Utensils and Halaal

Q: I am married to a new Muslim. Her parents are non Muslims, and we are invited over for dinner often. They know we only eat halal food so her dad prepares halaal food but sometimes he also cooks haraam food for them. Sometimes he uses his utensils and eats from the halal dish. I know that dish is no longer halaal, but my in-laws cannot understand how it can become haraam. Could you give me some Islamic answers to try and make them understand?

A. It will be difficult for them to fully understand the concept of Halaal and Haraam. Although if the utensil which contained Haraam is washed according to the Islamic method, i.e. thrice with fresh water each time, it will thereafter be permissible to use, but it is best not to use it. The better option is to take your own food with you when going to visit them and share it with them. This is a safer option.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Investing Waqf

Q: 1. If members of a certain family initiated the building of a masjid, can they stipulate that only they would be allowed to be custodians of the institute?

2. Can members of a particular Islamic Organisation embark on establishing a business with the intent that such a venture would enable the Organisation to be self maintaining?

A.1. If they have given the Masjid in Waqf, they can stipulate they will be the custodians. (Raddul Muhtaar V17 P308).

2. If the Organisation wishes to establish a business using public or Waqf funds then there are two conditions to comply with:

1) It is compulsory to obtain permission from the donors and contributors for such a business. If the donors are not known then issue a public notice stating that the Organisation intends investing the money collected into a business venture or company shares, etc. Details of the business enterprise must be published as well as the projected profit growth. The notice should also ask any donor who objects to this to come forward and make his objection known, and also state how much he has donated. Leave the notice on the board for at least a week,. Upon receiving no valid objections, the Organisation may go ahead with the business.
2) The venture must not be a high-risk one. There must be the best possibility of earning healthy profits for the Waqf organisation.

If these two pre-requisites are fulfilled it will be permissible to invest the money.
Mufti Siraj Desai

Meaning of Fathiyyah

Q: What is the meaning of the name Fatgieyah?

A. Fathiyyah = something of victory or success.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Method of Slaughtering

Q: What is the process of slaugtering outside the two Eids and what should one read or say when slaughtering?

A. Slaughtering takes place at the time of Eidul Adhaa, not Eidul-Fitr. The method of slaughter remains the same regardless of which time of the year one slaughters. These are the conditions:

The slaughterer must be a Muslim.
Face the animal towards Qiblah.
Use a sharp knife.
The following should be recited when slaughtering:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

BISMILLAAHI ALLAAHU AKBAR

Sever the four vessels in the throat; the gullet, the jugular vein and the two wind pipes. At least three from the four should be cut to render the animal Halaal.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Period of Confinement

Q: How long does a woman has to remain indoors after giving birth c section or normal birth?

A. There is no law that she has to remain indoors for a certain amount of days after giving birth, whether caesarean section or normal birth.

There is a superstition among people that after birth a woman has to remain indoors for forty days. This is not a law of Islam. The forty day period is the maximum flow of blood after birth that a woman can experience, according to the Hanafi math-hab. Sometimes the blood can stop before forty days. Even during this period the woman is allowed to come out of the hone if need be. Obviously a female should only come out of her home when there is an urgent or pressing need.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Masah of Beard

Q: When making whudu, when does one make masah of the beard and what is the correct way?

A. Wash the face thrice. Thereafter take a little water in the palm of the right hand. Rub this water in the beard below the chin. Thereafter push the fingers through the beard beginning from below the chin going outwards. (Note that this is called Khilaal and not Masah.)

The following words can be said when making Khilaal of the beard:

هٰكذّا اَمَرَنِىْ رَبِّىْ
HAAKADHAA AMARANEE RABBEE
(Piyaare Nabi Ki Piyaari Sunnatein P8)

An alternate method:
Without using fresh water, run the fingers through the beard with the palm of the right hand towards the throat

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Wearing a Neck Tie

Q: Is it permissible to wear a neck tie made of silk. The company I work for requires all males to wear a tie.

A. A Muslim should not wear a tie at all.

Wearing of silk is forbidden for Muslim males. It is mentioned in a Hadeeth that whoever wears silk in this world will be deprived of wearing it in the hereafter. (Ibni Maajah V2 P1187)

If your company forces you to wear a tie, then rather use one that is made of other fabric besides silk.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Zakaat for Children

Q: I want to save some money for my 5 year old daughter for her future. Do I have to pay zakat on her account?

