Is Al-Waseelah the Highest Station in Jannah Reserved Exclusively for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? QuestionIs attaining al Waseelah the highest station of closeness to Allah uniquely reserved for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the ultimate rank of spiritual intercession and nearness? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. Yes. According to the … Read more
Is Zakat Obligatory on Gold Received for Personal Use (Wedding Jewelry)? QuestionI received 100 grams of gold from my in-laws’ house and my father’s house for my wedding, alhamdulillah. I received this gold for my own personal use. Is it obligatory to pay zakat on it, since the gold is not for storage or trade? … Read more
How Is the Inheritance Divided When a Father Passes Away Leaving Sons and Daughters Only? QuestionAs’salam alaykum, I would appreciate it if you could clarify the process of dividing the inheritance of my deceased father. My father passed away last month. My mother passed away two years ago.My father’s maternal parents are both deceased.My father … Read more
Clarifying Common Prayer and Fiqh Questions According to the Hanafi School QuestionIslamic questions: AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. Each question will be answered clearly according to the Hanafi school, with brief mention of general scholarly understanding where helpful. 1. Sunnah and Fard Order in the Hanafi SchoolIn the Hanafi … Read more
Are Unwanted Bad Thoughts Sinful if a Person Does Not Act on Them? How Does Islam Distinguish Between Thoughts, Intentions, and Accountability? QuestionIf a person keeps getting unwanted bad thoughts again and again, but does not speak or act on them and actively tries to resist them, are they sinful for those thoughts?How do scholars … Read more
Does Bowing or Bending Near Decorative Patterns in a Non-Muslim Home Constitute Shirk? QuestionI am a Muslim minor living with my mushrik parents. In the kitchen there are tiles with quatrefoil patterns, which I know are sometimes used in Christianity to imitate crosses or other religious symbols. I cannot function normally in that kitchen because … Read more
If Fajr Is Missed and Dhuhr Time Has Entered, Which Prayer Is Performed First? QuestionSalam, If I missed Fajr and it is now Dhuhr time, do I pray Fajr first as qada, or do I pray Dhuhr first and then Fajr? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This question relates … Read more
Rulings on Common Legal Practice Issues: Statutory Interest, Damages Beyond Actual Loss, and Contracts Containing Riba QuestionSalam Sheikhna, I am a practicing lawyer and would like Islamic guidance on several issues that commonly arise in legal practice. Question 1: Pre Judgment and Post Judgment InterestIs a Muslim lawyer Islamically accountable for requesting and enforcing pre … Read more
Is It Permissible for a Sick Person to Pray Salah After Its Time Has Passed Due to Medical Circumstances? QuestionAssalamu alaikom warahmatallahi wabarakatuhu sheikh, Is it permissible for a sick person to pray salah after its time has passed due to medical circumstances? For example, if someone is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance … Read more
Is It Permissible for a Student to Intern at a Bank in a Cybersecurity or IT Role Despite Riba? QuestionAssalamu alaykum, Is it permissible for a student to work in a bank for an internship in a cybersecurity or IT role, knowing that banks deal with riba? Due to the poor job market, there are … Read more
Is Itikaf Permissible for Women, and How Do We Understand the Prophet’s Statement to His Wives? QuestionWhat is the ruling on itikaf for women? I heard that the Prophet Muhammad told his wife that this was not righteousness, yet the wives of the Prophet continued doing itikaf after he passed away. Is this correct? Is … Read more
Can I Feed My Pets Bacon, and What About Handling or Distributing Pork in Other Contexts? QuestionSalam Imam Mahmoud. I was at a hotel with my two cats. During breakfast I noticed they were serving bacon. I considered taking some bacon slices to my room to feed my cats. Is it permissible to handle, obtain, … Read more
How Should a Person Deal with Constant Doubts (Waswas) About Wudu and Salah After Completing Them? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu, I frequently forget and doubt myself after completing acts of worship. This happens only in worship, not daily life. For example, after finishing wudu and wearing socks, I later doubt whether I wiped over them … Read more
