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Christmas & Holidays Fatwas (Live Session)

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
19 December, 2016

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

Thank you very much for joining us in this Live Fatwa session. We would like also to thank our guest, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, for answering the questions directed to him. You will find the answers of your questions below.

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 | 14:00 - 16:00 GMT

Session is over.
DISCLAIMER
Views expressed by hosts/guests on this program (live dialogue, Facebook sessions, etc.) are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  

I found a golden ring with diamonds. What should I do with it (I can't find the owner)? Please advise



You ought to publicize it for a full year by using the available media or ads in the city. If anyone comes forward to claim it and gives you the specific description of it, you should hand it over to him or her. If no one comes forward to claim it, you can keep it –  provided you are willing to return it to the owner if he comes for it anytime.

 

Having said this, I should point out: If there is a department or section in the police department, etc. where people entrust such lost articles and advertise it to locate the owners, then you should not keep it; rather it is your duty to entrust it to them.

 

In all such matters, we ought to follow customs prevailing in a culture or society where people turn to find their lost articles or valuables.

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I have a question..Can a man marry in his father's wife ??Or let me example my self...I have husband which is died already and we don't have any children... then he have a son in his other wifes... CAN HIS SON ALLOWED TO MARRY ME ... In Islam ??Sukran...



You are not allowed to marry the son of your ex- husband, whether the latter is alive or dead.It is clearly forbidden in the Qur’an.

Allah says:

“And do not marry women whom your fathers have previously married – although what is past is past: this, verily, is a shameful deed, and a hateful thing, and an evil way.” (An-Nisaa’ 4:22).

In conclusion, your husband’s son is a mahram to you; hence you cannot marry him.

Can you please suggest me a baby boy names with good meaning for my second son ?



Here is a list of good names to choose from:

  1. Muhammad or Ahmad
  2. Names of Prophets such as Ibrahim, Moosa, Isa, Dawud, Sulayman, Idrees, Yunus, etc.
  3. Names of pious caliphs and companions such as Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abd Allah, Abd al-Rahman, Bilal, Suhayb, Salman, Mu’adh, Hudhayfah, Mus’ab, etc.

 

Let me also add the following points:

 

1.While choosing names we ought to avoid names Avoid shirk (associating partners with Allah)

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2.Avoid names that have unpleasant/offensive connotations

 

3.Give names with good, or noble meanings or associations

 

4.There is nothing in the Islamic sources to indicate that we are allowed only to give our children Arabic names. Since Islam is a universal religion, there is no such requirement. Any name is okay so long as we keep in mind the above points. But, at the same time, while choosing names, we must strive our best not to compromise our Islamic identity.” Therefore, it is essential to have a good, noble name, and parents should keep this in mind when naming their babies.

AssalaamuAlaykum. If I lend someone a money and he pays it back with money he gained thru haraam means, should I accept it?



If you know for sure he is returning your money by using the money he earned from haram sources you should not accept it; however, you are not supposed to act on mere suspicion.

 

If you have no evidence to prove he has earned money in the haram way you are allowed to accept it. Everyone is innocent until proven otherwise.

Asalamualikum, my name is amreen and i want to start youtubing .I wanna start a comedy channel i want to know is it halaal in islam. I ll try my best to maintain modesty and hijab is it valid in islam



Comedy is a medium; as such, it is not different from other forms of media. A medium can be used for promoting virtue, truth, and justice. If used for this purpose it is not only permissible; it may even be recommended and rewarding. It is a form of intellectual jihad. For art is a most powerful weapon when used in the right way.

 

However, comedy like all other media can be forbidden when used for spreading vice and corruption.

 

So, you should ask: What are trying to achieve out of your art? Do you use it for promoting virtue and fight corruption and vice? If this is your purpose and you are doing so by conforming to the ethical standards and guidelines of Islam, then it is good, and you should go for it. You can expect great blessings from Allah.

