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.

Q:

I am a recent convert to Islam and so very overjoyed and humbled with Allah’s will to reveal His truth to me. I am in the beginning stages of my walk as a Muslim and am trying to learn all I can about walking in God’s Obedience.

 I am thinking of my current relationship and need guidance. I have read the Qur’an and I believe Allah has revealed the answer to me in one of His verses but I want to make sure I am understanding it correctly so I would like to ask an Imam or scholar and I pray Allah will not be upset with me continuing to search for the answer to my dilemma. I am a man in my thirties. I have been in a relationship with a woman for almost 3 years, we are not married but have been living together for nearly 3 years . My partner has never really thought about God. her belief in God was wishy washy, At one point she believed in God but states its hard for her to believe and pray 5 times and cover her hair another time she outright says she does not believe in God and even mocks me for worshipping Allah, she will repent afterwards. She does however encourage me to behave as a good muslim and to pray on time she has also said that she can see the positive effect accepting islam has had on me, so her disposition in religion and in God is confusing. any adive would be greatly appreciated. Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

A:

If you believe in Islam as the truth, you must practice its commandments for the benefit of your soul. 

Islam does not allow a Muslim to live with a woman except in a lawful marriage union. Yet, you say you have been living with her for the last three years. So, you have been living in sin; and you owe it to yourself to seek repentance.

Furthermore, the woman you are in a relationship with does not even believe in God. Therefore, you should end this relationship. You can make this relationship lawful only if she affirms her faith in Allah, adheres to the basic tenets of Islam, and is committed to living accordingly.

Otherwise, you are persisting in sin.

I pray to Allah to inspire us to love Allah and love the actions He loves, forgive our past sins, and bless us with death in true faith.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Dear Scholar, im currently struggling with a very big issue in my life. Ive committed zina multiple times in my life with 3 boys in total. I am very ashamed of what I did especially towards my parents. My current boyfriend s very serious with me, but I used to be friends with him and told him about my ex and made many mistakes by telling him how good he was as a person. This ex used me as he was 10 years older and i still was a child. I continued doing this and I put my current boyfriend down and made lots of mistakes. Now he feels very insecure as I never did my other ex any harm or made him feel less about everything including zina. But with my boyfriend there have been many times i was stuck between guilt and repenting and committing zina. It is a fact i cannot escape zina due to these circumstances. my mother has found out and she is very heartbroken. I am very stuck, i kept making mistakes about my ex and totally broke trust. I lied constangly about everything in the relationship. He didn’t break up with me and still loves me very much but we deal a hard time in every aspect. Zina is a big aspect as i make him feel unwanted like ive done before. He tells me i should go back to my ex and continue making him wanted. I really wanna marry him (nikah) because there is no way i can stop zina. I want to marry him and due to these family problems and very severe issues Im dealing with a verh difficult and depressive situation. I love him to death and he has always treated me very well and has loved me. He is a very good person a kind hearted person a very good respectibale man. I basically ruined his whole life with my toxic heart and made him feel very unwanted and had a lot lf critic. I was basically a saytaan. Im extrenely sorry for all kf this bhut i know i cannot change my psst mistakes. I cannot force him fo marry me and i ask forgiveness everytime i do a sinful act. I pray to god to let us get married so our zina wont be seen as zina anymore. I know thr advice of a scholar would be perhaps to end it but i cannof end it. He is truly the love of my life but we are sinners and i know that wr just need to take the right steps. And he would have if i didnt ruin him. He would have married me in islamic way. But bc of my severe trust issues and severe traumatic issues with the other ex and making him feel this unworthy it is hard to take thks step. Can i pray to god to forgive me and understand me. I cannof escape this situation but will god accdpt my prayer to lead us to nikah?

A:

I’m sorry to say you seem to be getting depressed over your condition. It’s understandable, given your past actions resulting in your estrangement from Allah, the Bestower of Peace. Peace and a sense of security are divine gifts to those consistently remembering Allah. Unfortunately, your wilful transgressions have deprived you of these gifts. However, there is no need for you to despair of the mercy of Allah if only you are willing to take charge of yourself and turn your life around to earn the grace of Allah.

In other words, if you are sincere in turning your life around to reconnect with Allah, you need to start with a clean slate, which is possible only through sincere repentance. No repentance is valid unless you fulfill the following conditions:

1. Feeling deep remorse over the sins.

2. Refraining from them, including cutting off all relationships that led to them in the first place. 3. Firm determination never to commit the same.

Once you have done so,  and the boy you want to marry has also fulfilled the same, you may pray to Allah to help you out. However, we cannot expect Allah to help us while disobeying Him and breaking His commandments.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

There is a view that says that if you can’t prostrate when praying you should still bow and pray standing and do whatever you can do and another which says that if you cannot prostrate you can pray the whole prayer sitting. Which is more correct?

A:

If you cannot prostrate, it does not mean you can skip standing and Ruku; both are integrals of prayer for those who can do so–while offering obligatory prayers. So, in the case of obligatory prayers, those who can stand should start the prayer while standing and then offer Ruku in the usual way, and then sit down and make Sujud by bowing as low as possible; one should do the same in all of the remaining Rak’ahs.

On the other hand, if one is praying sunnah prayer, one may pray while sitting.

In conclusion, it is wrong to say there are two views on this as it is a matter of consensus.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

In Shaa Allah I want to open up my own Muslim orphanage. But for that I need to do an internship as an educator in a kindergarden or orphanage for 3 years. I live in Germany so I would need to serve haram food and teach music to the kids. Would that internship be permissible? And also the money be halal? And also the Muslim orphanage that I would be halal?

JazakAllah Khair

A:

You are allowed to join the internship, provided you get an exception to skip serving haram foods based on religious constraints. I’m sure they would be able to accommodate you as they consider freedom of conscience a legitimate ground for allowing exceptions.

