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Shaban and Pre-Ramadan Fiqhi Issues (Fatwa Session)

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
13 April, 2020

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

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

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2020 | 12:00 - 14:00 GMT

Session is over.



Q:

Asalamu alaykum

I had a question

Can you read the quran from a mobile app? Do you need wudu to read from the app and also I have irregular bleeding throughout the month outside my period date if I’m bleeding or spotting can I read the quran from the app?

If you can answer my questions it would be very grateful and appreciated.

Jazak Allah kheir

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You should consider your mobile as a library; when you pick up the Mushaf from the library to read, you should be in a state of wudhu. However, some scholars say that although wudhu is not obligatory but only recommended. Therefore, if you are not able to renew wudhu, you can still read it without wudhu, especially if you fear to forget it or if you are a student rehearsing. Likewise, according to Maliki madhab, a woman may read the Quran from Mushaf, even in a state of menses if she fears to forget. Today scholars from other schools also allow this concession to women who are students or teaches of the Quran or tafsir etc.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Almighty Allah Knows best.

Q:

Salam Alaikum. I heard a mufti who says that this ramadhaan we are exempted from fasting due to the Coronavirus. He says fasting will cause dehydration and that the mouth should always be moist. I wanted to know if this is permissible Islamically. If we should skip and replace or push on and fast. Jazak Allahu kheiran.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I don’t know what the mufti has done; I cannot comment on his fatwa without knowing the context. If he meant to say that those who are infected with the COVID virus should not fast, I would agree with that statement, if that is the advice of the health personnel who are the experts who can advise on the matter. A mufti is not a physician; he can, however, give a fatwa that if a person is sick and his sickness worsens because of fasting, he should not fast. That is what the Quran teaches us: “Those of you who are sick or traveling should skip the fast and make up the fasts thus missed later’. As for those who cannot expect to get better, they should feed a needy person for every day of the fast they have missed.

As for those who are not sick and are healthy must observe the fast unless they are traveling or too old to fast or, as is the case of women (menstruating or undergoing post-natal period).

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Assalamu alaikum ya sheikh

A brother approach me and requested me to write for him a divorce statement because he want divorce his wife but he don’t know how he will write it.

I want know if what I did was right?

How do I do if someone approach me with the same issue next time?

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I would advise you to leave the issue of divorce to the Shariah court or legal bodies. Individuals should not handle it; otherwise, we would end up destroying families. Talaq in Islam is a most serious matter; it cannot be reduced to the status of plaything to be left to the whims and fancies of men as women are simply chattels to be discarded whimsically.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Asslam-o-Alaikum!

 I hope you are well by the grace of Allah Almighty. I have started reading Quran with Tafseer. And I got to know that Tafseer-ul-Kathir is the best one so I started reading that one but I do not think that’s the case because it says that Hazrat Hawa(A.S) was created from rib of Hazrat Adam(A.S) which i know is not true. I read about it on Aboutislam. And the other thing i found not so satisfying is that they quoted a Hadith of Sahih Bukhari. Sahih Bukhari Hadith No. 304 which states that Holy Prophet PBUH called women stupid mentioning the reasons that two women witnesses are equal to one man witness and women cannot pray or fast during menses. In that Hadith, its mentioned that not praying and fasting due to menses, which is an order of Allah so that women will not have any problem offering Salah due to pain, makes women stupid? How is this possible? I am having a hard time believing its authenticity because Holy Prophet PBUH had the greatest mentality. He always treated his wives so nicely during those days. Kindly clear this to me.

So my first question is: Is Sahih Bukhari 304 authentic? My second question is: Why are one man witness equal to two women witnesses? My third and last question is: Which Tafseer is the best one?

I hope you clear my confusion.  You are the best scholar in my view. Jazak-Allah. May Allah bless you!

Regards,

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

The hadith about women being deficient in religion and intellect is controversial. If it is authentic, it can only be interpreted if by that the Prophet is referring to the condition of woman in a particular context and hence cannot be applicable in general. It is like saying that men can be lacking in religion and intelligence at certain times.

The Prophet used the statement to address women on the occasion of the festival. How would he use such an occasion to belittle woman?

