carryberry

Thank you kindly sir!

As-salamu 'alaikum! I have been unemployed for awhile and pondering returning to the place I worked before I reverted to Islam insha'Allah as a groundsman. For those who don't know, a groundsman is responsible for general labor during tree-removal/pruning operations and handles everything on the ground including cutting and chipping branches and loading logs into dump trucks for sale as firewood. It's work I have years of experience doing and it would help get me back on my feet insha'Allah but I have been hesitant to start back there for two reasons: first, I heard from no source in particular that cutting trees is haraam, and second, some of my fellow crew-members were a bit...intolerant...of other view-points, so to be honest I've been apprehensive about working with them again. Any advice would be wonderful insha'Allah! Would anyone recommend returning? If so, would it be wrong for me to just remain quiet about my being a Muslim, or should I be open and unapologetic? By that I don't mean confrontational, but rather, honest? Thanks to all answerers for your time!

Alhamdulillah, in that case please pardon me for my misunderstanding insha'Allah!

Wa-alaikum salaam. I do appreciate your response, and I welcome your hadith suggestions, though I have to admit what you wrote seemed to be somewhat accusatory in tone. I am not on here searching for a means to "hide (my) ways," rather I was wondering if the scenario I described would constitute backbiting? For example, if you discover your son-say at the age of 17-using cannabis, and when you confront him, he becomes defensive saying it's "not a big deal, don't worry, I can quit at any time..." and you recall an instance where (for the sake of this question) another Muslim you knew once started using cannabis and later moved on to alcohol, and you use that example in chastising your son-without naming the person-is that considered backbiting?

P.S. the sunglasses smiley is person B, whoops!

I don't know if somebody already asked this, but what if you're talking to someone (person A) who doesn't know person B, and you never actually reveal the identity of person B to person A? Rather you're talking to person A, and you say, "Well, I once saw SOMEONE (who is actually person B) do this and this and it was shocking..." That way you're able to retain and convey the lessons you've learned throughout your life without ever actually hurting someone's reputation? Does that still count as backbiting, or is it only backbiting if you reveal the identity of the talked-about person to the addressee, in which case a reputation is harmed?

As-salamu 'alaikum! Please de-registrate my profile! Thanks and salaams!

Watch until 3:27 (Viewer Discretion). What is up with that? They made a face out of Allah's Arabic name? Also, a similar shape is apparent on the copy of my Qu'ran. http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9789694320007_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg In the very top-center of the vine-pattern, the vines curl together to form a shape quite like the one in the video. Can someone explain this to me?