Cleaning a Child and Wudhu

Q: Does wudu break if you clean a child's urine or faeces, or if you wash its soiled clothes?

A: According to the Hanafi Madhab, wudhu does not break if one cleaned urine or faeces of a child, or cleaned soiled clothes. In the Shaafi'ee Mathhab too, wudhu does not break, unless the inner palm of the person touches the front or anal private part of the child. If this happens, wudhu will break.

And Allah knows best

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by:
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Silsila Idreesia and Shaikh Ameen

Q: Please tell about a sufi in Multan, Pakistan. His name is Shaikh Ameen and follows the Silsila Idreesia.

A: It is the first time we heard of this Sufi sahib and the Silsila Idreesia. Can you perhaps find out more about them and write back to us? This will be greatly appreciated.

Why was Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam Buried in the House of Hazrat Aisha radhiallahu anha

Q: Hazrat Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam ko Hazrat Aaisha radhiallahu anhu ke Hujre mai supurd e khaak kiya gaya tha. Why?
Trans: [Why was Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam buried in the house of Hazrat Aisha radhiallahu anha?]

A: Your query refers, and here is the answer. If you cannot understand the English, we can provide a detailed answer in Urdu. Please write back if need be.

Aap (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) ne farmaya ke Nabi jab marjata he to usko wahee dafan kiyaa jaa-egha jaha pe usne wafaat paa'ee. Aur Aap kee wafat Amma Ayesha ke makan me huwi teeh, lihaazha wahee un ko dafnaa diya ghaya.

Trans: Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said that a Nabi (prophet) should be buried at the same place where he died. Since Rasuloollah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) passed away in the room of Hadhrat Aa'isha (Radhiyallaahu Anhaa), he was buried there. In fact, he was buried at the very spot where he passed away. The body was moved to one side so that the Sahaaba could dig a grave beneath the spot where he passed away. (Al Khasaa'isul Kubraa – Allaamah Suyuti v.2, p.414).

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by:
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Long Hair for Men

Q: Is keeping long hair for man prohibited in Islam?

A: Long hair for a man is allowed if it is kept according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wasallam). According to the books of hadith, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had three lengths of hair. One length was till the middle of the ear, the second till the ears, and the third till just above the shoulders. Rasool (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) never tied his hair into a pony tail nor did he plait his hair. Hence, the long hair must not resemble the styles of the non-Muslim West for the Quran-e-Kareem and Hadith-e-Shareef have condemned the imitation of disbelievers. Furthermore, hair should not be so long that it resembles the hair of a woman, which normally falls down to the waist or middle of the back. Resemblance of a woman by man is prohibited in a hadith of Bukhari Shareef.

And Allah knows best

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by:
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Pregnancy, Fasting and Fidya

Q: I am 3 months pregnant. I cannot fast because I am weak due to the fact that I cannot eat a lot. Can I give Fidyah?

A: If you have been advised by a Muslim gynaecologist or doctor that fasting will endanger your life or the life of your baby, then you may leave out the fasts. You will then have to observe the aadhaa of these fasts when you are clean after the pregnancy.

Fidyah is only for those who leave out the fast because of a sickness, and do not have hope of ever recovering from that sickness. In fact, even if such a person who had no hope of recovery paid the Fidyah and thereafter recovered, he or she will have to observe qadhaa of the missed fasts. Fidyah is also for those who due to old age cannot observe the fast.

Consuming a Little Alcohol

Q: In the Quraan it says not to have alchohol until you get drunk. So are we allowed to have little of it?

A: Your query refers. What you mentioned in your question is not mentioned anywhere in The Holy Quran. Never did Allah Ta'ala say that you must not have alcohol until you get drunk. In fact, I shall quote two verses of The Holy Quran that strictly condemn alcohol/wine.

1. They ask you about wine and gambling: Say: In these two there is great sin and some benefits for people, but their sin is greater than their benefits. (Al-Quran 2:219)

2. O Believers: Wine, Gambling etc. are filth from the deeds of the Devil, so abstain therefrom so that you may be prosperous. (Al-Quran 5:90)

These verses of Quran do not differentiate between a large amount of a little bit. It states that all amounts of alcohol are haraam. This is also proven from the Hadith of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), who said:
THAT WHICH INTOXICATES IN LARGE AMOUNTS, EVEN A LITTLE OF IT IS HARAAM
(Narrated by Abu Dawood, Nasaa-ee, Ibn Majah, Haakim, Ahmed and others)

In summary, it is totally haraam for a Muslim to consume even such a small amount of alcohol that does not make him drunk.

Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Pig Gelatine

Q: I heard that in the Quraan it says not to eat pig meat. Does it mean we are allowed to have pig gelatine?

A: The pig and all its parts and components are 'Najisul Ayn'. Thus, no part of the pig may be consumed. Gelatine manufactured from pig is, therefore, totally haraam. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: "It (the pig) is filth" (Surah 6, verse 145). This verse proofs that every part of the pig is filth and haraam for consumption.

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Pig Meat

Q: In a masjid I attend, I heard that in the Quraan it says not to eat pig meat. Is this true?

A: Yes, verse 173, Surah 2; verse 3, Surah 5; and verse 145, Surah 6, all prohibit the eating of pork.

إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

School and Juma Salaah

Q: I am not traveling but I need to go to school. What do I do about Juma Salaat?

A: Juma Salah is faradh upon every baaligh Muslim male, hence it is not permissible to miss out the Juma salah. This has been severely condemned in hadith. If you are schooling, it is necessary for you to ask permission from your school for leave to offer Juma prayers. Many schools do grant this, and we make dua that your school, too, will make a concession for you. aameen. In seeking this permission you can take help from your local Ulema. Let them provide you with a letter stating reasons for leave. If you make the effort sincerely, Allah will make it possible for you to offer the Juma salaah.

Non-Muslim making Ghusl of a Dead Muslim

Q: If a Muslim died and was given ghusl by a non-Muslim relative or non-Muslim funeral parlour, is that ghusl valid?

A: Ghusl of a dead person is valid when clean water is poured over the whole body in such a way that the entire body is wetted. If this happens, the ghusl is valid, even if this was done by non-Muslims. However, if Muslims deliberately allow non-Muslims to bathe their dead, then they all will be sinful. (Raudhatut-Taalibeen)

Is a Shaikh Faradh for Reformation?

Q: Is it faradh to go to a Shaikh for self-reformation? Why can’t one do this on his or her own?

A: If it was possible for a human to achieve spiritual reformation and rectitude on his or her own then there would be no need for Allah to send His Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam to this world. One of the main functions of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was to provide tazkiyah or spiritual reformation.

Almighty Allah states in the Holy Quran: “It is He who has sent among the unlettered people a Rasool from among them; he (the Rasool) recites to them the Verses of Allah, and he purifies them spiritually…” (Surah Jumu’ah, verse 2) The As-haab radhiallahu anhum acquired spiritual rectitude and rehabilitation directly from Allah’s Messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and they in turn reformed other members of the Ummat, and ever since this chain of reformations has continued unabatedly.

The Holy Quran commands: ‘O Believers: fear Allah and associate with the Truthful Ones’ (Surah Taubah) By always associating with pious people, one finds it easy to achieve reformation. Treading the Path of Sulook is like undertaking a journey towards an unknown place. Without a guide this is almost impossible.

Is Bay'ah Compulsory?

Q: Is it compulsory to take Bay’ah at the hands of a Shaikh?

A: Bay’ah is not compulsory, but sunnah.

Cure for Jealousy

Q: I have this bad quality of jealousy for some of my classmates who are more intelligent than me. I make Dua that Allah removes this quality. What else can I do, because it’s destroying me and preventing me gaining knowledge?

A: Firstly, congratulations on your concern for spiritual wellness. Indeed jealousy, according to hadith, destroys good deeds like fire devours (dry) twigs. But let’s make sure whether the feeling you experienced is indeed jealousy. If your heart burns with annoyance at the achievements of your classmates, and you wish they must not achieve what they have, or that something bad should happen to them, then this is definitely a sign of real jealousy. You need to treat this malady urgently. If you do not experience the above; you do not wish bad for your classmates, nor do you burn inside you over their feats; instead you wish to achieve the same as them, then this is not jealousy but envy and is not haraam in Shariah. As for the cure to jealousy, do the following: a) Make regular dua for the people you are jealous of; ask Allah to increase their skills and achievements; b) Sometimes give them gifts, if possible; c) Contemplate that whatever they have achieved, is only through the Grace of Allah, and He has the Right to confer His Grace upon whomsoever He wishes. These few activities are guaranteed to cure the evil trait of jealousy, insha Allah.