That in no way befits our understanding of the character of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as we know from the unanimous account of his companions.

We know that the Prophet (peace be upon him) elevated the status of woman like never before in history. The best supporter in his mission was none other than his wife, Khadijah. Didn’t he act upon the advice of his wife, Umm Salmah, on the most critical issue he faced in Sulh al-Hudaybiya? So, how could he allege that woman in general lack of intelligence and faith? Wasn’t Khadija the first one to believe in him, wasn’t the first martyr in Islam Sumayyah, another woman?

We also know that the Quran affirms the equal status of men and women, although they differ in duties and responsibilities.

So, what the Prophet meant to say was to recognize that women despite some of the biological differences relating to hayd and missing of prayers, etc. are also the ones who can overpower men. The fact that woman’s witness is half of that of men is because they tend to forget when it comes to transactions as they were not used to engage in it. That is why Allah said so that one of them remind the other of what she may not have remembered. That is why Ibn al-Qayyim cannot be taken as a categorical injunction meant for all times and all situations. In other words, because today, women are in business fields as they are in other areas, it cannot be said that their testimony will be treated as half that of a man. Ibn al-Qayyim, therefore, said the evidence of Umm al-Darda and another woman (he mentioned) could not be considered as akin to half of the testimony a man.

As for Bukhari’s hadith, scholars have raised questions about a few of them, most of them are authentic; his collection is undoubtedly rivals all other hadith compilations.

Having said this, we must always remember that the firm and definite texts in Islam are limited to the Quran and a few dozen traditions; others are isolated, and they cannot be used to prove tenets of faith or Aqidah.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Assalamu alaikum

I did ghusl haidoh with Brazilian hair on my hair and later found out water does not penetrate it so I redid my ghusl with my hair loosened out of it braids. After the ghusl I had doubt about water penetrating my hair to reach the scalp but I disregard because my faith was not really strong then. I repayed my missed fast the same month

Are my fast valid?

If water did not penetrate the scalp during ghusl does it invalidate the ghusl and subsequently my fasts?

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Brazilian hair is fake hair, and the majority of scholars disapprove of its use.  Although a few allow it on condition: you are not keeping it to deceive people; that would be the case if someone uses it to pretend to be young for getting married. Otherwise, it is strictly forbidden, according to consensus.

Now coming to the issue of water coming in contact with the scalp during ghusl, then it should be removed and washed. Ghusl is not complete unless it is done. As for the validity of the fast, it does not affect it. In other words, fasting is valid, even if your ghusl is invalid.

Almighty Allah Knows best.

N



Q:


Can Muslim men say a prayer in a surgical mask nowadays due to corona virus?

A:

You are permitted to pray with the surgical mask on – if you need to wear them always, as mandated by your profession.

If, on the other hand, you are allowed to take them off while praying, then you should do so – if the mask covers the major part of your face.

In case of necessity, however, you are excused. And you can still pray while wearing it. According to the rules of jurisprudence, where there is a hardship, the rigor of the law is relaxed.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Pls confirm that the Koel eating halal or not.

A:

If this is a predatory bird that preys on other birds, then you are not to eat it. Nor can you allow yourself to hunt such birds if they belong to endangered species.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Salam, I was wondering what good deeds have the ability to expiate the following sins…

Influencing one to participate in a non Islam religion

Influencing one to participate in a gay marriage

Continuous Hypocrisy where someone calls another weird or mean, and the person who is calling the other mean is actually mean every second of their life. In this hypothetical situation, what good deeds could one do to expiate this sin?( by presenting this hypothetical situation, it is not my intention to influence people to be mean all the time, and it is wrong to be mean. I am presenting this situation for learning purposes)

Do dhikr to Allah swt, praying to Allah swt, giving zakat, etc have the ability to expiate these sins? Yes or no?

Thank you and may Allah bless you!

A:


Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

On the question of repentance, I would refer you to the following answer published on this site:

The Door of Repentance Is Wide Open

Almighty Allah knows best.



Q:

I know someone who is in my family that does zina while being married how should I tell them? I’ve tried to tell that person before but they denied it and insisted to hold the Quran.

