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Shaban 15th and Changing Qiblah Related Fatwa Issues

Dr. Mohammad S. Alrahawan
20 April, 2019

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

 

Thank you very much for joining us in this Fatwa session. We would like also to thank our guest, Dr. Mohammad S. Alrahawan, for answering the questions directed to him. You will find the answers of your questions below.

Saturday, Apr. 20, 2019 | 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Session is over.

Is there a certain duaa that we can say on Shaban 15th?



There is no authentic hadith to prove that the Prophet (peace be upon him) has pronounced a special supplication during the mid of Shaʿbān. All reports which mentioned some of those supplications are not authentic.

Almighty Allah knows best.

What lessons can we learn from the occasion of changing the qiblah?



1- At the outset, we should learn how to promptly submit to the command of Allah without showing any objection. When the Companions of the Prophet received imperative to direct their faces to the kaʿbah, they have immediately responded to the divine command.

 

Abdullah bin Umar  (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that while the people were performing the ṣubḥ prayer at Qubā’, someone came to them and said  “Last night some Quran was revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he was commanded to face the kaʿbah  so face it.” They had been facing al-Shām (the Levant) and so they turned towards the kaʿbah.”

 

2- Changing the qibla is a proof on the occurrence of abrogation in Islamic Shariah. Abrogation is the annulment of a legal ruling by a subsequent or later ruling. Allah abrogated the ruling of directing one’s face to Jerusalem during prayer to the Kaʿbah.

 

3- Changing the qiblah refers to the great status of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Allah responded to his internal wish to face the Kaʿbah.

 

4- Finally, the occasion of changing qibla refers to the fact that the Kaʿbah is the best place since Allah has chosen it to be the place where all Muslims direct their faces in prayer.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

 

Why was the qiblah changed?



There are some reasons the scholars deduced for the change of qibla from Jerusalem to Mecca. Some of them include the following:

 

1- It is a test for the true believer, who submissively accepted the command of Allah without objection . The Quran provides, “And We made the Qiblah which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels. Indeed, it was great (heavy) except for those whom Allah guided”. (Al-Baqarah 2:143)

 

2- This ummah is the best of nations, as Allah says, “You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind.” (Aal `Imran 3:110)

 

Confirming the passage on qiblah, Allah says, “Thus We have made of you just and the best nation (ummatan waṣatan). (Al-Baqarah 2:143).

 

Wasatan conveys meanings of justice and of being chosen. So, Allah has chosen for this ummah goodness in all things and the best commands and rules, and thus He chose for them the Qiblah of Abraham.

 

Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from Aishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said about Jews and Christians, “They do not envy us for anything as much as they envy us for Friday, to which Allah has guided us and from which they have gone astray, and for the qiblah to which Allah has guided us and from which they have gone astray, and for our saying Ameen behind the imam (in prayer).

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can we fast on Shaban 15th?



Some Muslim scholars have recommended special worshiping during the night of 15th of Shaban. They based their view on a number of Prophetic traditions such as the following:

 

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘When it is the night of the middle of Sha’ban, spend its night in prayer and observe a fast on that day. For Allah descends at sunset on that night to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there no one who will ask Me for forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there no one who will ask Me for provision, that I may provide for him? Is there no one who is afflicted by trouble, that I may relieve him?’ And so on, until dawn comes.’” (Ibn Majah)

 

Scholars maintained that this hadith is not authentic (Ibn al-Jawzī, ʿIlal vol. 2, p. 562; Albani, Ibn Majah’s Sunan, vol. 1, p. 444).

 

Allah comes down on the heaven of earth on this night and forgives people more than the hair of the goats of the tribe of Kalb. At-Tirmidhi). It is also a weak hadith.

 

Allah gives special favor to His servants on this night and forgives everyone except those who are polytheists and Muslims who have malice and animosity towards their fellow Muslims. (Ibn Maja and Al-Bazzar)

 

It is also unauthentic.

 

Therefore, it is not permissible to dedicate a worship specifically at that night. But fasting on the 15th of Shaban is recommended for other considerations including the following:

a) The fasts of the first half of Shaban have special merits as can be seen from the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

 

b) The virtues of the fasts of the 13th, 14th and 15th of the Islamic month have been mentioned in some authentic ahadith of the Prophet.
c) A large number of our righteous ancestors have been observing the fast of the 15th of Shabān.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can women braid their hair with synthetic hair?



It is not permissible for a woman to attach other hair to her hair (hair extensions) because of the warning against hair extensions.

