Dear Brothers/Sisters,

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.

Question 1:

I got pregnant, but we didn’t conceive it properly as it should be done. My husband was afraid that the child might have some abnormalities. So, my husband got the abortion done at 1 month nearly. Although I was not ready for it. I feel guilty for that. Before planning another time, I want to know what needs to be done and what kaffarah needs to be given to be forgiven for what we did.

Answer 1:

Although abortion is discouraged once the conception has taken place, its legal status varies according to the various stages of pregnancy.

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

“Abortion or termination of pregnancy is generally considered terrible, and therefore, as Haram, since it involves interfering with the process once it has started. There are, however, differences of opinion about the permissibility of abortion in particular circumstances depending on the stage or stages of pregnancy.

 1) There is a unanimous consensus among scholars that abortion is considered forbidden after twelve weeks of conception (i.e., one hundred and twelve days); this is the point when ensoulment (breathing of soul into the embryo) takes place. To abort pregnancy from this point onwards is akin to committing infanticide, which has been condemned in the Qur’an. Scholars, however, have made a single exception to this rule: If the continuation of pregnancy and carrying it through full term proves to be risking the mother’s life, abortion shall be considered permissible.

 2) Abortion after the expiry of the first forty days of conception is considered as Haram except in the following exceptional cases: 1) If carrying the pregnancy to the full term exposes the mother to unbearable health problems during or after delivery; 2) if, as determined by the reliable medical practitioners, the child shall be borne with such physical and mental deformity as would deprive him/her a normal life. This decision must be based on the opinion of at least two reliable medical experts.

 3) While many scholars consider abortion before the expiry of the first forty days of conception as Haram, several scholars, however, consider it as either permissible or at least not as Haram.

 In conclusion, as Imam Ghazzali has observed, one is discouraged from tampering with the life process once it has started; the intensity of sin, however, varies according to how advanced the pregnancy is. Thus, while it may be considered less sinful in the very early days, it is considered absolutely haram after the ensoulment.”

Coming to your specific case, if there is no medical necessity that compels you to seek an abortion, you are best advised to carry it through to full term. Meanwhile, turn earnestly and sincerely to Allah to ease your burden and pain and grant you patience and strength to surrender to His will. Allah has promised to bring relief to all who turn to Him for assistance. “Whoever remains conscious of Allah, He will grant him/her ease/relief in his affair.” (Quran 65: 4)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Whoever consistently asks forgiveness of Allah, Allah will appoint for him/her a way out of every conceivable trouble and provide for him/her sustenance in ways he or she can never foresee.”

Based on the above, if you abort the pregnancy within a month of conception, you should ask the forgiveness of Allah and seek repentance.

There is no need for you to offer a kaffarah. However, as with all infractions, offering charities and good works are excellent ways of wiping out the sins. Allah says, “Certainly, good deeds wipe out the bad deeds.”

Question 2:

I have been diagnosed with type one diabetes two years ago and I am allowed to fast but if my blood sugar drops then I have to break my fast to drink or eat something sweet. It is compulsory for me to treat the low blood sugar because it is very dangerous and I could pass out or die from it. During Ramadan I managed to fast the whole month but the last two days I had to break it early because my blood sugar dropped. Do I have to make up the fasts where my blood sugar dropped? And if I do make up those fast what if my blood sugar drops during the makeup. And for Dhul Hijir (and Ramadan) if my blood sugar drops before iftar will my fast be accepted and will I get the full reward? Because I desperately want to make the most of Dhul Hijir and Arafah since I cannot go to Hajj. If my blood sugar drops while I am fasting Arafah will I get the full reward? Jazakallah khair.

Answer 2:

If you have diabetes and your sugar level drops to a dangerous level while fasting, you should break your fast. Allah reminds us in the Quran that His laws are intended to bring ease and remove hardship. We read in the Qur’an:

“Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for humanity, with clear signs of guidance and the criterion. Whoever among you witnesses the month should fast it. But if anyone is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days. God intends ease for you, not hardship. So, complete the prescribed period, glorify God for guiding you, and express gratitude.”

And for those who cannot make up the fast as is your case, you should offer Fidyah as mentioned in verse; “And upon those who are able—a ransom of feeding a poor person.”

Therefore, it is wrong on your part to risk your health by fasting. If your sugar level drops to a dangerous level, you should break it immediately.

For the fasts you broke, you should compensate by feeding a poor person for each day of the fast you broke. That is better than trying to make it up if fasting is detrimental to your health.

As for the rewards you wish to take advantage of, you may know that Allah is all-merciful and will reward you for your intention.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has taught us that if we cherished the intention to perform a certain good deed but couldn’t do it because of circumstances beyond our control, we still receive rewards for our intentions.  

Question 3:

I have a question. Is it permissible for men to wear thong underwear designed specifically for men? They are extremely comfortable, especially if you go to the gym. Also, more clothing companies are making them for men now.