As for music, there is no reason to shun it as long as they are clean and free from vulgar themes or messages. However, I’m sure they would not allow playing vulgar music while training kindergarten children.

I would advise you to continue to pray to Allah to open the doors for you and facilitate your tasks. We may do well to remember that Allah has control over all things.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

My parents don’t let me pray and they threaten me alot if i do.They caught me once and ever since they have been trying to isolate me from my religion.

Now they are even changing my school. In my old school i finished at 12 and i had a mosque nearby so i could pray on time but now they are purposefully sending ne to a private school where i will be there till 2 and 30 and most people on the school are Christians. So during the winter at least 1 prayer time will pass before 2 30.I cannot afford for them to ever catch me again cause they will probably kick me out, but one day when i went to my grandma she said that if they ever kick me out she will take me, but even my grandfather is against praying which could still cause problems. So i cannot let anyone on this school see me praying cause if they tell my parents it will not end up well for me. Please give me a serious response cause the only reason im here is because previous scholars on different sites never took my questions seriously and basically gave me the wrong advice telling me that there is no way its that difficult for me when in reality it was and i got caught because of that. Just keep in mind that my life can be messed up and my mental health too (since i already have mental problems) if i get caught. Should i pray sitting at school or combine prayers at home (which i probably can’t if my parents are home) or what?

Just another note that other than grandma and uncle no one on my family supports my dedication to islam so im all alone since my uncle lives in another continent.

A:

You can combine Zhuhr and Asr if you cannot perform each prayer at their appointed times. If you choose to combine them, you are allowed to pray both at the time of Zhuhr or at the time of Asr; so you should pray Dhuhr first, followed by Asr soon afterward. If you are forced to do this for Maghrib and Isha, you may also combine them. However, you should not use this as a habit in regular times.

You should not skip prayers because of your fear of your parents. Instead, try your best to pray while they are away or busy with something else. Once you do your best by trusting in Allah and seeking His help, Allah will open doors for you.

I would advise you never to be slack in your prayers and do your best to pray on time. Prayer, as you know, is the key to paradise and the best deed we can do in this world.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

What does the Quran say about the creation/ purpose of the universe?

A:

Allah tells us that He created the world with wisdom. Allah is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Allah says:

“We did not create the heaven and the earth and everything between them in vain. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve—so woe to those who disbelieve because of the Fire. (Qur’an: 38: 27)

 “We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything in between for sport. We created them only for a specific purpose, but most of them do not know.” (Qur’an: 44:38-3()

After having mentioned the fact that nothing in the world is created in vain; instead, everything conforms to the divine wisdom and purpose, Allah says:

“I did not create jinn and mankind, save to worship Me.” (Qur’an:51:56)

We also read in another place:

“‘Glory be to Him in Whose Hand lies sovereignty, and He is Powerful over all things

Who created death and life that He may try you as to which of you is most virtuous in deed, and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving.” (Qur’an: 67: 1-2)

We are also told that earth has been conducive for human life and building civilization; God has appointed us as His vicegerents on earth; our mandate is to serve as the shepherds of the planet earth and the living beings. We are accountable for how we conduct ourselves.

To conclude, since Allah is the All-Wise, All-Knowing, everything He created has a meaning and purpose.

Humans are the stewards of the earth on behalf of God. Therefore, our purpose in life is to worship Him and act according to His will.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Is it permissible to join the Canadian army reserves. Many people online say it is haram to join because they fight Muslims. This is the case with the regular force, I want to join the reserves where all they do is train and serve, with consent, in domestic operations such as providing security at events, search and rescue missions, and responding to natural disasters.

Please let me know if it is haram or halal

Jazakallah

A:

Muslims are obligated to serve and protect their country against aggression. Therefore, they ought to take up arms if ordered to do so by the elected government.

So getting military training is perfectly fine as long you intend to protect and defend your country against those who wage war against it.

However, Islam does not allow wars of aggression.

“Those who have been attacked are permitted to take up arms because they have been wronged- God has the power to help them.” (Qur’an: 22:39)

“Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits.” (Qur’an: 2: 190)

So, if your country is waging war against a peaceful nation, you must refuse because of conscience. You have a right to refuse to do things if such an action is repugnant to your moral conscience.

Islam makes a clear distinction between a just war and an unjust war. Therefore, a Muslim should have no qualms about joining a just war. However, we must never join or condone an unjust war.

So, since freedom of conscience is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights for every citizen of Canada, you can refuse participation in an unjust operation.

Almighty Allah knows best.

 Q:

Can we make up sunnah prayers if we miss them due to an excuse?

 A:

Yes. You may make up sunnah prayers. The Prophet, peace be upon him, has set a precedent. Aishah, the beloved wife of the Prophet, reports that she saw the Prophet praying after Asr. On inquiring about it, he told her he was making up for the sunnah of Zhuhr — he had missed– because he was busy with an urgent business with a delegation who had come to visit him.

Based on this precedent, scholars have ruled that one may make up the Sunnah prayers one has missed.

Alternatively, one may also compensate for them by offering extra Nafl prayers. There are no restrictions on performing them as long as one avoids the forbidden times,  namely, the exact time of sunrise, when the sun is at the meridian, or when the sun is actually setting.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Is it lawful in Islam for me to be a mortgage underwriter? I don’t think they deal with riba because all they do is check people information for the bank to verify the loan application is correct and they can pay back the loan to the bank. They either approve the loan or deny?

 A:

As long as you are not directly involved in interest transactions and your job is limited to checking and verifying the financial solvency of the individual and their eligibility to buy a house, I don’t think it is haram.

