatuated with male prisoners by writing letters to them especially if the men write back. What is the Islamic ruling on this issue and does the issue of infatuation have any bearing on the ruling? If it is permissible to write these letters, are there any Islamic guidelines regarding the content? Jazakallah khayr.
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Posted by on May 8, 2013 in Maktabah

 

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From Arrest to Release: An Overview of the UK Prison Experience

“Muslims are breaking records with the judicial system in ways that are not imaginable.”

In 2007, Abdul Muhid was arrested along with three other Muslims for protesting the infamously racist Danish cartoons a year earlier. Convicted and sentenced to six years of imprisonment, he shares his experiences about the British justice system.

His talk covers the minutia involving pre-dawn raids, stop and search laws, repressive bail conditions, unfair trials, faulty evidence, imprisonment, release and probation. Additionally he addresses issues of freedom of speech, rampant racism within law enforcement, physical and psychological torture and abuse directed at Muslim prisoners, as well as the risks of suicide and the importance of sending letters.

The ex-prisoner also inspires with his recollection of Muslim solidarity and brotherhood behind bars and spiritual elevation achieved under such oppressive conditions. Especially touching is Abdul Muhid’s account of the serious tragedy of David English, the chilling horror faced by 17 year old Zahid Mubarak, the remorse inducing gratitude of Khalid al-Fawwaz, Dr. Mohammad Syed Alam’s delicate condition, and the beautiful Omar Khayam’s request to all of you.

For more information on how to fulfil your obligation of writing to and supporting prisoners, please see muslimprisoners.com (UK) and freedetainees.org (US). Prisoner listings can be found in the resources section of the aseerun website.

 
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Posted by on October 14, 2012 in Campaigns, Videos

 

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Sisters Corresponding With Brothers in Prisons

Question: Is it permissible for female sisters to write brothers who are in prison (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى hasten their release)?

Islam came with guidelines, rules and principles that scholars derived from the study of the Koran and hadith.

Among those principles are what Imam Ahmad, Malik, Ibn Taimieh and others established under (سد الذرائع  ) which is the rule of avoiding something permissible that may lead to a prohibited/haram matter.

Another principle of Islam is (درء المفاسد مُقدّم على جلب المصالح), which means when the evil is greater than the benefit, then leave the benefit as much as possible.  One need not achieve it since it’s buried in the greater evil.

A third principle of Islam is   (ما أفضى إلى مُحرّم فهو مُحرّ), which means whatever leads to haram becomes in itself haram.

Based on the above mentioned principles of Islam, one should avoid corresponding with inmates of the opposite sex.

Most, if not all, the time, females writing male inmates start off with good intentions, but then the shytan enters, instigating and making a person think it’s only an innocent pen pal, or one can earn great reward for writing our beloved brothers in prison, or maybe instill the hope of marriage.

There may be a benefit to writing someone of the opposite sex, but that leads to excessive communication and possibly even haram.

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Posted by on June 12, 2012 in Maktabah

 

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Walter Bond: April 1, 2012 (Turning Words into Actions)

This isn’t the first time you’ve been imprisoned for your political actions. Can you tell us about why you were locked up before, and what you are in jail for this time?

My first time in prison was for one charge of 2nd degree arson and aggravated criminal mischief. It was a state case in Iowa for burning down the home and extensive methamphetamine operation of a major drug dealer. A bit of retribution for manufacturing poison to the community, and my family in particular. Currently I am serving a 12 years in federal prison for the 2010 ‘ALF Lone Wolf’ arsons. I burned down a Sheepskin Factory in Denver, a Leather Factory and a restaurant that sold Foie Gras (bloated duck liver) both of these businesses were in the Salt Lake City area.

You have been involved in the hardcore and punk subcultures for decades. What roll did music play in politicizing you as a person?

I would say that music had a huge impact on the progression of my beliefs as an activist and on a myriad of issues. Through punk and hardcore I was exposed to many issues that became central to my personality later on in life. Such as Veganism, Animal Liberation, and Straight Edge. These music scenes taught me a lot about diversity of thought and were an amazing outlet for a poor kid from a broken home. It channeled a lot of negativity and anger I had and focused it on bigger issues than just what was going on in my a lot or family life. Had it not been for punk and hardcore  I think I would have very easily fallen into gang activity or serious drug abuse. I cant say that the music made me some really great guy but it definitely kept me from self-destructing at a terribly difficult time in my life.

I read at the time of your arrest you were living on the streets?

That’s true, I had purposefully given up everything in my life to truly go underground. No job, no home, no bank account etc. I really had no idea what I was doing. I have never been rich or privileged But I have always been working class and able to take care of myself before this. I used to assume that I was a step above the homeless population but being out there gave me a whole new perspective. Some of the most compassionate and community oriented people I have ever met came from the streets. They are also the most shunned, abused, forgotten, exploited, and demeaned class of people in America. In a country hell-bent on consumerism being poor is not just seen as sinful it is also punished as such. My short stint living on the streets opened my eyes to a lot of my own class prejudices and gave me a lot more compassion for people than I’ve ever had before.

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Posted by on April 1, 2012 in Letters from Walter Bond, Risala

 

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How it works: MuslimPrisoners.com

From Our Brothers at Muslim Prisoners:

All praises and thanks are due to Allah, the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad (saw).

We at muslimprisoners.com have launched this new and innovative website to help us all write to Muslims in UK prisons. All you need to do is write a general letter, addressing the brothers and sisters in prison, showing your support, concern and willingness to help them and their families in their time of great stress and anxiety. You can also share with them any knowledge you may have gained about Islam to benefit them, insha Allah.

All you need to do is write a letter and send it as an attachment to our email address: letters@muslimprisoners.com. We will then print out your letter, address it to the 60 Muslims in UK prisons [brothers letters going to brothers and sisters letters going to sisters] and then post it out free of charge. If the letters are written by a family e.g. husband & wife then we will post the letters to all the brothers and sisters on our list. Once the brothers and sisters reply to your letter we will then up load it on http://www.muslimprisoners.com. Insha allah.

If you put your own address on the letter then that is you prerogative – by doing so you can receive direct replies to your letter. However, if you do not wish to provide your own address, then we will be more than willing to adopt that responsibility and use our own address to allow the brothers and sisters in prison to reply to your letter, insha Allah.

You can support the brothers and sisters in prison financially by donating money, postal orders and postal stamps by addressing your letter (with your donation enclosed) to any individual Muslim in prison yourselves. We do not deal with money ourselves, but we can advise on how to give the prisoners money insha Allah

You can find the individual names and addresses of the brothers and sisters in prison on the website, insha allah. If you would like more information or wish to do more to help the brothers and sisters in prison, please leave your questions, comment or suggestions on our website insha allah.

If you wish to speak to us directly you can call Abu Muhsina on 07801 955 014.
May Allah bless you all for your efforts, ameen
http://www.muslimprisoners.com


Amin! May Allah Reward you all & enable you to continue helping the Muslim Prisoners!

 
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Posted by on October 20, 2011 in Campaigns, Videos

 

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