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My grandmother, has been diagnosed with late stage cancer and does not have a very long time to live. She planned her funeral a while ago, as is quite common in western countries. I would like to know, as a Muslim can I attend the cremation, as cremation itself is forbidden in Islam?



Cremation is not an Islamic practice; So, a Muslim cannot perform the rituals associated with that. However, Islam does not impose its particular religious laws on those who practice other religions.  Non-Muslims living under Muslim rule have been practicing their religious rituals, without any interference from Muslims.

 

Therefore, even though you are not supposed to perform such rituals, you are allowed to attend the non-Muslims who practice cremation.

Is there iddah for a married woman who left her marital home 2 years back n committed zina with the man she is now intending to marry and now that her husband is aware of her sin n rebukes her and also is divorcing her legally. Does she need to observe idaah imperatively in this particular case or is it that shes such a zaaniiddah is not needed in her situation. . Or cn she just go marry that man koz they love each other but know they are sinners but to avoid further sins they have decided to get married.



If you have been separated from your husband for two years and had no physical contact with him, then there is no need for you to undergo iddah or waiting period.

However, you have committed a most grievous sin and ought to repent to Allah.

For details on repentance, you are advised to consult the answer linked below:

The Door of Repentance Is Wide Open

Can you please explain this hadith: “Teach your children to pray when they are seven years old, and hit them if they do not pray when they are 10 years old..." How is it possible for parents/teachers to hit their children when God says "no compulsion in religion." Furthermore, the prophet never hit anyone in instilling good ethics. Does the word "dharaba" have a different meaning the hit?



It is best to translate the word as spanking or even better as disciplining rather than hitting.

 

To infer from this that Islam allows corporal punishment as a method of teaching is repugnant to the spirit of Sunnah as we can safely establish from a close study of the Seerah and the Prophetic traditions.

 

The Prophet as we learn from his beloved wife `A’ishah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) never hit anyone: neither a man or woman, young or old.” (Ibn Hibban and At-Tabarani)

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Anas who accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) from the age of ten said, “I served the Messenger of Allah for ten years and yet during the entire course of time not even once he condemned me for any mistake I made!” (At-Tirmidhi and others).

 

In other words, his method of mentoring was by setting examples, practice, and character.

 

It is for this reason that Allah orders us to emulate his beautiful examples.

IS PRAYING 4 RAKAHS OF SUNNAH BEFORE ISHA BIDA'H?



It is wrong to say it is a bid’ah. Those who label it as a bid’ah are misusing this word. How can it be considered a bid’ah when one of the most prominent schools, namely Hanafis, consider it recommended?  We may do well to remember that they did not invent this practice; rather they have simply followed the practice of some of the companions they trace their teachings.  Hence, it is wrong to say they invented it.

 

Here is a story from Imam Malik shedding light on this. When the Abbassid Caliph wanted to impose the teachings of Muwatta (his work) on the people of other cities, he advised him against it saying: Following the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him) his companions dispersed in various lands carrying with them aspects of the Sunnah. So, we may do well to let them follow what they have inherited as each one of them has a basis in Sunnah.

My father passed away 7 months back.. He used to perform obligatory duties to allah.. He was a very hardworking man. Myself included he has 3 daughters.. He was like the best father and best husband to my mom anyone can ever have. There is an issue. He used to collect bank interest from his account. He has some 3 or 4 bank accounts which was opened decades back. Still not even for a single time he paid the interest .we used to advice him a lot. But he never listens.. After his demise while closing his bank accounts we came to know about his interest money that too not fully. But still about 80%. What should we do now.. Should we pay off the money now.. Will it benefit him in the hereafter.. Please advice me because we are not getting peace of mind as to what to do abotu it



I am not quite sure of the purport of your question: Do you mean to say your father owes interest money to the bank? If he does, you should pay it, if you have the financial resources; since they are debts he owes to others, as his children you should pay them off on his behalf.