However, since you are associated with institutions whose primary business revolves around interest transactions, you owe it to yourself to cleanse your income of the taints of haram related to your work. It would help if you offered extra charities on top of the yearly Zakah you owe on your net income and lots of Istighfar.

If you can find another job wholly free of such taints of haram, you should go for it.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I have a question regarding the fees for university students are required to pay as they fees are extremely high is it permissible to take out a student loan just for the sake of paying back the tuition fees not with the intention to use it for material gain for example buying a car but for using it out of necessity as the fees are too high and working while studying would be too extreme as one would have to work long hours in order to pay off the fees?

If it is not permissible please can you help me find a solution for it because I would like to go and study but I don’t know what to do people have suggested scholarships and grants but scholarships apply to certain students and grants wont cover a lot of the fees – please help me jazakAllah Khairum

 A:

In answering your question, I cannot do any better than citing here one of my earlier answers to a similar question:

You are allowed to take the OSAP loan if you have no other alternative– provided you are sincere in your intention to pay it back without incurring interest according to the best of your ability.

In order to make this happen, you should take only the absolute minimum amount that is needed which you would be able to pay off within the allowable time period. If you sincerely work and ask Allah’s help you would be able to do so. I know many students who had been there; they did manage to pay the loans back without involving any interest whatsoever through hard work and firm commitment to do so with the help of Allah.

The way they achieved this was that while being enrolled in their full time studies, they also secured part-time jobs (such as security guards or in the library, etc.) which did not interfere seriously with their studies; besides this, they also made use of full-time summer employment.

A still better alternative is to try to get a stipend or bursary, which is not at all impossible to obtain if you are diligent in your academic work.

The Prophet, peace be upon, taught us that whoever wishes to keep himself chaste, pure and free from sins, Allah will surely help him to do so. So formulate sincere intention to avoid interest payment, and work hard and seek help from Allah, Allah will help you. Allah says, “Whoever fears Allah, Allah will surely make things easy for him/her.” (Qur’an: 65: 4)

To conclude: If you tried your best to keep the loan to a minimum and strove to pay it within the period you have done what is possible for you; if, for reasons beyond your control or means, you could not pay all of them on time, then Allah knows your circumstances; so ask forgiveness of Him, for He is Forgiving and Merciful. I wish you all the success in your studies. Pray to Allah always making use of the following supplication:

Allaahumma aghninee bi halaalika an haraamika wa bi ta’atika an ma’siyatika wa bi fadlika amman siwaaka

(O Allah, make me self-sufficient with that which is halaal (lawful) so that I am not compelled to go for what is haraam (unlawful); make me self-sufficient with obedience to You so that I am not led to disobedience; make me self-sufficient with Your favor so that I do not need to look to favor from others!)

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Is it halal to serve food to openly sinful people in the US? I read of a hadith that we cannot serve food to people without taqwa.

When I asked this question to other people they said that it is fine as long as its halal food, that the hadith is about inviting people to meals. However, they did not give evidence to support their answer. They also said that you don’t have to dig deeper, however what if someone is openly wearing gay pride shirts or revealing clothes.

A:

You are allowed to work in food service as long as you serve or cook foods considered lawful in Islam.

Muslims are told to feed the poor; there is no distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. The Prophet, as reported by his beloved wife, Aisha, used to share foods with his non-Muslim neighbors as well as others.

Allah describes the traits of the true believers:

And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive. (Qur’an: 76: 8)

The prisoners mentioned above were the pagans who were taken captives in the battle of Badr.

So, even though they had been non-Muslims fighting against Muslims, Muslims were ordered to feed them.

As our scholars have ruled, if the prisoners died of starvation, those holding them would be charged with second-degree murder.

So, it is wrong to say that we are not allowed to feed non-Muslims.

Almighty Allah knows best.

 Q:

I use st John’s (Yahya AS) wort for my OCD. I absolutely cannot stay sane without this medication due to the severity of my OCD. Keeping that in mind, my question is can i use this tablet if its confirmed that the company made the outer capsule using haram animal’s part. I can get rid of the outer capsule but its was still in contact with it for a long period. There are many hadith stating that the use of alcohol and harm stuff is a disease rather than a cure. I am aware that it is not used in it but as you might know plastic is found in our bloodstream just because our food packaging are made of plastic. So can you give me a fatwa in two conditions.

1. The halal alternative is available but at a much higher rate (2x to 3x higher)

2. No halal alternative is available

JazakAllah khair

A:

If you have effective halal alternatives, then you should not use the above medication.

Otherwise, you may use it. The scholars are divided on the use of medicines with gelatin ingredients.

One group, including some of the members of the world Islamic medical association, permits the use of these medicines based on the principle of Istihala. According to this principle, if an ingredient, otherwise considered haram, has undergone a chemical transformation so that it has been altered drastically, then it is no longer considered haram; instead, it becomes lawful. That is the case with alcohol turned into vinegar; while alcohol is haram, vinegar is halal. They say: The same is the rule with gelatin used in medicines.

Another group of scholars, however, differ as they consider that the chemical transformation of gelatin in medicines does not undergo a complete change; as such, it cannot be deemed as wholly pure and lawful. It becomes doubtful. We are to avoid that which is questionable.

The former group, however, has some strong arguments:

Are we to indulge in such nitpicking and hair-splitting when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was opposed to practicing rigidity?

The use of gelatine is so pervasive that it becomes hard to avoid it altogether. Therefore, another fiqh rule can be used here: the rule of Umum al-Balwa, which states that when something is so pervasive, and it is hard to avoid, the law can be relaxed. The Prophet asserted in no uncertain terms, “this religion is easy to practice; whoever makes it hard will be defeated by it.”

