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:

On this website is written that Hindu offering of Prasad is permissible since Rasul Allah sws accepted for from non Muslims as per fatwa from Sheikh Misirriyah. However, in Quran we have
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 3:

3 Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead (flesh of animals not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that (food) on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.

Answer 1:

To answer your question, we need to establish the correct meaning of Prasad or Prasada in Hinduism.

Here is a definition of Prasad or Prasada from Britannica:

Prasada, (Sanskrit: “favour” or “grace”) in Hinduism, food and water offered to a deity during worship (puja). It is believed that the deity partakes of and then returns the offering, thereby consecrating it. The offering is then distributed and eaten by the worshippers. The efficacy of the prasada comes from its having been touched by the deity. Food left by a guru (spiritual leader) is considered prasada by the guru’s followers, as the guru is regarded as a living god. All food, if silently offered to God with the proper prayers before eating, becomes consecrated and is thus considered prasada.

Now coming to the Islamic ruling on whether Muslims are allowed to partake of the food offered to a deity or idol, the answer as explicitly stated in the Quran is no. Allah says:

“You are forbidden to eat carrion; blood; pig’s meat; any animal over which any name other than God’s has been invoked; any animal strangled, or victim of a violent blow or a fall, or gored or savaged by a beast of prey, unless you still slaughter it [in the correct manner]; or anything sacrificed on idolatrous altars.” (Quran 5: 3)

“He has forbidden you only these things: carrion, blood, pig’s meat, and animals over which any name other than God’s has been invoked. But if anyone is forced by hunger, not desiring it nor exceeding their immediate need, God is forgiving and merciful.” (Quran 16: 115)

Considering the above verses, if the food is offered to any deity other than God, it is forbidden for us to consume.

Furthermore, as mentioned in the Britannica article, “It is believed that the deity partakes of and then returns the offering, thereby consecrating it.” Such a belief contradicts the Quranic concept of tawhid or the Oneness of God; according to the Quran, God is Transcendent, Incomparable, and beyond all human ascriptions; therefore, the idea of God partaking of the foods offered to Him is utterly repugnant in Islam.

Allah says,

 “Say, ‘Shall I take for myself a protector other than God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds but is not fed?’ Say, ‘I am commanded to be the first [of you] to devote myself [to Him].’ Do not be one of the idolaters.” (Quran 6: 14)

In conclusion, Muslims are not allowed to partake of prasada or prasada offered to idols or deities other than God (Allah).

Question 2:

There is someone who struggles a lot with something. I will ask this question on behalf of this person: if you have hurt someone in the past, like backbit about them and said really bad things about them and even accused them,but you have already asked for forgiveness from them, and they said that they forgave you but you can see in the way the act that they didn’t really forgive you. What should you do? Mind you, the person first asked Allah for forgiveness and then sincerely asked the person who he hurt for forgiveness. It really keeps the person awake because he doesn’t want his sins to be taken away on the day of judgment.

Answer 2:

Backbiting and making false accusations of others are grievous sins. Allah warns us against such offenses in the Quran

“O YOU who have attained to faith! No men shall mock [other] men: it may well be that those [whom they mock] are better than themselves, and no women [shall mock other] women: it may well be that those (whom they mock) are better than themselves.  And neither shall you defame one another, nor insult one another by [opprobrious] epithets: evil is all imputation of iniquity after [one has attained to] faith, and they who [become guilty thereof and] do not repent – it is they, they who are evildoers!

O you who believe! Avoid most guesswork [about one another] for, behold, some of [such] guesswork is [in itself] a sin; and do not spy upon one another, and neither allow yourself to speak ill of one another behind your backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would loathe it! And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an acceptor of repentance, a dispenser of grace!” (Quran 40: 11-12). 

Allah compares backbiting to eating the flesh of one’s brother who is dead!  We can infer from us detestable and grave a sin backbiting is.  