The person is my mother and I tried to find the answer on the internet but couldn’t. How should I tell my mom and not disrespect her as that will go against Islam. What can I do to forget this?

A:

You are not allowed to accuse anyone of adultery; it is a major sin. If, however, you are sure, then you should advise her; if she does not stop, you leave her alone and pray to Allah to guide her to the straight path.

After all, Islam teaches us that each person is responsible for himself or herself. It should not in no way imply that you should accept it; instead, you ought to detest and shun such behavior and pray to Allah to guide your mom and yourself from such abominations.

Almighty Allah knows best.



Q:

Asalaamoelikom wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh, i would like to know if its permissible to wear an uniform with sleeves till above the ellebow(they say for hygienic reasons) with pants(bigger size). For now i wont go for the job till i know for sure its permissible. I wear normally my abaya and hijaab so i dont know what options i have left. I am a nurse, but not working in a hospital at the moment. I hope you can give me a clear answer. JazakAllah oe ghairan.

A:

You are not required to wear an abaya. Instead, you are allowed a uniform with sleeves as you have described (if mandated by your profession for better serving your patients) with long and loose pants, that is acceptable; it meets the requirements of modest attire as prescribed by Islam. For further details, let me cite here one of my earlier answers:

“It is important to remember that the purpose of hijab in Islam is not to cut out women from participating in the activities of the society or to keep men and women utterly segregated or to make it hard for her to function normally in life. Rather the purpose of hijab is to help woman maintain her dignity and honour as a free person and help her fulfil her obligations smoothly and comfortably.

So, the requirements of hijab are never oppressive or restrictive in any way; here are the requisites of hijab or proper Islamic attire for women:

1) It should be covering her whole body except face and hands;

2) It should be loose fitting;

3) It should not transparent nor revealing;

4) It should not be an attire specifically worn by men only.

So long as your attire fulfils the above conditions you don’t have to worry. Remember Allah has not revealed religion to make life difficult; rather it is intended to make it easy and comfortable for us. Allah says, “He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” (Qur’an: 22: 78). “Allah wishes to lighten the burden for you; for certainly man/woman has been created weak!” (Qur’an: 4: 28).

Almighty Allah knows best.



Q:

I’m a non-Muslim but I’m wanting to convert/revert to Islam. I recently had an argument with a Muslim friend who was helping me learn Islam. I go to the mosque with him and listen to lectures from the Imam. But after the argument, he does not want to be friends anymore. He said that he forgives me but does not want to reconcile. He told me he will take it to his grave not to be friends with me anymore. I’m afraid that I might not continue with reverting. I don’t want to turn my back from Islam and from all that I learned. What can I do about this? And what can I do to reconcile with him?

A:

I cannot tell you how you can convince the person to reconcile with you. Your best bet is to go and ask the Imam of the mosque to speak to him. If that does not work, can you find another person whom you think he will trust and accept advice from?

If nothing works, I would advise you to leave him alone.  If he is the reason you are choosing to embrace Islam, then that is not a good option. You should embrace Islam only out of personal conviction and not for any worldly motives.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

As you may know, there are terms and conditions for every website which needs to be accepted (they say) before using their websites and its services. In these terms, there is a section about disputes and which law governs them. For google for instance it says: ” If you’re a resident of, or an organization based in, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, these terms and your relationship with Google under these terms and service-specific additional terms, are governed by the laws of your country of residence, and you can file legal disputes in your local courts”. The same kind of term is also for sites like youtube and Instagram, they all mention country based courts/laws as the governing/applicable law for these sites and their terms.

Now due to the verse 4:60 in quran about referring to non islamoc courts/legislations, I got a little suspicious about these terms and would like to know. If I do use websites such as google, youtube and facebook whom all has this section in their terms for using their services. Would I commit shirk? Would accepting these terms with this section make me a mushrik? Would this mean that I commit shirk? Or in other words, refer legislation to taghut? Or would it somehow make me commit shirk or approval of shirk?

Please give me a clear answer to these questions with proof from quran and research. This matter causes me trouble due to fear of committing shirk and keeps me away from internet and television but makes me bored and puts me in situations where I out of boredom talk to myself or to imaginary friends, I’m so scared this matter will give me a mental disease.