To conclude, you should not use the medicine if you find halal alternatives. Otherwise, you are allowed to use it.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I am a Muslim woman and I have been talking to a non Muslim man. I want to immediately make this into a marriage. But he is not Muslim. I told him that if we were to get married our kids would have to have -Islamic names, be raised Muslim, taken to Quran courses at age 7 and taught how to pray- and he agreed to that and very much respected it. I also made many prayers asking to be given a sign if this is bad and I’ve dreamt nothing. He believes in one god and honestly knows a lot about Islam and is interested. But isn’t willing to convert unless he was 100% sure if it (so there is a possibility). I am wondering if this is still acceptable . Cuz I understand that it’s allowed for a man to do this because they have influence on the family. But he’s allowing me to guide our kids. Personally, I fear Allah (saw) and love Him truly. I would never walk away from Islam.

A:

As a Muslim woman, you are not allowed to marry a non-Muslim man. If you marry him legally, the marriage is not valid according to the laws of Islam. It does not matter that he allows you to continue your practice of Islam and will allow you the freedom to bring up the children according to the teachings of Islam.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

As I’m a Muslim i want to completely follow islamic rules and regulations

As i am a student and i want to support my family in financial crises

I mean can i earn money through social media platforms by posting halal content without showing myself

Like daily routine as a Muslim

Daily reminder

My art work

Some quotes

My writings

Islamic content

About islam etc.

A:

You may proceed if your work is devoted exclusively to Da’wah and sharing authentic Islamic knowledge from reputable sources and attested by qualified scholars. If you are not careful and allow yourself to pass on dubious or unverified information, then you will misguide and misguide others. Unfortunately, as one scholar who visited North America observed, there is no shortage of self-styled scholars with no in-depth training in Islam, yet they are promoted as teachers. They end up doing more harm than benefit. As the pious caliph Umar b. Abdul Aziz said, whoever acts without (authentic) knowledge, they will do more harm than benefit.”

Therefore, if the project you are embarking on conforms to the above guidelines, you are allowed to go ahead and trust in Allah.

Before closing, however, let me remind you that the work you are doing should also be in strict compliance with the ethical teachings of Islam governing male and female interactions.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I have a bunch of questions but they’re all related. First of, did the prophet attend Abu Talib’s funeral? Second, Are we allowed to attend non-muslim extended family members funeral?

A:

We have no information on whether the Prophet, peace be upon him, attended the funeral of his uncle Abu Talib.

However, we have reports of the Prophet’s companions and others attending the funerals of their relatives and non-Muslim neighbors. Furthermore, Islam also teaches us to share the joys and sorrows of our neighbors, whether Muslims or non-Muslims.

Therefore, based on such principles and the overall spirit of Islam, eminent scholars have ruled that Muslims living in a pluralistic society should attend the funerals of their non-Muslim neighbors and colleagues to establish good relations. Furthermore, Islam also teaches us to reciprocate kindness with kindness; if Muslims were to stay away from such occasions, that would be offensive and rude on our part, especially since they will be attending Muslim funerals and extending condolences.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Is it okay to mix Zamzam water with normal drinking water and then use it for ruqyah?

If you could let me know as soon as possible it would be very helpful for me.

A:

We should stay away from such innovations. There is no need to use Zamzam for this purpose. Ruqya is spiritual healing using the prescribed readings from the Quran and the Prophetic supplications.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I attend a traditional American high school so naturally there are a lot of people who support LGBT. I know that it is haram in Islam and so is supporting it. However others will judge or even get mad at you if you do not respect their actions. There is a girl in one of my classes who says she uses he/they pronouns and changed her name from the one she had last year from Aurora to Mark (fake names for privacy). She very clearly looks like a girl and I usually don’t talk to her much or talk about her so I haven’t had to address this before. However recently we were grouped together for a project and I’m not sure if it would be halal to use her name and other pronouns. It would make it seem like I support this which is haram and not true. But I also do not want to get reported to our teacher or have people use this as an opportunity to insult Islam. Could you please advise me on how to handle this situation?

A:

The short answer I can give is to call a person by the name they have chosen for them. You don’t need to dig deeper. Leave their judgment to Allah. They are accountable for their actions.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

May Allah’s blessings be upon you. I’m a young teenager, and I’m struggling with myself for the past few months. I am failing at prayers, and my behavior with elders. I tend to get angry, lose control and often I don’t know what I’m doing.

I’ve no purpose, it’s as if.

Allah has given me knowlege, I’ve read alot of Islamic articles on teenage temptations, yet I tend to fall prey to them. I am growing feelings for this person whom I disliked before, we’re in the same grade. The reason I disliked them was simple, it was a person I couldn’t see myself building a future with.

And the reason I like them now, I know it’s not pure. It’s as if I just “want” to like someone, I myself don’t see a marriage with them. Actually, I don’t even desire to get married, I do not wish to have children not do I see myself having the tolerant behavior. I only wish to be a good child and serve my parents in the future, like they do to me right now and always.

I don’t see myself getting married at all, also because I don’t have sexual desires, I only have desires for comfort, embrace and love.

I feel shameful and embarrassed to tell you this. But, I sincerely need an answer. I want you to understand my situation, which is why I am being honest.

I know what I’m feeling isn’t pure, because I’m young and away from Islam. Yet, I cant control it. I feel embarrassed and shy infront of that person, to the point I skip lunch in the break to avoid them seeing my eating manners…

It’s extreme, I’m very sorry. I wish to let it all out, I feel very sad. There are countless who love me but I am disrespectful towards them, and then there is this unrequited feeling. Why do I love someone whom I don’t like at the same time? It isn’t love, really, I wouldn’t sacrifice myself for them.

I must tell you I am the one who refused to be friends with that person because I was well aware this friendship would turn into something I didn’t initiate.

And now, I am myself getting obsessed.

Is there a way I can control myself and my brain? How can I be a spritual muslim? One who has full control over themself?

