Qurbani Meat for Walimah

Q: Can the meat from a qurbaani animal be used to feed people at a walima? Must one third of the meat be given away?

A: It is permissible to use Qurbani meat to feed people at a walima on any other feast. It is not necessary or compulsory to give one third of the meat away. This is something optional and meritorious. It is sunnat to divide the meat into three portions: one for friends and family, one for the poor, and one for one’s own use. But if one did not do so and kept all the meat instead, or gave all away, there is no sin.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Sex During Pregnancy

Q: Is sex allowed during pregnancy and when should it stop?

A: Sex during pregnancy is permissible on condition that this does not cause any physical harm to the baby. This too, will determine the time when it should stop.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Hadith of Madinatul Ilm

Q: According to the Ulama of Ilm ul Hadith, what is the status of the authenticity of the famous hadith that is attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam: "I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its gate?" I want to know what the opinion of the ulama of the Deoband is on the authenticity of this hadith.

A: Jazakallah for your interesting and important query. Regarding the hadith أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها
(I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door) we have proof that this is an authentic hadith and not fabricated, as some have claimed. Here are the quotations:

1. Imam Haakim narrated this in his Mustadrak and termed it saheeh. It must be noted that Imam Haakim compiled the mustadrak for the sole purpose of recording those saheeh Ahaadith that are not found in Bukhari and Muslim. Tabarani also narrated this in Mu’jam Al Kabeer.

2. Though Bukhari, Tirmizhi, and Yayha in Mu’een disputed its authenticity, and some such as Abu Haatim and Yahya bin Sa’eed went on to totally negate the very origin of this hadith, other scholars have given opposite findings. Abu Sa’eed Alaa-ee and Hafiz Ibni Hajar said that this hadith is of the hasan category and is tenable proof because of the numerous chains through which it has been transmitted. Ibni Hajar Makki supported this view as well, and also quoted the authentication of Imam Haakim. He further states that those who brand this hadith as fabricated have erred.
Extracted from Al-Maqaasidul Hasanah and Kashful-Khifaa.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Siraj Desai

Salaah on an Aeroplane

Q: I have many questions regarding salaah on an aeroplane. Is it necessary for a person in aeroplane to make Wudu and then perform Qasr Salaah? How we will do Ruku and Sujood on the seat? When does the travel end: When the plane reaches the destination airport or when we reach the hotel or some other place? My stay will be more than a week.

A: If you are on a plane and it is time for a Salaah and the time for that particular Salaah will expire before landing, it will be necessary to perform it on the plane. Ask the crew members for Qiblah direction and perform the Salaah standing at the back of the plane with Ruku and Sajdah. If this is not possible then read the Salaah while in your seat. In that case you may face any direction. Bend slightly forward for Ruku’ and a little more for Sujood. It is preferable to repeat the Salaah read on the plane after landing and arriving at the hotel or lodging. Travel wherein Qasr is permissible, which is 77 km or more, begins when one leaves the boundary of the hometown. Qasr will be performed en-route and also at the destination if one is staying for less than fifteen days. Qasr will also be performed on the return journey till one reaches the boundary of one’s hometown.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Wife Masturbating Husband

Q: Can a wife masturbate her husband?

A. It is permissible for the wife to masturbate the husband. It is not permissible for him to do it with his own hand. (Raddul Muhtaar V15 P75).

Mufti Siraj Desai

Zakaat to Family Member

Q: I got a zakat money from a source. The source gave me the money to distribute among needy people. The source has given me the authority to make the decision to whom I give the zakat. Now, one of my family members lives abroad and he is unsable to earn any single penny to bear his living expense. Can I pay him a portion of the zakat money?

A. If the person who gave you the Zakaat to distribute gave you complete authority to distribute according to your wishes and did not stipulate particular people to be the recipients of the Zakaat, then you may give your members from that Zakaat provided they qualify to receive Zakaat.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Juma in Musjid

Q: Is it a requirement for the validity of Jumuah that it be in a masjid and not an ordinary Musallaa? If so, what is the proof for it?

A: If you look at the conditions for the validity of Jumu’ah Salaah in all Schools of Fiqh, you will not find any mention of a Masjid as a condition for Jumu’ah Salaah. According to all math-habs Jumu’ah is valid even in an open field or the Eid musalla. However, since it was a standard practice of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) to offer his Jumu’ah only in the Masjid, unlike the Eid Salaah which he regularly offered at the Eidgah, we will say the Masjid is Sunnah Mu'akkadah for Jumu’ah. Hence it will be sinful to make Jumu’ah in a place other than the Masjid on a regular basis for this is contrary to Sunnah. Once in a while it will be permissible to do so.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Sajdah with a Turban

Q: If I am wearing turban, which is covering my forhead, and I do sajda such that the bare forhead does not touch the ground, rather it touches over the turban, is that fine? Or must my bare forehead touch the ground?

