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Women-related Fiqhi Issues (Fatwa Session)

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
12 August, 2020

Dear Brothers/Sisters,

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

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 | 13:00 - 15:00 GMT

Session is over.
DISCLAIMER
Views expressed by hosts/guests on this program (live dialogue, Facebook sessions, etc.) are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.  

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Q:

Can Muslim women do government or private jobs? Shall their salary be halal or haram?

A:

This question should never arise. Islam does not discriminate between men and women. Allah says, {So their Lord answered them, “I shall not let the work of any worker among you, male or female, be in vain; each of you is like the other.} (Aal Imran 3:195)

And, {Men have the portion they have earned; and women the portion they have earned, you should rather ask God for some of His bounty: He has full knowledge of everything.} (An-Nisaa 4:32)

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So, there is no reason for us to differentiate between men and women regarding such matters.

The litmus test or criterion for choosing a job should be whether the work is halal or haram and whether it is sanctioned by Allah and contributes to society’s welfare. If the work does not belong to the above category and contributes to corruption and vice and exploitation, then neither men nor women can go for it. If they do, the income they earn becomes pure filth, and they will have to bear the consequences in this world and the next.

Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to work as a translator for a tribunal?

A:

Here is the Wiki definition of a tribunal: “A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title.”

So, working in a body or forum to adjudicate disputes cannot be deemed by itself haram. How can it be when the Quran orders us to resort to arbitrators to settle disputes if the intent is to bring peace and reconciliation among the people. We read in the Qur’an:

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{There is no good in most of their secret converse, save for him who enjoins charity or kindness or reconciliation between men. And whosoever does that, seeking God’s Good Pleasure, We shall grant him a great reward.} (Al-Nisaa 4:114)

So, working in a tribunal is like working in any other institution created to promote the common good.

However, suppose after working with them, you have reasons to believe that the tribunal people are corrupt and are merely functioning to thwart justice and endorse corruption and oppression of the weak. In that case, one must resign and look for another job free from corruption.

Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

Can a Muslim woman be a judge?

A:

A woman can serve as a judge even as a man does as long as she is qualified. It is one’s ability to serve the position that matters and not gender differences. Not all men are qualified to serve as judges; likewise, not women are eligible to serve as judges.

We said the view of several scholars of the past (such as Abu Hanifah and Ibn Jarir At-Tabari) and many modern scholars. For sure, others oppose it. Since there is no revealed text to support the latter view, it is based on their subjective interpretations.

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Furthermore, no one says that a woman cannot serve in the positions of fatwa or counseling or teaching; the work of a judge is not much different from that of a mufti.

Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

Can women use perfume because they get more sweating?

A:

Women can wear light perfumes to dispel bad odor and sweating; however, they should avoid, like men, all provocative scents.

Both men and women need to remember that we are responsible for the message we send to others: Are we sending enticing messages that invite lustful snares or attention to our bodies or reminding them of modesty and God-consciousness? Once we keep this in mind, we can sort this out for ourselves. That is why the Prophet said, “Consult your conscience even if they give you a different fatwa.” (Ahmad)

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Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

Is it permissible for a Muslim woman to wear men’s clothes?

A:

It is unlawful or undesirable for women to wear men’s clothes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have cursed men copying women (in their attire, appearance, and mannerism) and women copying men as well.

In light of these, Imam Nawawi states: “It is haram for women to copy men and for men to copy women.”

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Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

I received a marriage proposal from a person who works in the engineering administration department of a bank that specializes in building apartments and luxury buildings. Should I accept or refuse?

A:

You need not reject the proposal for his work is not haram. He is doing work related to his expertise. The fact he is associated with a bank should not lead us to make such a judgment. For, in this time and age, it is hard to find an area of work that is wholly free of all taints of haram. Since Allah is Merciful, he does not burden us with tasks beyond our capacity or endurance.

According to jurisprudence rules, in cases where one’s income is tainted with haram, one should strive to purify the same through Istighfaar and voluntary charities.

