Difficulty with Tajweed

Q: About 2 weeks back I asked about reading with tajweed. It is not that I do not know how to read with tajweed, it is just that I have difficulty pronouncing the second haa in certain instances. If I am not able to pronounce it correctly will my salaah and Quraan recitation be invalid? Also is Aarif Soobrathie's recitations a good guide to follow for proper tajweed?

A: In the case you mentioned your salah will be valid. As long as you try your best, your recitation will be accepted by Allah. We have not heard Soobrathie’s recitation so we cannot comment. However, there are other Qaaris whom you could listen to in order to learn better tajweed, for example, Qaari Ziyaad Patel locally, and then the famous Arab Qaaris such as Shaikh Husri, Shaikh Abdul-Basit, the famous Imams Sudais and Shuraim, and Shaikh Abubakr Shaatri.

Difference Between Ahle Sunni and Ahle Sunnah wal Jama'ah

Q: Is there a differnce between AhleSunni and AhleSunnah wal Jama'ah. Please advise.

A: There is no real difference between the two words except in pronunciation, though "ahlesunni" is not commonly used nor is it the correct form. Ahlus-Sunnah or Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaat means those who follow the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his Sahaaba.

Tying Long Hair for Masah

Q: If a woman has long hair, while making masah can
she leave her hair to hang below her shoulder or must
she tie it up?

A: In wudhu a woman just needs to make masah over the head, not on all her hair. Therefore, it is permissible for her to leave the hair hanging lose. There is no need to tie it up.

Women Wearing Top and Pants When Going Out

Q: What is the position in Sharaih of a woman wearing top and pants when going out?

A: For a woman to wear top and pants outside the home is not permissible. The reason for this is that The Hadith of our beloved Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) clearly states that a woman should not wear garments that reveal the contours and shape of any part of her body. Such dress is almost (though not exactly) as wearing nothing. Trousers with a top reveals the shape or a woman=s rear, as well as her thighs, depending upon how tight the trouser is. In fact, people in the fashion world today have written that one of the reasons why trousers have been designed for women is to display to men the posterior of the woman. Women who wear tight fitting trousers and jeans, etc, consciously wish to attract the stares of men, and feel proud in doing so. All this is totally against Islamic morals and human shame. A columnist of the West, Jess Cartner-Morley writes in The Guardian: Some women prefer not to reveal flesh. Skin-tight clothes are sexy in a slightly different way to skin itself. Tight jeans are as shape-revealing as clothes get - more so, indeed, than a miniskirt. But with the thick, work-wear fabric and stiff, riveted fastenings, you feel somehow protected. "I know men are still looking at my rear," says a friend of mine, "but I don't feel like it's my problem that they are. This proves the haraam motives in wearing such garments.
May Allah protect our sisters from following the fashions of the West.

Man Washing Body of his Dead Wife

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)

Physically Looking after Parents

Q: Is it necessary for the son or daughter to physically look after his or her parents?

A: If a son or daughter can physically look after their aged parents then this is for more rewarding. If not, the alternative will be to employ a full time nurse whose salary will be shared by all the siblings. Is it not correct and unfair to impose this burden on only one or two children, unless some of them are in extreme financial straits.

Supporting Parents

Q: Whose duty is it to support parents? Kindly explain in detail.

A: A father or mother or both, who cannot support themselves, become the responsibility of their children. In this responsibility the sons and daughters are equal. The duty of caring and providing expenses for parents must be shared equally by all the children, males and females. However, if any child is in total poverty and has difficulty in supporting even himself/herself, then such a child is automatically relieved of the duty. The burden of support then falls onto the remaining children. Otherwise, all sons and daughters must jointly execute this task. If there is a very wide gap between the earnings and income of the children then those who are more affluent will have to provide a greater share of the expenses. In other words, the son or daughter whose income differs vastly to that of the other siblings must contribute a larger proportion towards their parent’s expense and maintenance. If the difference in the financial position of the siblings is not very substantial then all shall share expenses equally.

Intention for Qaza Fasts at Night

Q: I have heard that when making qaza fasts of Ramadaan, the niyyat should be made at night and not during the morning.

A: Quite correct, but it means before subuh saadiq.

Hijaab for Gardeners, etc

Q: A woman wears niqaab outside the home. When non-Muslim men (e.g. gardener, clients, etc.) visit her home, should she don her niqaab before appearing before them?

A: Yes, she should have her niqaab in this case.

Piercing Girls' Ears

Q: What is the ruling regarding having a girls ears pierced for inserting earrings? I have intended to have my daughters' ears pierced but I have some doubt in my mind. Could you enlighten me?

A: Piercing ears for girls is permissible since they are allowed to wear jewellery, and this is the purpose of ear-piercing. Since it is easier to do it when they are babies, it is better to do it now. However, once the ear is pierced, just place the minimum size earing into the hole, a very basic one.

Fitra for Past Ramadaans

Q: A person did not give fitrah for past Ramadaans. At that time the person was not staying with their parents. Should this person give it now and what amount?

A: It must be given now according to current rates.

Keeping Same Names in Paradise

Q: When we are in Jannat, will we keep the same names as we have here on earth?

A: I vaguely recall reading something about this but can't remember exactly. Apparently, we will still maintain our same names as in this world, unless a person had an un-Islamic name, which will then change as Allah decides. What I remember also is that besides our birth names, people will be given titles according to their good a'maal.
Also, some will be allowed to pick far more better and beautiful names for themselves. And Allah knows best.

Kissing Hajre Aswad outside Tawaaf

Q: Is it permissible to kiss the Hajre Aswad when not in Tawaaf?

A: Yes, one may make the istilaam of Hajar-e-Aswad even when not making tawaaf, like it is done after tawaaf and before making sa'ee.

Qasr Salaah and Two Homes

Q: Is qasr salaah wajib on a person who travels from one house of his to another house of his which is 77 kilometers away?

A: If the owner of the two houses lives in both houses with his wife/children, and spends more-or-less equal time in both places where the houses are situated then travelling to these homes will not render him a musaafir, so he will not make qasr salah. But if one is his permanent home and the other a holiday home which he visits occasionally then he has to make qasr when he travels to the holiday home if the distance between the two houses is 77.7 kms.