A: If the firmness of the ground could be felt through the turban, the Sajdah will be valid, otherwise not. It is best that the actual forehead touches the ground. (Al Jauharatun Nayyirah V1 P214)

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Shaving and No Pubic Hair

Q: If there is no or very little hair on pubic areas is shaving still compulsory?

A: If there is no hair, there will be no need to shave. If there is little hair and it has lengthened, it will be necessary to shave it. It is necessary to shave at least once every 40 days. So if the hair was left for 40 days, then regardless of how short it is, one must shave. Not to do so is sinful.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Reciting Duas in Toilet

Q: Is it ok to make the duas for/during wudu in your heart while in the toilet?

A: When making Wudhu in a combined bathroom and toilet, one should not read the Du'aas of Wudhu loudly. Instead these should be read in the mind.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Wudhu Naked

Q: Can Wudu be performed in the toilet without clothes on?

A: Wudhu in the toilet while naked is valid, but avoid making this a habit.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Seeing Spouse Naked and Wudhu

Q: Does wudu break if you see your spouse without clothes?

A: Seeing the spouse without clothes does not break Wudhu of either spouse.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Disobedience to Mother

Q: About 25 years ago I went to visit my mother. One day during lunch time meal she was giving me motherly advice about leading a decent life. Somehow for no apparent reason I got angry at her. I had bread in my hand and threw it to my mother’s plate and walked away. At that time I felt no remorse of my horrible action against my beloved mother and I never apologised to my her. The same year my mother passed away and I never asked her for forgiveness. Today when I remember my transgression to my beloved mother I feel so guilty and ashamed of myself. What should I do to remedy this since my mother is late now?

A: Never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah Ta'aala. The very fact that you regret the action is a good sign. You cannot seek her forgiveness because she has already passed away, but you can do the following:

a) Make Du'aa in abundance for her.

b) Whenever possible, give charity on her name.

c) Perform Nafl Salaah, recitation of the Qur'aan etc. and ask Allah to pass the reward of that act to her.

d) If your parents are buried nearby then make an effort to visit their graves every Friday. It comes in the Hadeeth that a person who visits the graves of his parents every Friday will be written down in the Records of Allah as an obedient child. (Mishkaatul-Masaabeeh) When visiting their graves read Surah Ikhlaas, Faatihah, and any portion of the Qur'aan, and send the rewards to them. Also make Du'aa for them at the graveside.

e) When reading Yaseen daily, send the reward of this Surah to your mother and father.By doing the above-mentioned, hopefully Allah Ta'aala will forgive you and have mercy on you. May Allah Ta'aala grant you ease. Aameen.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
and Mufti Siraj Desai

Reading Salaah Aloud

Q: I use to offer Salaah aloud. My intention was to teach my son. Is this alright?

A. It is compulsory to recite softly in the four Rakaats of the Fardh of Thuhr and Asr, in the third Rakaat of the Fardh of Maghrib and the second two Rakaats of the Fardh of Eshaa. Do not recite loudly in these Rakaats. Teach your son at other times.

Make a two Rakaat Nafl Salaah and read aloud. This is one way you can teach your son. Also let your son read a two Rakaats Salaah aloud and you listen to him.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Machine-slaughtered Chicken

Q: We live in America and halal chicken availabe is machine cut. The machine cuts the chicken and the person says the TASMIYAH but the machine goes faster then the human so he can not say on each. Is this chicken is halal?

A: Machine-slaughtered chicken is not Halaal. Firstly, as you quite rightly stated, the operator of the machine cannot recite Tasmiyah on every bird. Secondly, the Shari'ah requires that the slaughtering be done directly with the hand, not with a hand-operated machine.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Contraception in Islam

Q: Does Islam allows the use of contraceptives or protection to be used during the intercourse with ones wife?

A: Use of condoms if a form of contraception. This is permissible under the following conditions:

A) When it is established through experience or expert medical advice that pregnancy will endanger the life of the mother or the foetus-to-be, or she will suffer serious complications to her health.

B) When the mother is unable to cope in the rearing of children for social or economic reasons, such as her having to go out and work for a living when the husband is invalid or not willing to earn an income.