The Prophet warned us against sullying the honor of others; we are not to shed blood, robe the wealth or tarnish the reputation of anyone. If we do, we will be called to give justice to the victims. He said, “If anyone has hurt or injured or deprived anyone of his rights, let him know he will have to redeem himself by giving justice to the victims when there is no material payment is accepted. Therefore, he is paid off from the rewards of his good deeds. If he has no good deeds to his credit, then the sins of his victims will be imposed on him, and then he would be flung to the fire of hell.”

In light of these, no Muslim should take backbiting lightly.

The only way to guard against backbiting is to control one’s speech. By conditioning oneself in doing so, one can protect against a whole series of sins such as backbiting, idle speech, gossip, lying, etc.

It is rather easy to do so when we know that there are scribes around us recording every word we utter. 

The Prophet also said, “Most people find themselves in hellfire because of their misuse of tongues.”

Therefore, if you have been guilty of backbiting someone, you ought to ask forgiveness of the person, if you can. If you think it will make it worse, then you ought to compensate for your action by doing any one or more of these actions you can afford to:

1. By speaking good of him and praying for him.

2. By giving charity on his behalf. 

Furthermore, you ought to repent and ask forgiveness of Allah. Repentance proper entails the following steps:

1. Feeling sincere remorse for the sin or sins;

2. Refraining from everything associated with it;

3. Resolving never to repeat the same;

4. Finally, following it up with good deeds as much as possible.

In this way, you can hope for the forgiveness of Allah. 

Question 3:

I have been married to a revert since 6years,he is from Tamilnadu,when we shifted to Bombay he had huge financial loss and after that he became completely different, he started to hear tamil devotional songs(hindu) but when I ask he says no I am not leaving Islam I hear only as music nothing els. What should I do? He isn’t practicing and taking depression medicine. Is he Muslim or not? How do I handle this situation? We have a 5 years old daughter.kindly help

Assalamualaikum, please help me by answering my question. I am not able to process anything in my life right now. JazakAllahu khayra

Answer 3:

I empathize with your situation and pray Allah to help you find an amicable resolution.

You need to pray to Allah to keep him on the straight path. Can you find a professional Muslim counselor who can speak to both of you and see why he is behaving in this way?

It could be that he is suffering from depression; if he is he needs to get help. You can speak to your family doctor, who may be able to suggest a professional trained in treating people with depression.

 If he is healthy and of sound mind and he has left the practice of Islam, then you need to decide whether you still want to continue to be married to him. I know it is a tough decision. However, you should turn to Allah for His help to relieve you. Allah says,

“Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should heed this: God will find a way out for those who are mindful of Him and will provide for them from an unexpected source; God will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. God achieves His purpose; God has set a due measure for everything.” (Quran 65: 2: 3).

Question 4:

Can my fiance whom I aspire to marry prepare iftar or saur for me during Ramadan?

Answer 4:

I do not understand the precise intent of your question. If you have been engaged or plan to get married, you cannot start living together. If you do, that is considered an unlawful union and a grave sin. If, however, you are not living together, and yet she wants to bring some food as a gift for you there is no harm; it is fine; however, you need to make sure that you keep a distance from each other until your marriage is solemnized religiously and legally.

As Muslims, we need to abide by the laws of Allah; His laws are intended to protect us against the evil inclinations within our souls. Allah is our Creator; He knows what is good for us and what is harmful or destructive.

Therefore, one should be careful not to trespass the limits that Allah has set for us; if we do so, we are not different from someone who drives a car with a faulty break.

“These are God’s limits, so do not transgress them. Those who transgress God’s limits are the unjust.” (Quran: 2: 229)

Question 5:

I have a question in my mind since a long time, I have already been asked by professionals or encouraged by people close to me to be a model but I do not know if it is permissible.