Addicted to Masturbation

Q. I am addicted to masturbation. I cannot help myself and I am only 13 years old.

A: You should seek counsel with a learned Aalim, pious person in your area, who can assist and advise you. This is a devastating sickness that takes long to cure. Ponder over the physical harms of this sinful act, as well as the spiritual harms. One who excessively commits this act, will lose his manhood (ability to have sex with a woman) at an early age and will thus not be physically fit for marriage in later life. Masturbation causes the eyes and memory to become weak; it disrupts the body’s digestive system thus always causing build up of winds.

Imam Ataa’ (rahmatullahi alayh) was asked regarding this. He replied: “A group of people will be resurrected on Qiyamat while their hands will be pregnant. They are those who had been doing this act and did not repent (before death). Their fault will be witnessed by everyone on Qiyamat Day.”

Hazrat Sa’eed bin Jubayr (rahmatullahi alayh) says that Allah will punish those people who fiddle with their private parts.

Refrain from reading literature and books that describe sexual acts or that contain pictures of naked and semi naked women. Avoid all forms of pornographic material, as well as websites that show these filth. Read Deeni books to build up within you the love and fear of Allah. Sit alone a few minutes every day thinking about the Power and Punishment of Allah. Spend a lot of time in the company of an elderly Aalim or pious person. Ponder regularly over these points and seek advice from a learned person you trust. Make thikr of these words as much as possible:

لاَ حَوْلَ وَ لاَ قُوَّةَ اِلاَّ بِالله

Trans: There is no power to do good, nor strength to abstain from evil, but with Allah.

May Allah Ta’ala assist you in your fight against this evil, aameen.

Are Terms 'Tasowwuf' and 'Mureed' Bid'ah?

Q: Are the terms ‘tasowwuf’ and ‘mureed’ etc. not Bid’ah, because they are not mentioned in the hadith of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam? I have heard some Arabs say this.

A: These are technical terms devised by the masters in this subject. Every science of Islam has its own technical terms, which have absolutely no origin in Quran or Sunnah, but have been used by Ulema throughout the centuries without any objection whatsoever. In hadith we have terms such as Saheeh, Hasan, Dha’eef, Mu’dhal, Mursal, Musnad, Muttasil, Munqati’ etc. These terms are not found even in the times of the Sahaaba, but were instead created by the masters in the Science of Hadith. No one terms these words as a ‘bid’ah’. There are numerous similar examples in the other branches of Islamic learning, like Fiqah, Tafseer, Nahu, Sarf, Balaaghah, etc. These technical phrases have become accepted as part of Islam.

Cigarettes and Khabaa-ith

Q: In The Quran Shareef Allah Ta’ala declares khabaa-ith haraam, i.e. substances that are dirty, filthy. Don’t cigarettes fall under khabaa-th?

A: The definition of khabaa’ith varies according to different Ulema. It is, therefore, not so easy to apply the definition of khabaa-ith to cigarettes. In the first place, cigarettes are made from tobacco which is a plant. That in itself is not something filthy or dirty. Tea is also made from plants, and we drink this in abundance. No one has ever considered tea as a filthy or dirty substance. In fact cigarettes are not consumed as tea; instead the smoke of the burnt plant is inhaled. Per se, it cannot be placed under khabaaith. Yes, once it is smoked cigarettes leave behind a terrible odour, but that too, is not sufficient reason to call it khabaa-ith. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited people who ate raw onions and garlic from coming to the Musjid without removing the smell. Yet, the two vegetables are halaal and pure and are even mentioned in the Holy Quran. Yes, smoking will definitely be makrooh because of the harm it causes to the body. But one may not classify it as haraam. And Allah Knows Best.

Income from Cigarettes

Q: Is the selling of cigarettes haraam?

A: No, selling of cigarettes is not haraam. Such an income is lawful.

Reading Qur'aan in Menstruation

Q: If a female is in the state of haidh or nifaas, can she read Quran without touching it?

A: It is haraam for a woman in haidh or nifaas to recite the Holy Quran from memory, even if she does not touch or hold the Quran. (Al-Majmoo’)

Zikr with Guidance of a Shaikh

Q: Is it necessary to make zhikr under the guidance of a Shaikh?

