Fear of Kufr (Disbelief) and Suicide

Q: If one fears kufr for oneself, will it be permissible to commit suicide so that one can die with iemaan?

A: No one can determine how he or she will die. This is entirely up to Allah. For this reason it is futile to even think of suicide. Furthermore, the danger in this stupid notion is that one might regard suicide as lawful, a belief that in itself renders one outside the fold of Islam. As for the fear of kufr, this is just a deception of shaytaan. There is nothing to worry about in this regard. Make the thikr of the Kalimah daily, and Insha Allah, your iemaan will remain till the end. May Allah Ta’ala protect the iemaan of all Muslims, aameen.

Islamic Radio Stations

Q : Nowadays there are a number of Islamic radio stations and satellite channels. What is the ruling in Islam of listening to these broadcasts?

A: Radio has to be understood on the following principle: ‘Its good is good and its bad is bad’. In other words, it has good and it has bad. The good comprises Deeni programs from qualified Ulema, news on Muslims around the world, investigative journalism on issues affecting the Muslim World, announcements that are important to the general public, etc. The evil side of radio is in the form of programs that are un-Islamic or that have un-Islamic content, promotion of views or beliefs that are contrary to Quran and Sunnah, violation of hijaab, etc. The ruling for all this is that the good may be listened to, but the evil must be shunned. Such a choice is up to the user or listener of the Radio.

Names of Surah Faatiha

Q: Please tell us what are the twelve names of Surah Faatiha?

A: Imam Qurtubi (RA) has mentioned these names in his commentary on Surah Faatiha. We enlist the names with their meanings:

1. Suratul-Hamd: The Surah of Praise
2. Faatihatul-Kitaab: The Opening of the Book.
3. Ummul-Kitaab: The Mother of The Book.
4. Ummul-Quran: The Mother of The Quran.
5. Al-Mathaani: The Oft repeated verses.
6. Al-Quranul-Azheem: The Majestic Quran
7. As-Shifaa: The Cure
8. Ar-Ruqya: The Talisman
9. Asaas: The Foundation.
10. Al-Kaafiyah: The Sufficient
11. Al-Waafiyah: The Faithful
12. As-salaah: The Prayer.

Sharing in a Qurbani Sheep

Q: My mum passed away. Can my brother and I do qurbani for her but buy the sheep half and half?

A: Two people may not share in one sheep. This is not valid. A sheep can only be sacrificed by one person. In order for you to make this qurbani on behalf of your mother both of you should purchase the animal. Thereafter, one of you makes the other the full owner of the sheep. The other person will then offer the Nafl Qurbani and makes the Niyyah that the Thawaab of this Nafl Qurbani should go to your mother. In this manner, you too, will be rewarded for giving your share to your brother.

Prepared by: Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Ghusl for Salaah (Prayer)

Q: I heard that one needs to be pure for Salaah (prayer). Do I need to have Ghusl (ritual full-body bath) to perform it or is Wudhu alone sufficient?

A: For salaah one needs to have wudhu. However, if one was na-paak (impure) then a ghusl is necessary. A man becomes na-paak if he had a discharge of of semen (sperm). In this case, in order to become clean or paak, he must have a complete bath (ghusl). Only then can he offer his salaah.

Time to Leave Arafaat after Wuqoof

Q: Wuqoof-i-arafaat is from zawaal of 9th to sunrise 10th Zul Hijjah. If staying after sunset how long can I stay?

A: One should leave immediately after sunset, or a little while thereafter. To stay longer at Arafah without a valid reason is contrary to the Sunnah. (Muallimul-Hujjaj)

Prepared by: Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Following a Different Math-hab

Q: Is it sinful to follow a wrong Math-hab? I was wrongly practising as Hanafi but now found I'm Shafi.

A: It is not a sin to follow a math-hab. In fact, it is an obligation, for without following a math-hab one cannot truly practice on the Laws of Islam. All four Math-habs are Haq or true, so whichever one you follow will lead you to Allah. For this reason, you were not wrong in practicing on the Hanafi math-hab, but if you were a Shaafi'ee then it is better that you revert to your original math-hab, provided you have an Aalim available who can teach you the Shaafi'ee math-hab.

Stepfather as Mahram for Hajj and Umrah

Q: Is one allowed to perform Hajj or Umrah with a your stepfather who is also your guardian?

A: A step-father, though being a guardian, is not a mehram for his step-daughter when it comes to Hajj, Umrah, or any form of travel. The hadith states: A woman who believes in Allah and the Last is not permitted to travel a journey of three days (i.e. 48 miles) or more without her husband or mehram. (Bukhari, Muslim)
She, therefore, cannot travel for Hajj or Umrah with the step-father only, unless there is another mehram such as her baaligh brother or nephew or uncle who accompanies them.