Is it permissible for a men to do modeling if he doesn’t wear prohibited clothes and doesn’t show his awrah?
Baraka Allah oufikoum

Answer 5:

It is a contentious issue, as the modeling profession as practiced today may contain indecent exposure, indiscriminate mixing, flamboyant display of attire, and physical charm, bordering on appearances that invite the attention of the members of the opposite sex. Allah says:

“[Prophet], tell believing men to lower their glances and guard their private parts: that is purer for them. God is well aware of everything they do. And tell believing women that they should lower their glances, guard their private parts, and not display their charms beyond what [it is acceptable] to reveal.” (Quran 24: 30-31)

Even if you were to try your best to keep it as clean as possible, it would be next to impossible for you to remain steadfastly chaste as the entire environment is saturated by enticing and alluring looks inviting lustful thoughts, words, and activities.  

As such, it is the perfect platform for Satan to use his ruses to lead people astray: Allah reminds us in the Quran

“People! God’s promise is true, so do not let the present life deceive you. Do not let the Deceiver deceive you about God. Satan is your enemy––so treat him as an enemy––and invites his followers only to enter the blazing fire. (Quran 35: 5-6)

Therefore, it behooves every believer to keep away from such professions that may inadvertently drag them to sins or weaken of faith. After all, we need to be mindful of Allah and standing before Him for the Final Reckoning. Allah says, “Beware of a Day when you will be returned to God: every soul will be paid in full for what it has earned, and no one will be wronged.” (Quran 2: 281)

In conclusion, I urge you to find another profession that is clean that would enable you to safeguard you honor and faith. Surely, Allah will help if you pray to Him to find you a lawful source of earning your livelihood.

 Allah says, “Allah will find a way out for those who are mindful of Him.

and will provide for them from an unexpected source; Allah will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. Allah achieves His purpose; God has set a due measure for everything.” (Quran 65: 2-3)

Question 6:

 I have been having this question since I discovered every man will be having minimum 2 wives among the hoors in Jannah .


According to this hadith;

According to Abu Hurayah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said about the people of Paradise: For each of them there will be two wives among the Huris: the marrow of their legs can be distinguished beyond the bones and muscles: It’s magnificent! (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

But first of all please I ask for empathy,  since this topic hurts me a lot , got me crying and overthinking always. And I have been maybe 3 months already like that.

My only question is if there will be monogamy in Jannah for those who want it.

Believe me I have searched a lot about this and yes, I know in Jannah won’t be feelings like sadness, jealousy …

But I still want monogamy

I’m very confused about this topic, since some people say that there won’t be any option of monogamy in Jannah, others that yes for those who want it. While others say that only for men that don’t want hoors or other wives, let me explain, what I mean is that if a man doesn’t want polygamy he won’t be having it, but if a woman wants it she won’t be having it.

What confuses me the most is that Allah told us that we will have whatever we desire,  but also that every man will be having MINIMUM 2 wives among hoors.

If we are in Jannah , I mean JANNAH won’t we be having what we desire,  monogamy it’s nothing against Allah’s law,  or something bad.

And if Allah knows that I really desire monogamy won’t he give it to me?

I believe there are monogamous men and obviously monogamous women so why ignore our desires for those who want polygamy.

Another thing that people say is that I won’t be thinking about this in Jannah and that I won’t care , but believe me this is the thing that I want the most in Jannah, and that I will be having husbands if I want to but I don’t want any other men, I just want a happy monogamous relationship.

So in conclusion will there be monogamy for those who want it?

I would really appreciate a reply.

Answer 6:

I am sorry to say that such matters belong to the realm of Ghayb or unseen realities; as such they are not accessible to human cognition or reasoning. Therefore, we cannot analyze them through standard logic or rational criteria. Ibn Abbas says, “There is nothing in the Hereafter of the things of this world except names.” Allah says,
“No soul knows what joy is kept hidden in store for them as a reward for what they have done.” (Quran 32: 17)

So, we can rest assured that heaven is such a realm where all wishes are fulfilled in such a way that we do not crave anything more.  

Therefore, instead of dwelling on such frivolous issues, we  may do well to exert ourselves to be kept away and admitted to paradise:   Let us heed the Quranic message:

“Every soul will taste death and you will be paid in full only on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have triumphed. The present world is only an illusory pleasure.” (Quran 3: 185)

In conclusion, you can rest assured that if you get to paradise, you will have all your desires fulfilled in their entirety.