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Almighty Allah Knows best.

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Q:

Assalamu alaikum. Is muslim sisterhood equally important as muslim brotherhood, according to Islamic teachings?  I see much less discussion about this issue.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Everything regarding brotherhood is also applicable and relevant to sisterhood. There is nothing in the sources to prove otherwise. So, even as we owe duties towards our brothers, we also owe duties towards our sisters. However, Allah, who knows human nature best, has placed specific regulations; those are meant only to save ourselves from the evil inherent in our nature.

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Allah’s laws are based on His infinite mercy for His servants to allow them to realize the ultimate felicity in store for them.

Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

As salamalaikum.

When I was young, I was constantly beaten by my mother and she would lock me in the toilet and violent behaviour was frequent. She would always say she is so strict towards me because she loves me, but it never looked like it.

On the other hand, I never really had a strong father figure. My father would always be angry and I have seen him fight with my mother and this was very common. My fathers anger was something no one from my family understood. He has done so much wrong to me and my mom out of his anger that even after decades, we are still suffering.

As a result of the beatings and bad stuff, my behavior towards my parents was not good when I was young. I have been rude and bad to my mom and refuted and insulted my dad as well. However, at that time, I was really not a devout Muslim. I never really got hidaya or tarbiya from my parents. My mom never cared if I prayed or no. My dad himself was highly disobedient of Allah. Due to this, I never knew the reality about Islam, I had no idea what the day of judgement was and along with it, I was never taught the seriousness of disobeying ones parents and the importance of parents. My mother would always say that below the feet of the mothers lies Jannah. But when she said this, it felt more like she is saying out of arrogance or anger and not out of love and care.

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Unfortunately in the year 2013, my father passed away all of a sudden. I never got a chance to improve and change my ways.

I finished my college in 2016 and by the end of tht year or beginning of 2017, Allhumdollilah, Allah guided me to the straight path of Islam in a way I could never have imagined. Before this, I was almost like a kafir, more like an agnostic.

After coming to Islam, I understood the reality of Allah and the Nabi (SAW) and the day of judgement. I also understood the reality and importance of parents. Allhumdollilah, since then, I have tried to be a good child to my mother.

However, I did not get that chance with my father. When my father died, I was not even a good Muslim and had no idea about the reality. Later I became obedient of Allah. I do not know if I should say this or no, but I feel it was unfair that I never got to be a good child to my father. He died way earlier than I became a good Muslim.

Since all this has happen, what do I do now? Even though I am trying to be good to my mother. Is there any chance I can still enter Paradise due to what all I have done? Is there any chance of forgiveness? I do seek forgiveness for my dad for the sins he has committed and do sadaqah for him whenever I can. But still, do I stand a chance to Paradise? For me, I cannot even imagine disobeying Allah at this stage and His pleasure is my pleasure. Will Allah have mercy on me?

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I commend you for the change of heart and your sincere love and desire to practice Islam. I pray to Allah to bless your efforts and grant you steadfastness and reward your efforts.

Our duty towards parents comes second only to our duty to Allah, our Creator.  That is a lesson we learn from the Qur’an. Allah says,

{Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him and be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully.} (Al-Israa 17:23)

And this despite the fact they may not be Muslims, except that we ought not to obey them if they order us to do things that are against Allah’s commandments:

{If they strive to make you associate with Me anything about which you have no knowledge, then do not obey them. Yet keep their company in this life according to what is right, and follow the path of those who turn to Me. You will all return to Me in the end, and I will tell you everything that you have done.} (Luqman 31:15)

Therefore, even if they have been rude to you, you still owe them respect and take good care of them as best as possible.

Now that your father has passed away, you should pray to Allah to forgive him and have mercy on him and admit him to paradise.

As for your mother, forgive her shortcomings and treat her kindly as long as she is alive. Never take revenge on her because of her past misdeeds.