A:

The issue you are referring to does not in any way relate to the forbidden act of applying to Taghut for a judgment.

The rules they are asking you to abide by are not in any way against the laws of Allah; they are related to mutual transactions; if you sign to them, then you are bound by them. If you don’t want to, and they refuse to serve you, that is their right.

In Islam, we are bound by the terms of our contracts, as long as they are not explicitly forbidden.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

sir I was reading the Holy QURAN and someone on phone asked me something in reply to which I lied then I noticed that my hand was on the Quran although UNINTENTIONALLY) BUT the question is that I lied while holding the holy QURAN thought it was not my intention

should I just ask forgiveness from Allah? or I would also. have to pay kaffara? or fast for 3 days?

plz note that after telling the lie I noticed that my hand. was on the Quran

A:

If you lied, then you need to repent and ask forgiveness of Allah.

If your hands were on the Quran, and you did not realize that, you ought to know it is a major sin; however, there is no need for expiation. All that is required of you to make sincere repentance.

For details on sincere repentance, let me cite here from one of my earlier answers:

“If you committed evil but have repented sincerely, and changed your life around for better, then Allah has certainly promised to grant you mercy and forgiveness. It is one of the basic principles of belief in Islam that Allah is All-Relenting, All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.

Here are a few verses which clearly convey this crucial concept:

“Do they not know that it is Allah Who accepts the repentance of His servants and receives (approves) their charity, and that Allah is the Relenting, the Compassionate?” (At-Tawbah: 104)

“Say: ‘O My servants who wronged against their souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy! For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate.’” (Az-Zumar: 53)

So do not put off repentance; take the necessary steps immediately, for no one can tell when the death will overtake us. The door of repentance is open so long as we are not in the throes of death, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah accepts the repentance of His servant so long as death has not reached his collar bone.” But since we have no way of knowing when death will overtake us, we must never be complacent or slack in hastening to taking steps towards repentance.

While speaking of repentance, I must rush to add, that it cannot be considered as valid unless one takes the following steps:

Firstly, one must feel deep remorse for the sins one has committed.

Secondly, one must refrain from it totally while also abstaining from all those leads or circumstances that led him to such a sin in the first place.

Thirdly, he must be firmly resolved never to sin again, and immediately becoming occupied in whatever good deeds that he can in order to wipe out his past sins.

Fourthly, all of the above involve sins involving the rights of Allah; if, however, your sins involve the rights of human beings, then you must also do whatever it takes to return or compensate or redress the grievances of the person you have wronged. Paying him his dues or compensating him in whatever ways possible becomes an essential condition of valid repentance.

Repentance, as stated above once accomplished, will undoubtedly wipe out one’s sins, and guarantee him a clean record. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “One who has repented of a sin (sincerely) is like one who has never sinned at all.”

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Is women’s religious faith the most valuable thing or her virginity / honour/izzat according to Islam?  When she is raped, people tell, she has lost her most valuable thing named honour/izzat. And the victim herself thinks all hopes are at end. Please kindly help me to understand the truth.

A:

That is the fault of people; it has nothing to do with true Islam.

How can we blame Islam for the corrupt practices or beliefs of people who have no sound knowledge of it?  How can you believe that Allah will inflict double punishment for no sin on your part?

You were a victim of rape; it was an act of oppression inflicted upon you. So, Allah, the All-Merciful, would only have mercy for you and will vindicate you on the day of resurrection.

The rapist, as well as those who are blaming and hurting you will be called to account. You can rest assured Allah will compensate you. Never lose your confidence. You are an innocent person. Islam teaches us to side with the innocent and to help them to get justice. If they did not give it to you here in this world, you would get it in the next world.

If anyone were to refuse to marry you simply for the reason of being a victim of rape, he is also going against the teachings of Islam.

So, I would advise you not to give up praying to Allah. Allah can send someone who is a conscientious Muslim to marry you.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Are dead smashed body of mosquitos pure or impure?

A:

Dead insects like mosquitos are not deemed as impure for the simple reason that it is hard to keep track of them.

