Contemporary Issues

Can I take a line of credit for educational purposes?

Question I am seeking a religious ruling on using a line of credit for educationI am a dentist living in Canada and I wish to start the Canadian dental equivalency process. In order to register for my first exam and the preparation course, I need a significant amount of money.I previously worked as a dental … Read more

What is the ruling on organ donation and transplantation in Islam?

QuestionWhat is the ruling on organ donation and transplantation in Islam? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala rasoolillah, wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. Organ donation raises two values in Shariah: the sanctity of the human body (alive and deceased) and the duty to preserve life. The Qur’an says: “Whoever saves a life, it is as if … Read more

What is the ruling on purchasing full (comprehensive) insurance in Islam?

QuestionWhat is the ruling on purchasing full (comprehensive) insurance in Islam? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala rasoolillah, wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in. Insurance is a modern financial product that did not exist in classical fiqh, so the scholars have had to analyze it according to the principles of Shariah. Full or “comprehensive” insurance covers not … Read more

Is vanilla extract halal if it contains alcohol?

Alhamudlilah wasalatu was-Salam ‘ala rasulillah, QuestionIs vanilla extract halal if it contains alcohol? AnswerVanilla extract is usually made by soaking vanilla beans in a solution that includes ethyl alcohol as a solvent and preservative. The question is whether the presence of alcohol makes it haram. Final Ruling: And Allah knows best.

Do I pay zakat on student loans?

QuestionWhat is the ruling on paying zakat on student loans? For example, let’s say I pay zakat every Ramadan. So in 2026, I would pay it in the last 10 days of Ramadan in March. In September of 2025 the government gives me $10,000. I use it to pay my tuition for the first semester, … Read more

Is ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in Iced Capp permissible to drink?

Question I sent an email to Tim Hortons seeking clarification about the use of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in their Iced Capp. The following is the reply I got from them: “Thank you for contacting Tim Hortons! Many of our products contain flavour ingredients, which may utilize ethyl alcohol as a flavour carrier. Please note that … Read more

Can I accept scholarship’s donated from haram sources?

Question:Asalamu alaykum, I recently received a scholarship from Alberta Golf Foundation to assist me in paying my university tuition. In the congratulations email they explicitly mention that “The scholarships we provide each year are funded in part from our participation in working the Starlight Casino – West Edmonton Mall for a couple of days every … Read more

Do real and fake gold jewelry have the same ruling for men in Islam?

Question:Do real and fake gold jewelry have the same ruling for men in Islam? Answer:Wearing real gold jewelry is strictly prohibited for Muslim men. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Gold and silk have been permitted for the females of my Ummah and forbidden for the males.” — Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 1720; Abu Dawud, 4057 This prohibition applies … Read more

Can crowdfunding for a halal startup or business idea be considered acceptable under Islamic investment rules?

Bismillah Ar -Rahman Ar-Raheem, Question:Can crowdfunding for a halal startup or business idea be considered acceptable under Islamic investment rules? Answer:Crowdfunding refers to raising small amounts of capital from a large number of people, typically via an online platform, to fund a project, startup, or business. The concept itself is not inherently prohibited in Islam … Read more

Musharakah: Islamic Partnership Contracts and Their Modern Applications

The Prophet ﷺ said regarding partnerships: “The hand of Allah is with the two partners as long as they do not betray each other.”(Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3383; classed as hasan) Musharakah: Islamic Partnership Contracts and Their Modern Applications Definition:Mushārakah (مشـاركة) is an Islamic partnership contract in which two or more parties contribute capital to … Read more

Is using buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services Islamically permissible if paid off within the grace period?

Question:Is using buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services Islamically permissible if paid off within the grace period? Answer: 1. What are BNPL (Buy-Now-Pay-Later) Services? BNPL services allow customers to purchase goods immediately while delaying full payment. Typically, they offer: 2. Scholarly Consensus (Ijma‘) and Established Opinions Contemporary Islamic jurisprudential bodies, including AAOIFI and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, … Read more

Is reverse mortgage (home equity release) permitted for Muslim homeowners to fund retirement needs?

Question:Is reverse mortgage (home equity release) permitted for Muslim homeowners to fund retirement needs? Answer: 1. Understanding Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Release) A reverse mortgage allows elderly homeowners to borrow money against the equity in their home. Repayment usually occurs upon the homeowner’s death, sale of the property, or permanent relocation. The loan typically accumulates … Read more

Is male birth control halal?

Question:Is the newly developed male birth-control pill—reported to have passed early human safety trials with no side-effects—halal for Muslim men to use? Answer:The default ruling in Islamic jurisprudence is that it is permissible in principle for a Muslim man to use a safe contraceptive method, but its use should be based on a valid need … Read more

Is leasing a car halal?

Question:Is it halal to lease a car if the owner is not financing it? Since I’m not owning the vehicle and I don’t plan to buy it at the end, can I consider it as renting a car? Is it permissible to have full insurance coverage for the leased car? And who is supposed to … Read more

How should Muslims calculate zakah on digital assets like NFTs, stablecoins, and token holdings?

1. Understanding Digital Assets in Islamic Terms Before calculating Zakah, it’s essential to classify digital assets according to traditional Islamic jurisprudential categories. Contemporary scholars generally categorize digital assets as follows: Zakah calculation differs based on these categories. 2. Conditions for Zakh Obligation Zakah is obligatory when these general conditions are met: 3. Calculating Zakah by … Read more

Importance of Treating Non-Muslims with Respect in Islam

Importance of Treating Non-Muslims with Respect in Islam 1. Contemporary Context of Muslims in Non-Muslim Lands Muslims today living in non-Muslim countries operate under implicit or explicit agreements (عهد), such as citizenship, residency visas, or social contracts, establishing mutual rights and responsibilities. Contemporary Islamic scholars (e.g., Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Islamic Fiqh … Read more

Can I have disability or life insurance?

Can I have disability or  life insurance? Question: Are Muslims allowed to have disability or term life insurance in non-Muslim countries like Canada, where there are no well-recognized alternatives like takaful, and families might suffer without such support? Short Answer: No, it is not allowed to take life insurance—including term life insurance—according to the consensus … Read more

Duff in Islam: Occasions, Gender & Nasheeds

Question:Is using or listening to the duff only permitted during weddings and Eid? Can it be used more generally, such as in Islamic nasheeds? Is it restricted to women only? Answer:Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim The permissibility of the duff is established in multiple authentic reports in the Sunnah. It is one of the musical instruments clearly … Read more

What is the ruling on engaging in political activism, protests, and civil demonstrations in non-Muslim countries?

Question:What is the ruling on engaging in political activism, protests, and civil demonstrations in non-Muslim countries? Answer:Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim The ruling on participating in political activism and public demonstrations is tied to a number of Islamic legal principles, including the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bil ma’ruf wa nahi ‘an al-munkar), the … Read more