Is Reading Surah Al-Fatiha During an Engagement (Khutbah) Considered Bid‘ah?

Is Reading Surah Al-Fatiha During an Engagement (Khutbah) Considered Bid‘ah? QuestionIs reading Surah Al-Fatiha during your engagement (khutbah) bid‘ah? Many families do this, and the day of the engagement is often called “Fatiha.” AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. The recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha is among the greatest acts of … Read more

Is It Permissible to Temporarily Block One’s Mother for Mental Relief?

Is It Permissible to Temporarily Block One’s Mother for Mental Relief? QuestionI have moved out from my house some months ago. Since then, my mother has called me multiple times a day. Her talks are unpleasant, she nags, complains, and belittles me. Is it permissible to block her for a few days for my own … Read more

When Should the Imam Say “Allahu Akbar” During Salah Movements?

When Should the Imam Say “Allahu Akbar” During Salah Movements? QuestionWhen I am leading the prayer, at what point should I say Allahu Akbar — while standing, on my way down to ruku‘, or after I have reached the bowing position? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. The takbir (saying … Read more

Is a Person Who Lost Mental Capacity Before Puberty Considered Muslim if His Caregiver Later Accepted Islam?

Is a Person Who Lost Mental Capacity Before Puberty Considered Muslim if His Caregiver Later Accepted Islam? QuestionA young boy began to lose his mental faculties at around three years old and eventually became completely non-verbal and incapacitated. He remained in this state throughout his life.His sister was his main caregiver, and years later, she … Read more

Is Microblading Permissible to Restore Eyebrows Lost Due to Medical Treatment?

Is Microblading Permissible to Restore Eyebrows Lost Due to Medical Treatment? QuestionAs-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,I was diagnosed with a medical condition that caused my hair loss, including my eyebrows. Alhamdulillah, my scalp hair has regrown, but my eyebrows are still very thin. I understand that tattooing is haram, but is it permissible to … Read more

Loans for Dental Work: Medical Necessity or Not?

Loans for Dental Work: Medical Necessity or Not? QuestionWhat is the ruling on loans specifically for dental work like getting wisdom teeth removed, braces, etc.? Would it be permissible out of necessity? Jazakallah khair. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. General Ruling on Loans with Interest The Qur’an prohibits … Read more

Can I create designs for Halloween or Christmas themes?

Designing for Halloween and Christmas Themes QuestionSalam respected Imam, I am a graphic designer. With Halloween coming up, is it permissible for me to create mock-up designs for my portfolio and to sell these designs on shirts and other wares? Moreover, does this ruling apply to Christmas as well? What if I avoid religious symbols … Read more

Do I Have to Make Up All My Missed Prayers or Just Repent?

Do I Have to Make Up All My Missed Prayers or Just Repent? QuestionDo I have to make up every single prayer I have missed? For example, I’ve been tracking the ones I have missed since November — it is 805. I used to always make up the missed prayer that same day. I don’t … Read more

Is it Okay to Rejoice at Others’ Misfortunes in Islam?

QuestionIs shamatah (rejoicing at someone’s misfortune) allowed when it is toward non-Muslims? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. Islam teaches believers to maintain hearts of mercy and dignity, even in the face of differences. Shamatah, which means rejoicing at another person’s suffering, is discouraged in the Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ … Read more

Forgetting Which Prayer One is In

Forgetting Which Prayer One is In QuestionSalam Imam, what should one do if he forgets what he is praying? In a regrettable lapse of focus, I forgot if I was praying the last rakaat of Isha or the first rakaat of witr. Jazakallahu khairan. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. … Read more

Gender Interaction and Separation in Islam

Gender Interaction and Separation in Islam QuestionSalam Imam, to what extent should men and women separate in Islam? Jazakallahu khairan. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) The Principle of Modesty and Interaction Islam recognizes natural interaction between men and women in society — for trade, learning, family, and communal … Read more

Ruling on Celebrating Birthdays in Islam

Ruling on Celebrating Birthdays in Islam QuestionIs it allowed to celebrate your birthdays in Islam? And how did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mark his own birthday? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) Did the Prophet ﷺ Mark His Birthday? The Prophet ﷺ did not celebrate his birthday through yearly … Read more

Car Financing Through Toyota: Bank vs. In-House

Car Financing Through Toyota: Bank vs. In-House QuestionAssalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,I recently went to Toyota to finance a car. They told me they will give me the car through financing, and the monthly payments include interest. They said the price of the car will not change, but there will be interest added. My … Read more