And never forget to pray to Allah:

Rabbi irhamhumaa kamaa rabbayaanee saghfiran

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

(My Lord, have mercy on my parents even as they were merciful to me when I was little;

My Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning).

Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Assalam wa Alikum,

I have a question, since I’m not an Arabic speaker so I’m asking you. It says on the internet that حنظل (Hanzal) name means “Gift of Allah”. I just want to confirm it. I like this name for my baby boy.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

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The word ‘hanzal’ in Arabic is the name of bitter and unpalatable fruit, and therefore inedible. It does not mean man “Gift of Allah”. I am not sure where you got this meaning.

I would, therefore, urge you to choose another name. There is no shortage of proper names. So, go for something with a right meaning.

For the etiquettes of naming children, please refer to the answer linked below:

What Are the Islamic Guidelines of Choosing Names?

What Are the Islamic Guidelines of Choosing Names?

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

I have taken khula from my husband on 20th June due to his continuous ferocious behavior and domestic violence. My one month idda’h period has also finished. Now few relatives of my ex-husband family wants the reconciliation due to the kids involved. and they want me to keep living at my parent’s house after reconciliation and everything will happen in future as per my wish according to those relatives of my ex-husband. I know the in and out of my ex-husband. He will never change. But if reconciliation happens by any means so can i live by my terms or not? Because as far as i know, it is the duty of wife to keep her husband happy and i know, his happiness lies in giving me a dreadful life. My ex-husband doesn’t work at all and don’t let me work too. He is addicted to many other things too, but he always quote Islam when it comes to my duties, but never follows Islam himself. Though i tried to fulfill all my duties of wife previously as well, as per Islam. But still, he never become happy and always used to beat me on petty issues and used to doubt on my character due to his personality trait, and use foul language about me, my parents, my grand parents etc. So, in front of all this, what do you suggest me? if i have to reconcile for the sake of kids, so will I be held accountable in the court of ALLAH, for living on my own terms separately from my husband even being in his nikah due to his family pressure of reconciliation? Waiting for the kind guidance in the light of Islam.

A:

You don’t have to tolerate the abuse of your husband. So, you have the right to choose to divorce him.

If, however, you have been given assurance by the parties who are trying to settle the dispute between you and your husband and they have suggested the formula that you would be living on your terms away from him for the sake of your children, there is nothing wrong if you choose to accept that as long as you still maintain conjugal relations.

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I would advise you to turn to Allah for solace and comfort through dhikr and recitation of the Quran. And never give up praying to Allah to change the heart of your husband so that he realizes the enormity of sins he is committing. People can change, with the help of Allah if they can motivate themselves.

I pray to Allah to bring you relief and comfort.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Is it possible and permissible to marry someone in Jannah who we couldn’t marry due to some circumstances in this world? They kept praying that they get united in jannah but here in this world the girl get married to someone else and the boy want to stayed Single. Both want to be in jannah together .

Plz answer me Soon and answer me with proves

A:

If you have had a love affair with a woman and then she got married to someone else, it is time for you to forget it and move on with your life. In life, you cannot expect to get everything you wished. Islam teaches us it is wrong for you to covet someone’s wife; the fact that you loved her in the past does not make it halal for you to continue to cherish that love once she has been married to someone else.

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Even as she is someone’s wife in this world, she would remain his wife if she dies while still married to that person – provided they both go to paradise. It would be, again, wrong on your part to be married to her in Jannah.

I would advise you to seek counselling and break your mind free of this infatuation and addiction, for I think it is not healthy for you emotionally or spiritually.

I would urge you to pray:

O Allah, make me cherish faith and embellish my heart with it and make me hate disbelief, transgressions, and acts of disobedience.