Question 7:

I was supposed to get married before 17 days. My family arranged everything. But just before 15 days of it the groom’s mom canceled the wedding. she was not good enough with me from the beginning, but I never complained about that. I thought everything would be fine after the wedding. But I was wrong. She did exactly what she wanted from the beginning. Every family member was excited about my wedding; hope you know how much I was then. I never imagined that would happen to me one day. Alhamdulillah, now I have sabr. but my question is, will Allah forgive her for what she did with me? And what will be her punishment if Allah doesn’t forgive?
Jazakallah khair

Answer 7:

If what you allege about her is true, then she is guilty of a major sin; an engagement is a solemn promise that one cannot break except for genuine and valid reasons. A believer is bound by their promises or pledges. The Quran reiterates that the believers are “Those who are faithful to their trusts and pledges.” (Quran 23: 8)

Therefore, if she did cancel the marriage for no valid reason, she has committed a breach of trust, for which she will be called to account before Allah.

Now, as for your question about the nature of punishment, we cannot dare to speculate on that; it is left to Allah, who judges each person according to His perfect wisdom and knowledge. You will be rewarded for your patience. Allah says, “O you who believe! Seek help through patience and prayers. God is with the steadfast.” (Quran 2: 153)

Question 8:

I just have question about my ghusl .So I was doing ghusl and washing all over my body and as I was reached my left thigh i noticed that there was soap dripping from it on there because right before I did ghusl I did another shower before it. So I was wondering is my ghusl valid? Thank u for your time.

Answer 8:

If you did shower before and then you find soap dripping while bathing again, you don’t need to worry about the validity of your ghusl. It is best that you shun such whispering doubts; they are inspired by Satan to create doubts in your mind. So, seek refuge in Allah when you experience such whisperings:

“If a prompting from Satan should stir you, seek refuge with God: He is the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing.” (Quran 41:36)

Question 9:

Can we name our son Raheem without adding the prefix Abdul?

Answer 9:

We are allowed to use names like Raheem, Kareem, Lateef, Rauf, etc. without adding the prefix, Abdul. They are considered common names that can be used for Allah as well as His creation. However, we cannot use names that are exclusively used for Allah such as Ar-Rahman, Ar-Razzaq, Al-Aziz, as-Salam, etc.

On etiquettes of naming children, let me cite here from one of my earlier answers: “Children are a trust in the hands of parents. Parents, therefore, have a duty to receive this divine gift with a true sense of gratitude and do everything at their disposal to provide the best nurturing. There is nothing better they can do in this regard than by providing them a home filled with love and kindness, and thus contributing to their overall physical, intellectual, ethical and spiritual growth and development. Such a duty begins before the birth of the child and extends all through their lives. Having said this, I must say, that the first important duty when a child is born is to recite the adhan in the right ear in a gentle voice, and give him or her a good name. As for the choice of names, we are given the following guidelines: Read Also: Eating Meat Slaughtered by Non-Muslims Accepting Gifts from Apostates 1. We must certainly avoid names that indicate any trace of shirk or association of partners with Allah. Theref ore it is forbidden to call someone `Abd al-Ka`bah, or `Abd al-Nabi (servant of the Ka`bah or servant of the Prophet), since all of us are servants of Allah alone. 2. We must also avoid names that imply meanings that are offensive or unpleasant in connotations. The Prophet changed names such as Harb (War) with Salam (Peace), ‘Asiyah (Rebellious) with Jamilah (Beautiful), Sa`b (Difficult) with Sahl (Easy to deal with), etc. 3. We are encouraged to give names that have good or noble meanings or associations, for names may inadvertently inspire a person to do great things or stay away from vices. Choosing names of prophets or great persons who have been role models of virtue and piety is an excellent idea. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named his son Ibrahim, and he said, “I have called him by my father’s name!” Having said this, I must add: There is nothing in the Islamic sources to indicate that we are allowed only to give our children Arabic names. Since Islam is a universal religion, there is no such requirement. Any name is okay so long as we keep in mind the above points. But, at the same time, while choosing names, we must strive our best not to compromise our Islamic identity.”