 

If, however, you mean to ask: Your father has deposits in his account which have accrued interest, can you take it? The answer is: You should definitely do so rather than leaving it to the bank. You should take it and give it away to deserving people such as refugees or the destitute. It is not desirable for you to make use of such funds for your personal benefits.

I have reached to an age for marriage and my parents are wanting me to get married. I understand their concern as parents for me. But i m not prepared now for marriage due to some mental illness. I want to get treated first and be mentally prepared. But in our country after certain age girls don't get good match due to increased age. My parents telling me this and is giving me pressure. But as this is a lifetime decision and i m not prepared idont have the mentality to see anyone now for marriage which my parents are forcing me to do. I have asked for one year. But my father is telling me to start to see boys for marriage. So although i have aged for marriage but dont want to do it now,if my parents are forcing me to do it,is it considered as forced marriage??donti have the right to make decision that when i want to marry as only because of age and society??whatislam says about that??



Your parents have no right to force you to marry if you don’t want to.

 

Marriage is a life-long partnership between two eligible partners based on mutual trust and acceptance of each other.

 

As Imam Ibn Taymiyyah rightly said: Just as your parents have no right to force you to eat a certain type of food you don’t want to, they have no right to force you to marry someone against your will.

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As for the precise status of marriage in Islam, I cannot do any better than citing here one of my earlier answers:

 

Although marriage is generally considered a highly recommended act, yet from the point of view of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)—because of diverse circumstances—it can readily fall into one of the four categories listed below: Fard (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended) or haram (forbidden) or simply halal (permitted).

 

1- Marriage is consideredfard (obligatory) if a person is so tormented by sexual desire that he/she fears falling into the sin of fornication. Since staying away from fornication is obligatory, and since marriage is the only avenue for legitimate sexual satisfaction, it becomes obligatory on such a person to get married. This is based on the principle in jurisprudence that says: “If an obligatory thing cannot be fulfilled except by fulfilling another, then fulfilling the latter becomes equally obligatory.”

 

2- If, however, he or she is not so tormented by sexual desire, and, hence, there is no fear of falling into sin, then it is highly recommended to get married if one has the means to do so. By doing so, one is fulfilling one of the great Sunnahs of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), our perfect role model.

 

3- If a person knows for certain that he or she cannot fulfill the duties required in marriage, and there is no fear of his/her falling into sin, then it becomesharam for such a person to get married. Islam forbids us from doing injustice to another person; this would definitely be the case if one were to neglect his/her spousal duties.

 

4- If a person has no means to marry and is, therefore, incapable of fulfilling his spousal duties, but has strong desire, it is permitted for him to get married—provided he tries earnestly to seek an honest source of living. Allah has promised to help such a person. We must also add here a further note that the Muslim community has a duty to assist such people until such time that they become self-reliant.

If, however, no such measures are available, and a person finds himself unable to fulfill his spousal duties, he is advised to curb his desires through the discipline of fasting and other acts of sublimation.”

 

i want to ask about marriage..i know a man that wanted to marry me.he is divorced with 5children,16yrs. older than me and he is a convert muslim..he asked my parents to marry me but my parents refused because of his situation..my family is not a practicing muslim..now we have a relationship that is haram and because we wanted to correct our mistakes we got married in secret without my parents permission and after this i already started wearing hijab,i pray and i also encourage him to pray..we help each other in deen..my question is did i/we commited a big mistake regarding with this matter?do our married valid?and now we dont want to let my family know about this because i know they will do things that will separate us..we already do things as married people do..please help me..i feel so guilty everytimeim with my family.



Parents’ role in marriage of their daughters is limited to guiding them to choose compatible marriage partners.

Compatibility entails a person’s worth in a spiritual and moral sense: the only primary criterion that makes or breaks a marriage. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If a person of acceptable religion and character presents himself for marriage, marry him, otherwise, there would be widespread sedition and rampant corruption in the land.”