I will wait for your answer, JazakAllah khair for your contribution. May Allah bless you.

A:

I empathize with your situation. I pray to Allah to bless you with peace and contentment and remove your anxieties, fears and worries.

I think you need to seek professional counseling. There are counselors appearing on this site from time to time. I urge you to contact the editor who may refer you to one of them.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I’m dying day by day due to evil whispering about Allah’s existence.

A:

In answering your question, I cannot do any better than citing below one of my earlier answers to a similar question:

“I must commend you for your anxiety to preserve your faith intact. While no one should be complacent about keeping the faith, one should not allow Satan to use it to snatch one’s faith.  In order to keep us ever vigilant and never fall into a state of complacency we are advised to do the following:

1) Seek refuge in Allah from all forms of shirk, major and minor, those which we are aware of as well those we are not aware. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have advised people to pray:

Allaahumma innaa na’oodhubika min an nushrika bika shay’an na’lamuhu wa nastaghiruka limaa laa na’lamuhu

(O Allah, We seek refuge in You from associating anything knowingly with You, and We ask forgiveness of You of that which we are not aware of).

2) It is obligatory on every Muslim to acquire basic knowledge of the tenets of his or her faith from authentic sources through well qualified scholars/teachers who are known for their piety and integrity.

3) We are to be diligent in the performance of our daily prayers and other religious duties without fail, and after having done so, ask Allah to accept them in the manner of the great prophets Ibrahim and Isma’eel, both of whom asked Allah to accept their work after having completed the arduous work of rebuilding the Ka’bah.

4) We should read sayyid al-istighfaar (the lord of prayers of forgiveness) in the morning after fajr as well as at night after ‘isha before going to bed: 

Allaahumma anta rabbee laa ilaaha illaa anta khalaqtanee wa ana abduka wa ana alaa ahdika wa wa’dika ma’istata’tu a’oodhu bika min sharri maa sana’tu, aboo’u laka bi ni’matika alayya wa aboo’u bi dhanbee fa ighfir lee fa innahu laa yaghfiru al-dhunooba illaa anta.

(O Allah, You are my Lord; You have created me, and I am Your servant; I stand firmly on my covenant with You according to best of my ability; I seek refuge in You from the evils of my own actions; I acknowledge Your favors upon me, and I confess my sins to You; so forgive me, for only You alone can forgive all sins).

If we turn to Allah in this way with sincerity and devotion to Allah, Allah has promised to forgive us and admit us into jannah.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I had this dream where I was eating with my family I was eating fried chicken and other chicken and I ate a lot, I heard that eating a lot in dream means a sign of death and finishing the plate means sign of conclusion of life is this true? I am very scared.

A:

You don’t need to worry about such dreams; they are not true visions. Instead, they are whisperings of Shaytan, the work of your subconscious mind, or the effect of the foods you consume.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While the first type of dream (i.e. mubasshiraat) is what every believer should seek and strive for, he/she must surely guard against the second type of dream.

The surest way to block Satanic inspirations and whisperings is by taking refuge in Allah and through cultivating the habit of consistency in dhikr, right thinking, right living and right conduct. It is, therefore, highly recommended to go to bed in a state of purity, after having recited portions of the Qur’an (such as the surahs of Fatihah, Ikhlaas, Falaq and al-Nnas as well as Aayat al-Kursi), and to immerse oneself in dhikr and salah (i.e. saying blessings and sending salutations) on the Prophet (peace be on him) before one lapses into a state of sound sleep.”

I pray to Allah to soothe your fears, anxieties and worries and grant you peace of mind.”

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

Please I am a lady in which my partner has paid my bride price but due to some personal reasons we are still in our separate homes until we do the party and then we can stay together . But honestly I’m someone who’s loyal to my partner and fears Allah so well. But unfortunately for me. I committed a sin which is I went and had sex with a married man due to financial problem just to have something on me. Sincerely it wasn’t my intention but I’ve deeply regret it. And I don’t expect it to repeat in my life anymore. Please I want to cleanse myself from this shameful act. Please help me

 A:

I commend you for your deep feeling of remorse for committing such a heinous act; now that you have been guilty of this most egregious sin, it is imperative that you immediately take the steps towards cleansing yourself through sincere repentance.

First step in repentance is to recognize the gravity of the sin you have committed. You have soiled the marriage bed; you have formed an illicit liaison with a man while married to another; you have been guilty of marital infidelity. You have committed acts that are threatened with dire consequences in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. You are therefore guilty of a most heinous sin; they could cause you eternal perdition unless you cleanse yourself through repentance and good works.

So never take your sins lightly; fill your heart with deep remorse; never even look back or cherish such sins; rather cry over your sins. Cut of all associations with the man immediately; and never have any contacts with him; erase him from your memory; he is indeed a wolf preying on the vulnerable. He is not your friend; he is, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, someone who feasts on the rotten meat while shunning the lawful wife that Allah has permitted for him.

Here are the steps you need to take immediately:

1. Feel deep remorse and sorrow for the most heinous acts you have committed; visualize the gravity of such sins and their enormity always; if you ever happen to think of them, rush to beg for the mercy and forgiveness of Allah through istighfar.

2. Now that Allah has covered you, you ought to thank Him for giving you a chance to seek repentance. Remember that Allah will only give you so much chance; if you were to persist in such sins, He will expose you, thus you will end up  being despised and forsaken by Him as well as by the people.

3. Cut of all associations with the man or any other man for that matter; also refrain from every single association or lead or temptation that may expose you directly or indirectly to adultery/fornication including watching movies, shows with vulgar and lewd scenes or reading literature with such themes, listening to such music, etc.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us that adultery has many forms and shapes: “Eyes commit adultery; ears commit adultery, tongues commit adultery, hands commit adultery, the feet and legs commit adultery: It is finally consummated is by the private parts.“ So you ought to shun not only the final act itself, but all of the steps towards it in every possible way as well.