According to jurisprudence, we are excused of things that are hard for us to avoid.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Salam, I’m a 22 year old girl and planning for get married in the near future inshaAllah, I have noticed that I tend to take my partner for granted and abuse his niceness and even be controlling

I’m afraid this behavior will follow me in our married life and It will be considered as a sin in the eyes of Allah

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You are advised to seek professional counseling; it should help you change your behavior. If you were to hasten to get married without learning to manage your anger and change your attitude, you would end up destroying your marriage.

So, go for counseling; if he or she advises you to take an anger management course, you should do that for your protection and the future of your married life.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Salam, I’m a 22years old Girl and have been in a relationship with a guy we have repented and decided to get married in the near future inshaAllah

The problem is I believe I was a toxic partner and have caused this person alot of emotional pain and didn’t have a good intention going into a relationship with him in the beginning but now hamdoullah I do

My question is how can I repent from what I’ve done to him? Do I need to confess that I might have caused him pain intentionally and that I wasn’t that pure in my intentions with him at the beginning?

This person is extremely good to me and would be a great spouse but I had a lot of issues with myself that lead me to treat him badly i feel extremely bad god knows how much I regret it and I’m afraid of Allah’s punishment for what I caused him

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You should not consider marrying him unless you have gone through a professional counselor to motivate you to change your behavior.

By taking the hasty step of marrying him without that, you end up having a miserable married life.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

I have a very big question on marriage sir and I really hope you would tell me a suggestion on it. Can I marry my father’s brother’s son? I saw many hadith saying it’s okay. But the thing is my father is twins. And my question is can I marry my father’s twin brother’s son?

A:

The forbidden categories of marriage are listed in the Qur’an:

“You are forbidden to take as wives your mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, the daughters of brothers and daughters of sisters, your milk-mothers and milk-sisters, your wives’ mothers, the stepdaughters in your care- those born of women with whom you have consummated marriage, if you have not consummated the marriage, then you will not be blamed- wives of your begotten sons, two sisters simultaneously- with the exception of what is past: God is most forgiving and merciful.” (Qur’an: 4: 23)

So based on the above verse, you are allowed to marry your cousin as long as you make sure there are no medical issues in such a marriage. So before deciding that, please consult your physician. Sometimes such close marriages may pose some health challenges.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

assalamo alaikom,

aCan a person who suffers from epilepsy be exempt from waking up for fajr? that is pray it after they wake up as waking up early triggers it. JAK

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You need to ask yourself: What happens if you were to go to bed early? Do you experience the fits even after you have had enough sleep? Or is it because of sleeping late? If the latter is the reason, then you ought to go to bed early to allow you to wake up for Fajr.

You implied that if you were to wake up late, you don’t experience such fits. So, that is an indication you would have no such difficulties if you were to condition yourself to go to bed early. Thus, you will be able to wake up for Fajr. By doing so, Insha Allah, Allah will bless your day, and then you can call upon Him to ease your difficulties.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed: O Allah, bless my community when they set out doing their work early morning.”

The companion who narrated this tradition vouched for it: He says: I took the words of the Prophet to heart and set out doing my business from early dawn. Thanks to diligence in acting upon the advice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) my business flourished and I earned great profit.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

As Salumu alakium

What is the islamic rulings on a muslium visitng a muslium and/or a non Muslims grave site

Jazkalah khair

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Visiting the graves is prescribed for twin purposes:

First, to serve as a reminder for us so that we know death is our destiny and like the person or people who are buried in the graveyard, and sooner or later, we also will join them.

A second purpose is to pray to Allah to shower them with His mercy.

In the case of visiting those who chose to reject the truth, we should leave them to accept the responsibility for the choice they have made; Islam does not permit us to force them to convert; likewise, it would be wrong to impose something on them which they never chose to believe.

It is like forcing someone to pray when he mocks the prayer. It is of no benefit to such a person.

As for the first point we mentioned, it does apply here:

In other words, by visiting their graves, we can also think of our destiny; it may even inspire us to strengthen our faith so that we are motivated not to allow ourselves to go astray and die in a state of disbelief.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Asslam-o-Alaikum!

