How Should One Islamically Deal with Toxic Older Siblings Who Neglect Responsibilities? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Can you please provide advice on how to deal with toxic older siblings? I mean older siblings who do not contribute much to household chores or to the care of their young children, and instead spend their time watching … Read more
What Are the Rulings on Women Attending Visitations, Funerals, and Burials? QuestionCan you please provide the rulings on women attending visitation, funerals, and burials? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This issue requires distinguishing carefully between visiting the deceased, attending the funeral prayer, and accompanying the burial, while reconciling the … Read more
What Should a Revert Do with a Deceased Non-Muslim Relative’s Ashes Kept in a Cross? QuestionI am a revert. I have my grandparents’ ashes in a Celtic cross that were hanging in my car. I have now taken them down, but I am not sure what to do with them. Can I keep them stored … Read more
Is It Sinful to Look at Women Who Are Not Dressed in Jilbab or Khimar? QuestionAhlan ya sheikh. Is it sinful to look at women who are not dressed in jilbab or khimar, such as women in Western dress, news presenters, non Muslim friends or neighbors, or even Muslim women who do not cover their … Read more
What Is the Ruling on Shaking Hands with the Opposite Gender (Non-Mahram)? QuestionWhat is the ruling on shaking hands with the opposite gender (non-mahram)? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. The Shar‘i Context Islam seeks to preserve modesty and prevent fitnah. For this reason, Sharia regulates physical interaction between … Read more
Is It Permissible to Make Duaa That a Pregnancy Does Not Continue If It Will Cause Harm to One’s Dīn and Well-Being? QuestionAs-salamu alaykum. I was married earlier this year, but my husband has been verbally abusive and emotionally neglectful, and I no longer feel safe in the marriage. I am considering divorce. I have … Read more
Is Assigning Qur’an Reading and Tafsir to Children Every Year an Innovation (Bidah)? QuestionDuring our winter break, every year, we assign the whole Quran to all kids in our extended family. They read their assigned part from the Qur’an and prepare a tafsir of one ayah from their portion. At the end of winter break, … Read more
is Watching Movies Always Haram? How Do We Understand Media, Gazes, and Modern Reality? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakaatu. I heard from a sheikh that watching all movies is haram, due to things like music, seeing the opposite gender, free mixing, and immoral messages. I have some doubts and would appreciate clarification, because I have not … Read more
When Is It Permissible to Exhume a Grave to Correct a Burial or Prevent Misuse? QuestionIf a person was buried incorrectly, such as being laid on their left side, or if their grave later becomes a place of worship, can or should the grave be exhumed to correct or conceal the burial? Under what other … Read more
Is It Valid to Return Stolen Money by Buying Property for the Father Without Telling Him the Truth? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu.She stole from her father without his knowledge. Many years after, she decided to pay him back an estimated amount of the money she stole and used it to buy some land for him. … Read more
Is the Maternal Uncle a Valid Wali if the Father Is Absent or Estranged? QuestionA woman got married without the presence of her father because they did not have a relationship growing up, but her mother’s brother was there. Is the maternal uncle sufficient as a wali? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi … Read more
Does Breastfeeding an Adopted Baby Make Them a Mahram, and Would They Become a Mahram to One’s Biological Children as Well? QuestionIf one adopts a baby, if you were to breastfeed the baby would that baby now become your muhrum and is this allowed? Would that baby also become your biological children’s muhrum too? AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more
What Is the Purpose of Mahr, and What Amount Is Considered Reasonable? QuestionWhat is the point of mehr? And what is a reasonable amount? I know it does not equal a woman’s value per se, and it should be a gift, but many people say that the amount should be enough in case the marriage … Read more
What Is the Ruling on a Woman Meeting a Marriage Prospect on Zoom Without a Wali if She Is in a Public Space? QuestionWhat is the ruling on a woman meeting a marriage prospect on Zoom without a wali if she is in a public space? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa … Read more
Is It Permissible for a Woman to Condition in the Marriage Contract That Her Husband Will Not Marry Another Woman? QuestionIs it permissible or correct for a woman to put a condition that her husband will not marry another woman in her marriage contract? Is such a condition valid in Islam? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala … Read more
Can a Woman Perform Umrah Without a Mahram? QuestionCan a woman go for Umrah by herself, without a mahram? Would it also be permissible for her to go with a group of female friends? What are the Islamic rulings regarding this? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. The matter of … Read more
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? 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
Is It Permissible to Take a Conventional Mortgage in Cases of Severe Hardship? Questionبسم الله الرحمن الرحيمAs-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, I have always tried to avoid interest and refused to apply for a conventional mortgage, as riba is prohibited in Islam. I applied for an Islamic mortgage, but I was only approved for … Read more
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
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
QuestionAllah has blessed me with a newborn son. I know that the Sunnah for the ‘aqiqah is to sacrifice two sheep for a boy. Due to my current financial situation, I cannot afford two, and even one sheep is difficult. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. Number of Animals … Read more
QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. I would like to know if I get the reward of the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement for paying off some or all of my sister’s debts while she is alive or dead. I read that the lender that forgives the debt of a borrower can earn the … Read more
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
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
Question:Is it permissible in Islam for my sister-in-law to breastfeed my son in order to make him her mahram? Answer:Yes, it is permissible under certain conditions. If there’s a real need for the child to become a mahram—like for living arrangements or medical genetic issues—then it is allowed. However, if there’s no such necessity, then … Read more