4. Resolve firmly in your mind never to commit such acts.

5. Even as you stay away from adultery, it is imperative that you do good works to redeem yourself and wipe out your past misdeeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah will not wipe out bad deeds with bad deeds; He rather wipes them out through good deeds.” Allah says, (Verily good deeds wipe out bad deeds) (Hud 11: 114). So occupy your self and mind with whatever good works you can possibly do.

6. It is equally important for you to join other sisters who are occupied with good works; make friends with them, and join them in such works such as hospital visitation; volunteering for the community in food banks, etc.

7. Be diligent in your Prayers, including sunan (strongly recommended prayers) and nawafil (optional ones), for Prayers, when performed in true form and spirit, will help us all to restrain ourselves from sins and evil deeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us praying five times a day is like bathing oneself five times a day in fresh stream of water. In other words, just as bathing helps us rid ourselves of your physical dirt and filth, Prayer helps rid ourselves of our spiritual filth.

9. Be constant in dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and istighfaar (saying astaghfiruAllah); here is a du`aa‘ (supplication) you should read as you wake up in the morning and as you retire to bed. You may also read it in solitude while praying nafl; while reading thisdu`aa‘; you may do well to induce tears, preferably in sujud.

Allaahumma anta rabbee laa ilaaha illaa anta khalaqtanee wa ana amatuka wa ana `alaa `ahdika wa wa`dika ma’istata`tu,a`oosdhu bika min sharri maa sana`tu aboo’u laka bi ni`matika `alayya wa aboo’u bi dhanbee fa ighfir lee fa innahu laa yaghfiruadh-dhunooba illaa anta

(O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You; You have created me and I am your servant; I stand firmly by my covenant with You to the best of my ability; I seek refuge in You from the evils of my own actions; I acknowledge Your favors upon me; I confess to You my sins; so forgive me, for only You have the power to forgive sins.)

Now coming to the point of telling your husband or anyone of this, my advice is that since Allah has covered your sin, you should never lift that cover. But you must develop and foster your love for your husband, and do your best to please him. Having said this, however, I must caution you about one issue: If you have any reason to suspect that you have contracted any sexually transmitted disease, then you must definitely divulge the matter to your husband immediately so that he is saved and spared of the agony of suffering the dire consequences of your reckless acts.

I pray that Allah forgives you of your heinous sins. Never fail to beg Allah constantly for His mercy and forgiveness, and never again think of committing such acts.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

There is this game called genshin impact, it contains wishing system, alcohol, and much more, in order to progress in the game you have to worship a statue, and in a scene you have to touch the statue to get powers , and you can offer things to the statue for a reward, now I do not believe in the statue nor will I ever worship it, I only do it in game to progress but i still believe that Allah is our only God, is it haram if I continue playing it?

A:

It would be best if you stayed away from such games. There is nothing worse in Islam than shirk or associating partners with Allah. To worship a statue or touch it expecting to gain a benefit or prevent harm or other favors, etc., are pure shirk. You cannot pretend to be a Muslim while practicing such blatant forms of shirk. You need to renew your faith and seek repentance if you have been involved in such games or promoting them.

Let me explain this:

Shirk, no doubt, is the gravest sin in Islam. Allah says, “Verily ascribing of divinity to any other than Allah is an awesome wrong!” (Qur’an: 31: 13).

The reason why it is such terrible sin is because of the simple fact that since Allah is the Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher, Provider, and the One who alone is the source of life and death and of all things in the universe by ascribing such powers to any other than Him is indeed an enormity.

Therefore, one who commits shirk deprives himself of salvation in the next world. Allah says, “Behold, whoever ascribes divinity to any being beside God, unto him will God deny paradise, and his final abode shall be the fire: and such evildoers will have none to succor them!” (Qur’an: 5:72).

And we are told in another place in the Qur’an: “Verily, God does not forgive the ascribing of divinity to aught beside Him, although He forgives any lesser sin unto whomever He wills: for he who ascribes divinity to aught beside God has indeed contrived an awesome sin” (Qur’an: 4:48).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about shirk, and he replied, “It is associating a partner with Allah while He alone is the One who created you.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The enormity of shirk can also be explained by saying: Tawhid is all about liberation and freedom. It means that we refuse to bow down before anything or anyone other than our Creator and Lord- including idols or statues made of gold, stone or wood, as well as idols of humans in the shape of leaders, priests or gurus as intermediaries or partners in divinity. A true believer in tawhid is thus free of all such forms of slavery, and is a slave to none but God.

Therefore, I would urge you to seek repentance and stay away from such games in order to save your faith. Otherwise you are risking your salvation. I pray to Allah to bless us with steadfastness on the straight path and seal our lives with faith and good works.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

How come gay men have been mentioned in the Quran, but gay women are nowhere to be found in the holy book? There’s nothing in the Quran that explicitly forbids sexual activity between two women the same way it does for me. How come?

A:

The Quran is full of references reiterating the idea that Allah created males and females as partners: The chapter titled women begins with the verse:

“O humankind! Reverence your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate, and from the two has spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Reverence God, through Whom you demand your rights of one another and family relations. Truly God is a Watcher over you.” (Qur’an: 4: 1)

“God has given you mates from among yourselves; and has produced for you, from your mates, children, and grandchildren; and has provided you with good things. Will they then believe in falsehood and refuse God’s favors.” (Qur’an: 16:72)

The above verses and others establish the fundamental teaching that marriage or sexual union in Islam is limited to a partnership between males and females:

Allah says, “and as for those who seek beyond that, they are the transgressors.” (Qur’an: 23: 7)

In other words, those who seek pleasure in different types of unions –as is the case in the union of males with males or females with females–are transgressing the limits and rebelling against Allah.