I am not trying to imitate women, as I know that is haram. I want to make sure if it is permissible or not. Again, these underwears are made/designed for men.

Answer 3:

Thong underwear is not an appropriate attire for men to wear in public. It does not cover the essential parts of the body we ought to cover. It reveals and highlights the genitals and private parts.

As such, it is against the rules of haya that are essential traits of a Muslim. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Haya or modesty is integral to faith.” And he also said, “Haya entails nothing but that which is good.”

Islamic scholars have unanimously agreed that covering the parts of the body from the navel to the knee is a fundamental requirement for every male in Islam while venturing out. So, we should never be slack about wearing modestly and appropriately, even if you were in a gym or sports center.

Question 4:

I have an aunt who has 5 kids. 4 of them who work and barely can get by and 1 that’s under the age of 12. Her husband recently lost his business and has no income. All of her kids that work put their money together to help pay their monthly living expense while at the same time try to have some money to cover their own personal expense. As a family they are struggling a lot and they have a house with $400,000 mortgage with high interest. Although I advised them to stay away from riba the idea of having her own brand new home made outweighed the consequence of riba. Me and my brother do out best to help them out as much as we can but its not enough. If they can get rid of the loan of the house they will be relieved from a great burden. Alhamdulla me and my brother have stayed away from riba for the past 4 years and ever since we did Allah gave us more. Inshallah we plan to stay on this path. With that being said we have a good amount of money in our bank account. We have an option to put the money in a savings account that earns interest. Of course this is not something we want or need. But we thought about a strategy. If we put enough money in the savings account for 1 year we will earn over $400K in interest enough to give that money to my aunt so she can pay of her house and we can get here away from paying riba for the next 25 years and save her from this debt. We understand we will not benefit from doing this except that we would be giving away the interest money to keep our money clean. Is it permissible for us to use this tactic to help our Aunt. We do not expect this to be considered charity but simply donating away our interest money to help a family that’s poor.

Thank you

Answer 4:

It is best to keep your money in the savings account that accrues interest instead of in the current account that benefits the bank. You may ask why. The answer is that by keeping the money in the current account, you enrich the bank; if you keep it in the savings account, you get the interest on the money you saved, which you can give away to benefit people experiencing poverty. According to the rules of jurisprudence, when we are left to choose between two bad choices, we should choose the lesser of the two.

Therefore, it is most desirable that you take out the interest accrued on the deposit and give it to your aunt struggling to pay off her debts. You will stand to gain rewards for helping her out.

Question 5:

Muslims believe that Mohammed is the person who should be emulated. Both Christians and Muslims, despite their differences, agree that Jesus is in heaven, and that Jesus is sinless. We don’t know where Mohammed ended up, and he was, by his own admission, a sinner, just like all if us. That being said, wouldn’t Jesus, and NOT Mohammed be more worthy of emulation? What would be greater in God’s eyes—not sinning, or earthly military victories, and the other accomplishments attributed to Mohammed?

Answer 5:

The Quran teaches us that Jesus and Muhammad are mighty messengers of God and great role models for humanity to emulate.

Jesus, peace be upon him, was born of the virgin Mary without a father, even as Adam was born without a father or mother.

Muhammad was an unlettered person who received no schooling or tutoring at the hands of humans. It was God who taught and mentored him. He was the Prophet prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments.

Thanks to these prophesies, countless men and women from both Jewish and Christian backgrounds embraced Islam throughout history. Many of them were men and women well versed in the scriptures who recognized the coming of Muhammad as a fulfillment of those prophecies and a consummation of God’s favor unto humanity. Thanks to the signs of the divine origin of Muhammad’s mission, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world.

Michael M. Hart, a Jewish-American historian, placed Muhammad (peace be upon him) first in his book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.

According to Hart, “He was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels… I feel this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

The French historian Alphonse de Lamartine has stated: “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad?”

Reginald Bosworth Smith (1839–1908), an English academic, schoolmaster, man of letters, and author, had this to say of Prophet Muhammad, “He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.”. This statement highlights the remarkable leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his ability to wield authority without the trappings often associated with rulership.”

Several modern studies on leadership have distilled the leadership traits of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), such as the following:

Balanced Leadership: A theoretical study published in “What Makes a Balanced Leader?” highlights Prophet Muhammad as a holistic and versatile leader. It identifies seven principles of balanced leadership extrapolated from his biography and synthesized from literature. These principles offer insights for leaders to practice leadership more effectively than conventional norms.

In his powerful book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell distills essential principles for effective leadership. It is worth noting that the Prophet’s leadership aligns with many of these laws. Contemplating these laws can inspire us to follow the Prophet’s example in our own lives.

Lastly, researchers worldwide, including John Adair, have identified over 50 prophetic leadership qualities. These include empathy, integrity, vision, courage, and adaptability. The Prophet’s leadership serves as a timeless model for effective leadership.