Is the Nisab for Zakah in Canada Based on Gold Only, and Why Is 21K Gold Used? QuestionSalam Imam, is the nisab for zakah based on gold and not silver today, since cash is no longer backed by silver? And is the correct gold standard 21K gold rather than 24K or 14K? How is this … Read more
Is Subway BBQ Sauce Halal If It Contains Bourbon Whiskey as a Flavor That Is Cooked Off? QuestionSubway changed their BBQ sauce ingredients and it lists “bourbon whisky.” Is it halal, given that it is added for flavor and is usually cooked away and evaporated, so that nothing remains? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa … Read more
Is Fasting and Increasing Supplication on the 15th of Sha‘ban Sunnah or Bid‘ah? QuestionAssalamu alaikum warahmatallahi wabarakatuhu shaykh, Is it a sunnah or bid‘ah to fast and increase in supplication on the 15th of Sha‘ban? I have seen different opinions online. I have also heard that the hadith about the night of mid-Sha‘ban is weak, … Read more
Is It Permissible to Continue Wearing a Retainer After Cosmetic Orthodontic Treatment? QuestionAssalamu alaykoum, I had a gap between my two front teeth and some crooked lower teeth. Dentists told me braces or Invisalign were not medically necessary but optional. I chose to proceed to correct the gap and crookedness. Later, I learned that changing … Read more
Can Tayammum Replace Wudu for Someone with Severe Sensory Distress, and What Parts of Wudu Are Obligatory? QuestionAssalamu alaikum, I live with sometimes severe sensory issues due to autism. These issues can make washing extremely distressing, even something as simple as washing my face. This has affected my ability to perform wudu in particular. Can … Read more
Is a Medically Induced Coma Permissible as an Alternative to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)? QuestionAs-salamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is haram in Islam, whether receiving it or aiding in it as doctors, nurses, or pharmacists. Is it permissible for someone to be placed into a medically induced coma instead of … Read more
Am I Allowed to Cremate My Non-Muslim Mother if She Requested It? QuestionI am a Muslim and my mother, who is Christian, wants me to cremate her when she passes away. In Islam we are buried. I want to respect her wishes, but I do not want to commit a sin or displease Allah. Am … Read more
Is It Permissible to Pray on Decorated Prayer Mats, and Are Certain Designs Discouraged? QuestionAsalaamualaykum, Is it permissible to have decorated prayer mats?If it is permissible, can the decorations be more than simple symmetrical shapes, such as plants or objects?If objects or plants are allowed, do they have to be Islamic, such as items mentioned … Read more
Is Fidyah Calculated the Same as Zakat al Fitr if Zakat al Fitr Is 15 Dollars? QuestionAssalamu alaikum shikhna, if zakat al fitr is 15 dollars this Ramadan, can we measure the fidyah based on it as well? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This issue must be answered with … Read more
Did I Commit Shirk by Praying While Experiencing a Visual Hallucination, and Can I Pray in the Same Place Again? QuestionI suffer from medically diagnosed visual hallucinations and am under a doctor’s care and medication. One evening, while standing for prayer, I experienced a persistent visual hallucination of a “shirk object” at the top of … Read more
How Should a Person With Permanent Health Conditions Fulfill Their Fasting Obligation, and Is There Flexibility With Fidyah? QuestionWith Ramadan coming up, I have a question about fasting. Due to physical and mental health conditions that I will live with the rest of my life, fasting is inadvisable because I must take medication throughout the … Read more
Is Zakat Due on a Government Pension Fund That Cannot Be Accessed Until Retirement? QuestionAssalamu alaikum shaikh, I work for the government. A portion is deducted from my monthly salary and contributed to my pension fund, and my employer contributes an equal amount. The total is invested and grows over time. There are three components: … Read more
Is It Permissible to Turn Off Life Support When a Person Is Considered Medically Dead? QuestionAs-salamu alaykum, Is it permissible to turn off the life support system of a person who is thought to be dead, although some organs may still be functioning? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This … Read more
Is It Permissible to Change One’s Zakat Payment Date, and Is Early Payment Valid? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu, I would like to know if it is permissible to change my zakat payment date. I am not sure exactly when my original zakat date was, and although I tried to keep the initial date, there is … Read more