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

Question 1:

Did the Prophet fast the 9 days pof Dhul-Hijjah?

Answer 1:

It is a controversial issue; we find two conflicting reports on this. One from Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) states, “I never saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) fasting any of the ten days (i.e., Dhul-Hijjah).” (Muslim)

However, there is another report attributed to one of the wives of the Prophet (without specifying the name) stating that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the 10th of Muharram, three days of every month and Mondays and Thursdays.” (Abu Dawud)

Some scholars of the hadith consider the latter report weak, while others deem it sound.

However, some traditions consider extolling the merits of good deeds performed in the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Imam al-Bukhari reports on the authority of Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “There are no days that good deeds are better than those done in the ten-day of Dhul-Hijjah).”

There is no reason to exclude fasting from the definition of good deeds.

Now, scholars are divided because of the contradictory reports mentioned above on whether the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. One group affirms that he used to fast and may have skipped sometimes because of health challenges or other reasons. Since we know that the Prophet (peace be upon him ) would be the first to act upon the orders or recommendations he offers others, we must say that he will pay attention to fasting these days.

However, another group of scholars prefers to go by the tradition of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

Having said this, I want to point out that regardless of whether fasted or not, one may still do it. The Prophet may have skipped them for valid reasons. He is for sure the closest to Allah and more pious than us.

Question 2:

I intended to fast the 9 days of Dhul-Hijjah but my husband refused. What should I do?

Answer 2:

Fasting the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah is optional (although recommended); spousal obligations take precedence over it.

Your husband has rights over you even as you have rights over you.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Your body has rights over you; your eyes have rights; your spouse has rights; so, give each one their respective dues.” (Al-Bukhari)

So, it is best to skip the optional fast if your husband does not allow you. There is no need to worry over this as you can compensate for the fasts you miss by engaging in other good deeds.

As Imam Shah Waliullah has pointed out, Allah is Merciful; therefore, if a person cannot carry out a particular meritorious act because of circumstances beyond their control, they can compensate for them by doing whatever good deeds they can do.

I pray to Allah to inspire us all to come closer to Him as best as we can by acting rightly.

Question 3:

Do pilgrims have to stay in Mecca after throwing pebbles on Dhul-Hijjah 13?

Answer 3:

If they have performed the farewell Tawaf, they can leave Makkah. They don’t need to stay in Makkah after completing the hajj rituals. Tawaf al-Wada` (farewell tawaf) is the last hajj rite.

Therefore, they do not need to remain in Makkah after throwing the pebbles on the 13th and performing the final Tawaf.

In fact, after the final Tawaf, they should not hang around in Makkah unless they have to do so for essential chores.

Question 4:

My wife passed away, can I include her in the udhiyah I am offering this year?

Answer 4:

Your question shows your love and loyalty towards your deceased wife. I pray to Allah to forgive and admit her into His mercy and paradise.

Coming to your question, let me state:

The living does Udhhiya on behalf of the living. So, there is no need to do Udhhiyyah on behalf of your deceased wife; it is best that you offer charities on her behalf instead. The Prophet has mentioned charities as one of the best deeds one may do on behalf of the deceased. He never said Udhiyah; if it had been a worthy deed, the Prophet’s companions would have done it; so, I would not recommend that you do Udhhiyah on her behalf unless she has left a will to that effect, in which case you should carry out her wish.

Therefore, I advise you to offer charities on behalf of your wife instead of doing Udhiyah.

Question 5:

Is it compulsory on pilgrims to offer udhiyah?

Answer 5:

There is no Udhhiyah due on the pilgrims; however, if you perform the Tamattu or Qiran form of hajj, you should offer a sacrifice if you can afford to, in which case it is called Hady and not Udhhiyah. If one cannot afford to offer sacrifice, he should fast for ten days instead, three during hajj and seven after returning home  (Al-Baqarah 2:196)

Question 6:

Can I and my brother share one udhiyah?

Answer 6:

If your brother is your dependent, he is included in your Udhiyah; if he is independent of you, you cannot include him in your Udhiyah.

Question 7:

What is the required number for offering eid prayer?

Answer 7:

Eid is the yearly gathering of the community; its purpose is to gather the community as a whole together to exhibit the unity and solidarity of the community. So, if you live in a community that holds Eid prayers, you should join them. That is the precedent set by the Prophet (peace be upon him). He used to have Eid prayers outside the mosque to hold the most significant number of people; we know that during his time, people from the suburbs of Madinah used to come to pray with the larger assembly of Muslims outside the mosque.