Question 10:

I usually pray witr after tahajjud. Last time my period started midnight when i woke up to pray my prayer. Do i have to make up for that witr prayer?

Answer 10:

If you have been in the habit of delaying your witr and your menses started before you could do it, then you don’t need to make qada; however, if you do that is left to you. Qada properly speaking applies to a duty that we missed after it became incumbent on us; in your case, that was not the case as your menses started before the time arrived. However, if you wish to make up for it, there is nothing wrong with it.

Question 11:

Sheikh my mom would ask me to tell Wallah to confirm if I would have done something or not and I would tell it knowing that I was lying and did not want to swear. Do I need to give expiation for this now? I don’t remember how many times I have done this?

And one time I have intentionally sweared for which I need to give expiation for, my parents give food to the needy every year on behalf of the whole family, can I just make an intention that 10 of these should go from my side for my false oath? This food would be given with two intentions though, one from my parents and one form my side. Please do reply to my mail and clear all my doubts InshaAllah

Answer 11:

If you made a false oath, you need to expiate for it. For further details, let me cite here one of my earlier answers to a similar question:

“If someone made a false oath by invoking the name of Allah, that is indeed a most grievous sin; it is a double offense 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.” (Quran 5:89)

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

Now coming to the next question as to whether the food that your parents to the poor can be reckoned as part of the expiation for your offence, the answer depends on who is paying for them. If it is your parents, then it would not count; if you pay for it, then certainly you could count it if you made an intention for it prior to the act of giving.

Question 12:

Is it compulsory to cut a girl new born baby hair?

Answer 12:

The preferred view is as Imam An-Nawawi states, ‘it is recommended to shave the head of a newborn, whether male or female, on the seventh day and to give charity according to the weight of the hair thus removed in gold or in silver if one cannot afford it.”

There is no difference between males and females in this. It is reported that the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah shaved the heads of Hasan, Husain, and Umm Kulthum and gave charity after weighing them in silver.”

There is, however, a minority view that states that shaving is a sunnah regarding male babies and not to female babies.

In conclusion, it is recommended to shave the head of a newborn child, whether male or female.

Question 13:

Does general isthigfaar (astaghfirullaha wa atoobu ilayh) forgive common major sins like lying, backbitting etc, or do we need to seek repentence for each one of them? wont this lead to hardship?

Answer 13:

On this, please refer to the answer posted earlier.

Question 14:

I have done sex chat a few time and i seeked for repentence it. I did not send any of my pictures, voice messages etc. it was completely just chat.. Did i lose my virginity? i am really worried if i have lost my innocence. please do reply InshaAllah

Answer 14:

Fornication is a grave sin in Islam. Therefore, Allah says, “And do not go anywhere near Zina (an unlawful sexual union which applies to fornication as well as adultery) for verily it is an abomination and an evil way.” (Quran 17: 32)

In another verse, Allah, after listing the abominable practices, including fornication, says:

“Whoever does that will face penalties. The punishment will be doubled for them on the Day of Resurrection, and he will dwell therein in humiliation forever. (Quran 25: 68-69)

Then comes the hopeful note:
“Except for those who repent, and believe, and do good deeds. These—God will replace their evil deeds with good deeds. God is ever Forgiving and Merciful.”

The actions that you have described fall under the category of zina or fornication. Zina is not simply intercourse; there are steps before it, which is also referred to as akin to zina. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Eyes fornicate; the fornication of eyes is lustful looks; ears fornicate; fornication of ears is hearing; tongue fornicates through speech; hands fornicate by holding; feet fornicate through walking; heart fornicates by lustful thoughts; it is consummated by the private parts.”

Considering the above,  you are undoubtedly guilty of transgressing the limits of Allah.