Lastly, it would be better for us to focus on actions that would bring us close to Jannah and turn us away from all the things that may lead us to hellfire. We are told that in Jannah, we will experience such abiding bliss like no eyes have ever seen, no ears have heard about, and no mind could ever imagine.  So, let us pray to Allah to bestow on us that supreme honor.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Salam alykoum dear Shaykh

I heard from a scholar online that it is forbidden for non-Muslim minorities (Dhimmi) living in a muslim/islamic state to build  their houses of worship. If this is true, why and how does islam benefit from preventing minority religions from carrying out their religious services including marriages and funerals ect, also is this not quite oppressive? As when muslim are in similar situation such as in Italy or Austria, muslims were protesting to build a mosque. The scholar said that existing places of worships want be removed but what happens when the increasing population is too much for the existing places of worship? or that recently many Indian Hindus are immigrating to Middle Eastern nations where  there are no existing places of worship for them to use in the first place. Surely then do islamaphobes not have a point in fearing muslim immigration to non-muslim lands as if there are enough muslims, eventually the construction of their places of worship will be outlawed? again I do not see how this benefits islam, quite the opposite some non-muslims whom intially had a good outlook of muslims and islam felt emnity when they learned this information as i would when i learn certain nations have outlawed mosques or qurans (such as in china). Please clarify this for me and briefly explain if islam does protect the religious rights of non-muslim minorities simialr to how many nations (particularly in the west) protect the religious rights of muslims. Jazakallah khair!

I do not have much access to muslim scholars to help me in understanding my deen so i would like to thank you very much for this service and website which has helped me remove many doubts and misunderstandings and strengthen my imaan.

A:

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Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Historically, Muslims have been known as the people who have had an excellent record of being pioneers of pluralism and tolerance of minorities. It is not due to political expediency; instead, it is based on one of the fundamental Quranic principles guaranteeing freedom of conscience.

Freedom of conscience is a principle enshrined in the Quran – reiterated in dozens of verses. Furthermore, the Quran also states clearly: “There shall be no compulsion in religion.”

Furthermore, the Quran also states that one of the stated objectives of sanctioning war is to protect the places of worship.  Allah says: “Were it not for God’s repelling people, some by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein God’s Name is mentioned much, would have been destroyed. And God will surely help those who help Him—truly God is Strong, Mighty.” (Al-Hajj 22: 40)

That is why the Prophet in the pacts and pledges he made with the Christians stated that nothing of their rights, major or minor, will be taken away from them. No harm would be inflicted on them as individuals or a community in their worship or institutions.

How can anyone accuse Islam of being opposed to the minorities establishing their places of worship? They have been doing these for centuries in various countries where Islam spread and ruled.

There is no shortage of instances of the Jews and other religious minorities who were oppressed given protection by Muslim rulers. After all, it is a well-known fact that the Ottoman rulers sent a ship to bring the Jews from Spain who was expelled by the Christians from Spain. Also, the kind treatment meted out by Salahuddeen to the Jews or other Christian denominations is legendary.

Indeed, there were some exceptions to the above; one cannot blame it on Islam. It was due to human failings, but while saying we can never justify them for the offense is an offense no matter who commits it.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Asalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatu

A friend of mine asked me about a person who was my senior in college and proposed her for marriage..i didn’t know much about him..but my another friend knew about him and i asked her about it and informed her the same…is this considered gheebat..?

Also my family follows some dais, they said that socks aren’t necessary for women’s prayers to be valid..i said them the correct view but my family wasn’t accepting so i said that there are some shortcomings of the dais and also said what that shortcoming was(that they aren’t Scholars but are just students of knowledge) so that they do not follow them blindly..is this also gheebat?

I frequently feel uneasy about what i heard and spoke in the day..and the entire day i ponder if this is gheebat and feel sad..what should I do about this? Jazakallah khair

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A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

If you are asked about a person proposing to marry someone, you should inform the parties what you know. That is not backbiting.

Likewise, if you know of a person who is not a scholar pretending to be a scholar and projecting his personal views as Islamic, you should expose him and warn the people against him or her. That is not backbiting.