So, I urge you to resist the tendency to hold your own separate Eid prayer. If you are far away from a community with few Muslims, you may gather them together and keep the Eid prayer. In that case, you may hold the prayer- even if it were only three people, you could gather together. Another view is that of Imam Ash-Shafi`i, which says the minimum number is forty. However, there is no explicit text to insist on this number; therefore, if you have no other option, you may hold the prayer with a lesser number.

Question 8:

Is there any virtue for offering qiyam on the eve of Eid?

Answer 8:

There is no authentic tradition or precedent from the Prophet (peace be upon him) for setting aside the eve of Eid for special prayers; the tradition often cited in this regard is deemed weak.

However, because the night prayers, in general, are highly recommended, there is no reason to consider them less worthy on the eve of Eid.

Question 9:

During my university years I did this sin like I allowed a guy to kiss me and touch my boobs . I was not in my senses I had a mental illness called schizophrenia.

Should I tell this to my husband about this?

Answer 9:

Islam is a religion of hope. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. We are told repeatedly in the Quran that no matter how ugly our sins are, we can hope for the mercy of Allah if we turn to Him in sincere repentance. 

For further details, please refer to the answer linked below:

The Door of Repentance Is Wide Open | About Islam

Question 10:

I am a Muslim girl, I am chatting to a boy who is Hindu as a friend.

He is talking to me and saying me sister.

Answer 10:

Chatting with members of the opposite sex, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, personally face to face or on phone or chat lines, all fall in the same category. The haram of it is haram, and the halal of it is halal.

Islam does not allow Muslims to befriend members of the opposite sex for the sake of companionship or casual conversations; it has been forbidden because of its risks; it may entail isolation, lead to unlawful flirting, and engender illicit thoughts, desires, or lusts.

However, occasional, business-like conversations with the members of the opposite sex are considered lawful, just as they are permitted when done face to face so long as one observes the Islamic ethics of interaction.

Islam teaches that as Muslims, we must shun not only that which is haram but also everything that creates agitation or doubt or restlessness in our souls: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Sin is that which causes agitation in your heart/mind; whereas virtue that which the heart is content and at peace about it!”

So, engaging in unnecessary chatting may lead to unforeseen consequences; it may also engender doubts and suspicions in our minds and in the minds of others, so we are best advised to shun them all together in the first place to safeguard our religion and honor. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Halal is clear; Haram is clear, but there are certain cases which are dubious or doubtful; whoever shuns them he safeguards his religion and honor; whoever falls into them, he risks falling into haram like a shepherd who lets herd graze around the forbidden territory; for it may thus encroach upon the forbidden territory!”

Therefore, I suggest you discontinue this habit; otherwise, you may corrupt your soul and risk salvation. I pray to Allah to guard us from temptations and help us remain chaste and steadfast in our faith.

Question 11:

Involuntarily my aunt fed me milk. Aunt my milk mother?

Answer 11:

If your aunt breastfed you while you were growing up, she is considered your milk mother. And she falls into one of the following categories mentioned in the Quran:

“Forbidden for you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster-mothers who nursed you, your sisters through nursing, your wives’ mothers, and your stepdaughters in your guardianship—born of wives you have gone into—but if you have not gone into them, there is no blame on you. And the wives of your genetic sons, and marrying two sisters simultaneously. Except what is past. God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (An-NIsaa: 4: 23)

Question 12:

My husband is a good guy most of the time but he has very bad temper problems. When he is angry he says very rude things. He has threatened to divorce me on several occasions. I have discussed with him after the fight to not use the word divorce during fights and he agrees but then again next fight he would say i will divorce you. At this point i want to talk to his parents and tell them about this as they are reasonable people. I am very much hurt by husband and this divorce threatning is not stopping. My husband always say dont involve others in our private matters and i respect it but now I can’t hear the threat to get divorce again. Islamically is it ok to involve his parents so they can knock some sense in him. Please help me.

Answer 12:

Your husband needs to undergo professional counseling. I urge you to seek the help of his parents if he does not listen to you. You can tell his parents and inform them of my recommendation. Because unless he is willing to take the necessary steps to change his behavior and manage his anger problems, it does not bode well for your marriage.

So, you are justified in approaching his parents and seeking their help.

I pray to Allah to help you resolve the issues in your marriage and bless you with peace and joy.