 

Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “May Allah curse the one who adds hair extensions and the one who has them added, the one who does tattoos and the one who has them done.”

 

Muslim narrated that Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade women to attach anything to their head.

 

This is the view of the massive majority of Muslim scholars.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can a wife stipulate in the marriage contract that her husband must not marry a second wife?



According to many scholars including Ḥanbalīs, a woman has the right of stipulating at the marriage contract that her husband should not get married to a second or  a third wife.

 

In case the husband does not fulfil this condition, the contract will be null and void. This view is held by `Umar ibn Al-Khattab, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, Mu`awiyah, `Amr ibn Al-`Aas, `Umar ibn `Abd Al-`Aziz, Jabir ibn Zayd, Tawus, Al-Awza`i, Is-haq, and the Hanbali jurists. They quote the following proofs in support of their opinion:

 

– Allah Almighty says, “O ye who believe! Fulfill your undertakings.” (Al-Maidah 5:1)

Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others reported on the authority of `Uqbah ibn `Amir that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “The conditions you have the most duty to fulfill are those by which you have made marital relations lawful.”

 

With his chain of narrators, Al-Athram reported that a man married a woman; it was stipulated in the marriage contract that he should provide her a certain house. Thereafter, the husband wanted her to dwell in another house, so the wife lodged a complaint to `Umar ibn Al-Khattab; `Umar said that the wife should be provided with the house stipulated in the marriage contract.

 

They, moreover, maintain that the wife’s condition that her husband should not marry another beside her, is binding, for it contains a benefit for the wife and does not contradict the objectives of marriage; it is the same as the stipulation of increasing the dower.

 

Ibn Qudamah gives preference to this view over the first; he says, “This was the opinion of the Companions, and we do not know anyone who disagreed with them in their lifetime.

 

In addition, the hadith that states: “Any condition which has no basis in the Book of Allah is void” means any condition which is inconsistent with the rules of Shari`ah, but such a condition is admissible, and we have mentioned the proofs that support its admission; therefore, he who doubts its admission should support his view with evidences.”

 

Other scholars maintain that the contract of marriage is valid, but the accompanying conditions are void, so the husband is not bound to fulfil these conditions. This is the view of Abu Hanifah, Ash-Shafi`i, and many other jurists.

 

They based their view on the report of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which he said, “Muslims are bound by their conditions, unless it be a condition which turns a lawful act into haram or a haram into halal.”

 

They maintain that the wife’s stipulating that her husband must not marry another beside her, or not to take her with him in his journeys, is null and void, because it makes a lawful thing, i. e. marriage or accompanying her in travels, unlawful.

 

Based on the above fatwa, the wife has the right to stipulate in the marriage contract that her husband must not marry another beside her and it’ll be binding upon him. If the man marries another wife, then she is given the choice either to claim for divorce or to stay with him as a co-wife.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can a new Muslim read the prayer from a book?



Yes, it is permissible either in obligatory or supererogatory prayers.

 

 Almighty Allah knows best.

Can a menstruating woman enter Madinah?



There is no problem for a Menstruating woman to enter Medina.

 

 Almighty Allah knows best.

Can a disabled person lead the prayer while sitting?



It is permissible for the imam to lead the people in prayer while he is sitting. This is the view of Abu Ḥanīfa, al-Shāfʿī and Ahmad.

 

In case the imam starts praying sitting down, then the people behind him should pray sitting down.

 

This is based on the hadith of Aishah who said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prayed at home when he was sick. He prayed sitting down and some people prayed behind him standing up, but he gestured to them that they should sit. When he finished (the prayer) he said, ‘The imam has been appointed to be followed. When he bows, bow; when he raises his head, raise your heads; and if he prays sitting, then pray sitting.’” (Al-Bukhari)

It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) rode a horse and fell, and the right side (of his body) was injured. He offered one of the prayers sitting down, and we prayed behind him sitting down.  When he finished (the prayer) he said, ‘The imam has been appointed to be followed. If he prays standing up, then pray standing up; when he bows, bow; when he raises his head, raise your heads. When he says Sami’ Allaahu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him), say Rabbanaa wa laka’l-hamd (Our Lord, to You be praise). If he prays standing, then pray standing, and if he prays sitting, then pray sitting, all of you.’” (Al-Bukhari)

 

If the imam starts the prayer standing, then something happens to him that makes him unable to stand any more, those who are praying behind him should complete the prayer standing.