And you should put a stop to this and ask forgiveness of Allah through sincere repentance. Otherwise, you are your faith and honor. Fornication is undoubtedly a grave sin. He calls upon the faithful, saying, “O My servants who have wronged against their souls! Do not despair of Allah’s mercy! For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate. Turn to your Lord repentant, and submit to Him, before the torment overtakes you when you shall not be helped.” (Quran  39: 53-54)

Allah’s forgiveness is granted to those who repent sincerely: Sincere repentance requires fulfilling three conditions:

1. Feeling deep remorse and contrition for sin;
2. refraining from the sin as well from associations and ways that led a person to it in the first place,
3. and finally resolving never to do the same again.

The Prophet, peace upon him, has reminded us that sincere repentance involves changing oneself for the better by engaging in good works: “If you happen to sin, follow it up by good deeds” “Allah does not wipe out a bad deed by another; He rather wipes out bad deeds with good deeds.”

Once a person has repented sincerely, he is forgiven. Allah says, “Save him who repents and believes, and does good works; those, Allah shall change their misdeeds into good works. And Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate.” (Quran 25: 70)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “One who has sincerely repented of a sin is like one who has never sinned.”

Now, as for your final question about whether sex chat would compromise your virginity, the answer is no. Although such acts fall into the category of fornication, they are considered preliminaries or doors to the final act or the sexual intercourse. Since you did not end up doing that, your virginity is intact. However, you should never take such grave sins lightly. And resolve never to do it again, and make sincere repentance as mentioned above.

You should pray to Allah:

Rabbi qinee sharra sam’ee, rabbi qinee sharra basaree, rabbi qinee sharra lisaanee, rabbi qinee sharra maniyyee

(My Lord, protect me from the evil of my ears.  My Lord, protect me from the evil of my eyes. My Lord, protect me from the evil of tongue. My Lord, protect  me from the evil of my private parts.”

And the following:

Allaahumma tahhir qalbee wa ahsin farjee

(O Allah, purify my heart and help me keep myself chaste).

Question 15:

My father passed away two years ago. My father’s property was distributed to all brothers and sisters.
The value of the property was decided by my brothers. I am older than all the brothers.
I got a building and I get rent from it. According to the value, I am supposed to pay my younger brother. At time he said I pay in instalment but later changed his mind.
He occupied four shops in that building. I backed off and left to Allah.
When time came for division of the building, he said I want 1/4 of the area. Initially, he said only four shops. I have objected to this.
Please, do advice what is the solution to this in Shariah. Is he supposed to take the shops and his claim of more place. It was agreed in our meeting this building will be my property.
Jazakallah,
Saad

Answer 15:

If he had agreed with you as to his exact demand from his share of the building, he is bound by that. He is sinning if he is now demanding a greater share of the same. Allah says, (The believers are also) those who are true to their trusts and covenants.” (Quran 23: 8).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are three signs of a hypocrite: if he speaks, he lies; if he promises, he breaks; if he is trusted, he does not keep it.”  (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Question 16:

When we do major sins like lying, backbiting , mocking and etc, do we need to do salat al tauba every time or is saying astaghfirullah sufficient?

Answer 16:

Your question implies that you keep committing sins like lying, backbiting, or mocking people. If that is true, I urge you to seek repentance and resolve yourself never to do it again. A person who is looking at such grave sins lightly and tells himself that he will keep on doing it and seek repentance is making fun of the law of Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then turn quickly in repentance: these are the ones unto whom Allah relents, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Quran 4: 17)

Now, coming to whether performing Salatul Tawbah is necessary for repentance, the answer is no. It is not an absolutely essential condition for seeking repentance, but it is good to do so.  

Question 17:

My husband and I had nikkah but no rukhsati. We have been intimate during this time but have not had intercourse. In a very heated argument, my husband’s family severely pressured him to divorce me and he wrote it on paper. Since he had no intention, he purposely added the names of two of his friends as gawaah who were not present there so the topic was closed. However, he did mention that he is divorcing me thrice and signed it.