 However, you are not allowed to rush to accuse people without verifying the facts. Allah warns us against conjecture and speculation.

If you are not sure you should stay quiet. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak something good; otherwise, keep quiet.”  (Al-Bukhari)

So, I would advise you to restrain yourself from getting carried away in using your tongue. The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised Mu`adh: “Hold off your tongue.” And he said, “Most of the people find themselves flung to the Hellfire because of the harvests of their tongues!” (At-Tirmidhi)

I pray to Allah to bless us all to guard our tongues.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

I am not interested in Marriage. How can I convince my parents?

A:

Marriage is a choice; you don’t need to marry if you don’t want to, as long as you do not fear falling into sins.

On details on the legal status of marriage in Islam, I would like to cite my previous answer:

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“Although marriage is generally considered a highly recommended act, yet from the point of view of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)—because of diverse circumstances—it can readily fall into one of the four categories listed below: Fard (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended) or haram (forbidden) or simply halal (permitted).

1. Marriage is considered fard (obligatory) if a person is so tormented by sexual desire that he/she fears falling into the sin of fornication. Since staying away from fornication is obligatory, and since marriage is the only avenue for legitimate sexual satisfaction, it becomes obligatory on such a person to get married. This is based on the principle in jurisprudence that says: “If an obligatory thing cannot be fulfilled except by fulfilling another, then fulfilling the latter becomes equally obligatory.”

2. If, however, he or she is not so tormented by sexual desire, and, hence, there is no fear of falling into sin, then it is highly recommended to get married if one has the means to do so. By doing so, one is fulfilling one of the great Sunnahs of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), our perfect role model.

3. If a person knows for certain that he or she cannot fulfill the duties required in marriage, and there is no fear of his/her falling into sin, then it becomes haram for such a person to get married. Islam forbids us from doing injustice to another person; this would definitely be the case if one were to neglect his/her spousal duties.

4. If a person has no means to marry and is, therefore, incapable of fulfilling his spousal duties, but has strong desire, it is permitted for him to get married—provided he tries earnestly to seek an honest source of living. Allah has promised to help such a person. We must also add here a further note that the Muslim community has a duty to assist such people until such time that they become self-reliant.

If, however, no such measures are available, and a person finds himself unable to fulfill his spousal duties, he is advised to curb his desires through the discipline of fasting and other acts of sublimation.”

So, you are free to marry or not to be married. No one, including your parents can force you to get married. Even as they have no right to force you to eat a food you don’t love to, they have no right to force you to get married. If they do, such a marriage is considered invalid.”

Lastly, although your parents cannot force you to get married, their actions may be born of their anxiety over your future, for as parents, they are concerned about how you can manage by yourself once they are gone. So, don’t be rude towards them; instead, respect their feelings and understand why you choose not to marry and let them know you can take care of Allah.

I pray to Allah to guide you to choose rightly and bless your choice.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Asalamu alaykom, i have a question in regards to divorce. My husband and I have been together for 12 years. Divorce was always  brought up during arguments. We got married very young (17) and didn’t have right guidance about marriage and how to deal with one another. We had to basically learn as we go. When we were about 20 our marriage got so bad. We fought so much, had 2 kids and it was just really bad. He kept saying he doesn’t want to be married anymore and he moved out. I don’t remember him actually saying, you are divorced or I divorce you. He just kept saying that we will be getting divorced. Even though he moved out, he would still come back to my apartment and have sexual relations with me. It was so much going on that I can’t remember all the details. Anyway we ended up working it out and got back together. Fast forward about 4 years later, again we get into a huge fight and this time I said I wanted a divorce. I called my parents and his parents and said I didn’t want to do this and he agreed. So my dad told him to pronounce divorce. After a week we reconciled. For the last few months he has been talking about divorce again. He kept saying that our relationship was toxic and we need to just separate. He is always questioning me and suspicious of everything I do and say. The day before Eid, he asked me to swear on the Quran that I have never let another man touch me sexually while being married to him. I did it just to give him peace of mind and of course because I have never done that.  Then he asks me to swear about something that was in my past before marriage. I wouldn’t do it because this is something I have kept from him due to it being a sin I am ashamed of and have repented for. So I ended up admitting it because I did not want to swear on Allahs name and lie. So he divorced me on the spot and went to my parents house to inform them. I was pregnant and had my baby a few days later without him by my side. I just want to know if based on our previous divorces is this my final one since the first one is doubtful? Also, was he in the right to divorce me the way he did? With me being pregnant and asking me about something in the past and telling me to swear on the quran.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Your husband is wrong in digging into your past and making you swear an oath on the Quran. You should not have divulged your history and could have refused to swear. Now you have done it; he has no right to divorce you based on your past sins, which you have repented and moved away. He is guilty of a second offense: First, digging into your past; second, divorcing you based on a past sin you have committed. We are not allowed to dig into the past sins of anyone.

