Contemporary Issues

Is it permissible to rely on AI-powered systems for Islamic legal rulings and fatawa?

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Question: Is it permissible to rely on AI-powered systems for Islamic legal rulings and fatawā? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The field of iftāʾ (legal response) is rooted in deep knowledge, ijtihād, and … Read more

What is the ruling on following a minority opinion in fiqh when living in non-Muslim lands?

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Question:What is the ruling on following a minority opinion in fiqh when living in non-Muslim lands? Answer:بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ،الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The basis of following a madhhab is rooted in the principle of taqlīd—relying upon … Read more

Is court marriage valid in Islam without an Islamic nikah?

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Question: Is court marriage valid in Islam without an Islamic nikāḥ? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. A valid marriage in Islamic law (nikāḥ) requires fulfillment of specific conditions outlined in the Sunnah and … Read more

Can a Muslim marry someone who does not pray?

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Question: Can a Muslim marry someone who does not pray? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Ṣalāh is the most important pillar of Islām after the testimony of faith. Abandoning it is among the … Read more

What is the ruling on secret or ‘urfi marriages without a guardian (walī)?

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Question: What is the ruling on secret or ‘urfi marriages without a guardian (walī)? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The validity of a marriage contract in Sharīʿah is based on certain conditions, among … Read more

Are cashback and rewards from credit cards considered ribā (interest)?

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Question: Are cashback and rewards from credit cards considered ribā (interest)? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Conventional credit card agreements usually include a clause allowing the issuer to charge interest (ribā) on late … Read more

Can a Muslim invest in conventional stock markets or ETFs?

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Question: Can a Muslim invest in conventional stock markets or ETFs? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Investment and business ownership are generally permissible in Islam, provided they are free from prohibited elements such … Read more

What is the ruling on cryptocurrencies in Islamic finance?

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Question: What is the ruling on cryptocurrencies in Islamic finance? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Cryptocurrencies are a modern financial phenomenon not explicitly addressed in classical fiqh texts. However, their permissibility is assessed … Read more

Is fasting obligatory for individuals with mental health conditions?

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Question: Is fasting obligatory for individuals with mental health conditions? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Fasting in the month of Ramaḍān is an individual obligation (farḍ ʿayn) upon every accountable Muslim. Accountability (taklīf) … Read more

Do injections or IV fluids break the fast?

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Question: Do injections or IV fluids break the fast? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The fast is broken by anything that reaches the stomach or body cavity through a recognized passage and provides … Read more

Is it permissible to use toothpaste or mouthwash while fasting?

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Question: Is it permissible to use toothpaste or mouthwash while fasting? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The fast is invalidated when something reaches the stomach through a known passage, such as the mouth … Read more

Can prayer be performed wearing tight or modern clothing?

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Question: Can prayer be performed wearing tight or modern clothing? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. Covering the ʿawrah is a condition for the validity of ṣalāh according to all four madhāhib. Allah says: … Read more

Are artificial nails or nail polish allowed during prayer and wuduʾ?

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Question: Are artificial nails or nail polish allowed during prayer and wuḍūʾ? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. One of the conditions for the validity of wuḍūʾ is that water must reach all parts … Read more

Can missed prayers from past years be made up (qaḍāʾ)?

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Question: Can missed prayers from past years be made up (qaḍāʾ)? Answer: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. The obligation to make up missed prayers is established by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “مَنْ … Read more

Is in-house financing for vehicles always halal?

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QuestionDoes in-house financing for vehicles always comply with Shariah? Or are there any specific requirements we should follow? Answer: Praise be to Allah. Firstly: The principle of financing in Islam Financing in Islam must comply with the principles of Shariah, which forbid riba (interest) and emphasize valid contracts, clear terms, and ownership of goods before … Read more

Can I pluck, shave, dye, or cut/trim my eyebrows?

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Question: I know plucking the eyebrows is haram. Can I shave, dye them blonde, or cut/trim them? Answer: Praise be to Allah. Firstly: The ruling on plucking the eyebrows The prohibition of plucking the eyebrows is established in the authentic Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has cursed the woman who plucks eyebrows and the … Read more

Can I contribute to the Employee Investment Program that the company I work for offers?

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QuestionCan I contribute to the Employee Investment Program that the company I work for offers?Salamu Alaikum. My company offers a program where I can invest money into the company and receive a guaranteed return of at least 10%, with the possibility of earning more depending on the company’s performance. Earnings are calculated monthly based on … Read more

Can I serve pork at work ?

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QuestionI work in a health care setting (long-term care and hospital) where I plate food and hand it to the residents. Sometimes these plates include pork. This is my job and the menu is predetermined. Answer: Firstly: The ruling on working with pork It is well established in Islamic law that pork is najis (impure) … Read more

Can I tattoo my eyebrows?

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Question: Assalāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, I would like to ask about the ruling on a cosmetic procedure called ombré powder brows for a woman who has a scar in her eyebrow area where hair no longer grows. This procedure is not for beautification of the entire eyebrow, but specifically to cover the scar … Read more

Autopsy for the deceased

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Question: Salam, As a Muslim, am I allowed to request an autopsy for a deceased family member if I want to know the cause of death? And if I’m a Muslim doctor, is it permissible for me to perform an autopsy?” Answer: Wa alaykum as-salam, In Islam, the human body—whether alive or dead—is treated with … Read more