My question is if all three divorces are valid? How do we reconcile? The notice was not sent to me directly by him but by his family as blackmail. During this time since I was not aware of this and my husband thought it had no validity, we had been intimate without intercourse. Again, what is the ruling on reconciliation?

Answer 17:

If he did put it down in writing and wrote down the names of the witnesses, then it is considered a valid pronouncement of divorce. He can, however, take you back during the waiting period.

However, another question remains: Whether the triple divorce pronounced concurrently by your husband shall be considered a single divorce or three separate divorces. If it is considered as three separate divorces, then you cannot be married again with him unless someone else has married you, and he has, on his own free will, divorced you.

If, however, the triple divorce pronounced concurrently is considered a single divorce, then your ex-husband can marry you again without any third-party involvement.

According to scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, triple divorces that are pronounced concurrently shall be considered only as a single divorce. They base themselves on the evidence that it was treated by the Prophet (peace be on him) as a single divorce. It is further supported by other clear evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah.

Based on the above Fatwa (ruling), your husband can take you back during the waiting period of three months or three menstrual cycles, if the period has expired through a new marriage or nikah. Having said this, I must add that it is most advisable for both of you to go through proper Islamic marriage counseling before embarking on a second marriage. In this way, you may become better prepared to analyze the problems you had previously encountered in your marriage and thus take practical steps to avoid them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A true believer will not be stung twice from the same hole.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Question 18:

If “Any child that results from Zina (a relation outside wedlock) regardless of whether his parents are Muslims or one of them is Kafir (non-Muslim), this child is traced back to his mother and they [child and mother] inherit each other. The fornicator has no relation to them and they are, by no means, traced back to him.”

What if the mother of those children reverts and embraces Islam and then marries the father?

Answer 18:

If the father converts to Islam, then the child he has fathered can be considered as his father, and they can inherit each other.

Question 19:

I am a university student living in a western country, and I am struggling with the topic of hijab. I pray 5 times a day, read the Quran, try my best to wear an islamic hijab  (not backbite, not gossip, wear proper clothes etc) and fast in Ramadan, and fulfil all my islamic requirements.

However, I am afraid that wearing the hijab will have consequences for my future prospects, such as finding a job and intergrating with society. I know most opinions are that the hijab is obligatory, and some even say it is a great sin not to wear it. But doesn’t Allah say that he does not want Islam to be hard for us? Why do some scholars shame women who are not wearing hijab and make someone like me feel less like a Muslim? What I am seeking is clarity and reason regarding this topic from a liberal and neutral viewpoint. This topic causes me great sadness and confusion every day. I hope you can help me. Thank you.

Answer 20:

I think your worries and anxieties are misplaced. There is no need for you to go with the flow and compromise your Islamic identity to get a job.

Let me explain myself:

Islamic rules of modest attire for women are above all intended to help them maintain their dignity, respect, and honor so that they are not sexualized or treated as objects for satisfying man’s carnal desires or passions.

What is important in proper Islamic attire is that it should cover the parts of the body that need to be covered and therefore, cannot be exposed. And to do so with modest attire that is not flamboyant, revealing or highlighting the contours and shapes of the body. This is because the way we dress sends a message to those who see us; the message could be of modesty, purity, and dignity, or-it could-God forbids, seduction, and inviting or engendering evil thoughts or awakening the carnal desires.

 As Muslims we are to send out messages of purity and chastity. The best people are those who when the people see them, they are reminded of Allah.

In conclusion: A woman is allowed to wear pants that are loose-fitting or skirts that cover the body if they are considered modest. While wearing a skirt, however, it is important to wear an undergarment.”

I don’t see why you should be worried about your prospects for a job by adhering to the Islamic rules of modest attire; if you think that to fulfill the requirements of modest attire, you ought to wear an abaya, it is wrong. You can still fulfill the requirements by any attire that fulfills the above-mentioned requirements.

Mind you, there are so many Muslim women in the workforce, including doctors, nurses, and other professionals who are gainfully employed; they did not have to compromise with their Islamic attire or lifestyle.

