Hadith on Virtues of Giving up Disputes

Q: Please confirm whether this is a hadith or not: Narrated Abu Umamah radhiallahu anhu, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: 1) I guarantee a home in Paradise for a person who gives up arguments and disputes even if he is on the truth. 2) And (I also guarantee) a home in the middle of Paradise for a person who gives up lying (false statements) even while joking. 3) And (I also guarantee) a home in the highest part of Paradise for a person who has a high standard of character.

A: Yes, this is an authentic hadith that appears in Tirmizhi, Nasaa-ee and many other famous books.

Adding Wife to Company Medical Aid

Q: Can a husband working for a company add his wife onto his medical aid? Does the type of plan matter? One gets a hospital cover only and then there are plans which have a built in savings account which can be used for day-to-day medical expenses. If the concept of insurance and medical aid is the same (i.e. both instances one contributes for a risk that MIGHT happen in the future), what makes the one permissible and the other not?

A: It will be permissible for the husband to put his wife onto his medical aid that the company has taken out for him. In this case the type of plan does not matter at all. It may be a hospital plan with full or partial cover, or cover for day to day medical expenses, or cover for medication only, etc.

The reason for permissibility of the above form of medical aid as opposed to insurance is that one who works for a company is forced to take out a medical aid policy; he does not do so voluntarily. It is company policy. When it is company policy that each employee must have medical aid, the company compulsorily deducts a certain amount from the employee’s salary which is then contributed to the medical aid scheme. According to Shariah, a salary is the nett amount that comes into the hands of the worker at the end of the week or month. What is not received in cash by him is not considered part of his salary, unless he has optionally asked the boss to keep back a certain amount or to invest an amount. On his behalf. According to this Islamic technicality, the sum of money contributed by the company to the medical aid scheme does not form part of the employee’s salary even though the company considers it as part of salary. It therefore follows that the employee is not contributing to the scheme; rather it’s his boss or company who pays the premium. The employee, thus, has nothing to do with the medical aid scheme, so any benefits or payouts that he receives from the scheme is not related to any contribution of his own. He has had no dealings with the medical aid company, so the issues of risk and usury do not arise. However, in insurance it is the client who deals directly with the insurance company and pays premiums voluntarily; hence such a scheme is not allowed in Islam, for the risk and usury factors are quite prominent.

Asking Prospective Husband for Aids Test

Q: Can the parents of a girl who is proposed ask the boy to take an Aids test before the nikah (given the current Aids crisis and the behaviour of our Muslim girls and boys)?

A: Parents are allowed to request an Aids if the background or character of the boy indicates towards immoral behaviour. But if the boy comes from a normal, good family and has been a youth of good morality, then such a request will offend the boy and his party. In that case it will not be permissible to make such a request, for Islam does not allow any statement or action that hurts the feelings of a fellow Muslim.

Also note that in the case where making such a request is allowed, the boy is not under any obligation whatsoever to go for the test. In other words, this cannot be stipulated as a condition for the nikah, and he cannot be forced to go for an Aids test. If he does so voluntarily, it is his choice.

Punishment for Leaving out Sunnats of Salaah

Q: If we don’t pray the sunnats of Zuhr, Maghrib and Witr of Esha are we going to be punished on the Day of Judgement?

A: One who misses witr of eshaa and sunnats of zuhr might be punished on the Day of Qiyaamat. So one should read these rakaats. It also appears in the hadith that one always omits the four sunnat before zuhr, will be deprived of the intercession of Our Rasool sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

Sitting and Eating/Drinking

Q: It is sunnah muakkada to sit and drink water or can we stand and drink?

A: Yes it is sunnah to sit when eating or drinking. Though there is no sin in standing while eating or drinking, one should avoid this entirely.

Breastfeeding Brother's Son

Q: If a woman breast-feeds her own daughter and at the same time she breast-feeds her brother’s son; is it haraam for any of her brother's sons and daughters to marry this woman’s sons and daughter?

A: In the case you mentioned, the other sons of her brother can marry her daughter, and also the daughters of her brother can marry her sons. But the brother’s son who drank her milk cannot marry any of her daughters.

Female Studying

Q: I would like to know if it is permissible for females to study. I intend going to go to a girls-only university and am also in complete pardah. Will it be permissible?