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Moreover, Islam teaches us that we are not allowed to lift the cover Allah has placed over the past sins. By divulging them, we are exposing ourselves, while Allah Himself has covered them.  The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever has guilty of any the filthy actions in the past, let them not lift the cover that Allah has placed over them.” (Malik and others)

If he is a conscientious Muslim, he ought to ask forgiveness of Allah for his offenses. He also owes it to you to ask your forgiveness and take you back. Otherwise, he will be accountable before Allah for being unjust, abusive, and inconsiderate towards you and the baby you are bearing for him.

I pray that he comes to his senses and repent and seek forgiveness and takes you back.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

I was praying when my headscarf slipped off. I was in sajda (doing sajda e sahw) when it slipped off. As I was in sajda I did not want to raise my head to adjust the scarf, but when I got up I pulled it baack on, and proceeded to say the final salam. I then discovered after the prayer that the front of my hair was still showing.

I have seen multiple fatwas online that state that if the awrah is uncovered by mistake and covered once one realized it was uncovered the prayer is valid. But what about when one does readjust the clothing and part of the awrah is still visible? Was my prayer valid?

The scarf I had on is one that is meant specifically to cover during prayer so it was not some flimsy cloth that readily slips off. I had recently stitched it at the chin as it was too loose so it would not slip off but perhaps I made it too tight. I did not expect it to slip off in prayer.

A:

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Covering the awrah or parts that should remain covered absolutely in prayer is a condition for the Prayer’s validity. So, if anyone deliberately omitted the same, the Prayer is rendered invalid; one ought to repeat it.

If the awrah is uncovered accidentally, then the preferred view of some eminent scholars is it is fine as long it is something marginal and not majorly. So if your scarf slipped and your hair is partially uncovered accidentally, you need not worry; your Prayer is valid.

Having said, I would like to add: Since prayer is the best of our deeds in Allah’s sight, we ought to focus on doing it as best as we can. Doing prayer right means praying correctly by fulfilling all of the conditions and etiquettes while keeping the spirit alive.

Allah in the Quran orders us to establish prayer; establishing the prayer is not merely performing it any way we choose; instead, it entails observing both the form and spirit as taught by the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Pray as you have seen me praying.”

Let us, therefore, be attentive in our Prayer and pray to Allah to accept them.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Assalamu Aleykum, Is permitted to give for rent an estate which will be used as a center of “Beauty Saloon Courses”, thus there will be teaching things like massage,haircuts etc but also things which are Not allowed in Islam like eyebrows,full-body waxing,piercing etc. So is permitted to give for rent an estate which will be used for these purposes?

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

If you have a choice to choose, then you should not do it.

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Otherwise, you may be excused – as long as the service they provide is not all haram. Beauty saloon courses cannot be deemed as wholly haram.

One of the principles of the Shariah is that we are not accountable for matters that are beyond our control.