Therefore, I urge you to be confident, to pray to Allah, and trust in Him. He alone is the Provider and controller of the affairs of the universe. I pray to Allah to inspire us all to love faith, embellish our hearts with it, and make us detest disbelief and transgressions of all sorts, and help us remain steadfast.

Question 20:

A year ago or so I made an oath (qasam) to wake up at 7 o’clock every day (but i am not entirely sure about it because i think that i might have just made the oath for that day). However, due to school commitments and Fajr prayer being before 7 o’clock, I find it challenging to fulfill this oath consistently. What is the Islamic guidance on modifying or terminating such oaths?

Answer 20:

If you made an oath to wake up at 7’o clock every day then you ought to fulfil it; if you did not do so, you ought to expiate for the breach. Allah says in the Quran:

“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 means ( to do so) 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.” (Quran 5:89)

Based on this verse, the expiation for breaking an oath entails one of the following:

1.  One should feed ten poor people offering them same food or equivalent in cash or providing them clothes;

2.  The second option of freeing a human being from bondage is not available now as slavery is has been abolished, and we are not allowed to re-introduce it;

3.  Therefore, if a person is unable to feed ten poor persons, because of lack of material means, then he ought to fast three days by way of expiation.

 Having said this, let me rush to add the following:

The above rules apply only to oaths in regards to matters that are virtuous or permissible; they do not apply to oaths entailing sins or acts of disobedience. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him do so; if however, he has pledged to commit an act of transgression or disobedience, he must never do it.” (Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban and others on the authority of Aishah, the beloved wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

 Therefore, I urge you to expiate for the oath as best as you can and seek repentance.

Question 21:

 What are the benefits of praying sunnah prayers before obligatory one’s

Answer 21:

The purpose of Sunan (prescribed or highly recommended) either before or after the fard) is to help us gain greater rewards and come closer and closer to Allah; they also are intended to make up for the deficiencies in our Fardh prayers. We have several traditions that mention the great benefits and rewards associated with them.

Let me cite two of them:

Imam Muslim reports on the authority of Umm Habibah, the mother of the faithful: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “whoever offers twelve rakahs of supererogatory prayer every day, Allah will build for him/her a mansion in paradise’.

In another report attributed to Tamim al-Dari and others, we read that the first thing a person will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is their daily obligatory prayers; if they are found intact and complete, they can count themselves as successful; if not they are doomed; if there is any deficiency in the performance of the obligatory prayers, Allah will ask, if they have any supererogatory prayers to their credit; if they have performed them, they would be used to compensate for the deficiencies in their obligatory prayers. All other obligatory duties would be judged in the same manner.” (Reported by Ahmad and others)

On top of these, the performance of the Sunan and other optional acts of virtue entail profound spiritual benefits as they bring us closer and closer to Allah; thanks to them we can hope to join the ranks of those who are reckoned as the Friends of Allah.

We read in a Hadith Qudsi:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) narrates from his Lord:

“Allah, the Most Exalted and Glorious, says: My servant can never approach Me by doing anything better than the performance of the obligatory duties I have prescribed for him; after having done so, they shall come closer and closer to Me by performing the supererogatory acts of virtue; when they do so, I love them; and when I love the, I become their ears with which they hear, and their eyes with which they see, and the hands with which they grasp, and the feet with which they walk. When they ask of Me, I shall grant their request; when they seek My protection, I will grant them protection…” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)   

In conclusion, considering the above facts, every Muslim should try their best to perform the highly recommended Sunan prayers as best as they can; if they happen to miss them, they should try to make up for them as far as possible.

Question 22:

I have a question regarding nail braces. Technically a nail brace is a layer of gel that’s attached to the nail to straighten it. It does not cover the whole nail, but only a thin line of it. I’m pretty sure water doesn’t pass through it. Is my wudu still valid?

Answer 22:

As far as I know, medical nail braces should not prevent water from coming into contact with your nails.

Even if it does not do so, it should still be excused under medical conditions. According to the rules of jurisprudence, where there is hardship, the rigors of the law are relaxed.