C) When the couple live in such a remote area where they fear for the morals and Deeni upbringing of their kids.

D) Due to physical weakness or terminal illness the mother cannot rear children, and the family is not by the means to employ people for this purpose.

E) The couple intend separating in the near future, or the wife fears her husband may divorce her soon, or desert her.

F) To enable the couple to provide proper education and discipline to their offspring, contraception is used to space out pregnancies.

Resorting to contraception for fear of poverty, or to enable the wife to pursue a career, or merely because it is ‘fashionable’ to have small families, is not permissible. Further, the moment the above reasons no longer exist, use of contraception will once again become unlawful.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Discharge and Bath

Q: Whenever I think about my wife while speaking, something gets discharged from my front private part? What is that? Do I need to ghusl (have a bath)?

A: If the discharge is a transparent sticky liquid, it is called Mazi. Discharge of Mazi breaks Wudhu and makes the clothes Najis but does not break Ghusl. Wash the area and remove and wash or change the soiled clothing.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Calling Wife a Sister

Q: If a husband calls his wife his 'sister' in fun or as a joke, will this break the nikah (marriage)?

A: The Nikah will not break, but it is Makrooh and sinful to call your wife 'sister'. (Raddul Muhtaar V12 P213)

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Court Marriage Only

Q: My husband and I have been married for 5 years. He is Muslim and I have recently converted to Islam. We did not have an Islamic marriage, we were just married in the court. I think this is Zina (adultery) and I need to know what to do about it. I have recently converted to Islam and I need to make sure we are doing everything the right way. Will my husband and I be forgiven if this is Zina? Tell me what I should do please.

A: Firstly, you need to make Nikah (marriage) all over again. Go to the nearest Aalim, Moulana, Shaykh or Imam and ask him to perform your Nikah, which will be done as normal and with a new dowry. Thereafter make sincere repentance to Allah for making such a big mistake. But rest assured, Allah is Most Merciful. Once you make sincere repentance and you do the Nikah over again, Allah will grant total forgiveness. There is no doubt in this.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Applying Mendhi During Menstruation

Q: Can a lady apply mehndi during menstruation?

A: Mhendi can be applied during menstruation.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Shark Meat

Q: I am Hanafi. Can i eat shark meat? I have heard that 60% of fish fingers is made out of shark meat.

A: Shark is a fish, hence 100 percent halaal.

And Allah knows best
Mufti Siraj Desai

Missing a Word in Surah Fatiha

Q: If i have a doubt whether I missed a word of surah fatiha what should be done? If I have my doubt in rukuh or sujud can I stand back and recite surah fatiha again and continue the prayer as normal? Do I have to do sajda sahu and while doing sajda sahu for that, if I miss one sujud is my prayer acceptable?

A: If you merely have a doubt then ignore it. If you are sure you missed a word or an aayah then you should make sajdah sahu.If you missed one sajdah forgetfully while making sajdah sahu then your salah is complete. (Tahttaawi alaa maraaqil falah)

Moulana Naziem Moosagie
Checked and ratified by Mufti Siraj Desai

Aqeeqa with Meat from Butchery

Q: Is it necessary to purchase a live animal for Aqeeqa, or one can one purchase just the meat of that animal from a butcher to celabrate Aqeeqa?

A: Aqeeqa can only be done by slaughtering a live animal, not be buying fresh meat from a butchery.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Tayammum for Ghusl

Q: Is it correct that when no water is available and a person is in a state of janabat (needs a compulsory Ghusl/bath), he may perform tayamum? If so, when water does become available, does such a person then have to perform ghusl or will he be considered paak (clean)?

A: Yes he should make tayammum.However when sufficient water becomes available then his tayammum will break and he has to make ghusl.

Checked and approved by Mufti Siraj Desai

Keeping Missed Fasts on Alternate Days

Q: Is it necesary for my wife to keep missed fasts in continuity or can she keep fasts on alternate days?

A: She can keep the qadha on alternate days. It is not necessary to keep all qadha consecutively.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Qurbaani and Aqeeqah in a Buffalo

Q: As a buffalo equals 7 parts in Qurbani, can I offer aqeeqah in some parts of those 7 while others offer qurbaani?

A: Yes you can.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Our Aqeedah

Q: Do you belong to the Ahlus Sunnah?

A: We belong to the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama’ah. We follow Quran and Sunnah, as well as the fatawas of Sahaaba and Great Imams of the past. We belong to the Hanafi Math-hab, and we encourage taqleed of one particular math-hab. We respect all Imams and math-habs.

Mufti Siraj Desai