The evidence for this is as follows:

It was narrated that Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) became seriously ill and asked, ‘Have the people prayed?’ We replied, ‘No, they are waiting for you.’ He said, ‘Put some water in a tub for me.’ We did that and he took a bath and tried to get up, but he fainted. Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recovered, and again asked, ‘Have the people prayed?’ We said, ‘No, they are waiting for you, O Messenger of Allah.’ He again said, ‘Put some water in a tub for me.’ He sat down and took a bath and tried to get up but fainted again. Then he recovered and said, ‘Have the people prayed?’ We said, ‘No, they are waiting for you, O Messenger of Allaah.’ He again said, ‘Put some water in a tub for me.’ He sat down and took a bath and tried to get up but fainted again. Then he recovered and said, ‘Have the people prayed?’ We said, ‘No, they are waiting for you, O Messenger of Allah.’ The people were in the mosque, waiting for the Prophet to lead them in Isha prayer. The Prophet sent word to Abu Bakr that he should lead the people in prayer. The messenger went to him and said, ‘The Messenger of Allah is telling you to lead the people in prayer.’ Abu Bakr, who was a soft-hearted man, said: ‘O Umar, lead the people in prayer.’ But ‘Umar answered, you have more right to do that.’ So Abu Bakr led the prayers during those days. Then when the Prophet felt a little better, he came out supported by two men, one of whom was al-Abbas, for the Zhuhr prayer. Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer, but when Abu Bakr saw him, he wanted to step back [to let the Prophet lead the prayer]. But the Prophet gestured to him that he should not step back. He said, ‘Sit me down beside him,’ so they sat him down beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr continued praying, but he followed the Prophet in prayer, and the people were following Abu Bakr in the prayer, and the Prophet was sitting down.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can Muslims be buried in non-Muslim cemeteries?



Under normal circumstances, it is impermissible to bury Muslims alongside non-Muslims. It would not be permissible to bury Muslims in a graveyard or a land where Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and people of the other faiths are buried. Similarly, it is impermissible to bury non-Muslims in a land where Muslims are buried.

 

This is based on the fact that since the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Muslims throughout the ages have been burying their dead in their own cemeteries. There have always been separate burying areas for Muslims and non-Muslims, thus the constant practice of the Muslim nation is considered to be one of the evidences.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can I brush hair and cut nails at night?



There is no problem at all since there is no hadith on restricting the brushing of hair or cutting nails at day time.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can a brother and a sister share the same room?



ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb reported on his father’s authority that his grandfather (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Command your children to perform Salat (prayer) when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not offering) it when they are ten, and do not let (boys and girls) sleep together”

 

Scholars maintained that prohibition mentioned in this hadith refers to the forbiddance of sleeping at the same bed. There is no problem of staying at the same room as long as no ʿawrah is exposed or any problem may occur.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Is it Ok to take a bath where children pee?



There is no problem to take a bath where children pee as long as you keep yourself pure from any impurities.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Can I authorize a non-Muslim to slaughter the sacrificial animal?



The default rule is that a Muslim slaughters his sacrificial animal by himself. This is the practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

 

Scholars have unanimously agreed that a Muslim can empower a Muslim to slaughter on his behalf. They based their consensus of the hadith of the Prophet.

 

According to the report of At-Tirmidhi, Ata said, “I asked Abu Abyub [Al-Ansari] how the slaughtering was done during the time of the Messenger of Allah. He said: ‘A man would sacrifice a sheep for himself and the people in his household. They would eat from it and feed others, until the people (later) would boast about it and it became as you see now.”

 

It was also reported on the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet slaughtered 36 camels of his sacrificial animals he offered in his hajj and asked Ali to slaughter the rest on his behalf.

 

According to ash-Shafi`i school of law, if a person does not have a Muslim to slaughter a sacrificial animal on his behalf, he may empower a Christian or a Jew, provided that he/she knows the Islamic ruling of slaughtering. He based his view on the fact that Islam permitted easting of meat slaughtered by Jews and Christians. The main intent of empowering someone to slaughter on one’s behalf is to legally slaughter the animal while the intention for offering sacrifice is retained by the donor (An-Nawawi, al-Majmu`, vol. 8, p. 405)

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

salaam I got a marriage proposal from my father sister son ( my cousin) . ill be as simple as I can get, so please help me through my decision. he is working, memorized Quran, but his thinking and his family thinking is very strict in islamic teachings, the way that makes u scared or feel hatred towards the religion, I wouldn't call them closed minded but they are very strict and for example while traveling they don't eat cheese, oil, and are very afraid of eating anything. There was problems in the past with my grandmother and their grandmother in the past, my mother is refusing the marriage but she says I am not disspotineted of you, she just disapproves of the marriage and think I deserve someone more flexible, I don't know what to do, I don't want to go against my mother but she is a very hard person to deal with and she refuses any proposal we get she claims "she doesn't feel comfortable" but she prayer istkarah only once. guide me please



Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

You must meet with the person who proposed for you in marriage and frankly ask him on your worries and request your family to ask about his personality at his work and neighbourhood.