As for punishments for such transgressions, our eminent scholars have concluded that they belong to the category of ta’zeer or discretionary punishments to be determined by the authorities.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I have a quick question when we visit the grave of our loved ones and do dua do they benefit from it straight away?? Also do they know who is doing the dua.. when we do charity on their name for example opening water pump do they benefit from it straight away? And can the dead parents still do dua for their children when they are dead.. and what children in this world do the angels tell dead parents..

Last question if the child changed due to parent passing away like starts praying 5 times does good deeds, lives this life according to allah sweet will the parents be rewarded

A:

I commend you for raising this question; it shows your love for your loved ones who have passed away. I pray to Allah to inspire us all to cherish the memory of our loved ones who are no longer with us but are alive in another world. There is no better way of showing love for them than remembering them in our prayers. Allah teaches us to pray for our parents and other believers who have passed away:

Here are two supplications we should read regularly:

Rabbi irhamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee sagheeran

Rabbanaa ighfir lee wali waalidayya walil mu’mineena yawma yaqoomu al-hisaab

Rabbana ighfir lanaa wali ikhwaanina alladheena sabaqoonaa bil imaani walaa taj’al fee quloobinaa ghillan lilladheena aamanoo rabbanaa innaka ra’oofun raheem

(My Lord, have  mercy on my parents as they had mercy on me when I was little)

)Our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and place no rancor in our hearts toward those who believe. Our Lord! Truly Thou art Kind, Merciful.(

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day when the Reckoning is come.”

Besides Du’as, we are also encouraged to perform charities and other good works like the ones you mentioned. On this, you can access the following answer posted earlier:

What Acts Should You Do that Will Benefit Your Dead Parents?                                                                                                                                                                          

Now coming to the second part of your question about whether our deceased parents and loved ones will know the good works we are doing on their behalf, the answer is: Such matters belong to the realm of Ghayb or unseen realities; as such, we are not allowed to speculate on them.

Our only source of knowledge on such matters is the revealed sources: The Quran and the Sunnah.

We have reports from the Prophet that tell us that the deceased will respond to the greeting of those who visit the graves and pray for them; they will also be informed of the good deeds their loved ones do on their behalf. Thanks to their works, they suddenly find their stations raised; hence they will rejoice.

As for your final question, whether parents will be rewarded for their children reverting to Islam and practicing Islam and offering regular prayers, engaging in good works, etc., the answer is yes. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“We shall certainly bring the dead back to life, and We record what they send ahead of them as well as what they leave behind: We keep an account of everything in a clear Record.” (Qur’an: 36:12)        

Explaining this, As-Sa`di, the famous commentator of the Qur’an, writes:

“The above verse refers to the legacies they leave behind, whether good or bad, they were responsible for; actions engendered through their words, deeds, precedents, and examples. So they will benefit from every good act that the people have done or are doing because of them.”

In conclusion, even as your loved ones who have passed away will benefit from your du’as, charities, and good deeds you do on their behalf, they will also benefit from your prayers and other good deeds because they were the ones who taught you and mentored you.

Therefore, continue to cherish the memory of your loved ones and pray to Allah to bless you to join their company after death.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I had 3 children, before I had my 3rd child I had lost 2 babies while I was pregnant, I lost my brother 9 years ago and at that time soon as my brother died I found out I was pregnant, I lost my daughter soon as I gave birth to her and the other baby while I was pregnant… both had birth defects.. I was really upset knowing I had 2 healthy kids so why now can’t I have normal healthy babies, doctors said it’s because I have married my dads nephew and his my first cousin and we both carriers of the same gene… after couple of years I decided to go college to get out the house.. I made a friend in college we both became really close with each other and I told her my situation.. she took me to this lady when I fell pregnant for 5 months she use to write Quran verses with saffron on a piece of paper and I use to dissolve in water and drink it.. she also told me I had saya.. but I don’t have no such idea or knowledge of what that was.. anyways while my six month started in my pregnancy I went into labour.. I was blessed with a boy on hajj day I named him Abdul Ahad he was born prematurely he was taken to a hospital that was 1 hour away from my home, I would drive everyday to see him and express my milk and take it… he came home from hospital after 4 months he was on oxygen for 2 months, it was a very difficult time for me but with the help of my friend and family I got by the first 2 years, he was such a beautiful bright caring little boy, MashaAllah we went to Umrah as a family, he use to read naat as he grew older me and my husband and my family was soo attached to him, my dad kind of got passed losing his son, I realised my dad did a lot with him he use to spoil him where as my other 2 kids when they were young is wasn’t like that, not only that my son had love for everyone, if I would go to my local shops the shop keepers use to kiss him and hug him there faces use to light up, MashaAllah he was very clever had soo much energy in him, he use to make friends instantly of every age, it use to amaze me how much people use to love him, my family house was always full of noise he had a very load voice… he was 5 years old and very energetic little boy full of life, last year I tried for another baby but I lost my pregnancy at 5 months and I was in a very bad state, then I decided I shouldn’t have any kids may be this is Allah’s way of telling me I should be happy with the 3 I have, but little did I know the love of my life my baby my son would leave this world and go.. my son was born on Sunday and died on a Sunday he was hit by a bin lorry, I feel like my whole life has completely changed and has been destroyed, I know Allah loves me I know he is testing me but I feel like why me why me! I feel like he came in this world soo quickly and left soo quickly I never had time to say my goodbyes to him, I left him a wake in bed with my husband.. saying to him be good mommy will be home soon, it kills me that I won’t get to see him anytime soon or kiss him, or hold him.. I’ve already been through sooo much in my life not only in regards to my children but family, friends, cousins, marriage I feel in my life I’ve constantly had to battle against everyone, I’ve learned in life no 1 is there for you only Allah but hurts me sooo much why are the people in this world are soo selfish. All the good kind caring people I came across all left me, my best friend also passed away when my son was 3 years old I’ve always learned to forgive so who’s ever wronged me I’ve left it to Allah swt but I just feel like I am always being tested I can’t do this no more, all I want is my baby my son my Abdul Ahad why did he had to leave me soo soon, I feel like I didn’t deserve him he was too good to be here with me. I just don’t know if I ever will be happy again.. I pray my namaaz I read Quran but I just feel like I don’t know how to stay strong anymore, will I ever be normal again or happy, people tell me I should try for another baby, but no baby can replace my son I don’t know if I would want to have another baby, with all the complications I’ve had in the past I don’t know if it’s possible, but I just don’t know anymore, I need time to reflect and I just want to go and do Umrah I don’t want to be hurt anymore, I feel like after I’ve lost my brother my other babies, my best friend, and now my son, I feel like I am use to pain I feel like it’s normal but life will never be the same without them. I don’t know what being happy is anymore, yeh I will return to work, Alhumdulilah I have everything I can’t complain but there’s no happiness within us we just have to carrying on living because that is why of life, plz keep me and my family in your duas, May Allah swt replace something or open a door for us that we never imagined, life is like a maze I just pray that we just don’t lose ourselves that Allah keeps us guided Ameen