 I hope you are well. My question is what kind of muslims will be able to answer those questions in grave and what kind of muslims will not be able to answer those questions in grave? Jazak-Allah.

Regards,

Anaiza Malik

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

The true believers who die in a state of faith will be able to answer all the questions put by the angels correctly. The angels will support them.

Allah says:

“Allah will strengthen or give firmness to those who believe in the firmly rooted word, both in this world and the Hereafter, but the evildoers He leaves to stray: Allah does whatever He will.” (Qur’an 14: 27)

This blessing will be extended at the time of interrogation by the angels. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us to pray to Allah to bestow firmness on the heart of a person after we have buried him or her.

In other words, the hearts of the believers will be firm when they are faced with questions from the angels. And thus, they would be able to answer the questions.

The lesson we learn from this is that we ought to strive hard to remain steadfast in the practice of Islam and pray to Allah to keep our hearts firm and save us from going astray and losing our faith.

One of the prayers of the Prophet was:

O Allah, You are the twister and turner of hearts. Make my heart firm and steadfast on Your religion and the Truth.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Aoa !

My question to the worthy scholar is that what is the rulling of Islam in a case where wife does not or is not living with husband from day one because of her demand of expelling husbands severe ill parents from the house. Is husband liable to pay her expenditures when she is not living with him. What about rulling of mehar / property in this case .

JazakALLAH

Awais

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You have the right to refuse to provide maintenance for her; however, you cannot withhold maintenance and support if she is caring for your children.

Having said this, I would advise you against making any rash decisions. You should go for professional Islamic counseling.

She may be motivated to change and return; however, you also need to think that caring for your parents is mainly your responsibility; you can only expect her to cooperate with you or help you in doing that. In other words, you should never expect it as her responsibility as your wife.

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

Assalamualaikum, i wanted to know if a girl can give her permission to marry in islam without having her wali’s(father)permission? I am 20 and i have a bf. Both of his parents have agreed to let us marry but my mother said i should wait until I’ve graduated and not before my two elder sisters (age 23 and 28 ) is married(  also both of them are in a relationship and are planing to get married after 3years)My mother says i cant get married before my sisters as its not in our culture but i am afraid that i may fall into haram. I prayed to Allah to show me guidance and give me patience to go throw this difficult time. i wanted to end this relationship and we (me and my bf) talked it through that we are gonna break up but its quite difficult because i love my mother and i don’t want to hurt her feelings but also i really want to start over this relationship with my bf by nikkah. My father on the other hand doesn’t care about how we feel and doesn’t wanna listen to what i want to say. My bf is 21 and he is currently doing business and is stable enough to take care for both of us and asked me to wait for 1year and then he is wanna ask for my hand in marriage. My question is, my parents are denying our proposal saying we are too young for marriage and we aren’t stable enough? They are even ready for me to continue doing haram rather than marrying. What should i do? Ive been praying to Allah to show me guidance and give me sabr. i dont want to hurt my parents or anyone i just want to know what is the correct ruling on getting married if the parents are denying the marriage just because of financial stability and young age. Thank you.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

While answering this question, the best I can do is to cite her one of my earlier answers

“In Islam, it is not a sin if you feel a special affinity or inclination towards a certain individual since human beings have no control on such natural inclinations. We are, however, definitely responsible and accountable if we get carried away by such feelings and take specific actions or steps that might be deemed as Haram (forbidden).

As far as male and female interaction is concerned, Islam dictates strict rules: It forbids all forms of ‘dating’ and isolating oneself with a member of the opposite sex, as well indiscriminate mingling and mixing.

If, however, one does none of the above, and all that he or she wants is to seriously consider marrying someone, such a thing itself is not considered Haram. In fact, Islam encourages us to marry persons for whom we have special feelings and affinity. Thus, Islam recommends that potential marriage partners see one another before proposing marriage. Explaining the reason for such a recommendation, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “That would enhance/foster the bonding.”

This permission notwithstanding, we are advised against getting carried away by merely the outward appearances of a person; these may be quite misleading. Marriage is a life-long partnership and a person’s real worth is determined not by his or her physical looks, but more so by the inner person or character. Hence, after having mentioned that people ordinarily look for beauty, wealth and family in a marriage partner, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, advised us to consider primarily “the religious or character factor” over and above all other considerations.