 

If you think he is rigid and strict to the extent that he is not compatible to your personality, there is nothing wrong to apologize for not considering his proposal.

 

If you think he is committed to religious duties and what you heard are just rumours or exaggerations about him and his family, you can then accept his proposal.

 

The criterion by which you can measure his personality is to check his commitment to the basic pillars of Islam and his moral behaviour specially on how to deal with you and your family.

 

Allah knows best.

Salam sir, Should I fold in the corner of the prayer rug when not praying?



Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

No. This practice is not proved at all through any authentic report from the Prophet (peace be upon him).

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

As-salaamu 'alaykum. Me and wife have been married for almost a year. We started having some issues in our marriage mostly because of family issues, and because both of us concealed some past information. That being said, we both married each other with sincereity and love. After 6/7 months of our marriage, my wife started behaving strangely. And then all of a sudden she started asking for divorce. After enquiring, I found out that she has been sleeping with another man. When the evidence were presented, she confessed her sin. However I still tried to forgive her and make the marriage work. But she and her family kept causing issues to my already fragile state. And finally we both agreed for divorce. We both are from Bangladesh and practice Islam. My question is, if I file for the divorce on the ground of adultery, can my wife still claim for Mahr? According to Islamic law, does she have rights to claim for it?



Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

She has full right in dowry. When a man accused his wife of adultery and they both separated based on the practice of mutual imprecation of Li`an (It consists of the Islamic magistrate (or his equivalent) telling the husband to repeat four times, “I testify by Allah that I am truthful in charging her with adultery”,) the man asked for the dowry he paid for his wife. The Prophet said, ” “You are not entitled to take back any money. If you have told the truth, the Mahr that you paid, was for having sexual relations with her lawfully; and if you are a liar, then you are less entitled to get it back.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

 

Is depression and anxiety a mental health disorder? Are we allowed to make promises during then ? What if we are in a constant state of depression and worry or anxiety ,but we are consciously making a promise of oath,does that promise of oath need to be fulfilled In Islam?



According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

 

According to medicalnewstoday.com, Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion. However, when a person regularly feels disproportionate levels of anxiety, it might become a medical disorder.

 

Anxiety disorders form a category of mental health diagnoses that lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry. These disorders alter how a person processes emotions and behave, also causing physical symptoms.

 

Mild anxiety might be vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety may seriously affect day-to-day living.

Based on this description, anxiety is of different levels and degrees. Some cases of anxiety are mild and light.

 

A person in this case is held responsible for what he does or says because he is fully aware and have a voluntary will.

 

In case of severe anxiety and stress, one may have nausea or abdominal stress, feel dizzy, become detached from himself and the environment, having numbness or tingling sensations.

 

In these server cases where a person does not know what he says or commits, he is not sinful for his actions and his commitments and sayings are not effective.

 

This is based on the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in which he said, “There is no divorce or emancipation of a salve [to be effective] at a state of ighlaq” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah Abu Dawud, Al-Bayhaqi)

 

It is graded as hasan according to Albani (Irwa’: 2047). Ighlaq is madness or coercion.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.

Would I be permissible to unveil only face as it is becoming mandatory for a hr manager in a company,and is there any particularity about neutral work wearable colours and long flowy very loose fitted gown kind of dresses which covers everything from throat to feet except palms?And what is the ruling if your husband requests you not to wear face veil but do hijab except face even when going outside?



Scholars differed on the ruling of covering face and hands as part of a Muslim woman’s dress code or hijab. The majority of them believe that it is compulsory for a Muslim woman to cover the whole of her body without any exception.

 

They based their view on many proofs from the Quran and hadith. They further affirmed that a woman’s face can be a means of attraction which must be covered.

 

Opponents of this view based their opinion on a number of proofs from Quran and Hadith too.

 

If you adhere to a certain view and think that it is prohibited to show your face and hands, you must not uncover it even if your husband or your H.R. asked you to do so. This is more precautious and best for your faith.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.