Therefore, if you made a choice based on the above consideration, then your parents have no right to stop you from marrying the man. Since you are free to choose to the food to eat, likewise, it is your choice to decide whom to choose as a life-long partner.

Having said this let me rush to point, marriage in order to be valid must be publicized and it cannot be remain a secret.

The conditions of marriage as stipulated by Islam can be summed up as follows:

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1- The consent of the guardian of the woman

2- Presence of witnesses

3- Offering and acceptance

4- And mahr (dower).

 

Once the above conditions have been fulfilled, the marriage will be deemed as valid; but if these conditions are not fulfilled, then it will be considered as being null and void.

 

As far as the consent of guardian is concerned, it can only be dispensed with if the guardian is simply refusing to give consent for considerations other than Islamic, in which case the judge can authorize the marriage after having followed the due process. If, on the other hand, such is not the case and no attempt was made to ascertain the consent of the guardian, then such a marriage would be considered invalid and, therefore, unacceptable in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,”There is no (valid) marriage without a guardian and two reliable witnesses.”

 

By stipulating the above-mentioned conditions for the validity of marriage, Islam insists that a marriage should remain distinct from other loose and immoral lifestyles such as fornication and illicit affairs. Hence, the Prophet insisted on making marriages public.

 

In conclusion, in light of the above, I would urge you to decide for yourself whether you have followed the above conditions or not.

I would like to ask if I have the right to ask for separation in Islam. Wa 3ashiruhunna bil ma3ruf is something that is missing in my marriage. My husband's emotional abuse especially in front of the children has wounded me deeply. I am not asking for divorce, I just want him to go live the life he wants and leave me and children in peace. I have been told ayah 128 in suratAlnisaa gives me this right. Is this true sheikh? I have 4 children with him, married 25 years and have tried arbitrators in the past. I am tired. Shukran



In answering this question, I cannot do any better than citing here one of my earlier answers:

“Generally speaking, divorce is not at all viewed favorably in Islam; rather it has been either condemned or discouraged unless warranted by valid reasons. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cautioned against senseless exercise of divorce when he said, “Among lawful things, divorce is most hated by Allah.”(Abu Dawud)

So no one with the sound Islamic spirit and attitude must resort to divorce except in extreme and unavoidable cases, where it has been considered as legitimate in Islam. The reason for this is clear, for divorce entails dire consequences affecting families and individuals; it results in deep psychological and emotional scars, especially when children are involved.

Because of such factors and others, Islam considers marriage a solemn contract (mithaqghalizh) and reckons it as the duty of both parties who have entered into such contract by invoking God’s name and words, to seek to preserve it intact according to the best of their abilities. For future of humanity lies in the sound family which is the cornerstone of society.

Consequently, divorce has been generally frowned upon in Islam; hence it is imperative that we exhaust every possible avenue to avert the same; the steps thus recommended involve the following:

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  1. Seek counsel from those who possess wisdom, experience, and knowledge and seek to solve the outstanding issues between yourselves after gaining insight and advice from them.
  2. In the event that such efforts fail, both spouses must resort to Islamic arbitration; in this arbitration one should have parties representing both sides. They should submit to abide by the decisions thus agreed upon.

The reason for this is that often humans become so preoccupied with their temporary personal likes and dislikes that they fail to see their own destructive behaviors and weaknesses. Thus they are encouraged to seek advice and wisdom from those with experience and knowledge, who may help them to empower themselves to take charge of rectifying their behavior and attitudes.