Further, Islam’s insistence on parental involvement in the selection process is to ensure that a person exercises his or her choice correctly. In other words, so parents can step in if there is a serious issue of compatibility.

Compatibility entails a person’s worth in a spiritual and moral sense: the only primary criterion that makes or breaks a marriage. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “If a person of acceptable religion and character presents himself for marriage, marry him, otherwise, there would be widespread sedition and rampant corruption in the land.”

Therefore, if you have made a choice based on the above consideration, then your parents have no right to stop your marriage. Since it is your choice to eat the food you wish to eat, likewise, it is your choice to decide whom you wish to choose as a life-long partner. They cannot stop you from marrying the person you want simply because the person is not sharing your culture or ethnic background.

Parents, however, have the authority to intervene should you choose someone of questionable moral and religious character. Should you proceed in such a case against their wishes, your marriage is deemed null and void according to the rules of Islamic jurisprudence.

If, however, your parents objection to your marriage is based purely on racial, cultural or ethnic grounds, you are allowed to seek other channels of authority to intervene in such a case, as long as the person of your choice is of acceptable religion and character. The concerned authority is supposed to get the parental consent to the marriage, but should they insist on their stand, the authority is sanctioned to authorize your marriage.

This last option should only be exercised after you have exhausted all endeavors to communicate with your parents, both individually and through other channels in the community such as elders or respectable leaders or Imams. It is more likely that parents are concerned about their children for genuine reasons, and that once things are explained to them, they will probably, relent.

You may also consult another answer posted here:

Can I Marry Without Parent’s Permission?

Almighty Allah Knows best.



Q:

In Islam it is forbidden to learn magic and astrology but nowadays the knowledge of magic and astrology has become so common that it is extremely widespread to the point that it has become unavoidable. Eg: in newspapers (there is an entire section dedicated to it). So should even reading newspaper reading be prohibited? As it is written in the hadith Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The Prophet said: If anyone acquires any knowledge of astrology, he acquires a branch of magic of which he gets more as long as he continues to do so.

What if you read something about magic or astrology accidently? I was reading a book COMPLETELY NOT RELATED TO ASTROLOGY WHATSOEVER and suddenly while reading I read such and such thing is an astrological sign. I tore the page which said that such and such thing is an astrological sign Can I continue to read the book and learn from it. (Learn the clean things )? As the other parts of the book are important for me to read and learn, memorise (which are free from anything related to astrology, related to concepts of marketing ) What is the ruling on this?

A:

If you did not read the book on astrology to learn the art, but you ended up reading something about in a book that deals with another topic, then that is not considered as sinful.

According to scholars, those who cite the beliefs of the enemies of Islam or study them for the sake of refuting them or knowing where they come from are not guilty.

As students of Islam, our course of studies included the study of pre-Islamic poetry; we were often encouraged to memorize them; it was done to help the students master the Arabic literature to understand the Quran better.

Likewise, if you were studying English literature and the curriculum included some texts with obscene contents, it is not sinful on your part to read it as long as you take care not to be influenced or corrupted by it.

The Quran cites some of the arguments of the believers, including their blasphemous statements about Allah and His Messenger. They are cited to present the teachings of Islam in context.

In conclusion, it is allowed for you to read a book containing such sections, but take care not to believe in them and ask Allah forgiveness. And continue to pray to Allah using this Duaas:

Rabbanaa laa tuzhgh quloobanaa ba’da idh hadaythanaa wa hab lanaa min ladunka rahmathan innaka antha al-wahhaab

(Our Lord, do not let our hearts swerve from the path (of truth) after You have guided us and grant us mercy for You are the dispenser of mercies)

Allaahumma yaa muqalliba al-quloob thabi qalbee alaa deenika

(O Allah, You are the Twister and Turner of hearts, make our hearts firm on Your religion.)

Almighty Allah knows best.