Furthermore, I advise you to get this book and study and practice its lessons: Blissful Marriage: A Practical Islamic Guide by Ekram Beshir and Mohamed Rida Beshir.

Question 13:

Please is it permissible to trim the ends of the hair for women? And is there anything that comes after it like fasting? Thank you.

Answer 13:

A woman can shorten her hair if she avoids a hairstyle peculiar to men.

We learn from the authentic reports that “the Prophet’s wives used to shorten their hair until it reached only their ear lobes” (Reported by Imam Muslim). If it were wrong, they would not have resorted to it. However, if they do so, they should avoid copying men in their peculiar hairstyle. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.

Question14:

I intended to do a nikah with a Muslim boy whom I had committed zina with (astagfirullah may Allah forgive our sins and protect us from the punishment of the grave ameen) however this wasn’t possible as my parents are racist towards punjabis therefore marrying one is out of the question. Despite his good qualities my dad would turn violent and attempt to kill me.i would be in danger if he knew me and a punjabi Muslim boy were texting and wanted a nikkah so my mum has concealed this from him.I have cut contact from him for Allah and for my family and have sincerely repented. I am hoping a nikkah is possible in the future if Allah wills it but it seems impossible with my mother’s adamant lectures on punjabi men. She said it is a death wish to marry one and will never speak to me nor forgive me. I understand how important parents are in islam and am scared so I am leaving it in Allah’s hands.no one but me and him know that we took each other’s virginities. I feel so shameful typing this but I was wondering as my parents will come with rishtas for me however I feel there is no hope as I have lost my virginity at 18 I am now 19 and in q or 3 years time if I get proposals my parents will never understand why I say no.Fiestlu because my heart belongs to him and secondly because I cannot say I jave lost myt virginity this is exposing sins and will kill me as well.It is exposing sins and I will be murdered.If trying to do a nikkah with him in future if it’s meant to be and Allah brings us back together inshallah does not go well as myt parents won’t approve and a nikkah is supposedly invalid without a wali approval or mother’s approval I won’t have a chance with a man they approve of will I?I could never admit I have lost it if I marryt another man I am so scares to do that and it’s exposing my past sins.how do I go about thus?my thoughts are to stay single until death is this OK tho is it an option?

Answer 14:

You should not divulge your past sins to your marriage partner unless you suffer from health challenges that may affect them. It is not allowed for a prospective marriage partner to dig into the past.

On this, you may refer to the following answer:

What Aspects of Our Past Must Be Revealed Before Marriage?

If you have sinned, you should repent and seek forgiveness from Allah; once you have done it, you can hope to receive the mercy of Allah.

There is no need to despair at the mercy of Allah; you should pray and look for prospective candidates who are not so picky and rigid.

Your parents are wrong in stopping you from marrying the man simply because he is a Punjabi; such an attitude on their part is un-Islamic.

For details, please refer to the answer linked here:

Can Parents Reject Marriage Proposals Because of Caste System?

I pray to Allah to help you sort out the issues with your parents and get married to the person you choose.

Question 15:

I’m 14 years old and I believe it is Haram to shave your beard but I have little hair on my face could I shave that off

Answer 15:

If you have very little hair, and it looks weird to keep it, then you may shave it, especially if doing so would enhance the hair growth.

As for the issue of the beard, let me cite here one of my previous answers:

Growing a beard is considered a great Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also one of the great legacies inherited from all of Allah’s previous prophets and messengers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us: “Grow your beards and trim or clip the mustaches.”

In light of such precedents, most of the past scholars and Imams go as far as declaring that growing a beard is obligatory for males.

What we stated above makes it clear that no Muslim should take the beard issue lightly. At the same time, one should not conclude from what has been said earlier that growing a beard in Islam has the same religious significance as the other prescribed rituals. That is not the case. Thus we need to recognize that we are not allowed to ostracize men who do not have beards, nor are we to question their faith.

Since wearing a beard is undoubtedly a great Sunnah, every Muslim male should try to practice this Sunnah according to the best of his ability. Allah does not take us to task for what is beyond our power or ability. We are to fear Allah as best as we can.

As for the size of the beard, there is nothing specific about it in the sources. How could the Prophet fail to mention it–if it had been an important matter? We are allowed to be flexible on issues the Law-giver is silent about. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “That which Allah is silent about belongs to what He has excused–while saying this, the Prophet recited the verse, “Your Lord is never forgetful’).

