Is It Permissible to Attend a Non-Muslim Funeral Inside a Church? QuestionAssalamu alaykum Sheikh, I attended a Catholic funeral inside a church for a non-Muslim coworker. I did not participate in the prayers but stood and sat when others did. I later heard that some scholars say this is not permissible and that condolences should … Read more
What Should I Do if Discharge Frequently Invalidates My Wudu and I Struggle to Maintain Purity? QuestionI know discharge invalidates wudu. Within a couple minutes there’s more, and sometimes I make wudu and pray and later find some discharge. Sometimes I am not able to make wudu in certain places but I still had wudu, … Read more
Can Monthly Orphan Sponsorship Payments Be Counted Toward One’s Annual Zakat Obligation? QuestionIs it permissible to add up your monthly zakat payments toward orphan sponsorships and include this toward your total zakat obligation for the year? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. This question requires distinguishing between zakat as a … Read more
Can Women Pray Taraweeh in a Separate Neighboring Building with Only Speakers and No Connected Rows? QuestionOur masjid purchased a neighboring church that is on a separate plot of land next to the mosque. It is a completely separate building, there are no rows outside the masjid connecting the two, and there is walking distance … Read more
Is It Permissible to Sell Clothing with Images of Female Celebrities Who Promote Indecency? QuestionI buy and sell various items. I found a Dolly Parton shirt with her picture showing her face, hair, and neck. Since she is a music celebrity and such figures often promote indecency and sinful behavior, is it permissible to sell … Read more
Is It Permissible to Place Shahadah or Qur’anic Verses on Cars, or Hang a Small Qur’an from the Mirror? QuestionSome cars these days have “La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah” decals or Qur’an verses on the exterior of the vehicle. Is that permissible, considering they will get dirty and have grime on them? Also, … Read more
Is It Permissible to Share Educational Content That Contains Background Music if One Believes Music Is Haram? QuestionI take the opinion that music is haram, but I was wondering if it is considered haram to share a video that contains simple background music if the primary purpose of the video is educational, informative, or beneficial. … Read more
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
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