A:

I empathize with you and extend my sincere condolences for your loss. I understand where you come from very well, for there is nothing more painful for parents than the loss of their beloved children. However, since we believe in the afterlife, we know they are not dead; they are alive in the next world, and the Prophet taught us that they are your precursors who would welcome you to Janna. And the Prophet also promised those whose beloved children have passed away at a tender age to accept Allah’s will and bore His decree patiently with paradise.

It would help if you also comforted yourself that Allah took away all of the male children of the Prophet (peace be upon him, although he is the chosen one and the beloved of Allah. When his last son, Ibrahim, was taken away from him when he was only eighteen months old, the Prophet comforted himself by saying: Our eyes are shedding tears, the heart is grieving, and your departure indeed aggrieves us, O Ibrahim, nevertheless, we will utter a single word protesting the will of our Lord.’

And when his daughter lost her infant, he comforted her, saying: “To Allah belongs what He gives; to Him belongs what He takes away; everything has an appointed time with Him.”

So, while sharing your grief, I would advise you to think of them alive and waiting for you to welcome you to paradise—if only you accept Allah’s will, trusting that He always does what is good for His servants.

Almighty Allah knows best.

Q:

I was addicted to pornographic since 2010 when i was (10 years) and now im 23 years old, i.ve done everything just to stop this disgusting thing, now i want to leave science of islam i cnt study islamic sharia what to do ?

A:

Since you are addicted to a highly pernicious habit that destroys your spiritual soul and thus leads to self-destruction, you must urgently summon your willpower and take all the necessary steps you can muster to wean yourself of it immediately.

However, in order to empower yourself to achieve this, you should seek beneficial counselling and therapy preferably from those professionals in the field who are conscientious Muslims; if such Muslim professionals are not available from those who are ethically and morally conscious. It is important for you to wean yourself of these pernicious habits; the consequences of persisting in them are simply unthinkable; they would undoubtedly corrode your spiritual soul and cause your spiritual death.

Sins by their very nature are addictive, for it is in the very nature of carnal soul to seek pleasure in sins. As Busiri has rightly said, “Carnal soul is a like a baby; if you neglect him, he will grow up clinging on to the breast-milk for ever, but if you wean him off, he will be weaned off.” I suggest a few tips which you can use to empower yourself:

1) Visualize and meditate on the ugliness of this heinous sin and conjure up images of hell fire as painted in the Qur’an and the Sunnah as many times as possible until such time that whenever you are tempted to visit such sites or view such scenes will be constantly playing in the screen of your mind; thus even as you have associated this addiction with pleasure you will come to associate it with pure pain and suffering.

2) Convince yourself—by taking all measures such as listing all the negative things about such habits, and listing the verses and traditions about the gravity of sins—of the urgency of removing this malignant cancer from your life; remember it is far more serious than cancer attacking your body since your soul survives you even after your physical body has disintegrated in the earth.

3) Imagine how terrible a loss you will be facing were you to die while being addicted to this most heinous sin?

4) Seek strength from Allah by crying to Him for succour; but you can never seek the help of Allah unless you seek to establish connection with Him through regular Prayers; so never be slack in Your Prayers.

5) Schedule your time in such a way that you are never left with any time to think of such matters; Imam Shafi said: “If you don’t occupy your mind with good works, your carnal soul will make you busy in bad deeds!”

6) Surround yourself with spiritual and Islamic influences and virtually immerse yourself in them.

7) Always hang around with good Muslims who are busy doing good works; join a halaqah where spiritual training is imparted together with study of Islam

8) Make your mind and tongue busy with dhikr Allah; say the following words and others frequently:

Subhaana Allaah; al-hamdu li Allah; laa ilaaha illa Allaah, Allaahu akbar;

wa laa hawla walaa quwwata illaa bi Allaah; astaghfir Allaaha al-azeem min kulli dhanbin wa atoobu ilaahi

(Glory be to Allah; praise be to Allah; there is no god but Allah, Allah is Great; there is no power or strength except by the will of Allah; I ask forgiveness of Allah from all my sins and repent to Him.)

9) Once you have been weaned of these pernicious habits, you should seriously consider marriage; marriage is the protection against temptations.

I pray that the Beneficent Lord of Mercy save us all from the evil inclinations of our souls and make us hate disbelief, transgressions and sins; and may He endear to our hearts faith and good works-aameen.

 Almighty Allah knows best.