Question16:

I see a person I love we were in school together now we’re in different school and almost don’t chat or talk I see that person in my dream since two days in the first dream a person said me and her that why are you not talking in the second dream I went up to her and said I’m done with you and from today I won’t talk or make any connection with you. I love that person but I can’t interpret these dreams ?

Help me interpret these dreams

Answer 16:

I do not consider myself an expert in interpreting dreams. However, from what you have described above, the dream experience -to the best of my judgment- reflects your unconscious thoughts, so you cannot attach too much importance to them.

As for the Islamic teachings on dreams, let me cite here one of my previous answers:

“I do not interpret dreams. However, from what you have described above, the dream experience -to the best of my judgment- reflects your unconscious thoughts, so you cannot attach too much importance to them.

As for the Islamic teachings on dreams, let me cite here one of my previous answers:

Dreams, as we can safely infer from the Islamic sources, are of three types: The first of these is termed mubasshiraat, which are sound dreams that are indicative of glad tidings. They result from angelic inspirations or suggestions cast by Allah in our consciousness. Referring to such dreams, the Prophet (peace be on him) said: “Nothing of the prophecy remains now (i.e. after his own call to prophethood) except sound visions, which are bestowed on a righteous believer, and it constitutes one thirtieth of prophecy.”

This type of dream can include premonitions or intimations of things that might happen in the future. For instance, a believer may experience a vision about his own imminent death, or some future events to occur, or receive some confirmation of his spiritual states, or even reminders/admonitions about his omissions or commissions. These may include visions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) or other prophets and communications with them, or visions of symbols of Islam such as the Ka’bah or the Prophet’s Mosque, etc.

A second type of dream is the result of satanic whisperings or inspirations. Satan, the avowed enemy of man, is ever- present with us and he sees us in ways that we do not see him. Unless we take proper safeguards against him and such inspirations, he may trap us in his nets. He inspires in us all kinds of thoughts and suggestions, both in conscious and unconscious states. A person may be predisposed to such satanic visions and inspirations if he is constantly exposed to sights, sounds and thoughts that are obscene or filthy.

A third type of dream can be termed as ‘idle dreams’, and they are due to the impact of unpalatable foods, or the over- exercise of one’s imaginations, or experiences in life which might also be reflected in one’s dreams.

A person experiencing a good vision is encouraged to share it with others—especially with those who are trustworthy and God-fearing; but if he/she experiences a bad dream, he/she is advised against disclosing it to anyone. In the latter case, immediately after experiencing such a dream, he/she is recommended to change the sleeping position, and seek refuge and protection in Allah by saying the following supplication:

Bismillaahi alladhee laa yazurru ma’ ismihi shay’un fi al-ardhi wa laaa fi al-samaa’ wahuwa al-ssamee’ul aleem

(In the name of Allah; with His name nothing whatsoever on earth or heaven can do any harm; He is the all-Hearing, and the all-Knowing).

Referring to this, the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “thus he/she will be spared of any possible harm.”

While the first type of dream (i.e. mubasshiraat) is what every believer should seek and strive for, he/she must surely guard against the second type of dream. The surest way to block Satanic inspirations and whisperings is by taking refuge in Allah and through cultivating the habit of consistency in dhikr, right thinking, right living and right conduct. It is, therefore, highly recommended to go to bed in a state of purity, after having recited portions of the Qur’an (such as the surahs of Fatihah, Ikhlaas, Falaq and al-Nnas as well as Aayat al-Kursi), and to immerse oneself in dhikr and salah (i.e. saying blessings and sending salutations) on the Prophet (peace be on him) before one lapses into a state of sound sleep.”

Question 17:

If someone is making fun of me, what should I do? What Islam says about it?

Answer 17:

It would be best to ignore them instead of letting them control your mind.

Let me explain the best options for you to consider:

• First, you may console yourself by the fact that the Prophets, the chosen servants of Allah (upon them be peace), were also targets of scorn, ridicule, and mockery.
• Second, you need to remind yourself that they are hurting themselves more than hurting you by doing so. They are also doing so because of their lack of self-confidence about themselves. So, it would help to convince yourself not to let their behavior diminish your self-confidence. Instead, you ought to be proud of what you are.
• Third, you have the choice of forgiving them or standing up to them without being emotional; tell them you do not appreciate their behavior and walk away.
• Forth, you need to build your self-esteem and not let them control your peace of mind. By overreacting, you end up giving them control over you.