Professional Liability Insurance for Dietitians in Canada

Professional Liability Insurance for Dietitians in Canada QuestionAssalam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh! I was wondering if you are familiar with services that provide professional liability insurance for dietitians in Canada that aligns with Islamic principles (takaful). In order to have and to maintain the permit of dietitians, it entails the following rules: College of … Read more

Acting Without a Fatwa When Faced With Urgent Dilemmas

Acting Without a Fatwa When Faced With Urgent Dilemmas QuestionSalam Imam, what should we do when we are faced with a dilemma which requires a fatwa, but we cannot receive one in a timely manner? For example, if I didn’t know whether something was pure or impure, and the time of prayer is coming. What … Read more

Using Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer and Eating Afterwards

Using Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer and Eating Afterwards QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu. JazakAllahu khairan. I would like to ask if I’m consuming alcohol if I use hand sanitizer wipes on my hands and then touch some food to eat. Or should I only use alcohol-free hand sanitizers? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa … Read more

Which Opinion Should a Layman Follow?

QuestionSalam Imam, when presented with many opinions, what opinion should we follow? Is it necessary to choose and stick to a madhhab? What if a person wants to take the easiest ruling from each issue? And how should we, as laymen, decide? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. … Read more

Can a Traveler Lead Residents in Prayer?

QuestionSalam Imam, if a person is travelling, and he leads a prayer followed by residents, should he pray 2 rak‘at and the residents stand after tasleem? Or how should it be done? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) Principle of Imam and Ma’mum (follower) The Prophet ﷺ said: “The … Read more

Are my hardships a consequence of how I treated my father in the past?

Question Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah, When I was growing up, I had a poor relationship with my father. He was not financially well off, and my mother, who was better off, carried most of the household expenses. I used to feel he was stingy and didn’t like to spend, and because of that I developed … Read more

Should I delay praying margib and isha while traveling?

QuestionSalam Imam, I have heard it is sunnah to delay the isha salat, and for the other salat one should pray it as soon as the adhan is heard. When someone is traveling and decides to combine Maghrib with Isha in Isha time, is it better to pray at the beginning of Isha (e.g., ~9pm) … Read more

When traveling, can we still pray the full prayer?

QuestionWhen traveling, can we still pray the full prayer? Is it better to shorten the prayer or offer the full prayer? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1) The Sunnah of Qasr Allah says: “There is no blame upon you if you shorten the prayer when you travel …” (al-Nisa … Read more

If you remove a bandage that you wiped over, do you have to renew your wudu?

QuestionSalam Imam, if someone wears a bandage or dressing on his foot, and it wraps around his foot almost like a sock, leaving the ankle and toe exposed, he would wipe over it. However, when he removes the bandage or dressing, should he remake wudu if he already wiped over it before? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more

Is Servus Halal, which has started launching in Alberta, a Murabaha or Musharakah product?

QuestionIs Servus Halal, which has started launching in Alberta, a Murabaha or Musharakah product? What are the terms? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. What Servus Halal Is Key Terms of Servus Halal Mortgage Product Compliance with AAOIFI Standards Servus Halal has been structured in compliance with the standards of … Read more

Can I pray with my meta glasses on?

QuestionSalam Imam, Meta has unveiled their new glasses, which have a built-in display and can be operated with subtle hand gestures. Is it permissible for a learning Muslim to read or watch the steps of the prayer on the display while they are praying? JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa … Read more

Can we pray jummah in separate rooms via zoom?

QuestionAssalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh, I had a question regarding the validity of Jumu‘ah prayer for sisters at my university. The way it is arranged is that the brothers are in one room, while the sisters are in a separate room beside them. We listen to the khutbah and join the prayer through a … Read more

Is it permissible to distribute your wealth when you are alive?

QuestionIs it permissible to distribute your wealth when you are alive? Is it okay to customize my will to specify who will take what? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. Distributing Wealth While Alive A Muslim is permitted to gift and distribute wealth while still alive. This is not … Read more

If a non-Arab person cannot pronounce Arabic letters like dhal (ذ), or deep letters like ‘ain (ع), what should he substitute it with?

QuestionSalam , if a non-Arab person cannot pronounce Arabic letters like dhal (ذ), or deep letters like ‘ain (ع), what should he substitute it with? For example, in Pakistan there is disagreement at the end of al-Fatiha, where some people say “…walad-daleen” (with a D sound) or “…walaz-zaleen” (with a Z sound). JazakAllahu khayran. AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more