Having said this, divorce however, must not be considered a closed door. There are genuine cases when divorce is the only option available. Here are a few valid reasons:

  1. Physical, mental, or emotional abuse or torture. When one of the spouses becomes abusive and inflicts physical, mental, or emotional torture, and is not willing to change by taking practical measures through therapy or counseling, then it is a valid reason for seeking divorce, for the Islamic principle states, “There shall be no inflicting or receiving of harm.”Zhulm(injustice) is not tolerated in Islam, regardless of who the perpetrator is.
  2. Failure to fulfill the objectives and purposes for which marriage was initiated. This can be utter incompatibility between the partners, which may be expressed by their irreconcilable differences in temperaments, likes, and dislikes.
  3. Marital infidelity. This can be a major cause for dissolution of marriage, for marriage is built on trust and confidence. Its main purpose is to preserve the chastity and modesty of those involved. Once this foundation is eroded and undermined and there is no chance to restore the same, then divorce is the way to go.
  4. Failure of the husband to provide. When the man, who is considered the provider and maintainer of the family, fails to shoulder his responsibilities and the wife decides that she cannot continue tolerating his shirking of responsibility, this is grounds for divorce.

Any one of the above-mentioned reasons can be considered as a valid ground for divorce in Islam. If in a legitimate case warranting a divorce a husband refuses to divorce his wife, then she is certainly justified by Islamic Law to approach the proper legal authorities to get a divorce: The judgment of divorce thus rendered by such authorities can be deemed as valid in Islam. May Allah help us all to conduct our affairs with sound wisdom, understanding, sincerity, and faith, amen.

Is it OK for my kids to celebrate xmas with their Christian friends?



Just as you may invite Christians or others to share the joy of `Eid, you are also allowed to share the joy of feasts by Christians and others; however, we should not participate in their particular religious rituals.

You are allowed to partake of their feasts and celebrations so long as you stay away from their specifically religious rituals, and so long as you are clear in your mind that Christmas has nothing to do with the original teaching of Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him).

While remaining steadfast to your beliefs about Jesus, you are allowed to join them in their feasts in order to reciprocate kindness with kindness. By doing so, you may even be helping them remove their misconceptions about Islam being a fanatical religion. So go ahead and participate in their feasts, and let them know the true image of Islam.

Having said this let me also point out: Muslims can join with everyone in prayers addressed to God for peace and harmony free of pagan notions of intermediaries in worship.

The Qur’an calls all people to come to common terms. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is told to declare:  Our Lord and your Lord is One, and we submit to Him alone.

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Can we accept gifts from our non-Muslim neighbours?



Islam is all about kindness and reciprocating kindness with kindness. So, as we are encouraged to exchange gifts with Muslims and non-Muslims, we are allowed to receive them and thank them for it.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) always received gifts and exchanged gifts with his non-Muslim neighbors and dignitaries.

While he was on an expedition in Tabuk, he received an envoy from Heracles. While he was leaving, he apologized to him that since he was a traveler he could not host him or send him away with gifts.  On hearing the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) `Uthman ibn `Affan, the eminent companion, presented a valuable robe as a gift to him.

This incident shows how Islam promotes nobility and civility as the highest standards to aspire to while interacting with all people, regardless of religious or ethnic or racial differences.

Can Muslims celebrate Christmas?



Christmas is a Christian celebration. Muslims have their celebrations.

Muslims, however, can join their Christian families and friends and partake of the feasts associated with Christmas and other festive occasions, as long as they do not participate in specific religious rituals associated with them.

Is it allowed for Muslims to celebrate the New Gregorian Year?



The answer depends on what you mean by celebration. If you are talking about religious rituals associated with the arrival of the new year, it is disallowed as it would be practicing an innovation. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever innovates anything new in this religion, it ought to be rejected.”

Customs, however, are viewed differently by many scholars based on the principle: Permission is the rule with regard to customs; whereas prohibition is the rule with regard to religious rituals.

In other words, as far as customs are concerned, Islam does not restrict them as long as they are free of any violations of principles or fundamental teachings.

We are allowed to celebrate significant moments or events in our life as long as we keep away from extravaganza and wasteful spending, etc.

In conclusion, if someone expresses joy and thanks to Allah for His blessings using the occasion of the arrival of new year, I don’t see how it can be forbidden in Islam.

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