Following a Different Math-hab

Q: Is it sinful to follow a wrong Math-hab? I was wrongly practising as Hanafi but now found I'm Shafi.

A: It is not a sin to follow a math-hab. In fact, it is an obligation, for without following a math-hab one cannot truly practice on the Laws of Islam. All four Math-habs are Haq or true, so whichever one you follow will lead you to Allah. For this reason, you were not wrong in practicing on the Hanafi math-hab, but if you were a Shaafi'ee then it is better that you revert to your original math-hab, provided you have an Aalim available who can teach you the Shaafi'ee math-hab.

Stepfather as Mahram for Hajj and Umrah

Q: Is one allowed to perform Hajj or Umrah with a your stepfather who is also your guardian?

A: A step-father, though being a guardian, is not a mehram for his step-daughter when it comes to Hajj, Umrah, or any form of travel. The hadith states: A woman who believes in Allah and the Last is not permitted to travel a journey of three days (i.e. 48 miles) or more without her husband or mehram. (Bukhari, Muslim)
She, therefore, cannot travel for Hajj or Umrah with the step-father only, unless there is another mehram such as her baaligh brother or nephew or uncle who accompanies them.

And Allah knows best

Kissing the Hajre Aswad (Black Stone)

Q: Why is kissing of the Hajre Aswad allowed in the light of Quran and Sunnah?

A: It is permissible to kiss the hajar-e-aswad because Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) kissed it. The narration mentions that Sayyidina Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) kissed the Hajre Aswad and thereafter addressed it with the following words: "I know that you cannot harm or give benefit. If I had not seen the Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) kissing you, I would not have kissed you." (Bukhaari)
Kissing of the Hajre Aswad is the practice of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam), and is proven from the Sunnah.

Using Make-up in Iddat

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)

Male Driving Instructor and Female Client

Q: Is it permissible for a male driving instructor to give driving lessons to a female client? Likewise, is it permissible for a female to pass out for a drivers license at the hands of a male officer?

A: In both of the above circumstances the Muslim female comes in contact with a strange (non-Mehram) male, which is haraam. Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited the integration or interaction of male and female. Driving is not a necessity for females, hence it will not warrant relaxation of the laws of hijaab. Furthermore, such close contact and seclusion between male and female is a certain stepping-stone towards zinaa.

Man and His Female Cousin

Q: Is it permissible in Islam for a man to intermingle with his female cousin or cousin’s wife?

A: A man’s female cousin or his male cousin’s wife are not his mehrams, so there has to be purdah or hijaab between the two. In Surah Noor, verse 31, Almighty Allah mentions a list of mehram males with whom a woman may interact; the cousin is not on this list.

Donating Blood

Q: Is donating blood permissible in Islam? If yes, is there reward for this?

A: Donation of blood is permissible, but there is no special reward or significance for this.

Umrah Tawaaf while Menstruating

Q: If umrah tawaaf is performed while menstruating, what's the penalty?

A: It is a sin to enter the Masjidul Haraam in the state of Haidh. The woman who made tawaaf in this state should resort to Taubah. If she is still in Makkah and has become clean, the tawaaf has to be repeated. If she has already left Makkah, the dum of a sheep or goat becomes obligatory. (Muallimul-Hujjaj)
Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Earliest and Latest Times for Rami on 10th Zul Hijjah

Q: What are the earliest and latest times for rami (stoning) of the Jamrah on 10th Zul Hijjah without incurring a penalty?

A: Stoning on the 10th Zhul-Hijja begins at Subh Saadiq (at the commencement of Fajr) and ends at Subh Saadiq on the eleventh. If a person did not stone by Subh Saadiq on 11th , Dum (sacrifice of an animal within the Haram area) becomes compulsory. Stoning before Subh Saadiq of the tenth is not valid.
Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Pebbles Missing Jamarah

Q: If the pebbles don't hit the jamrah but fall near to it, is it alright?

A: If the pebble falls within a range of three arm lengths from the Jamarah, it will be valid. If it falls at a distance of three arm's lengths (approximately 1.3 metres) or more away from the Jamarah, the pelting of that pebble will not be valid. Thiis mentioned in the Fiqh work Al Jauharatun Nayyira.


Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher.

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Missing Rami and Qadha

Q: If you miss rami one day can you do qadha of the rami on the next day?

A: If Rami was missed on the 11th, it will be fulfilled as Qadhaa on the 12th, when stoning on the 12th. If Rami was missed on the 12th, it will be fulfilled on the 13th as Qadhaa when stoning on the 13th. In short, pelting that was missed on one day will be fulfilled as Qadhaa the next, and Dum (sacrifice of an animal as penalty) will also be compulsory. This is mentioned in the book Muallimul-Hujjaaj.

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Jumuah During Hajj

Q: Do we perform jumu'ah on 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th Zul Hijjah during hajj?

A: Performance of Jumu'ah Salaah is permissible in Mina, but not permissible at Arafah. (Muallimul-Hujjaaj)

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Number of Dums for Umrah/Hajj Violations

Q: How many dums (penalties) are required for hajj or umrah wajib violations?

A: Dum will be slaughtered for every violation which necessitates a Dum. If there were two violations which required a Dum as penalty, two animals will be slaughtered, and so forth.

Prepared by
Moulana Yusuf Laher

Checked and approved by:
Mufti Siraj Desai

Zakaah on a Bonded/Mortaged House

Q: Does one have to pay zakaah on a house which is still under mortgage/bond from a bank?

A: Zakaat is not levied on houses, even if they house is free and not under any loan or bond. If one has rented out the house to tenants and the rent has accumulated then one has to oay zakat on that cash money at the end of the Islamic year. But there is no zakat on the value of the house.