Thanks to these, Allah reminds us in the Qur’an: You have indeed an excellent role model in the messenger of God for, those who repose their hope in God and the last day and remember Him often.” (Qur’an: 33: 21)

Now, coming to your argument that Jesus was free from sin while Muhammad was a sinner, it is also utterly irrational; both mighty messengers were mortals, and they were always aware of their utter dependence on God’s grace; they never considered themselves as divine beings. Jesus prayed to God saying, “Lord, have mercy on me’, likewise, Muhammad also prayed to God, Lord, have mercy on me.”

Finally, as far as Jesus is concerned, we have minimal facts about his life before us; on the contrary, the life of Muhammad is an open book. We have eyewitness accounts of his activities as a full-blooded human being. We have detailed records of his beautiful examples as a husband, father and grandfather, businessman and worker, spiritual leader, mentor, warrior, peacemaker, family man, companion, etc. Thanks to these, as Allah tells us in the Quran, Prophet Muhammad is an excellent role model for all humankind, showing us how to turn our earthly experiences into a grand act of communion with God.

Question 6:

I am a Muslim, born into a Muslim family. Nowadays, I feel like I am getting away from my Iman, and I am too lazy to pray and engage in Islamic activities. I am not thinking about prayers at all. For me, everything looks okay, but they are not okay. I can’t focus on my studies or my daily routine. I am wasting my time on useless things like always watching my phone. I feel like I am a hopeless person. Every time I plan to start my day by waking up early in the morning to pray Fajr, I end up changing my mind, thinking, “Let’s sleep a bit more,” and end up waking up late, ruining my daily life by not praying any Salah.I want to change my daily life and return to Allah. I want to pray my daily prayers without missing any and be more sincere in my prayers. I want to recite the Quran with the fear of Allah. If I watch some Islamic videos, I don’t feel anything. I think my heart has become hard.I want to return to Allah with all my heart. Can you help me get closer to Allah?

Guid me, please 🥺

Answer 6:

You have been addicted to a lifestyle of sloth and laziness. You can only succeed in life if you learn to empower yourself by breaking free of such habits and learning new ones.

On this, let me cite here one of my earlier answers:

“The perfect remedy for procrastination is to nurture sound faith in the manner of the Salaf al-Salih (pious predecessors).

Before Islam, the Arabs had no sense of purpose or human achievement.  However, once exposed to the empowering message of the Qur’an, they became energized and utterly transformed. Thanks to the redeeming faith of Islam, they shook off their complacency and lethargy, became leaders, and peak performers.  Whatever they touched with their hands became infused with the dye of their dynamic faith. The Qur’an describes the change thus:  “Is the one who was once dead, and then We revived him (through the message of Islam), and thus We appointed for him a light whereby he walks among people — comparable to one steeped in darkness, never able to come out of it?” (The Qur’an: 6: 122)

Therefore, the remedy for fighting procrastination, therefore, is to nurture dynamic faith.

Coming to precise tips based on such a vision that one can readily apply to empower oneself and shake off the habit of procrastination, let us state:

1) Procrastination is a learned habit; repeated acts form habits. So the best way to fight procrastination is to take immediate steps to do the thing one is tempted to postpone.  Hence when tempted to procrastinate, one must do whatever it takes to do just the opposite. It may be hard in the beginning, but by repeating it over and over, one learns to break the habit. This process must continue until one has acquired the new habit, and thus it becomes second nature.

2) As you rise in the morning, put yourself in a positive mindset by counting the blessings of Allah thus emulating the beautiful example of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), and praying to Allah to grant you a successful day full of blessings.

2. Pray Fajr, read at least a page of the Quran and spend a few minutes in dhikr and offering the daily supplications (from the treasury of Prophetic Du’as as found in works such as Invocation of God by Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah).

3) Start your work or project soon afterward with a prayerful heart. By doing so, you may count on the blessings of Allah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed: “O Allah, bless my Ummah in their morning endeavors.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

4) Turn to Allah in supplication and ask His help in fighting sloth, laziness, and helplessness through the following prayers (Du’as):

Allahumma innee a’dhu bika mina al-‘ajzi wa al-kasal wa al-jubun wa al-bukhl wa ghalabati al-dayni wa qahri al-rrijaal

(O Allah, I seek refuge in You from impotence, sloth, cowardice, niggardliness, and burden of debts and domineering men.)

Laa ilaaha illa Allaahu al-azeem al-haleem, la ilaaha illa Allaahu rabbu al-‘arshi al-‘azeem, laa ilaaha illa Allaahu rabbu al-ssamaawaati wa al-ardhi wa rabbu al-‘arshi al-kareem

(There is no god but Allah, the Tremendous and Clement; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the Great Throne; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens and earth and the Noble Throne).