A: It is not permissible for females to leave home and study, even if they are in pardah. This does not fall under necessity. A woman is only allowed to leave home when a necessity arises. You may study any degree, but do so from home. You can do it through a correspondence course. However, I would suggest that once you've finished schooling, don't worry about further degrees. Start getting ready for marriage by learning the ways of a housewife.
From experience I have learnt that when girls spend their teen years studying, there is no time to groom themselves for marriage by learning the finer points of cooking, housekeeping, etc. A young female also needs to start reading up on the Islamic Laws related to marriage, for without this a girl cannot become a proper and true wife. Furthermore, when a girl attains a degree, she will not stop at that but would be driven to start working. Then when she starts working and earning money (and nowadays women find jobs easier than men, and get better pay) she will discard the laws of pardah in the course of her work. She might even be working with men or interacting with them. This will later on impact on her marriage, as will her earning more than the husband should this materialize. Marriages have broken down due to wives working, for three main reasons:
1) The wife works with men, or comes into contact with them during work, and this (naturally) annoys the husband;
2) The wife earns more than the husband, so he feels inferior, and at times she regards him as inferior;
3) She feels independent, and believes that if her husband leaves, she can survive on her own.
These points are the ideal recipe for marital catastrophe.

Method of Showering after Sexual Intercourse

Q: How does one shower after sexual intercourse?

A: To take a bath after intercourse is compulsory (Fardh).

The Sunnah method of taking a bath is as follows:
1. Wash both hands up to the wrists thrice.

2. Thereafter wash off any impurity that may be on the body thrice.

3. Now make Istinjaa of both the front and hind private parts whether there is a need or not.

4. Thereafter, perform Wudhu according to the Sunnah manner. If one is bathing in such a place where the water does not flow away but gathers at the feet, then wash the feet after moving away from that place. If the water does not gather but flows away, then wash the feet during the Wudhu.

5. Now pour water over the head, then the right shoulder and then the left shoulder. Use so much water that it flows down the body and reaches the feet. Rub the body with the hands. Repeat this entire procedure another two times. If one feels that a certain portion of the body has remained dry, pour water over that portion and rub it to ensure that it also has been washed.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Seeing a Potential Wife

Q: How does Islam permit us (women) to show ourselves to potential grooms during a marriage proposal?

A: The potential bridegroom is allowed to only expose her face and hands in the presence of the potential groom. He is only allowed to see that much. The rest of her body should be covered. There should be a Mahram present with her when he views her. It is forbidden for two strangers to be alone, even for the purpose of marriage. (Raddul Muhtaar V26 P 392,398 & 400)

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Wishing for more Children

Q: My wife and I have 3 kids already. We would like to have twins. Is it wrong of us to want twins?

A: Wishing for twins even after having three kids is a permissible desire. Make Du'aa unto Allah Ta'aala for the fulfilment of your wish. Do not become despondent and dejected if in His infinite wisdom, Allah Ta'aala does not grant this. He alone knows what is best for us. We have to be pleased with what has been decreed. To be pleased with what has been decreed is the formula for contentment. The benefit and reward for Du'aa which has not materialised in this world will be received in the hereafter. Thus, a Muslim never loses out, he receives the fulfilment of Du'aa here, another calamity is removed in lieu of the Du'aa, or he receives the benefit in the hereafter.

May Allah Ta'aala grant us all contentment. Aameen.

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:Mufti Siraj Desai

Debonairs PE Halaal Status

Q: Is Debonairs in Port Elizabeth Halaal?

A: To the best of our knowledge Debonairs is not Halaal. We suggest that you visit them and ask to be shown a Halaal certificate.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Showering after Sexual Intercourse

Q: Should showering after sexual intercourse be done immediately?

A: It is best to bath as soon as possible after intercourse. It is also permissible to delay the bath up to the next Salaah time.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Zakaat for Musjid Renovations

Q: May a person give Zakaat towards the renovations of a Masjid? What is the penalty for having missed a year's Zakaah?

A: Zakaat may not be given towards the renovation of a Masjid. It must necessarily be given to a Muslim who is eligible for Zakaat. (Shaami V7 P226) There is no 'penalty' for missing a year's Zakaat. The Zakaat of that year must still be given. Taubah should be made if one delayed the payment of Zakaat without a valid reason. (Shaami V6 P496)

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by:Mufti Siraj Desai

Studying Actuarial Science

Q: Is it permissible to become an actuary and is it permissible to study actuarial science?

A: The study of actuarial science is permissible as a science. After receiving a degree in this science, one should use it to earn a lawful income by entering a field that is allowed by Shariah. Insurance companies use such qualified people in their industry. To work for an insurance company using this science, or to use it in any insurance related matter, or to apply it in any forbidden matter will not be permissible. It will be permissible to apply it to a range of applications outside the insurance industry on condition that they (applications) are not Islamically forbidden.

AND ALLAH TA'AALA KNOWS BEST

Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:Mufti Siraj Desai