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
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
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 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
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
Must I Leave a School After Repenting From Shirk Because a Cross Is Present There? QuestionAssalamu alaykum. I am a Muslim in high school. Out of ignorance, I chose a Christianity class instead of ethics, and in that class I committed shirk. The classroom also had a large cross. I regretted it, made sincere tawbah, … Read more
How Should Zakat al Mal Be Calculated When Wealth Fluctuates and the Hawl Is Difficult to Track? QuestionAs-salamu alaykum Shaykh, I find it difficult to track which specific funds in my account have completed a full lunar year, since money comes in and out regularly. I have heard that some scholars recommend choosing a fixed … Read more
Does Donating to a Water Well Count Toward Zakat al Mal? QuestionI am donating to a water well. Does it count toward zakat al mal? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. The ruling depends on two matters: whether the project is genuinely directed to zakat eligible recipients, and whether zakat, … Read more
Is Salah Valid When a Person Sees Uncontrollable Intrusive Images of Shirk, and What Should She Do? QuestionA person is seeing intrusive images related to shirk (churches, statues, symbols). Doctors say these are hallucinations and she cannot control them. She is taking medication, but it is not working well. It is very hard for her … Read more
How Should I Navigate Fasting with a Chronic Condition That Requires Medication and a Liquid Diet, and What About Missed Fasts from Menstruation? QuestionSalam alaikum. I grind my teeth while sleeping, which causes severe headaches and jaw pain throughout the day. This requires me to be on a liquid diet and to take medication for … Read more
Is Abortion Permissible in Early Pregnancy Due to Severe Marital Hardship and Emotional Harm? QuestionSalam, I am currently 5 weeks pregnant. I am in a very difficult marriage. Am I allowed to get an abortion? I have only been married for 3.5 months. My husband has changed drastically and has shown possible signs of cheating. … Read more
Is Salah Valid If a Strand of Hair or Part of the Neck Was Accidentally Showing During Prayer? QuestionIf I finished my prayer and then noticed that a strand of my hair was out the whole time, or my neck was accidentally showing, do I have to redo my salah? Was my salah accepted? AnswerAlhamdulillah, … Read more
Is Hajj Permissible and Accepted for Someone Who Has a Mortgage? Questionالسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته If someone has a mortgage for his or her house, are they still allowed to perform Hajj? Is their Hajj accepted? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This question requires distinguishing between the obligation … Read more
Is It Permissible During Salah to Internally Say the Meaning of an Ayah After Reciting It in Arabic? QuestionAsalaamualaykum, Is it permissible in salah to say the meaning of an ayah after reciting it in Arabic internally for the sake of memorising the meaning? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. … Read more
Am I Sinful for Intrusive Doubts and Distractions After Mocking Others, and How Do I Return My Heart to Allah? QuestionI used to follow a lot of atheists and Christians and listen to their talk about Islam. I used to mock their ignorance and did not care. Now these words come to my mind automatically … Read more
How Much Should Be Paid for Zakat al Fitr, and Is Giving Money the Sounder Opinion Today? QuestionSalam Imam, How much should I pay for zakat al fitr this Ramadan? Some masajid say 10 dollars, others say 15 dollars. Some also say you cannot give money and must buy rice or food and give it … Read more
What Is the Sharia Ruling on Investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)? QuestionAssalam alaykum Sheikh. Please we need a fatwa stand on the following business related question. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are companies that own, operate, or finance income producing real estate across a wide range of property sectors. They raise capital by … Read more
What Is the Nisab and Ruling of Zakat on Wheat and Grains (Wasqs)? QuestionSalam Imam Mahmoud. I was asked about the zakat on wheat and grains. I overheard remarks about a minimum amount, nisab, and wasqs. Unfortunately I did not have an answer at the time. Could you clarify this concept? JazakAllahu khairan. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu … Read more
What Is the Ruling on Medical, Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Such as Botox, Fillers, and Laser Treatments? QuestionSalam Imam, What is the permissibility of medical, non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as laser tightening, RF microneedling, HA fillers, and botox? At what point do we draw the line between something like makeup and reconstructive surgery in the pursuit … Read more
Is General Forex Trading Haram, and Does Trading Gold, Silver, or Platinum Change the Ruling? QuestionSalam alaykum. Is general forex trading haram? What if it is used only for buying earth minerals like gold, silver, and platinum? Would it be permissible in this case? Jazakum Allah khair. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi … Read more