Question 7:

I am a 27 year old, and I struggle with having really bad memory, I am sure I intended on to give some amount of money in charity in the last 10 nights of ramadan, but it has been some time now since ramadan and I’ve forgotten the amount that I intented to give away. What to do in such a case. How much amount should I take out? Should I take it out according what I think I would have intended on giving away based on my earlier patterns?

I struggle with bad memory even in salah I keep forgetting my rakah and I forget a lot of things everyday. I have to write down everything, somehow I missed writing it somewhere.

Answer 7:

When it comes to promises to give charity, keeping accurate records is important.

If you fail to do so and don’t remember the exact amount you promised, you can make an educated guess and subtract the amount accordingly. However, it’s crucial to write it down next time to avoid acting based on guesswork.

You also need to repent and ask Allah for forgiveness. Here is a dua you can use every day:

Rabbi ighfir lee dhanbee kullahu diqqahy wa jillahu wa awwalahu wa aakhirahu wa sirrahu walaaniyyathahu wa maa alimthu minhu wamaa lam a’lam

(My Lord, forgive me all of my sins: both primary and the minor, the first and the last, the secret and the open, and that which I am aware of as well as that which I am unaware of).

Question 8:

i need a proper guidance about in which situation i am. A woman ( she is married with a shia guy) and me working together and we like each other. But she is married but she filled a divorce because his husband is beating her and do 2nd nikaah without his knowledge and permission and the divorce process gonna be completed in july. But unfortunately due weak faith we do a sin . Allah pak forgive us. And now she is pregnant. Now we both are too confused what we can do soo we make it halal. We both want to be in nikaah soo this relation is become halal. But her idat is not complete because she is pregnant with my baby. I need guidance what option i have how we make this halal . Should we do nikaah in this situation or we only do nikaah after baby born.

Answer 8:

You committed a grave sin by committing adultery with this woman. She was married, and you both were guilty of infidelity. Adultery is a grave sin in Islam. On the enormity of this, Adultery in Islam is one of the most heinous and deadliest of sins; its enormity can be gauged from the fact that it has often been conjoined in the Qur’an with the gravest of all sins: shirk or associating partners with Allah.

The enormity of this sin is no small measure due to its dire consequences affecting individuals, families, and societies: among these are: it entails infidelity and erodes the trust and tranquility—the foundations of a fulfilling family life; it dissipates one’s energies and undermines peace at home and corrupts the purity of one’s soul and hence destroys one’s faith, finally exposing the person to the wrath of Allah thus resulting in eternal damnation.

It is no wonder then that Allah and His Messenger have sounded dire warnings against adultery in so many ways, to list only a few instances:

Allah says in the Qur’an, “Do not even go near adultery for it is, for it is an indecent thing and an evil way.” (Qur’an: 17: 32).

“(And the servants of the Beneficent) are those who do not upon another god with Allah, and who do not…….commit fornication/adultery, for whoever dos that shall receive the penalty; for him/her shall the torment be doubled on the day of resurrection, and therein he/she shall abide forever, disgraced, save him/her who repents and believes and does good works; those, Allah shall change their misdeeds into good works. And Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate.” (Qur’an: 25: 68-70).

Therefore, both of you should seek repentance and change your life around if you wish to attain salvation.

Since the woman is still married, you cannot perform the nikah until she has been legally divorced. Once she obtains a legal divorce, then you can marry her after she has completed the waiting period of three menstrual cycles or until she delivers if she is pregnant, as you state.

Once you marry her, you can claim the child as yours if a paternity test proves you are the child’s father. Otherwise, the child belongs to the marriage bed, where her former husband will be the father.  

Question 9:

I’m a girl. 27 years old. I want to marry a boy 24 years old. His family approved that we wanted to marry each other. When I told my father, he approved of it too. But my mother and my little brother didn’t approve. My little brother is 25 years old. He couldn’t tolerate that his elder sister’s husband would be younger than him. He threatened my father that if he agreed, he would leave the house. That’s why my father changed the decision. My whole family disagrees now. But we fell in love with each other so hard. The boy is so pious & well-educated & treats me so well. Is it something wrong to marry someone like that? What should I do? My family forbids me from communicating with him. But I can’t forget him. Please suggest me some solution.

Answer 9:

Since it is your right to choose your life partner, your father cannot withhold his consent after he is satisfied with the man’s religious credentials based on your younger brother’s objections. Your brother’s attitude is unreasonable. As such, your father is committing a grave mistake. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No one has the right to claim obedience if by doing so they disobey the Creator.”

For further details, you may access the answer linked below:

Can Parents Reject Marriage Proposals Because of Caste System? | About Islam

Question 10:

I have met a man i have fallen deeply in love with and he feels the same way. We intend to get married soon, but we discovered that we are both AS (genotype), so if we get married, there is a 25% chance of giving birth to a child with SS genotype. I was discussing this with my friend and she suggested we could get married and abort the child at less than 12 weeks if that happens since it is a deadly disease and would make the child suffer for it’s lifetime. Is this permissible?

