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Live Fatwa (General Session)

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

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

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 | 17:00 - 19:00 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.  

Asalamualaikum Brother. In the beginning years of our marriage we both were casual towards adherence to Islamic obligations. Alhamdulillah, after few years I started to take the practicing of Islam seriously and adhering to its teaching as much as possible and still trying to do as much as possible.However, my wife is still casual about certain things. She prays regularly, Alhamdulillah, but sometimes misses Fajr Salah, does proper hijab but in certain occasions misses it, watches TV and movies; overall not much into the deen. Character and manners wise she is very good.Meanwhile I am leaning more towards religion and this is causing drift between us. She says that she will also follow it rigorously once she gets hidaya like me. If I push her a lot, there are arguments and issues.What does Shari`ah say about this? Even after my regular insistence if she is still lenient in few aspects, will I be held responsible and will be sinned? I made her clear that I will not tolerate leniency for Salah and hijab and other things may Allah gives her hidaya. Is my approach correct? We have a kid. Jazak Allah Khair.



Allah SWT says in the Quran what means, “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.” [66:6]

 

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “… a man is a guardian of his family and responsible (for them).

 

These and other texts show that a husband has to watch the practices of his wife and direct her to observe the commands of Allah and to detest from all sinful acts. Of course, not all commands and prohibition are at the same level when being violated or disobeyed.

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Negligence of Prayer, for example, cannot be tolerated. Negligence of proper hijab also needs strict stance from the husband. Thus, it is an obligation upon a Muslim husband to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong in his house.

 

Alhamdulillah, you have a good wife as you acknowledge and I think if you approach her gently and gradually direct her to love Allah SWT, she will become a good and pious Muslim soon insha’ Allah.

 

Let your admonition be a mix of hope in Allah’s reward and fear from His punishment. Try to find pious Muslim female friends for her. Try to convey the Islamic teachings you learn to her in a kind and wise way.

 

May Allah keep you steadfast on His religion and may He guide your wife to be a pious Muslimah.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.


As-Salamu Alaikum. I have heard that there are adhkars for a person to say when they have been wronged and their heart feels pain and hurt. Could you please kindly inform me what they are? Thank you.



In general, one may ask Allah to support him and grant him victory over the one who has wronged him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say among his supplication, “… and let our vengeance be upon those who have wronged us and grant us victory over those who show enmity towards us.

 

The Qur’an tells us that many of the Messengers of Allah asked Allah to grant them victory over and take revenge on those who hurt and belied them. For specific kinds of wrongdoings, choosing the suitable words for supplication depends on the type of wrongdoing as one may adapt his supplication accordingly.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.

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Salam Sheikh. Is it haram to adhere to tribal relations? Is it haram to be patriotic? Are singing national anthem and pledging allegiance to the country forbidden by Allah? May Allah reward you!



One cannot deny the feeling of love for one’s family, tribe, home country, etc. This feeling is not prohibited. But it has to be within the parameters of Islamic principles and Shari`ah objectives. All sorts of bigotry and fanaticism based on such feelings are prohibited. The bond of Islam has priority over all other kinds of relations.

 

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Allah has removed the pride of Jahiliyyah from you and boasting about lineage. [A person is] either a pious believer or a wicked sinner. People are the children of Adam, and Adam is from earth.

 

So a Muslim, for example, may not hate or begrudge, let alone to fight, another Muslim only because he belongs to another country or tribe.

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As for the national anthem, it has to be free from any words or expressions that contradict the abovementioned principle. If so, it is permissible to sing it if there is no musical instruments used.

 

The majority of scholars prohibit the use of musical instruments in all cases. However, according to a group of scholars, it is permissible to use musical instrument in such cases.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.


Assalamu alaikum. I am currently researching the phenomena of BDSM which became somewhat mainstream with the book "Fifty Shades of Grey".What I found is a quite fascinating, old culture or lifestyle with a whole bunch of ethics, structures and values, some or many of which I actually find very Islamic. It also comes across very clearly that the major guideline in BDSM is that everything practiced HAS to be safe, sane and consensual.I am now wondering: is it halal for a married Muslim couple to practice the sadomasochistic aspect of BDSM (inflicting pain with canes, whips, floggers etc.) in their own bedroom? Or to what extend? What would be crossing the line into the haram - on a scale of everything between light slaps with the hand on the one end to inflicting bruises, welts and cuts on the other?Also, what is the Islamic stance on willingly taking on the (sometimes lifelong) role of a slave, including being collared, and sometimes doing humiliating acts (willingly, or as an accepted punishment for incorrect behaviour) like eating out of a dog bowl or licking the shoes of the "Master"?I apologize for the candid questions. But I do feel that there is the need for this to be clarified. Thank you very much.



Apart from anal sex and sex during menses, which are utterly prohibited in Islam, other sexual practices between spouses are permissible provided that they are not detrimental to either of them. Many of the BDSM practices involve pain and humiliation. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is not for a believer to humiliate himself…

 

Moreover, Allah SWT has honored the Children of Adam and many of these practices are bizarre and contradict such honoring as well as human dignity. A Muslim has to keep such criteria in his mind to decide which of these practices is permissible and which is not.

 

The last part of your question about acting as a slave, eating from the dog’s bowl, licking the other’s shoe, etc., all such practices are prohibited. A Muslim shows submission and humiliation before Allah SWT alone.

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Allah Almighty knows best.