You may offer the following supplications when you go out:

• Bismillaahi tawakkalthu ala Allaah; laa hawla walaa quwwatha illaa billaah

(In the  name of Allah, there is no power (to do good) or strength (to resist evil) except by the will of Allah)

• Allaahumma innee a’oodhu bika an azhilla aw uzhalla aw azilla aw uzalaa aw ajhala aw yujhala alayya

(O Allah, I seek Your protection from going astray or being led astray or slipping up or being forced to slip up; or acting foolishly or others acting foolishly towards me).

Question 18:

Assume we’re observing solat subhi prayer which is to read aloud,when is exact time to recite suratul fatiah.
Am I going to be reading it silently with imam or I will for imam to finish reading and I will start reading mine when imam is recite another surah or when exactly am I going to recite suratul fatiah

Answer 18:

We ought to read Fatihah in every prayer unless we are praying in congregation behind the imam who reads aloud. You ought to listen to his recitation when the imam is reading aloud. That is the only instance that you should not be reading Fatihah. At all other times, you should read Fatihah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Prayer is not valid without Fatihah.” (Reported by Ibn Hibban)

To explain the issue in detail, let me state:

When the imam is reading loud in prayer, we are to listen attentively, as Allah orders us in the Qur’an:

“Hence, when the Qur’an is recited, hearken unto it, and listen in silence so that you might be graced with [God’s] mercy.” (Al-A`raf 7:204)

 If you are praying behind the imam, and he is reading loud, and you can hear him, you shouldn’t recite anything; you should listen to him. If, however, he pauses between the verses, then you may read Fatihah only. That is the preferred and reasonable position on this issue.

There are two other views:

1. You should never read behind the imam, for the imam’s reading is also for you; 
2. You should always read Fatihah; reading Fatihah is obligatory in prayer; however, the middle position tries to reconcile the conflicting evidence. According to this view, one should not recite behind the imam while he is reading aloud, for he is doing so not for himself alone but for others to listen; however, if someone is not able to listen to him, or if the imam is reading silently- as is the case in Zhuhr and Asr, then one should read Fatihah as well as surahs or other verses as well.”

I pray to Allah to accept our prayers, fasts, and all the good deeds and shower us all with His mercies in this blessed month.

Question 19:

So my family is saying that they’re going to start distancing themselves away from me if I don’t follow their rules. (Ie watching movies and listening to music) But they want me to watch R rated and listen to explicit verses so I am wondering what I should do because I don’t want to distance away from my family nor distance away from Allah.

They also say they don’t care about why it is bad and the reasoning why

Answer 19:

If they are distancing themselves from you because you don’t want to go along with their undesirable activities, you should never feel bad about it; instead, by doing so, they are giving you a choice between 1. Obeying Allah; or 2. Obeying them.

When faced with such a situation, you have no option but to choose the former: i.e., obey Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever acts to please Allah, even if they were to displease humans, Allah will take care of the people for him; if however someone chooses to please humans by displeasing Allah, Allah will abandon them to them.”

So, it would be best to never give in to their whims and fancies. Never mind their reactions; at the same time, you should never cut off relations with them. And always try your best to be gentle with them in all other matters.

Question 20:

I am. Happilly mrried man with 5kids and a wife. We have no problems. And we are financially capable of maintaining our family.

The question is that i have been approached by a wealthy divorcedd who wishes to marry me.
Is there a specific dua i cam read to make it easy for me to speak to my wife or to let her agree.
I have explained to this woman that j cannot give you your full rights as equal time because my kids are growing and they need more of my time
She has agreed to that.
I have also told her I am not financially well off so i fear i won’t be able to do justice.
So she is saying ncz she is finanacilly well off and has properties on remt and has income from.thwre she said we cam shate the wealth she has after marriage and i can run both families amd wint need to work.
What is your opinion.
Jazak

Answer 20:

You say you are a man happily married. If you are true to yourself, you should not risk your marriage by trying another secret marriage; it would only end up undermining your marriage and breaking your relations with your present wife and children.

Furthermore, you should know that in Islam you are bound to be faithful to the terms of your marriage contract; if my assumption is correct, you are coming from a milieu where monogamy is the norm; if that is the case, then your wife married you believing that she will be your only wife; if she had any doubt you would take a second wife, she would not have married you. So, it was a tacit agreement you had with her at the time of marriage; never mind the fact it was written down.