Answer 10:

There is no objection to marrying the person you love; in fact, it is even strongly harmful.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised us to look for factors that make us attracted or inclined towards each other. He said it may enable us to cement the marriage relationship.

Coming to the issue of abortion, however, it is considered Haram (and forbidden) after the ensoulment (breathing of soul into the fetus), which takes place when the pregnancy reaches 120 days.

Once it has reached this stage, abortion is akin to taking an innocent life.

The question remains: how about abortion before 120 days?

Scholars rule abortion as Haram unless necessitated for saving the life of the mother. In such a case, it is allowed because of unavoidable necessity.  Allah says, “But whosoever is compelled by necessity, without willfully disobeying or transgressing, truly thy Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Qur’an: 6:145)

Some scholars are of the view that if the team of experts determines that there is an untreatable condition in the embryo, then abortion is allowed before 120 days. They also base this ruling on the verse mentioned above. However, I must add this view is not shared by all.

I would advise you against terminating the pregnancy unless it poses a real risk for you. However, you are allowed to pre-empt such a situation by resorting to safe methods of contraception.  I pray to Allah to forgive our sins and shower us with His mercy.

Question 11:

 I had asked a question previously and it was answer.
This is the link :
https://aboutislam.net/live-session/got-fiqhi-questions-ask-our-scholar-fatwa-session-2/

Question number 20 .
And the answer was that I had to find a job to earn halal and use the barest minimum of my father’s wealth to survive. If you can clarify for me what is the barest minimum, I’m a female in Afghanistan and I’m banned from work, education,I try but I can’t find a job either. I don’t know what to do ?
How do I determine what to use daily from my father’s wealth ?

Jazakullah Khairan.

I hope this answers quickly and with clarification.

Answer 11:

It would be best if you exhausted all options, including working online. Consult experts in the field or your friends who are familiar with such issues who may guide you in finding such job opportunities. You should strive hard while praying to Allah to bless your efforts to earn a lawful source of livelihood to save yourself from His wrath.

Question 12:

I have been going through some supernatural conditions which are creating many problems for me. I don’t know whether they are happening by the wish of Allah or because of jinn, black magic, evil eye etc or because of both .Can i do the dhikr of Hasbyallah we nimal wakeel many times everyday and la ilaha illah anta subhanaka inne kuntu minaz zualimin many times everyday for this situation ?

Answer 12:

You may do well to shake off such unnecessary fears, doubts, and whisperings of Satan by renewing your faith in Allah and trust in Him. As a believer, you should believe that no one can harm you as long as you diligently establish Prayer and dhikr.

Even if you fear someone doing black magic against you, no one can harm you if you arm yourself with the right spiritual weapon.

Your best protection and immunity against black magic is by empowering yourself through practicing Islam, reading the Qur’an, and being consistent in Dhikr and Du’a.

Allah has promised the faithful that devils cannot exercise permanent control over those servants of Allah who have submitted to Him; Satan can exercise permanent control only over those who consent and surrender themselves to his authority. “Most certainly, My servants–you cannot exercise control over them except those who are deviant who follow you.” (Q. 15: 42) “Most certainly he (Satan) has no power over those who truly cherish faith and are trusting upon their Lord; rather his power is limited only to those who take him as a protector (besides God) and thus associate partners with Him” (Q. 16: 99-100).

The first and foremost requirement is to believe firmly that no one, however great his powers may be, can benefit or harm you except if Allah wills it.

The Qur’an reminds us repeatedly that a true believer must believe firmly that Allah alone is the one who can give us benefit or harm in an absolute sense; everything that befalls us from humans or other creatures are only secondary and are achieved only through the power derived from Allah; so the best remedy and cure is to continuously seek protection and refuge in Allah. Satan and all of his tricks and weapons could be defeated and rendered utterly ineffective if Allah.

I give below a number of selections of verses of the Qur’an and dua’s which you can recite on a regular basis:

1) Al-Fatihah

2) Last three chapters of the Qur’an (i.e. Q. 112, 113, 114)

3) Ayat al-Kursi (i.e. Q.2: 255)

Besides the above, repeat the following Du’as on a regular basis both in the morning and evening three times or more:

1) Bismillaahi alladhee laa yadhurru ma’ ismihi sha’un fi al-ardhi wa laa fi al-ssamaa’i wa huwa al-ssamee’u al-a’aleem

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

2) Hasbiya Allaahu laa ilaaha illaa huwa alayhi tawakkaltu wahuwa rabbu al-‘arshi al-azeem

(Allah suffices me; there is no god but He; in Him I place my sole trust; He is the Lord of the mighty Throne.)