And Allah knows best

Kissing the Hajre Aswad (Black Stone)

Q: Why is kissing of the Hajre Aswad allowed in the light of Quran and Sunnah?

A: It is permissible to kiss the hajar-e-aswad because Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) kissed it. The narration mentions that Sayyidina Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) kissed the Hajre Aswad and thereafter addressed it with the following words: "I know that you cannot harm or give benefit. If I had not seen the Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you." (Bukhaari)
Kissing of the Hajre Aswad is the practice of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam), and is proven from the Sunnah.

Using Make-up in Iddat

Q: Is a Shaafi’ee female allowed to wear make-up etc if she is in iddah after three talaaq?

A: It is sunnat for a Shafi’ee lady not to use cosmetics and adornment during her iddat of three talaaq. However, it is permissible do so and if she does use makeup and cosmetics, she will not be sinful. On the other hand, a woman who has lost her husband is prohibited from beautifying herself during the iddat. For her it is compulsory to abstain from all forms of adornment. (Haashiyatul Jumal)

Male Driving Instructor and Female Client

Q: Is it permissible for a male driving instructor to give driving lessons to a female client? Likewise, is it permissible for a female to pass out for a drivers license at the hands of a male officer?

A: In both of the above circumstances the Muslim female comes in contact with a strange (non-Mehram) male, which is haraam. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited the integration or interaction of male and female. Driving is not a necessity for females, hence it will not warrant relaxation of the laws of hijaab. Furthermore, such close contact and seclusion between male and female is a certain stepping-stone towards zinaa.

Man and His Female Cousin

Q: Is it permissible in Islam for a man to intermingle with his female cousin or cousin’s wife?

A: A man’s female cousin or his male cousin’s wife are not his mehrams, so there has to be purdah or hijaab between the two. In Surah Noor, verse 31, Almighty Allah mentions a list of mehram males with whom a woman may interact; the cousin is not on this list.

Donating Blood

Q: Is donating blood permissible in Islam? If yes, is there reward for this?

A: Donation of blood is permissible, but there is no special reward or significance for this.

Umrah Tawaaf while Menstruating

Q: If umrah tawaaf is performed while menstruating, what's the penalty?

A: It is a sin to enter the Masjidul Haraam in the state of Haidh. The woman who made tawaaf in this state should resort to Taubah. If she is still in Makkah and has become clean, the tawaaf has to be repeated. If she has already left Makkah, the dum of a sheep or goat becomes obligatory. (Muallimul-Hujjaj)
Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Earliest and Latest Times for Rami on 10th Zul Hijjah

Q: What are the earliest and latest times for rami (stoning) of the Jamrah on 10th Zul Hijjah without incurring a penalty?

A: Stoning on the 10th Zhul-Hijja begins at Subh Saadiq (at the commencement of Fajr) and ends at Subh Saadiq on the eleventh. If a person did not stone by Subh Saadiq on 11th , Dum (sacrifice of an animal within the Haram area) becomes compulsory. Stoning before Subh Saadiq of the tenth is not valid.
Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Pebbles Missing Jamarah

Q: If the pebbles don't hit the jamrah but fall near to it, is it alright?

A: If the pebble falls within a range of three arm lengths from the Jamarah, it will be valid. If it falls at a distance of three arm's lengths (approximately 1.3 metres) or more away from the Jamarah, the pelting of that pebble will not be valid. Thiis mentioned in the Fiqh work Al Jauharatun Nayyira.


Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher.

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Missing Rami and Qadha

Q: If you miss rami one day can you do qadha of the rami on the next day?

A: If Rami was missed on the 11th, it will be fulfilled as Qadhaa on the 12th, when stoning on the 12th. If Rami was missed on the 12th, it will be fulfilled on the 13th as Qadhaa when stoning on the 13th. In short, pelting that was missed on one day will be fulfilled as Qadhaa the next, and Dum (sacrifice of an animal as penalty) will also be compulsory. This is mentioned in the book Muallimul-Hujjaaj.

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Jumuah During Hajj

Q: Do we perform jumu'ah on 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th Zul Hijjah during hajj?

A: Performance of Jumu'ah Salaah is permissible in Mina, but not permissible at Arafah. (Muallimul-Hujjaaj)

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Number of Dums for Umrah/Hajj Violations

Q: How many dums (penalties) are required for hajj or umrah wajib violations?

A: Dum will be slaughtered for every violation which necessitates a Dum. If there were two violations which required a Dum as penalty, two animals will be slaughtered, and so forth.

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Zakaah on a Bonded/Mortaged House

Q: Does one have to pay zakaah on a house which is still under mortgage/bond from a bank?

A: Zakaat is not levied on houses, even if they house is free and not under any loan or bond. If one has rented out the house to tenants and the rent has accumulated then one has to oay zakat on that cash money at the end of the Islamic year. But there is no zakat on the value of the house.