Regardless, it was assumed. And your wife would never have married you in the first place if she thought you would take a second wife. Therefore, you are bound by the terms of your marriage contract. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are no terms we ought to be faithful in observing them than the terms of a marriage contract.” Therefore, I advise you against going ahead with this marriage.

Question 21:

My husbands relative (brother wife) does not attend or like coming to our house. The real reason she dislikes her own in-laws for reasons unknown to me. Now I attend their family events, including her childrens birthdays. However, each time I invite them she has some excuse as to why she can’t come.

Should I do the same and dont attend their events? It hurts when someone repeatedly doesnt turn up or makes a huge deal when tey do? Despite conscious efforts to welcome them wholeheartedly. Should I politely decline? Is that allowed?

Answer 21:

Fostering relationships with relatives, whether related to blood or marriage, is an essential Islamic duty. Therefore, every Muslim should take this matter seriously and try to fulfill this important obligation.

While doing so, we should never bother about what the other party is doing. Since each one is responsible for their actions, we should do our best to foster relationships.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told one of his companions, “Foster ties with those who sever the ties with you; give to those who refuse to give you; and forgive those who offend you.” (Reported by Abu Hatim ar-Razi)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) further said that fostering ties of kinship does not mean reciprocation of kindness with kindness: “The fosterer of the ties of kinship is not the one who simply reciprocates kindness with kindness; rather it is he who fosters relations even with those who sever them” (Reported by al-Bukhari)

Thus, when one of his companions asked, ‘I have blood relations who continue to break the ties no matter how devoted I am in joining relations with them, should I, therefore, discontinue it, the Prophet replied, ‘Certainly not; you should continue to foster ties with them; as long as you do so, you will have the protection of Allah.”

As for the specific duties that we owe towards our kith and kin, we can list them briefly as follows:

• rendering benefit to them and removing harm from them;
• visiting them and enquiring about their whereabouts;
• helping them, morally and financially, according to one’s means;
• sharing their joys and sorrows and cherishing love for them;
• visiting them when they are sick,
• attending their funerals;
• reconciling their differences,
•  seeking to restore peace among them; 
• and last but not least, praying for them, and counseling them.

In conclusion, I urge you to visit them despite her failure to do so. 

I pray to Allah to inspire us all to be faithful in rendering our duties to Allah, our parents, and our kin and thus can hope to receive the mercy of Allah.

Question 22:

I find CGI (Computer generated imagery) interesting. It creates artificial scenario or characters that do or don’t exist. I want to earn money from this skill. Is it haram for me if I create things like human characters that do or don’t exist and the money I earn from it is also haram?

Characters like a female in modest clothes n hijab also a male character or a baby character or animal or a place that exists or don’t….if I create such characters andn open Instagram page where I Collab with modest n halal brands and earn money from it…is it considered halal?!

I’m in a very doubtful situation.. please respond as soon as possible

Answer 22:

As far as I can see, it is a communication medium, and like any other medium, one may use it for a good or immoral purpose. If your intention is good and you safeguard yourself against its misuse as best as possible, you need not worry. You will be responsible for your actions based on your intention if the medium is free of obscene or haram contents or messages.

Question 23:

I have promised Allah that if I did a certain sin to guarantee me jahannam however I did the sin but repented and don’t want to go to jahannam, will he forgive me?

Answer 23:

You have made a false oath; therefore, you ought to repent and make amends for it/

For details, let me cite one of my previous answers:

“If someone made a false oath by invoking the name of Allah that is indeed a most grievous sin; it a double offence; since he used the name of Allah for lying. It is indicative of irreverence for Allah.  Therefore, he ought to repent, and ask forgiveness of Allah while resolving never to do it. If, however, the oath he has made involves the rights of humans, it is not sufficient for him to repent to Allah; rather he ought to compensate or make amends by giving them satisfaction. Thus, for instance, if someone made an oath that he did not steal something, and he lied about it; it is not enough to repent to Allah. On the contrary, he must also return what he has stolen. Likewise, in case of a false oath involving the rights of others, one must expiate for it by compensating them or asking forgiveness of them, etc.

In case of making false oaths involving the rights of Allah, it is sufficient to make a sincere repentance.  Swearing by Allah or by the Qur’an is the same thing. However, if one makes an oath that he will do something or will not do something, and yet broke it by doing the opposite, he ought to expiate for it. The expiation for violating the oath is feeding ten poor persons or clothing them. If one cannot do so, then one should fast three days. Allah says, “

“Allah will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought, but He will take you to task for oaths which you have sworn in earnest. Thus, the breaking of an oath must be atoned for by feeding ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you are wont to give to your own families, or by clothing them, or by freeing a human being from bondage; and he who has not the wherewithal shall fast for three days [instead]. This shall be the atonement for your oaths whenever you have sworn [and broken them]. But be mindful of your oaths!’ Thus Allah makes clear unto you His messages, so that you might have cause to be grateful.” (Qur’an: 5:89).