3) Allaahumma inee a’duhu bika min hamazaati al-shayaateen wa a’oodhu bika rabbi an yahduroon

(O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the whisperings of Satan; my Lord, I seek refuge in You from their presence around me.)

4) A’udhu bi ‘izzati Allaahi wa qudratihi mimma ajidu wa uhaadhiru

(I seek refuge in Allah’s glory and power from the affliction and pain I experience and suffer from).

It is important to remember that Du’a and Dhikr will only benefit when it comes from a heart that firmly believes in Allah, and thus cherishes firm conviction in Allah’s power and sovereignty.

Question 13:

Is Working in school as a teacher or teacher’s assistant to care for kids Halal in non-Muslim countries?

My main concern is
1) kids get free lunch and breakfast in school where the food is haram. And I must help them eat.
2) they use music in teaching
3) most of my colleagues are women.

Answer 13:

If you can find another job without being forced to serve haram food, you should not continue this job. Alternatively, ask yourself: Can you see another person in the group to whom you can delegate serving those dishes while you take on other responsibilities?

If you find someone, you should delegate this task to him or her. If you see no such options and it is hard to find another job, you may continue until another opportunity arises.

It’s crucial to continue making istighfar and praying to Allah. These acts of devotion can provide you with the spiritual strength and guidance you need in your search for a job that is completely free of haram elements.

Here is a dua you should use:

Allaahumma aghninee bi halaalika an haraamika wabi ta’atika an ma’siyathika wabi fadhlika amman siwaaka

(O Allah, make me sufficient with that which You made halal for me so that I do not end up resorting to that which is Haram; make me satisfied with Your obedience so that I do not fall into disobedience. And make me content with Your favor so that I do not look for favor of the mortals).

Allaahumma rahmathaka arjoo falaa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarafatha aynin wa aslih lee sha’nee kullahu

(O Allah, I seek Your mercy; do not abandon me to my own devices even for an instant; instead, set right for me all of my affairs).

Question 14:

Is wastage a act of kufr? Because Whoever wastage is the brother of Shaitan

Answer 14:

 Wastage is a grave sin. Allah has warned us against this in several verses in the Qur’an:

“And render to relative their due, as well as to the needy, and the traveler; and do not spend wastefully. Spendthrifts are brothers of Satan, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.” (Qur’an: 17: 26-27)

And “Children of Adam, wear proper clothes whenever you visit a place of worship; eat and drink, but not to excess, for God dislikes the extravagant.” (Qur’an: 7: 31)

So, as believers, we ought to shun wastefulness and extravagant spending.  It is a grave sin to indulge in such habits. As Imam Ali said, “No poor person starves except because of the wasteful indulgence of the rich.”

Imam Al-Sharawi noted, “The poor would starve only in a Muslim country because the rich have stolen his wealth.”

In other words, by being wasteful, we are denying the rights of people with low incomes, for our right to wealth is conditional on sharing it with the less fortunate.

So, by being wasteful, we are taking away what rightfully belongs to him.

Now, coming to the question of whether being wasteful would take one of the folds of Islam, the answer is no. It is not different from people committing major sins such as adultery, theft, practicing black magic, etc.; such sins would not constitute an act of significant kufr or denouncing Islam.

A sinner is still a believer, albeit deficient in faith. We are not allowed to put out people from Islam because of their sins. Such is an extreme view of the Khawarij, which distinguished them from the mainstream Muslims. We are not allowed to go to extremes in religion.

Question 15:

I made some bracelets that I wanted to sell on etsy but then I realised that bracelets are adornments for women so does it mean I’ll get sins for them wearing it. Is it still permissible to sell, because I’m unaware of what they’ll do with the Bracelet

Jazakallah 

Answer 15:

Selling such bracelets is like selling jewelry or adornments; there is nothing haram about it. It does not matter how people use it; you are not accountable for their actions. The same applies to anything a person sells if it is halal. A person who buys it may use or abuse it for a good purpose. You are not accountable for their actions.

According to the rules of jurisprudence, we are not accountable for what is out of our sight and control.

Since the bracelet is halal, you can sell it regardless of what the buyer buys it for.