I am a revert muscleman who found Islam a year ago. Five months ago, I ended up committing zina and as a result I felt that I had to leave Islam. I took my shahada again and I have been dedicating myself to coming closer to Allah and gaining knowledge.However, I have not been able to overcome impure thoughts about zina. I do not masturbate or watch pornography nor do I talk to men alone. I have been reading and writing erotica, which are stories involving romance and sex. I don't have verification that it is haram (people disagree) but I feel that it is. When I read it or write it, I have to separate myself from Allah because I feel it is disrespectful to come before Him for Salah or dua'h.So, I miss prayers, stay up late at night, and am distracted by it. But I don't know any other solutions to contain my desire. I don't believe I am ready for marriage and I can’t fast because I am type 1 diabetic.



Apostasy is not the solution, brother, the solution is sincere repentance and this compunction you feel is really a good sign. So do not let the Satan play with you to keep you away from Allah SWT.

 

Brother, never feel despaired of repentance. Allah (exalted is He) said, “Say, [O Prophet]: O My servants! Those [of you] who have committed [sins in great] excess against their own souls, never despond of the mercy of God! For, indeed, God forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He [alone] who is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving.” [39:53]

 

Out of His grace, Allah, the All-Merciful, has opened the gate of repentance wide for all those who repent sincerely and earnestly to Him no matter how grave their sins are. Part of this repentance is to quit all the practices that stimulate your desire, such as gazing at members of the same or opposite sex, watching explicit contents, etc. Reading and writing erotic contents is absolutely prohibited and there is no disagreement among scholars in this regard.

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You need also to keep your time busy with useful activities, because leisure time is a big opportunity for the Satan to incite you for evil acts. Attend congregational prayers, find religious friends, stay away from the internet as far as possible, try to memorize the Quran, try to serve your community through philanthropic activities, etc. These are just examples of things that fill your time and keep you away from thinking about our appetite.

 

You did not say why you feel not ready for marriage. Marriage will most likely help you end this problem along with the abovementioned suggestions. Please rethink about it and have strong will to fight the Satan who still wins over you, though you are a muscleman.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.


My husband divorced me by khul` but without compensation, so it was a simple divorce and we didn't know that at that time. We thought it was a good khul` made correctly but no. So iI had to wait 3 month of `iddah but during this `iddah, my husband thought he had to make a new marriage with me to take me back. So he said to my brother, "I want to make a new contract and with your sister and try a new marriage."A few days he said also to me, "Do you want to be my wife?" I said yes so he said "ok, I will talk to your father," and he came to my house and said to my parents I want to marry your daughter and he asked me about the mahr I want. All of this was made and said before the end of the 3 months.My question is to know: if we didn't know that I was in fact in a `iddah of a simple divorce (so he could take me back normally just with a word), the fact that he said this to my brother, is it considered as if he took me back even if we were not conscious that it was a simple `iddah and that our situation didn't need a new contract.I ask this question because now he is in jail (prison) and I cannot see him for the moment so I want to know if I am his wife (what he said it is considered as a return) or I am still divorced and this situation is not a return. I don't know about my situation. I don't know a lot of trustful people here; please, tell me.My second question is: when a husband divorces his wife and during the `iddah he pronounces a second divorce, must wife add a new `iddah of three month from the moment when the second divorced was pronounced, or should she finish the same must of the first divorce?(Example: he divorced her on February, the `iddah finish on April, but on March he pronounced a new divorce. Should she count 3 month again beginning from March so she finishes her `iddah on May, or finish her `iddah as previously on April even if he made a new divorce?



You did not point out whether you agreed to make khul` without compensation or you agreed to give a compensation but later he did not take it. According to the majority of scholars, khlu’ without compensation is not valid and thus turns to be a revocable divorce. The following scenario you narrated could be a kind of revocation of the divorce, which means that are still his wife now.

 

Regarding your second question, the wife in this case continues the `iddah of the first divorce as long as the husband has not taken her back and has not had sex with her during that `iddah.

 

Important note: These answers are in response to your exact words. Still issues of marriage and divorce need careful investigation from the mufti. Thus, it would be much better if you can find a local imam or mufti and present the case in detail before him; because sometimes minute details change the whole case.

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Allah Almighty knows best.


Asalam alaikum. I’m here feeling desperate writing desperately please anyone who can help. I’m in tears as I right as I can’t find the words. My baby brother who is 19 seems to be losing his faith I don’t know what to do.Our parents have a bother passed away my mum 3 years now and my dad 2 years. Recently I have felt and emptiness towards my brother like a mother. I could feel his loss of interest in Islam. We are not religious of sort but we have faith in Allah.He has gotten tattoos and piercings and coloring his hair. My brother’s friends have confirmed my deepest fear he has started to question Islam. I need someone’s help.



Sister, you have provided the diagnosis for your brother’s problem when you frankly admitted that you are not a religious family. What your brother is experiencing now is the result of this reason. When one is close to Allah, Allah helps him and supports him in all his affairs and grants him patience when afflictions befall him. When a person is away from Allah he becomes an easy prey to the Satans from among the jinn and the human beings. And thus one goes farther from Allah and loses himself in this world as well as in the Hereafter.

 

Islam is not only to believe in the existence of Allah. Islam is to submit yourself and all your life to His Will and His commands. Sister, you need to begin with yourself and become a real Muslim and you will find great positive changes taking place in your life. You need to practice your religion: duly establish the daily prayers, read the Quran regularly, find religious fiends, attend mosques to learn the teachings of your religion, listen to useful Islamic lectures, etc. Come close to Allah and you will see the difference.

 

At the same time, you need to approach your brother gently and advise him. Let him see Islam practiced in your house. Try to find religious friends for him. Try to take him with you to the mosque. Introduce him to the imam or some students of knowledge in your area to talk to him. Let him always listen to the Quran recited in your house.

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May Allah guide you and your brother to practice His religion and keep you steadfast on it.

 

Allah Almighty knows best.