Q:

Sheikh whenever I do a sin i seek forgiveness from God but I do struggle to achieve feelings and emotions of regret but I know in my mind what i have done is wrong and unacceptable and not proud of it will that my invalidate my tawbah kindly clarify

A:

You need to try your best to induce a feeling of remorse.  You can do it best by thinking of the many blessings of Allah and how by indulging in sins, you have earned His wrath and anger. Think also, where would you end up if you were to die in a sinful state without seeking repentance.

Think of the blessings of Allah, which you could have used for doing virtuous acts. You abused them to indulge in sins.

Think of the dire warnings of Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon) against those who persist in sins.

Visualize the torments of hell-fire. By meditating on these points continuously you can hope to engender a feeling of remorse and sorrow.

Also, never fail to seek the help of Allah to open your heart and remove the filth that might have sealed your heart.

The Prophet said, “when a person sins, for the first time, it falls on his heart like a black dot. If he repents and makes amends, the stain is removed. If, however, he persists in sin and commits it, again and again, the black stain expands, and it ends up covering the entire heart. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that is the state of the sealing of the heart, (mentioned in the Quran). When that happens, the person loses all sense of discrimination between good and bad; instead, he ends up considering good as bad and bad as good.”

May Allah save us from reaching this abysmal pit. And may He inspire to return to Him in repentance and practice constancy of istighfar.

Almighty Allah knows best.



Q:

Assalamualaikum waRahmatullahi wabarakatuh

My question is regarding the videos on a youtube channel which are knowledgeable and informative but has a light background music. The channel uploads videos about the world, politics and current affairs etc. Is it permissible to watch such videos which has a little background music and it does not emphasize more on the background music but rather on the content in the videos; also in some Islamic channels it has a less percentage of background music, sound effects and intro music in the videos in the islamic content,  is it permissible to watch such videos in Islam?

JazakAllahu Khairan.

A:

Wa`alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

We cannot say that all forms of music are haram. Music can be soothing and relaxing; as such, they can be creative outlets to make us more productive.

Islam permits occasional outlets for us to recuperate and relax. That is why the pious caliph Ali said, “Entertain your souls frequently.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him), as we know, encouraged people to entertain themselves with songs; he heard girls singing on some occasions; and objected to those who thought it was wrong.

So, if the music played in the background is clean and intended to lift the spirits of people and is free of all subliminal messages that are obscene or lewd, then it is allowed.

For further details on music, please refer to the answer linked below:

Are All Types of Music Unlawful?

Almighty Allah knows best.

A



Q:

Are games such as Destiny, SIMS ,IMVU, Mine craft etc which someone joins/makes friends online (of the same gender) to chat and see each others characters as-well as build things and explore etc. allowed? The characters are 3D with different options like hair,eye, skin color, different types of clothes,tall or short etc) Does this come under imitation of creation of Allah since it’s a 3D avatar & you didn’t program it and are only using the options to choose from, Is it fine as long as person tries to avoid giving the character human like features like regular skin color blue/brown eyes/eyes etc meaning for example making the skin blue,hair green, eyes red making it look exotic or alien like? The person stays away from nudity etc and plays from time to time. I am not sure if it’s okay but I put 2 pictures as a reference of what I mean. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/42/4a/0e/424a0e4edfbd08bcf2f52c657d43697b.jpg https://userimages02.imvu.com/productdata/images_8cb028210017aabf0bdc41202996efbb.png

A:

You need to ask yourself these three questions to decide whether what you are doing is halal or haram?

1- What beneficial purpose does your work serve? Does it help society by promoting virtue or provide education that contributes to human welfare?

2- Is your intention pure and sincere to serve Allah and the community

3- Is the content pure or free of all obscene message or suggestions

You can satisfy these questions, and then there is no harm in using cartoons or drawing in Islam for the simple reason it is a medium of communication. As is the case with any other medium of communication, the criterion that makes it halal or haram is what purpose it serves; if it serves a useful purpose, it is considered permissible or even recommended.

One crucial point to consider in evaluating the use of media is today it is used by those who seek to spread corruption on earth most efficiently; it is a weapon they wiled most efficiently. So, if we were to refrain from using it for a beneficial purpose, we help them win over.

Almighty Allah knows best.