Therefore, you should exercise your sound judgment regarding what you can do and what you cannot. And continue to ask forgiveness of Allah in regards to matters you have no control over.  Allah teaches us in the Qur’an:

{Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear: each gains whatever good it has done, and suffers its bad- ‘Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make mistakes. Lord, do not burden us as You burdened those before us. Lord, do not burden us with more than we have strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Protector, so help us against the disbelievers.’} (Al-Baqarah 2:286)

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Assalamualaikum my question is someone told me that one shouldn’t make Dua for justice instead make Dua for mercy . e.g if someone got in a fight or had a misunderstanding with someone then it’s not always true that only one person is at fault but both of them at fault.. so when we say give justice so it can happen that we may also get the punishment from Allah.. kindly correct me

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Islam teaches us to forgive people’s offenses while it also orders us to strive hard to uphold the truth and justice.

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There is a difference between forgiving a personal offense and allowing a tyrant to oppress people, commit genocide, and acquiescing in them.

According to the Quran, one of the stated purposes of the divine revelation is to establish justice.  Allah says: {We sent Our messengers with clear signs, the Scripture, and the Balance so that people could uphold justice.} (Al-Hadid 57:25)

And the Quran and the Prophetic traditions warn against condoning or tolerating oppression and injustice; it does not teach us the policy of ‘turning the other cheek too!’

If we were to take this policy literally, the whole world would collapse, as we would allow the tyrants a free reign and thus suppress the rights of the weak and the vulnerable. 

Therefore, the Prophet warned, “You shall continue to command good and forbid evil and restrain the hands of the oppressor; otherwise, Allah will send down a punishment that may not spare you.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Therefore, while individuals are encouraged to forgive the offenses of individuals, we are taught to pray to Allah to enable us to seek justice from our oppressors:

In a beautiful supplication that the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us, we read the following words:

“Give us justice against those who oppress us and grant us victory over those who commit aggression against us.”

So, Islam teaches to harmonize the Law of Moses with the Spiritual Way of Jesus. And we must overly stress one over against the other.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

Assalamu Alaikum, I am learning game development. I wanna know about digital drawing and instrumental musics.I saw Mufti Menk,Free quran education… they are using digital drawings and some of their characters contain full facial features. So can I use digital drwaing of human and other animals with full facial features??? And I saw some pakistani songs they are using traditional instruments like duff, some instruments that contains strings ect. So can I use this Instrumental musics in the background of my game??  And also is it halal to make killing games ?? And  if I avoid nudity in my games..

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

The Islamic ethics govern games and sports; the halal of it is halal, and the haram is haram.

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The game as a pastime and outlet is allowed if one does not become addicted to it. And they do not have any negative influences on the gamer. Therefore, there is no room in Islam for games that encourage or glorify violence or impart unethical values.

The use of drawings and characters is allowed as long as they are intended for communication purposes – as long as it is free of taints of shirk or association of partners with Allah.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

When reciting the surahs in salah , can i say the the English meaning as well. For example: after saying

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen , can i say the meaning ”All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds –” out loud?

or , after saying ‘Subhaana rabbiyal. azeem’  during bowing, can i say the meaning ‘Glory be to Allah who is my Lord, the Greatest.’ out loud?

also , i read a hadith , which said , during night prayer the Prophet(pbuh) used to interact with the ayah that he recited, if an ayah praised Allah SWT, he would say Subhan Allah, if it mentioned seeking refuge in Allah , he would seek refuge  – So, can i interact with the ayah in English , for example, if an ayah talks about refuge , can I ask for refuge in English ?

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and is this interaction with ayahs only limited to night prayers or can I do this in obligatory or sunnah prayer as well?

A:

It is not forbidden to say the meanings in your mind without articulating the sounds. There is nothing wrong if one is offering supplications in one’s language after reading the prescribed formulas or words.

Many scholars view that in prayer, especially obligatory prayers, one should use only the Arabic and avoid any other language. However, others allow it to offer supplications and reading phrases such as those you mentioned.