Question 16:

I hope this finds you well. I am writing to raise issues that are happening in my life. I am unhappy that Allah Almighty did not give me anything good in my life. For instance, I have abusive parents, no good friends, and never had good teachers – to mention a few. My life is so much in turmoil that I don’t know what to do. I lost hope in living a fulfilling life because of my mother, who used Islam to abuse me. Because Allah never mentioned punishing abusive mothers, I don’t believe that trusting Allah is going to be helpful. Recently, I completed my undergraduate studies, but I could not do as well as expected owing to my extenuating circumstances. Since I have not accomplished academically, I am afraid there aren’t any opportunities for me. I want to mention that I managed to get a place at a university with my determination and my parents never helped me in my journey. Since I managed to get into a university, I hoped to achieve excellence, but Allah shattered my simple hopes. Now, I am afraid of dreaming big and hoping good in my life. I see darkness at the end of the tunnel since, so I don’t feel it is worth living, and I contemplate taking my own life. There is no point in living a life mired in pain, shame, abuse, and torture. Also, I have been in touch with Islamic scholars about my circumstances, particularly about my parents. Still, they would get back to me with disappointing responses and tried to blame me. I have no one with whom I can share what I am going through. I cannot trust people since they made my life worse in the name of help and support. I don’t think I have the right to live. I believed Allah created me for His pleasure. Although I know suicide is a sin, could you help me with how I end my life since I can see no way my life will improve? Alternatively, could you please tell me how to mend my life and live a better life if that option is available?

Answer 16:

It seems you are going through the challenge of depression. Like any other health challenge, a trained professional can treat this condition. So, I urge you to speak with your family physician; he can refer you to a professional who can provide you with professional help and treatment.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Servants of Allah, seek treatments if you are sick, for Allah has appointed a cure for every sickness.”

The Prophet’s advice applies to physical as well as emotional or psychological challenges. Sometimes depression can be even deadlier than a cancerous tumor; that can be the case if you become suicidal; it seems to me you are on the verge of it, so never hesitate to seek treatments for your condition.

I know several persons who experienced the same kind of depression as you have described.

Still, because of getting treatment on time, they recovered fully and became fully functional in life.

So, never despair of Allah’s mercy; Allah has not abandoned you. Allah wants you to use the blessings He has bestowed upon you in the best way and turn your life around. You can certainly do that with the help of Allah. So, take the steps to seek treatment.

You may also want to contact the editor of this site, who can refer you to a counselor who can also provide some help.

Question 17:

I know divorce is supposed to be a last resort, and it is very disliked by Allah, but I do not want to be in this marriage. I know I am saying this very early on since I just got married about a month ago, but I didn’t even want to get married in the first case. I did express this before, but then I felt pressured and unsure because I also could not make up my mind on anything, and I have like no decision-making abilities and I thought maybe it wouldn’t be so bad but I am actually dreading living my whole life in this relationship. I do not know if this is sinning; apparently, he’s a good guy and religious, according to my parents. They both LOVE him so much, but they’re kind of biased since the husband is my cousin, and my mom watched him grow up a bit before moving to the US. So there’s that pressure, too. That was also why I agreed to the marriage because my parents were like oh you’re just going to make everyone hate us if you refuse because everyone wants this marriage but you. And I am still angry at all of them I never wanted this I don’t know why because I do not know the dude enough we barely even talked and what I know about him is what everyone else tells me but I don’t even want to know him I want out of this marriage I wish it never even happened and it’s stressing me out so much that I can’t even do anything now and I honestly have never disliked my parents so much until now. I wouldn’t say I like living in this house anymore. And I did try talking to them I swear but they always imply that I am being delusional or listening to Shaytan and that I am sinning because this is Sunnah. I am not against marriage- I would want to get married by my choice and my parent’s approval, but I want to get to decide, not because I am pressured to. I wish his month never happened I dont like this the guy isnt here yet because he is trying to get his VISA and immigration, but I silently wish it gets rejected because I don’t even want to see him at all. And I know my parents are not going to support me they said that when he comes theyre going to kick us out and get an appartment for us and I have to live with them because I do not belong to them anymore and now I have to do whatever my husband wishes. I think it isn’t fair first I have to listen to my parents my whole life and now I have to listen to this man whom I never wanted to be with in the first place. Do you even get to have autonomy in this life? AM I ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE OBEDIENT HOW COME MY WISHED DONT MATTER I DONT WANT TO ALWAYS LISTEN ITS NOT FAIR I NEVER GET TO MAKE MY OWN DECISION AND NOW I DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD WHAT TO DO I DONT EVEN HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF AND IM JUST SO FREAKING TIRED BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL ALWAYS FEEL MISERABLE AND UNIMPORTANT.

I am very sorry. I am just very desperate. That is why I keep submitting questions, but this is part 2 of the question I have asked before

Answer 17:

Islam does not force you to be in a marriage relationship that you don’t like. Marriage in Islam is founded on mutual acceptance and commitment to live as partners, sharing responsibilities of sharing the joys and sorrows of life. If nothing binds them together in a relationship, they should part ways honorably. So, if you don’t want to be married to the person you have mentioned, you have the right to seek divorce. Neither your parents nor anyone else can stop you.

