Q: Is it permissible to place a stone or brick behind the mayyit in the grave so that the body does not fall back when laying it down towards qiblah? (Shaafi' Math-hab)
A: It is permissible to place a brick or stone behind the dead body for this purpose. (Hashiyatul-Jumal)
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)
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
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)
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’)
Q: Do non-Muslim male relatives break a Shaafi female’s wudhu?
A: If a male mehram, Muslim or non Muslim, touches a Muslim female, her wudhu will not break
Q: Does the Thawaab of physical Ibaadat reach the deceased?
A: Three types of reward (thawaab) reach the deceased from the actions of the living; (a) a Fardh Haj made on behalf of the deceased, (b) wealth given as Sadaqah or a debt paid on behalf of the deceased, (c) the benefit of Du’aa made by the living. There are two views as to whether the thawaab of Quran recitation reaches the deceased. The preferred view is that it does. One should ask Allah Ta’āla to convey the thawaab of the recital to the deceased. The thawaab of physical Ibaadat, e.g. Salaah, fasting, Nafl Haj, etc. does not reach the deceased. (Majmu, 15:521)
Q: Where will the Shaafi’ee keep the hands in the Qiyaam position in Salaah?
A: He will fold his hands below the chest, above the navel, in the iyaam position in Salaah. (Majmu, 3:313)
Q: Is it permissible for a man to give ghusl to the body of his dead wife?
A: Yes, in the Shafi'ee math-hab this is allowed. The reverse is also permissible, i.e. the wife may give ghusl to the dead body of her husband. (Raudhatut-Taalibeen) However, it is preferable for males to give ghusl to males and females to females. (I'aanatut-Taalibeen)
Q: Does one have to pay Zakaat on jewellery that is worn everyday, e.g. rings, etc?
A: According to the Shafi Math-hab, Zakaat is not faradh on jewellery that is for daily use.
Q: A woman is a Shafi and her husband as Hanafi. Shafis leave Muzdalifah after Maghrib and Hanafis after Fajr. The Shafi wife doesn’t have a Mahram to accompany her. What must she do?
A: A Shafi cannot leave Muzdalifah after Maghrib. Wuqoof at Muzdalifah begins in the second part of the night. The Shafi has to spend at least a short while at Muzdalifah during the second part of the night, and thereafter may depart. If the Shafi left before the second part of the night commenced, he has to return to fulfill the Wuqoof. If he did not do so before Fajr commenced, ‘Dumm’ will be compulsory. The Shafi wife must remain with her husband and leave Muzdalifah with him after Fajr. (Kitaabul Haj, Sheikh Muhammad Khateeb Al-Sharbeeni)