Having said this, I would like to state: Once you have mastered Arabic enough to read the prescribed portions of the Quran or the Prophetic duaas in Arabic, you may offer extra supplications in your language.

 Allah Almighty knows best.

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Q:

If a person predicts something to happen in future blindly during a general conversation while the person does not make the claim that he knows the unseen.will this come under the prohibited category of fortune telling.secondly what is the ruling on determining something based on guess work and calculation.does speculation and predictions about future come under the title of fortune telling.thirdly kindly tell me weather fortune telling is considered as shirk or not.

A:

Speaking of the future is wrong if one arrogates to himself the knowledge of unseen realities or the future. Sure, precise knowledge of what will happen in the future is the exclusive realm of divinity. Such knowledge is not given to anyone, including the angels or chosen messengers of Allah. The Quran states:

{Say, ‘I do not have the treasures of God, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.’ Say, ‘Is a blind person like one who can see? Why will you not reflect?’} (Al-An`am 6:50)

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{Say [Prophet], ‘I have no control over benefit or harm, [even] to myself, except as God may please: if I had knowledge of what is hidden, I would have abundant good things, and no harm could touch me. I am no more than a bearer of warning and good news to those who believe.’} (Al-A`raf 7:188)

So, no one should claim such definite knowledge of what happens in the future.

Having said this, it is not wrong to predict the weather or say something based on our experience of nature’s laws as we know them from our experience. Allah tells us in the Quran that the universe functions on laws, and these are not altered or changed erratically.

When the Prophet’s son Ibrahim died, the people said it was because of Ibrahim’s death. The Prophet (peace be upon him) corrected them by saying: “Sun and moon are signs of Allah; they do not eclipse or disappear because of birth or death of anyone.”

So predicting weather or speaking of what may happen based on reading signs of nature does not fall in the above-forbidden category. The Prophet himself made a similar statement on the coming of rain based on such observations.

So, suppose a person made a statement without claiming a sure knowledge of the future that is not haram. In that case, however, no one should make a statement based purely on conjecture or speculation without evidence-based observation of the natural patterns.

Almighty Allah knows best.

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Q:

I recently heard that Angels do not enter a house that has images of animate beings. I started by removing such images from my room and replaced them with paintings of abstract things and inanimate objects. So far my room is free of such images of animals and human beings, but since I live with the rest of my family, I have no control over the rest of my house. So the rest of my house has paintings of people and animals. My family members believe that it is permissible to hang such paintings around the house and will not interfere with whether the angels enter or not. So, will angels enter my room despite the rest of the house being full of paintings of animate beings? I do not want to miss out on the blessings of the angels surrounding my room.

A:

The question of angels entering or not entering houses belong to the unseen realities. The hadiths that speak of images and pictures should be understood in their specific context.

It was a milieu steeped in polytheism and idol worship. So the Prophet (peace be upon him)  warned against images and pictures as they were associated with such beliefs and practices which Islam came to eradicate. Islam sought to restore pure tawhid or monotheism.

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In this spirit, the Prophet initially prohibited visiting grave grates; however, he later allowed it after the belief in tawhid became rooted, and the people moved away from polytheism.

Images or statues without such polytheistic associations cannot be deemed as wholly forbidden. Otherwise, how would Allah allow his Prophet Sulaiman to employ workers to make statues?

For this reason, some scholars view that there is no harm in paintings even if they have images on them as long as they do not induce reverence for them, leading to shirk or polytheism.

Hanging family pictures or pictures of one’s friends cannot have any such associations, so there is nothing haram about them. However, one should not hang them in the direction of qiblah while offering prayers.

Therefore, I would advise you what you are doing is enough: if you have doubts about them, remove them from your bedroom.

Bring the angels in by regularly practicing dhikr and reading the Quran, for angels will descend upon us when we practice dhikr as well as when the Quran is being recited.

Almighty Allah knows best.