I pray to Allah to inspire us to cherish true reverence for Allah and repent to Him for all of our sins, outward and inward, as well as major and minor, involving thoughts, speech, and actions.”

Question 24:

I used to love comic books. back when i was young (19 yrs old), i discussed with my friends and created a facebook group regarding comic books and related stuff, you know superheroes and all (we used to love comics and superheroes as kids)…then i made my friends admins of that group beacuse they were eager to open the group as well. but i didn’t realise that it would promote bad things later on like film and tv show adoptations,pictures of actor actresses of the roles etc. later Allah made me realise that it’s going the wrong way.So, couple of years later, i quit adminship, but group had already grew a lot bigger and there were other admins as well, i didn’t realise what to do, it was difficult to delete the group as well, because i will have to remove every member and admins from the group. so i posted in the group for my leave and asked apology from everyone and wrote a short note to the admins that i wanna quit for religious issue, and that i would delete the group if i could right now, but it’s up to them what they will do to the group and i am free from reponsibilities. but i am still worried and i’m not having mental peace thinking that, the group is still active, am i being burdened by sins of others as well? i have made tawba but i am not having mental peace regarding this. Also, comicbooks sometimes show superheroes with super powers and so called mythological gods and stuff like that, we know it’s all fictional stories, but still, is this some sort of shirk? and am i being burdened by all of those sins of others? please help me. i am so worried beacuse of this issue and don’t know what else to do about this. Is there anything else i can do? thanks for reading through all of that. Zazakallah Khairan.

Answer 24:

You created this with good intentions; you never thought it would be misused in the way some people do.

Since there is nothing, you can do about it other than delete it as best as you can and ask forgiveness of Allah. Your case is comparable to those who invent any such medium, which can be used for either a good or immoral purpose. Allah tells us that we are not responsible for things we have no control over.

Therefore, please try to delete it, if possible, as best as you can, and then leave the rest to Allah.

You should also seek the forgiveness of Allah and engage in good deeds to expiate for your misdeeds. Keep in mind the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Be mindful of Allah always; if you happen to do something bad, (repent and) do something good to wipe it out, and interact with the people with the best of morals.”

Finally, let this experience serve as a lesson to be cautious while embarking on any new project or creative work.

Here is a Du’a you can read daily:

Allaahumma ighfir lee dhanbee kullahu diqqahu wa jillahu, awwalahu wa aakhirahu, sirrahu wa alaaniyyathahu wa maa alimthu minhu wa maa lam a’lam

(O Allah, forgive all of my sins for me: both minor and the major, the first and the last, the secret and the public, that which I am aware of and that which I am not aware of).

Question 25:

I want to know about divorce from you. One day I was watching television and the word talaq was uttered in the television, at that time my wife was next to me and jokingly told her ONE TALAQ TWO TALAQ. I did not utter the word YOU. I only uttered the word TALAQ(did not say YOU). I had no intention of divorce, I said it only jokingly or acting .
That time I didn’t know that divorce happens when the word talaq is used jokingly.
In this situation, talaq will be effective or not?

Answer 25:

You are committing a grave sin by frivolously using the words of talaq as you did. If you believe in Allah and the sanctity of Allah’s laws, you would never approach this issue as lightly as you did. So, I urge you to seek repentance and ask the forgiveness of Allah and resolve never to repeat this grave sin.

If you have issues with your wife, you should resolve them peacefully using the methods Allah approves. Seeking a marriage counselor’s help or the advice of a qualified imam is the best approach.

For a divorce to happen, it has to be premeditated and follow the methods specified in the Shariah.

For further details, please refer to the answer linked here:

What Are the Procedure and Rulings of Divorce?

Question 26:

In regards to the hadeeth found in Saheeh bukhari, by ibn massud (ra) “A human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes alaqa for a similar period, and then Mudghah for a similar period.”