For details, let me cite here one of my earlier answers:

You are allowed to seek divorce from your husband if you have valid grounds for doing so; for details, let me cite here one of my earlier answers to a similar question:

“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 the senseless exercise of divorce when he said, “Among lawful things, divorce is most hated by Allah.” (Abu Dawud)

So, no one with a sound Islamic spirit and attitude must resort to divorce except in extreme and unavoidable cases where it has been considered 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 these and other factors, Islam considers marriage a solemn contract (mithaq ghalizh) and reckons it as the duty of both parties who have entered such a contract by invoking God’s name and words to seek to preserve it intact according to the best of their abilities. The the future of humanity lies in the sound family, which is the cornerstone of society.

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

1. Seek counsel from those who possess wisdom, experience, and knowledge and, after gaining their insight and advice, seek to solve the outstanding issues between yourselves.

2. If such efforts fail, both spouses must resort to Islamic arbitration. In this arbitration, parties should represent both sides. They should submit to abide by the decisions thus agreed upon.

This is because humans often 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 empower themselves to rectify 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 a 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 an utter incompatibility between the partners, expressed by their irreconcilable differences in temperaments, likes, and dislikes.

3. Marital infidelity. This can be a major cause for the dissolution of marriage, for marriage is built on trust and confidence. Its main purpose is to preserve the purity and modesty of those involved. Divorce is the way to go once this foundation is eroded and undermined, and there is no chance to restore it.

4. Failure of the husband to provide. When the man, considered the family’s provider and maintainer, 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 a valid ground for divorce in Islam.

If a husband refuses to divorce his wife in a legitimate case warranting a divorce, 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 valid in Islam.

May Allah help us all to conduct our affairs with sound wisdom, understanding, sincerity, and faith, amen.”

Question 18:

Hello. I am a 15 year old Muslim who has been Muslim since birth. I am quite confused about the ruling of music in Islam since some say vocals is allowed and other say percussion is allowed and some say all it’s allowed as long it does not take you away from God. I am aware about the hadiths that have been used to try to prove music or at least instruments are haram but there are also hadiths which show Muhammad allowing the playing of frame drums and when he gave Abu musa a flute which belongs to Prophet David’s Family and verses of the Quran that have been inteperated as David Singing but I don’t want to merely answer myself questions out of whims and desires and I’m trying to ask as many scholars as I might could online about it. But at the same time I’m genuinely unconvinced music itself is haram and I’m suddenly going to get bad deeds for listening to some music even when it is praising Allah and his messengers and as I stated there are hadiths which show music in a positive way and I’m aware some say its just an exception but many Muslims I see also disagree since there isn’t explicit proof for it which has lead me to be even more unconvinced but again I also want answers from scholars who I know have way more knowledge than me and not just out of my own opinions. I heard people say most scholars say it is haram but somehow I also hear others say it is a whole spectrum and there is no universal agreement among scholars so I am going to confirm myself and see what is actually the case.

Answer 18:

On music you can access the answer linked below:

is music permissible? | About Islam

Question 19:

My husband has not fulfilled my desire for almost 6 years; I have been married since March 2013. After my son’s birth in 2014, after 5 months, he switched his job to another city with my in-law’s consent and left me and my son to my mother’s home, so I continued to do my job. He came and visited us once or twice a month, providing kids with necessary things; after 3 years, he went for PhD in Germany and lived there and came back in 2022 but didn’t resume the relationship as husband and wife.it is almost six years now.  He comes to visit us but mostly has no interest in me and doesn’t want to discuss it. what Islam says.

Answer 19:

Marriage, a sacred bond, is founded on the principle of mutual satisfaction. Just as a husband has the right to seek sexual fulfillment from his wife, so does a wife have the same entitlement from her husband. This mutual commitment to satisfy each other is the cornerstone of a fulfilling marriage, one that upholds purity and guards against sins. 

Therefore, if you find that your husband is not fulfilling his spousal duty, it is important to explore all avenues. Encouraging him to seek counseling or to find creative ways to satisfy you is not only acceptable but also commendable in the eyes of our faith.

He may be able to do this if he is motivated to do so, provided he is not suffering from any inherent medical challenges. In that case, he should also be advised to speak with his physician.

If all attempts fail, and you find no sexual fulfillment in your marriage, then you are allowed to seek divorce from him.

In the authentic traditions, we read that once a woman came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) complaining that she finds no satisfaction from him and is therefore afraid of falling into sins.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered her to return the mahr he had given her and told the man to divorce her.

Therefore, you should make decisions for yourself accordingly. I pray to Allah to inspire you to choose wisely.

Question 20:

can we pray witr before isha, or does it have to be isha first then witr

Answer 20:

According to the consensus of scholars, the time of Witr prayer starts after Isha and extends until the arrival of Fajr.

Imam Ahmad reports on the authority of Abu Basrah, “Allah has appointed an extra prayer for you, which you should perform between Isha and Fajr. However, the last one-third of the night is the most auspicious time for Witr prayer, as Allah descends to the lower heavens and is ready to respond to and answer the prayers of the supplicants.

Considering the above, we cannot pray Witr before Isha. You can pray it immediately after Isha and not before.