A. If you have made your minor daughter the owner of the money, no Zakaat will be paid on that money until she reaches puberty.

If you are still the owner of the money, then you will pay Zakaat on it.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Sadaqatul Fitr for Baalig Children

Q: Do parents have to pay Sadaqatul Fitr on behalf of their children who have reached puberty?

A: Fitra is not payable on behalf of children who have attained the age of puberty (baalig).

Mufti Siraj Desai

Calculating Subh Sadiq

Q: How do I calculate what time Subuh Sadiq (true dawn) starts?

A: Subuh Sadiq is about 1 hour 25 minutes before sunrise in Port Elizabeth. This is a basic and safe way to calculate subu sadiq or true dawn.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Non Muslim Reading Quraan

Q: My Muslim friend told me that it is haram to touch the Holy Quran if one does not have wudhu. What about if one is not a Muslim but is interested in learning about Islam and reading a copy of the Quran? A non-Muslim friend asked me for a copy of the Quran and I gave one to her, but advised her to please respect it and to not touch it when she is not cleaned and to not read it in the toilet etc. But since this Muslim friend told me about the wudhu thing I am concerned because my non- Muslim friend will not have wudhu when she reads the Quran.

A: If you told your non-Muslim friend not to touch the Quran when she is not clean or when she is in her menses, and you believe that she will respect that and follow your instructions, then you may allow her to keep a translation of the Quran and read it. Another condition for this permissibility is that you should have strong hope of her being attracted to Islam. If she is merely reading the Quran for interest sake or she is a student doing some research and there is no hope that she will embrace Islam, then it will not be permissible to give this non Muslim a copy of the Quran. (Al-Fataawal Hindiyyah)

You should also advise her to keep the quran wrapped in a clean cloth and on a raised place, and not to keep it in a room where alcohol is consumed, or where any un-Islamic activity takes place, and not to touch the Arabic text.

Under these circumstances it will be permissible to leave the Quran with her even though she will not have wudhu when holding the translation. Fataawa mahmoodiya vol.12, p.26

Mufti Siraj Desai

Staying with Parents

Q: Can I stay at my parent's place if my husband is abroad? I don't want to stay in his house because he has a joint family and those people are ill mannered. As I have a 2 month old baby I don't want to stay there.

A: According to Shariah, under the circumstances mentioned by you, it will be permissible for you to stay in your parents home while your husband is abroad.

And Allah Knows Best

Mufti Siraj Desai

Qualifying for Zakaat

Q: Please explain to me who qualifies for Zakaat and how do I find out if I qualify. I am unemployed and have debts to pay off. My husband is working but not managing to settle all the debt. We were living in London. Because we were not managing, I returned to SA and am living with my widow mom who is supporting me and my baby. My husband is still in the UK, working to pay off the debts and save some money to start a business in SA to support us. He is not coping as the cost of living there is too much. Also, we have been apart for almost 5 months now and I am struggling emotionally with that. My son also misses his dad. Will I qualify for Zakaat to pay off the debts and to have enough to start a business so that we can sustain ourselves in the future?

A: Normally most married females possess gold jewellery. You need to take that into consideration when assessing your eligibility for zakaat. If you do possess gold jewellery and the weight is 87 grams or more, then you need to get a value of the jewellery. This can be done by taking the jewellery to a reputable jeweller. Once you've done that, you need to tally all the debts that you owe. If your total debts amount to more than the value of your gold, then you may accept zakaat. If the debts are less than your gold value, you may not take zakaat.

If you have no jewellery, or the gold you have is less than 87 grams then you are certainly eligible for zakaat in view of your outstanding debts.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Reading English Translation of Quraan while Menstruating

Q: Is it permissable for me to read the Arabic Quraan with English translation when I am menstruating? I am reading the English text with a view of gaining the reward in Ramadaan and also to understand the message of the Quraan.

A: You may read the English translation during your haidh, but be careful not to hold the Quran unless you are using a cloth. Do not touch the Arabic text of the Holy Quran in that state.

Mufti Siraj Desai