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 Zakat Obligatory on Gold Received for Personal Use (Wedding Jewelry)? QuestionI received 100 grams of gold from my in-laws’ house and my father’s house for my wedding, alhamdulillah. I received this gold for my own personal use. Is it obligatory to pay zakat on it, since the gold is not for storage or trade? … 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
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 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 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
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 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
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 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
What Is the Correct Understanding of Jilbab, Khimar, and Face Covering (Niqab) in Islam? QuestionAssalamu Alaikum.I would like guidance regarding the proper understanding of hijab for Muslim women, especially regarding the jilbab, khimar, and face covering (niqab). I have read that some scholars understand jilbab as a loose outer garment that covers the body, while … Read more
Is Music Haram in Islam, and Why Is There a Difference of Opinion? QuestionSalam alaikum. I am interested in the topic of music in Islam. I’ve heard it is haram but am wondering the reasoning behind it and the difference of opinion. I understand why some kinds of music are haram, such as bad lyrics … Read more
Is Salat al Tasbeeh an Established Prayer in Islam? QuestionSalatul tasbeeh, is it a real thing? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. Salat al Tasbeeh is a voluntary prayer reported in narrations attributed to the Prophet ﷺ. The scholars examined these reports carefully and differed regarding their strength and legal … Read more
Is Ghusl Valid by Simply Immersing in Water, and What Are the Rulings on Wudu, Touching the Private Parts, and Washing After Sleep? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu. Please I would appreciate some clarification on these matters below. BarakaLlahu feek. 1.) Can you cite the evidence from the Prophet or any of the Companions that simply … Read more
Is It Permissible to Keep, Use, or Donate Profits from a Shariah-Screened Investment ETF? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakaatu. I invested some money into an investment that claims to be halal and that it “complies with Shariah law and excludes companies deriving more than 5% of their income from alcohol, tobacco, pork-related products, weapons, conventional banking … 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 the Hadith About Embryonic Stages Contradict Modern Science? When Is the Soul Actually Breathed into the Fetus? QuestionCan you please clarify something for me? I feel confused because it seems like there is a contradiction between an authentic hadith and modern science. The hadith says the baby goes through stages for 40 days, then … Read more
Is It Permissible to Shave, Trim, or Shorten the Beard in Islam? QuestionWhat is the rule for shaving, trimming, or shortening the beard? I know that in the Shafii school it is different from the other three madhhabs. Please mention the opinions and their daleel. AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi … 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
Are See-Through or Partly Transparent Socks Permissible in Prayer? QuestionSalaam alaikum warahmatuLlah wabarakaatu.Is prayer invalid if I wear see-through socks or socks that are partly transparent (the top is transparent but the middle and bottom are not transparent)? AnswerAlhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain. 1. The Shar‘i Context Covering the … 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 It Permissible to Play Qur’an in the Background While Studying, And to Use “Focus Music”? QuestionIs it permissible to listen to focus music while studying, if my intention is only to improve concentration and I don’t use it outside of that? Also, is it permissible to listen to the Qur’an while I am studying, … Read more
Can a Follower of Another Madhhab Pray Asr Behind a Hanafi Imam Who Is Praying Dhuhr? QuestionIf a group of Hanafis are praying Dhuhr late, past the beginning of Asr time according to the other madhhabs, can someone from the Hanbali, Maliki, or Shafi‘i school join them in congregation with the intention of praying Asr? … 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