A: This is not necessary but preferable, for in most cases a qualified and experienced Shaikh will prescribe thikr that is beneficial for the Mureed’s spiritual progress.

Abdaals, Qutub and Ghowth

Q: Do we the Ahlus-Sunnah believe in Abdaals, Qutub, and Ghowth, or are these titles just fairy tales?

A: The titles Abdaal, Qutub, Ghowth, etc are genuine titles for different categories of Auliyaa (Saints) which appear in authentic hadith. When Sayyiduna Ali radhiallahu anhu was in Iraq then one day someone asked him to curse the people of Syria. Hazrat Ali radhiallahu anhu refused to do so, and remarked: “I heard Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam say: ‘The Abdaal are in Asia minor (Shaam or Syria are its environs). They are forty in number. Every time one of them dies, Allah sends another in his place. Through them people receive rain, and through them victory is granted over enemies. They are also the cause of punishment being warded off from the people of Shaam.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad, and declared Saheeh by Allama Suyooti).
Many Scholars of Hadith have mentioned different versions of this hadith but with the same meaning. Some hadith mention words such as Autaad, Nujabaa, and Nuqabaa for different levels of Saints.

Money from Gambling

Q: If someone gives you money that you know is from gambling, can one accept it?

A: If you are certain that the money has been acquired through gambling, it is not permissible to accept such money. If one has already taken the money, it is necessary to give that amount in sadqa without any intention of thawaab.

Shafi Following Hanafi Imam in Eid Salaah

Q: If a Shaafi makes Eid Salah behind a Hanafi Imam, how shall he read his takbeers seeing that the Shaafi says seven takbeers in the first rakaat and five in the second?

A: The Hanafi Imam utters three takbeers in each rakaat, but the Shaafi muqtadee should say the extra takbeers on his own. This is mentioned in most of the books of Fiqah.

Using Sex Aids

Q: Is it permissible for married couple to use sex-aid like a vibrator?

A: It is not permissible in Islam for a female to insert anything into her private organ, and more so if this is done for sexual pleasure. Masturbation is haraam for both male and female. However one spouse may do this to the other and vice-verse but without the use of these aids.

Zikr with Drums

Q: Can zikr be made with the accompaniment of drums?

A: We have established from a previous answer that drums are not allowed in any forum except as permitted by the Hadith of Our Beloved Rasool sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. People who claim to be followers of tasawwuf and adopt this form of zikr have actually deviated from the Siraat-e-Mustaqeem. It is haraam to join such gatherings of zikr.

Iddat and Talaaq

Q: If a woman was given one talaaq and then sits in iddat, do the other two talaaq fall automatically? If the iddat finishes, have the other two talaaq fallen?

A: In the above cases the remaining two talaaq do not fall automatically. The husband has to issue these talaaq in order for them to take effect. Once the iddat is over after having given one talaaq, the couple may remarry if they both agree.

Sunnat Shower in I'tikaaf

Q: Is it permissible to have a sunnat bath or to shower during I’tikaaf?

A: Leaving the place of I’tikaaf for a shower or sunnat bath will nullify the I’tikaaf. If one needs to freshen up during i’tikaaf then when going to make wudhu one may quickly wash the body with a face cloth or rag, in about the same time that it takes to make wudhu.

Women Streaking Hair

Q: Is streaking the hair permissible for a woman?

A: Streaking the hair is a form of dyeing, and this is not permissible. However, using mehndi (henna) to dye the hair is allowed, but not the multi-coloured dyes that have become the fashion of the spiritually mad West.

Duff or Drum in Nasheeds/Nazams

Q: What is the Islamic ruling on the duff or drum that is played in nazams and qaseedas? We hear conflicting views among the Ulema.

A: I came across an interesting article by one Shaikh Abdur-Rahman Saheem of Reyadh, in which he proved the following points through valid and authentic references:

1. That the duff or drum is permissible on only two occasions: Nikah and the circumcision of a boy;
2. That use of the duff on the above two occasions are permissible for little girls only, and not men or young women.
3. That men are prohibited from using the duff under any circumstances;
4.
That use of the duff for songs and other entertainment is not permissible.
We fully endorse this fatwa of Shaikh Abdur Rahman Saheem. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of this Arabic article is welcome to write to us providing postal details.