So here we get a picture that, till 120 days have passed it is still in Mudghah stage. But ultrasound image and established fact tells as that a fetus has some human shape by the 6th week itself. By the time it’s 77 days or 11 weeks the fetus has human features like hands and legs, head, not just alaqa. As a medical student, I know all three nutfah, alaqa and mudghah stage is done with in 40 days, and there another Hadith in Sahih Muslim tells us When 42 nights have passed for (the stage of) the sperm, Allah sends an angel who would shape it [in human form] and would create its hearing, its sight, its skin…, and this Hadith is perfectly lined with established knowledge. another Islamic website islamweb.net, and they said there are 2 opinions one is 120 days and some scholars understood as all three stages happens in 40 days and 2nd opinion is strong as it goes with Sahih Muslim Hadith about 42 days pass and angle come to create shape. please help me understand this. What is the correct opinion? Can it be understood as all 3 stages happen within 40 days? How did the salaf understand this Hadith? Is there an ijma on this?

Answer 26:

There is no contradiction between the traditions mentioned above as long as they are interpreted correctly based on the explicit Quranic verse cited below:

“We created man from an essence of clay, then We placed it as a drop of fluid in a safe place, then We made that drop into a clinging form, and We made that form into a lump of flesh, and We made that lump into bones, and We clothed those bones with flesh, and later We made him into a new creation. So, glory be to God, the Best of Creators.” 

As for the scholarly consensus on this issue, we can sum up as follows:  

The human development in the womb goes through various stages; the process of life starts from the very beginning when the egg meets with the sperm; the terms alaqa, mudhgah, clothing them with the bones, and flesh, etc. are all referring to the biological aspects of the development; they do not refer to the final stage to which Allah refers to when He says, “and later We made him into a new creation.” 

These words refer to the ensoulment or breathing of the soul into the form once it has assumed a human form. Since it is a process that is not accessible to precise scientific tools or measurements, it is known only through revelation. 

So, while one tradition mentions the biological stages, the other refers to the later stage of ensoulment. And according to scholarly consensus, the soul enters the fetus at around four months, or 120 days, after conception. 

Therefore, from that stage onwards, the fetus is no longer a mere living organism but a human being because it possesses a soul. So, any attempt to abort it is akin to murder.

Question 27:

How do I know if I am connected to Satan

Answer 27:

As for your question, how do you know that you are connected with Satan? You know it within your conscience when you think of doing something immoral. The fact that you feel a prick of conscience is a sign you have an angelic instinct within as well as a demonic or Satanic one. The suggestion for doing evil comes from Satan, and the prickly conscience is a sign of the angelic presence within your soul. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Everyone of you has an angelic companion as well as a demonic companion within the soul.” 

Question 28:

please is it wrong to answer wa alaikum Salam when a non Muslim great you with Salam alaikum?

secondly is it right to say Salam alaikum to non Muslim fellow?

Answer 28:

Salam means peace. You are allowed to greet everyone with Salam or peace- whether Muslim or non-Muslim- as long as they are not hostile or aggressive; sometimes, some people may not like it, so you should not use it. But if they greet you with salam, you should return the greeting in the same way.

Abd Allah b. Salam, a Jewish rabbi in Madina (before embracing Islam), came to see the Prophet (peace be upon him). He reported the Prophet’s first address to the people who gathered around him (at that time, there were only a few Muslims in Madina): “O people, spread the greeting of peace, feed the poor, foster the ties of kinship and pray while the people are asleep, if you do, you can enter paradise easily.” 

So, it shows we are allowed to greet everyone with peace. In another hadith, we learn that salam was the method of greeting Allah taught Adam and told him that was the way intended for your children to greet each other.

Question 29:

hello i am muslim and i have a question no one is going to jannah without tested allah says in quran in Surah Al-Bagarah verse 214 then why adam and eve was in jannah before tested please answer my question

Answer 29:

The verse you are mentioning refers to our earthly life; it is not referring to the life of Adam before he entered the earthly realm. In other words, Adam’s life in heaven relates to the realm of Ghayb or unseen realities; they are beyond human reasoning and understanding. We had no tools to fathom that dimension. The scientific tools are intended to study our earthly existence. That is why Allah tells us in the Quran that true believers -destined for success in the Hereafter- believe in Ghayb or unseen realities. We read in Surat al-Baqarah:

“Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous. Those who believe in the unseen, perform the prayers and give from what We have provided for them. And those who believe in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you are certain of the Hereafter. These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful.” (AL-Baqarah 2:1-5) I pray to Allah to help us see the truth as truth, follow it, see the falsehood as falsehood, and help us shun it.